2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[flanker]

Will the novice prodigies (Akatieva, Samodelkina, Zhilina) be eligible for senior nationals next season? Are they technically international juniors this year?

July 7, 2007 for Akatyeva
Feb 18, 2007 for Samodelkina

so they will be eligible in juniors.

Zhilina is a year younger, born in May of 2008, so if it’s 13 before July 1st rule, she will qualify for juniors? Sorry, I can’t remember which competitions count age how.

judging by how Valieva was an exception in Russian seniors this year, and was born in April 2006, they will not qualify

edit: I am talking 2021, since 2020 is done

As for next senior nationals, both Sofias should be eligible, they will be 14 that time. It is not important that Sofia Akatieva's birthday is after 1st july, Aliona Kostornaia also started at senior RusNats 2018.

 

[FelineFairy]

I don't think this interview was rehearsed or that she wrote any notes. Long doesn't mean rehearsed. Do think this Medvedeva interview was rehearsed too? https://youtu.be/CnRrRKpOpu4

This is official TV, Channel 1, not YouTube. If they don't give the interviewed a chance to think before they start, they might have to edit and cut too much which never looks good. Maybe "rehearsed" is a word not sounding good. What I mean is that the questions come in advance and the journalists are well-meaning, trying to help the interviewed and not to shock him/her.
It's not like a press conference where some journalists try to elicit a stupid or shocking response.
And I mentioned the difference between long and short interviews just because a short one, given usually after a competition, is never meaningful or full of information, it's just an immediate reaction and doesn't need to be thought over.

 

[halulupu]

Trusova's technical content

Ranking of the last two season's free skate Tech score + GOE (including deductions for falls):
1. Skate Canada 99.20 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad
2. Nepela Mem 98.34 - landed 3 quads, doubled her Loop combo with -GOE
3. RusNats (this year) 97.75 - landed 2 quads, CLEAN
4. Japan Open 97.51 - landed 4 quads (one with - GOE), UR 3Lo combo
5. GP Final 95.80 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad and popped 1 quad
6. Russian Cup Four 94.89 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad and 1 fall on 2Lo combo
7. Rostelecom (last year) 93.34 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad and 1 fall on 3Lo combo
8. Russian Cup Two 89.46 - landed 2 quads, 1 bad quad (not deemed a fall but judged as one) and 1 fall on 3Lo combo
9. Europeans 83.14 - landed 1 quad, 2 falls on quads
10. RusNats (last year) 80.74 - landed 1 quad, 2 falls on quads and popped 1 quad
11. Rostelecom (this year) 61.80 - landed 1 quad (with - GOE), 3 falls on quads and 1 fall on 3Lz

It is obvious to me that it's essential to be clean. Her skate here at Nationals is her 3rd best ever! And it's only -1.45 points behind her best technical score from Skate Canada. It's interesting that the score from Japan Open, where she was clean-ish and landed four quads(!) had a lower score!! But that skate at JO was overall not well executed so allthough she was "clean", her GOE was not that great.

That 97.75 tech score had some minor issues. A ! call on the Flip and lost levels in Steps and one Spin lost her 2.25 points. These points was left on the table by Sasha. With them she would have scored exactly 100 points in Tech and it would have been her best score ever.

This layout she had here is such a smart layout. Anna showed that last season as she had exactly the same. It's a moneybringer with max jump content in BV. If she could work on this layout and stabilize it, I am sure her GOEs and PCS will go up.

Then later she can add a 4T to the free skate. That will replace a 2A so it's about +8.00 points (with +3 GOE).

Adding a 4th quad is NOT good IMO. Then she will have to take out a 3F and the added BV is not that great, but the added risk is soo much higher.

She will need the 3A though as she is behind Anna in PCS. If she can stabilize her 3A in the short, maybe later she can also introduce it in the free program. Then she can take out the remaining 2A. It would be a much better strategy than adding a 4th quad IMO.

Still, a three quad program and two 3As will still not be enough when Anna adds her 3rd quad. Not the way the scoring is going now. Sasha is too far behind in spins, GOEs and PCS. So she needs to work on her GOEs and her PCS, and she can only do that with clean skates.

Wonderful analysis!

 

[Vilord]

Will the novice prodigies (Akatieva, Samodelkina, Zhilina) be eligible for senior nationals next season? Are they technically international juniors this year?

Akatieva (late 07), Samodelkina (early 07), Beretsovskaya (late 07) and Petrosyan (early 07) will all be eligable for senior nats next year and probably a few of them will qualify through the JGPF if it is allowed to happen.
Zhillina (early 08) will not be eligable.

 

[Vilord]

Trusova's technical content

Ranking of the last two season's free skate Tech score + GOE (including deductions for falls):
1. Skate Canada 99.20 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad
2. Nepela Mem 98.34 - landed 3 quads, doubled her Loop combo with -GOE
3. RusNats (this year) 97.75 - landed 2 quads, CLEAN
4. Japan Open 97.51 - landed 4 quads (one with - GOE), UR 3Lo combo
5. GP Final 95.80 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad and popped 1 quad
6. Russian Cup Four 94.89 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad and 1 fall on 2Lo combo
7. Rostelecom (last year) 93.34 - landed 3 quads, 1 fall on a quad and 1 fall on 3Lo combo
8. Russian Cup Two 89.46 - landed 2 quads, 1 bad quad (not deemed a fall but judged as one) and 1 fall on 3Lo combo
9. Europeans 83.14 - landed 1 quad, 2 falls on quads
10. RusNats (last year) 80.74 - landed 1 quad, 2 falls on quads and popped 1 quad
11. Rostelecom (this year) 61.80 - landed 1 quad (with - GOE), 3 falls on quads and 1 fall on 3Lz

It is obvious to me that it's essential to be clean. Her skate here at Nationals is her 3rd best ever! And it's only -1.45 points behind her best technical score from Skate Canada. It's interesting that the score from Japan Open, where she was clean-ish and landed four quads(!) had a lower score!! But that skate at JO was overall not well executed so allthough she was "clean", her GOE was not that great.

That 97.75 tech score had some minor issues. A ! call on the Flip and lost levels in Steps and one Spin lost her 2.25 points. These points was left on the table by Sasha. With them she would have scored exactly 100 points in Tech and it would have been her best score ever.

This layout she had here is such a smart layout. Anna showed that last season as she had exactly the same. It's a moneybringer with max jump content in BV. If she could work on this layout and stabilize it, I am sure her GOEs and PCS will go up.

Then later she can add a 4T to the free skate. That will replace a 2A so it's about +8.00 points (with +3 GOE).

Adding a 4th quad is NOT good IMO. Then she will have to take out a 3F and the added BV is not that great, but the added risk is soo much higher.

She will need the 3A though as she is behind Anna in PCS. If she can stabilize her 3A in the short, maybe later she can also introduce it in the free program. Then she can take out the remaining 2A. It would be a much better strategy than adding a 4th quad IMO.

Still, a three quad program and two 3As will still not be enough when Anna adds her 3rd quad. Not the way the scoring is going now. Sasha is too far behind in spins, GOEs and PCS. So she needs to work on her GOEs and her PCS, and she can only do that with clean skates.

This did surprise me. But it does show that two good quality (high value) quads are better than 4-5 mediocre ones where at least one fails. I think if she could ad in one 4T back in time without rushing it she should be set for breaking that 100 TES score which I imagine she is verry eager for.
But I think that at least one more competition with the two 4Lzs where she is clean will do wonders for her confidence and reputation.

 

[Vilord]

If SS were the one and only component for judges, they would give Sasha higher PCS.

Sashas SS is a bit difficult to judge IMO because she has and incredible speed and glide (much better than Anna) but she has allmost nothing in therms of knee action and therefore her crossovers (especially forward) appear a bit jerky and her edges are never as deep as those that do like Aliona (or Rika who I know isnt a russian lady)

 

[Jontor]

This did surprise me. But it does show that two good quality (high value) quads are better than 4-5 mediocre ones where at least one fails. I think if she could ad in one 4T back in time without rushing it she should be set for breaking that 100 TES score which I imagine she is verry eager for.
But I think that at least one more competition with the two 4Lzs where she is clean will do wonders for her confidence and reputation.

Yes. Confidence is what she needs, and PCS has a lot to do with reputation so if she falls all the time she hurts her reputation. Clean = higher PCS.

 

[Lzbee]

Akatieva (late 07), Samodelkina (early 07), Beretsovskaya (late 07) and Petrosyan (early 07) will all be eligable for senior nats next year and probably a few of them will qualify through the JGPF if it is allowed to happen.
Zhillina (early 08) will not be eligable.

Thank you all who replied to my question!

I'm surprised to find so many will be senior eligible next year. It will be a very interesting nationals with the judges trying to prevent their Olympic hopefuls from being drowned out by sea of youngsters.

From what I can see, they have comparable tech to the seniors at the moment? Because in that case the seniors will be fine due to getting higher pcs.

I feel sorry for these girls that they'll have to hold out in seniors for a whole quad to go to Olympics...

 

[nussnacker]

Thank you all who replied to my question!

I'm surprised to find so many will be senior eligible next year. It will be a very interesting nationals with the judges trying to prevent their Olympic hopefuls from being drowned out by sea of youngsters.

From what I can see, they have comparable tech to the seniors at the moment? Because in that case the seniors will be fine due to getting higher pcs.

I feel sorry for these girls that they'll have to hold out in seniors for a whole quad to go to Olympics...

Senior nationals get harder and harder every year. When you think you saw the ultimate bloodbath, but in reality it is still to come.
Akatieva and Samodelkina will for sure challenge all seniors next year. The year after Zhilina will go to senior nationals. Jesus, Russian ladies can never get a break.

 

[kolyadafan2002]

It's fair to predict that the Olympic team will probably be identical to the world's team.

If Kostornaia isn't on Olympic team, then she will probably be best skater ever to never go to a world championship. (Assuming world's 2021 is cancelled)

 

[Vandevska]

As for next senior nationals, both Sofias should be eligible, they will be 14 that time. It is not important that Sofia Akatieva's birthday is after 1st july, Aliona Kostornaia also started at senior RusNats 2018.

OMG next season is gonna be even more interesting! Russian Ladies give us so so much!

 

[Lzbee]

It's fair to predict that the Olympic team will probably be identical to the world's team.

If Kostornaia isn't on Olympic team, then she will probably be best skater ever to never go to a world championship. (Assuming world's 2021 is cancelled)

Yes I suspect Anna and Sasha would continue regardless of the result. Sasha would probably want to get the last few quad records left (4L, 3A, clean 5 quad program etc) and Anna seems to love competing. I just hope they won't put too much pressure on themselves to make the next Olympics.

I won't hold it against Aliona if she decided afterwards that she does want to continue though. Her words were from when it was expected that 3A would have a proper 3 seasons to dominate seniors (I really think they would have if this season was not interrupted) and there's a lot that she hasn't achieved yet.

 

[Novalis]

This new Brestovskaya interview was interesting. It's in Russian, so most of you probably need Google translate. And I don't think she has a fan fest yet, so I'll post it in here

She talks about how she got into the Ice Age Kids, and about the fame it brought. And her mother talks about being a parent of a competitive athlete and safety measures regarding the internet world

«Все именитые фигуристки проходят через хейт». 13-летняя Лиза Берестовская — о победе в «Ледниковом периоде» и большом спорте. Монолог комментирует мама спортсменки

Сегодня у тринадцатилетней фигуристки Елизаветы Берестовской есть много поводов для гордости — она заняла первое место на шоу «Ледниковый период. Дети» и вошла в состав юношеской сборной России. Мы поговорили с Лизой и её мамой о том, как живут дети в большом спорте и каких усилий стоит каждая...

mel.fm

 

[Lzbee]

Senior nationals get harder and harder every year. When you think you saw the ultimate bloodbath, but in reality it is still to come.
Akatieva and Samodelkina will for sure challenge all seniors next year. The year after Zhilina will go to senior nationals. Jesus, Russian ladies can never get a break.

I really wish there were more international opportunities for the older ladies to skate at.

A "champions league" of literal past champions. Anyone who's won a nationals or medalled at an ISU competition can compete for a big prize. I think that would bring in lots of viewers but they'd have to somehow find an incentive for the big names to come back. Would Alina come back for something like this?

 

[chasingneverland]

Thank you all who replied to my question!

I'm surprised to find so many will be senior eligible next year. It will be a very interesting nationals with the judges trying to prevent their Olympic hopefuls from being drowned out by sea of youngsters.

From what I can see, they have comparable tech to the seniors at the moment? Because in that case the seniors will be fine due to getting higher pcs.

I feel sorry for these girls that they'll have to hold out in seniors for a whole quad to go to Olympics...

Well none of them have even had their first junior international season yet, so yes, they are senior (age) eligible nationally but that doesn't mean they'll necessarily be at RusNats. They still have to qualify.
There are two ways they can do that (1) Qualify for the GPF (not just the grand prix - they have to make the final) or (2) Qualify through the Russian cup series results (fills in the extra spots. (They can't qualify based on the first point which is receive a grand prix assignment as they're still juniors internationally. So the spots will go to first all the senior girls who get GP spots next year, then all the juniors who qualify for the JGPF (max of 6 here and that's if Russia gets all spots and their are talented ladies elsewhere), and then RusCup placement (to fill in the last remaining spots.) (This year is different because of the cancellation of the GP (other than Rostelecom) and JGP (entirely).)

It's always been the case that juniors have the tech to compete - not just in Russia.
In the US Alysa Liu is only 15 and has already won USNats twice (with the 3rd TBD.)
In Japan in 2018 Rika would have gone to the Olympics if she was age eligible (3rd at nationals).
Even in 2018 Alena placed 3rd at nationals (although Evgenia had withdrawn) (and won the Cup Final) so she would have been in the mix and could have claimed Maria's spot. (Anna and Sasha were too young even nationally but Sasha won Junior RusNats (beating Alena) and Anna won the Junior Cup Final (beating Sasha) after recovering from her broken leg so they could have been in the mix although it's hard to tell as they never competed directly with the seniors (just Alena did) and Anna might not have recovered from her broken leg in time.) And so many more examples. Another thing too is that the juniors (in all countries) aren't peaking to win (and make the teams) so they're preparation would be different. Also Vikoria is only 12. (That's actually 3 years away from being senior eligible so for her it won't be a whole quad for her.)

 

[chasingneverland]

I really wish there were more international opportunities for the older ladies to skate at.

A "champions league" of literal past champions. Anyone who's won a nationals or medalled at an ISU competition can compete for a big prize. I think that would bring in lots of viewers but they'd have to somehow find an incentive for the big names to come back. Would Alina come back for something like this?

I think if it were televised potentially. It would be like a "competitive" skating show.

 

[chasingneverland]

As for next senior nationals, both Sofias should be eligible, they will be 14 that time. It is not important that Sofia Akatieva's birthday is after 1st july, Aliona Kostornaia also started at senior RusNats 2018.

Thanks! I couldn't remember for what competitions it mattered and for which ones it didn't. I know it does for the junior grand prix and Junior worlds. That does mean that while Sofia S will be able to qualify through competing in the JGPF (assuming she makes it), Sofia A will have to qualify for the Russian Cup.

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

Thanks! I couldn't remember for what competitions it mattered and for which ones it didn't. I know it does for the junior grand prix and Junior worlds. That does mean that while Sofia S will be able to qualify through competing in the JGPF (assuming she makes it), Sofia A will have to qualify for the Russian Cup.

Assuming there is one...
I think this years Junior RusNats will be a good show of these young prodigies. I do wish that Valieva, Usacheva, Khromykh could compete and bring in some more recognition for these amazing skaters (I know Samodelkina would've been such a star on the JGP), but on the other hand I'm glad the pressure isn't sky high. Think about it though, there might be more difficult elements attempted at Junior RusNats than at Senior RusNats! And Senior RusNats had Shcherbakova, Valieva and Trusova. Truly does make you wonder about how the sport is changing in front of our eyes.

 

[Thrashergurl]

I think they’re clearly setting Kamila up to be Olympic champion. It’s another zhenya/Alina situation. It’s been obvious from the beginning of this season that Kamila is the one with the real star potential that they want to win.
I hope Kamila can live up to the pressure. We will see how next season goes for her and how judges score her.
Trusova is a fighter and continues to improve. Nobody should count her out as a huge spoiler
Alena is a fan favorite outside of Russia and international judges love her skating. I don’t see the support from the Russians anymore, at least based on what I read on this forum, but everyone else loves this girl. Once she’s back and ready to compete, I don’t think anyone can count her out either.

 

[chasingneverland]

Assuming there is one...
I think this years Junior RusNats will be a good show of these young prodigies. I do wish that Valieva, Usacheva, Khromykh could compete and bring in some more recognition for these amazing skaters (I know Samodelkina would've been such a star on the JGP), but on the other hand I'm glad the pressure isn't sky high. Think about it though, there might be more difficult elements attempted at Junior RusNats than at Senior RusNats! And Senior RusNats had Shcherbakova, Valieva and Trusova. Truly does make you wonder about how the sport is changing in front of our eyes.

Yes true..same with the GP, Euros, Worlds (both Jr and Sr)

As well as wishing we had had a chance to watch Anna, Sasha, Liza, Aliona, Rika, Kaori, etc (both during the GP, Euros/4CC, and World's??) I was wish we had a chance to watch the senior B's/challenger events. (At least Russian/Japanese (a couple others) still get to compete and we still get to watch them. That's not the case for everyone - some might not get to comepete at all )

As for more difficult elements that's been the case since Sasha was too young to compete at senior RusNats.