2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[katymay]

I didn't dislike the new one but abandoning the cutest program ever just before the most important event of the year seemed like a bad choice to me, indeed.

I know I was all ready to enjoy Kalinka. I did notice she has gained a great deal of maturity to her skating, I think of all the girls, perhaps she has matured the most. (Well, after Sofia M.) Sofia S., it seems to me, was the girl in most need of a new program, I think holding on to her programs for yet another year hurt her-she looks bored skating them, and I wonder if the judges are a bit bored watching them at this point. Sofia A? The Eteri team needs to do a better job with her programs next year. Her short in particular was not very special. Some of the Eteri novice girls (and boys) had wonderful music and programs, so I know they can do better.

 

[Giltedge]

Morning news section: 1TV says skaters will be allowed to wear those protective gel/foam pads during the jump competition.

These ones...?

 

[readernick]

And you change it right before Russian Nationals, the most important competition of the season? That seems risky as hell.

I disagree with him, Kalinka was way more polished and interesting, it's the right music for a junior, it's okay to be immature in Juniors, this instead looked like it could have been any music with lyrics, almost like the choreography was done before picking the music. The result was very forgettable.

Yes, I completely agree. The most precious thing about Liza is that she looks like a happy adorable little girl on the ice who is having fun. Is that immature? Well maybe, but she is still a kid so let her be immature. This new program robs her of her charm and I thought it would be impossible to do that with someone as effervescent as Liza B.

 

[JazzUp]

Jump fest live (on vk.com)

 

[Scott512]

Shcherbakova and Valieva the safest of the 3 senior national medalists this season for Olympic spots next year because they are doing the difficult content and they are consistent, like you said "if one of them bombs next season which is like a 1 in a million chance of happening." I think Shcherbakova and Valieva being so consistent could be what helps Trusova for the Olympic team, because if they have 2 'safe bets' with Shcherbakova and Valieva then the third spot can be gamble pick on someone who isn't consistent.

That is my thinking and rationale. Two solid picks and then the Wild Card who can still score 240 with a good performance. How many skaters can score 240? Only a very few.

 

[Skatesocs]

Didn't Mishin recently have COVID?! He's already at this comp with his mask below his nose!!

 

[Paulipau]

Poor boys, are getting blow away from the ice so far.

Misha looks seriously sad about it.

I lovelovelove that jumpsuit for Sasha, this is the first time I like a jumpsuit on someone.

 

[Arbitrary]

131 - 129
Girls vs boys, after two rounds.

 

[Skatesocs]

I'm ready for 4Lz+3T+1Lo+3Sal+2Lo

But nobody will be that creative.

How does 4Lz-3T-Eu-3S-3T sound to you?

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

I mean. Saying Gubanova has better skating skills than Trusova or Shcherbakova is fine, she probably has the best skating skills out of all the Russian senior ladies currently. She also tends to include great feats of skating in her programs.

Nugumanova on the other hand is a slow, empty skater with next to no difficult steps outside of step sequences, no entries and a severe lack of 1-foot skating, and the step sequence's not great either. Of course it's easy to have good flow if you have nothing but crossovers for 90% of the duration. I think Shcherbakova this season has shown much stronger skating skills than Nugumanova, she's actually fixed some of her bigger issues, and at least she's not slow. I don't get how you can look at Nugumanova's step sequence and see her skating as more effortless, for example.

So just using both of these skaters as examples makes it seem, not very coherent, right?

Sinitsyna's of course are good. Snow Leopards in general tend to have good skating skills, as was with Tarakanova, even Kanysheva. And Maria Sotskova to an extent, though I don't remember the exact level that well.

You say that you know Trusova and Shcherbakova have bad skating skills because people "who know what they're talking about" say they do. Well, it even is a bit of a meme how bad skating skills they have, I'd say, that people just keep parroting. Since they really aren't that bad. They're not top of the line by any means, but according to my understanding of the word "average", they still are well above average. Some of these comparisons are just downright insulting, such as Nugumanova.

And Snow Leopards don't represent "average" skating skills. It's the top Russian group in skating skills. And the average Russian skater is quite a bit better than most other countries, perhaps only Japan is up there.

Re: Nugumanova. Her FS is notably weaker but just looking at the SP i do think she has better edges in the step sequence, better crossovers and the one-foot skating and difficult steps look more effortless. From my understanding of skating skills I think she is stronger than Anna or Sasha especially in the SP. But it is noticeable in the FS that she doesn’t have much speed. I think as a junior she has better speed across the ice.

I don’t think I ever said Snow Leopards are average because if i did that is just wrong. Everyone from that camp’s skating skills have honestly impressed me so much. Starting with Sotskova up to even Shifrina (who can use refinement but is looking like she has good potential). I remember I was watching some old videos of the Kanysheva, Tarakanova, Sinitsyna, Kostyuk, Valieva, Trusova and Shcherbakova doing the step sequence portion of the elements and the smoothness and quality of the snow leopards really was really highlighted.

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

I think the idea of Akatieva’s FS is really good and “Reflection” as a piece of music really suits her but with the quads and 3As and a bit of an anticlimactic step sequence it hasn’t lived up to its full potential performance wise. I’ve always enjoyed the middle section with the jump combos though.

 

[readernick]

I think the idea of Akatieva’s FS is really good and “Reflection” as a piece of music really suits her but with the quads and 3As and a bit of an anticlimactic step sequence it hasn’t lived up to its full potential performance wise. I’ve always enjoyed the middle section with the jump combos though.

Yes, I really do like both of her program choices. ( The best junior programs from Daniil ever, perhaps?) Age appropriate without being too frilly. But, her performance was really dimmed at Nationals. I was more impressed with her first Russian Cup event.

 

[Skatesocs]

How does 4Lz-3T-Eu-3S-3T sound to you?

That was from Sasha.

Anna: 4F+3T+3Lo+1Eu+3S
Kamila: 4T+3T+3T+1Eu+3S

 

[readernick]

I don’t think I ever said Snow Leopards are average because if i did that is just wrong. Everyone from that camp’s skating skills have honestly impressed me so much. Starting with Sotskova up to even Shifrina (who can use refinement but is looking like she has good potential). I remember I was watching some old videos of the Kanysheva, Tarakanova, Sinitsyna, Kostyuk, Valieva, Trusova and Shcherbakova doing the step sequence portion of the elements and the smoothness and quality of the snow leopards really was really highlighted.

I am not a " fan" of any coaching team, but in terms of program choices and teaching good basics the Snow Leopards are a cut above all the other coaching teams that focus on Russian single ladies skaters. It makes me sad that the training conditions in that camp aren't ideal ( from my understanding) due to somewhat limited ice time. I really hope Ksenia S. will get to perform internationally next season.

 

[Dawn825]

I enjoyed Candyman I thought it was fun.

People seem to forget just how this came about, for a good two seasons T/M were merciless mocked for being the most boring skaters ever. (Personally I never thought that) But in every competition they appeared at that's all you heard how deathly dull they were and woe! Russian pairs fans were doomed forevermore to watch this drab lifeless pair.

You don't think T/M's team read that garbage and thought they had to do something about it? Was Candyman a piece of art, no, but people only got crueller to the point where there were posts wishing that they'd fail spectacularly so the wonderous sport of pairs figure skating wouldn't be forever besmirched by the disgusting spectacle that was Candyman.

Well they all got their wish, while Zhenya Tarasova's heart broke into a million pieces people on this forum were positive crowing and gloating and laughing about how fabulous it was that those two embarrassments were kept off the podium.

And ever since any time T/M try something different they're ridiculed while in the very same breath they're called the most boring team in history.

I'll never forget how horrible people were to them.

Idk about the horrible treatment stuff but to me the problem wasn't trying something different/not boring. The problem was them doing a fun program and Tarasova trying to smile and perform while Morozov scowled through the whole thing at the Olympics.

 

[JazzUp]

 

[Skatesocs]

The gravity and perspective of this image

 

[Arbitrary]

246 - 194
Boys go home

 

[karina17]

Quick, where's the post where someone was like 'Come on, do you really think the ladies can beat the men here?'

 

[Paulipau]

I also have the feeling that Kolyada didn't try that much and that he had a bad attitude.

Cannot say that I don't understand him...