Test Skates are in August/September. GP assignments (in a normal season) is in June.
2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
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- Apr 26, 2018
When Zhenya and Alina competed last, they were 6th and 10th on the season‘s best list. Zhenya‘s score of 225-something was only beaten by quad and 3A jumpers. And while Alina‘s was a little worse off, this is largely due to her losing motivation and not being able to put two clean skates together at one competition. If you combine her best scores 79.6 (SP, GPF) and FS (151.15, NHK), however, she even beats Zhenya and makes the top 5. At their best, they are absolutely able to compete with skaters like Khromykh, Nugumanova, Tsibinova etc., I‘d even argue they‘re better than they are. There is a reason they were World and Olympic medalists, and even though they‘re not competitive enough anymore to make it anywhere close to the World/OG team, on the world stage they still belong among the best. So, why on earth shouldn‘t they be getting GP assignments if they‘re healthy and willing to compete?
Now, I agree that they shouldn‘t be getting these spots without any indication that they‘re ready for them - but that‘s not hard to check, is it? Just send someone from the fed to observe their training and whether they fulfill the standards. If they do, submit their names. If not, well, then it‘s likely they‘re either not capable of performing anyway, be it due to lacking motivation or health struggles.
I don‘t understand why everyone suddenly acts like these girls are ten years behind when, at their best, they‘re capable of beating anyone but multiple quad/3A jumpers??
One part I do agree on is the National team, however. They didn‘t compete this season, so neither should get main funding for next year - put them on the reserve team instead, like Kolyada after he sat out a season due to illness. Not that RusFed is likely to do that if they get a cut from their endorsement money as long as they‘re on that team, though.
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- Apr 17, 2018
3A + Kamila + Daria + Liza seem like locks for GPs IMO. I think the first four go without saying. Daria has been consistent this entire season, and placed fourth with a massive 230 at RusNats. Liza has 3As (which she doesn't usually fall on which is key... turn outs still give the jump a massive leap over a 2A) and has medaled at every GP given to her in the past two seasons (+ winning Rostelecom this year).
Then it gets less secure. I think Sinitsyna absolutely deserves two spots, she deserved two last season and she deserves two this season. She has a quad, consistent triples and an insane level of maturity. She has the ability to be getting very high PCS if she stays consistent next season. Even if the quad doesn't go well, a clean Sinitsyna would medal at some (if not most) GP fields.
Then Khromykh. I also think Maiia deserves two spots just because again, she has the ability to score high even without a quad. If she manages to get the quad (s) consistent there is absolutely no reason to argue against giving her two spots. If she doesn't, going without a quad could also land her a medal at some GP fields. Again, if RusFed can have a TBD it makes complete sense to give Maiia a challenger and one GP and see how she does. If she does very good, then give her the TBD.
So that's 16 spots... I think Liza Nugumanova deserves at least one, especially if she can actually pull together a clean FS. With two completely clean skates she might be able to challenge for a medal... (especially if not everyone goes clean). Even if she doesn't challenge for a medal, I think her results this season have been proving she's on an upward curve and deserves a GP. Again, she could get the TBD spot if she does really good at test skates or at a challenger.
Talalaikina would be an excellent addition since she is a wonderful performer but she faces tough competition from Tsibinova especially, who has proven to be very consistent. But as seen with how she was scored this season (aka very underscored) I don't know if RusFed will give her a spot. Same goes for Frolova. Maybe I see Frolova staying on the JGP? Though that too would be odd since there is a lot of competition on the JGP. All three of them should definitely be getting challenger spots though. And also Gubanova. Gubanova definitely should get a challenger spot. And Guliakova. And Samodurova. And Konstantinova. There are so many talented Russian ladies! Give them international assignments RusFed!
Then it gets less secure. I think Sinitsyna absolutely deserves two spots, she deserved two last season and she deserves two this season. She has a quad, consistent triples and an insane level of maturity. She has the ability to be getting very high PCS if she stays consistent next season. Even if the quad doesn't go well, a clean Sinitsyna would medal at some (if not most) GP fields.
Then Khromykh. I also think Maiia deserves two spots just because again, she has the ability to score high even without a quad. If she manages to get the quad (s) consistent there is absolutely no reason to argue against giving her two spots. If she doesn't, going without a quad could also land her a medal at some GP fields. Again, if RusFed can have a TBD it makes complete sense to give Maiia a challenger and one GP and see how she does. If she does very good, then give her the TBD.
So that's 16 spots... I think Liza Nugumanova deserves at least one, especially if she can actually pull together a clean FS. With two completely clean skates she might be able to challenge for a medal... (especially if not everyone goes clean). Even if she doesn't challenge for a medal, I think her results this season have been proving she's on an upward curve and deserves a GP. Again, she could get the TBD spot if she does really good at test skates or at a challenger.
Talalaikina would be an excellent addition since she is a wonderful performer but she faces tough competition from Tsibinova especially, who has proven to be very consistent. But as seen with how she was scored this season (aka very underscored) I don't know if RusFed will give her a spot. Same goes for Frolova. Maybe I see Frolova staying on the JGP? Though that too would be odd since there is a lot of competition on the JGP. All three of them should definitely be getting challenger spots though. And also Gubanova. Gubanova definitely should get a challenger spot. And Guliakova. And Samodurova. And Konstantinova. There are so many talented Russian ladies! Give them international assignments RusFed!
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- Mar 20, 2019
Shoot me, but Evgenia is the performance Queen. The performance quality of that exhibition last week was just superb and on another level to the other Russian skaters. Others just cannot do it, and whatever the drama, moving back to Eteri is bringing it back full force. Her best result in the recent season she competed was 225. It would be a travesty to leave her out.
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- Oct 20, 2017
I'll die on this bullet too.
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- Oct 22, 2019
Completely agree. Plus she's got star power. She's Evgenia Medvedeva after all, regardless of whether you love her or loathe her. And now she's got Eteri as her coach.
Realistically I don't see them leaving her out if she wants to compete.
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- Oct 22, 2019
Awwww Anna "liked" a clip of her and Sasha goofing around at the jump competition. I shouldn't read too much into these things but I really like both girls so that made me all warm and fuzzy 
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- Sep 23, 2020
With all the freezing cold and drama around, there is nothing like the goodhearted 3A golden halo around these awesome girls when they are together. I'm with you on this!Awwww Anna "liked" a clip of her and Sasha goofing around at the jump competition. I shouldn't read too much into these things but I really like both girls so that made me all warm and fuzzy
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- Feb 27, 2014
Of course they are not to blame for Coronavirus crippling the world.
I'm pleasantly surprised we've seen such fine skating from the Russian ladies this season since their offseason was messed up and disrupted so badly by Coronavirus.
They're already going to give one fifteen year-old next season two GP events. We know who the top four girls are they get the Lion's Share of the Grand Prix events but everyone else earn their spot by test skates.
Dasha may get two and if she does I won't complain.. what's the depth of the talent from the ladies between the ages of 14 and 18 is off the chains and there are a lot of skaters to give an opportunity to.
Don't get me wrong Dasha is good. But she's not in Kamilas League. And she isn't Aliona last season or the year before. Now if Dasha had an ultra move it would be a game-changer.
Let's see if she has a nice triple axel by test skates. The most I can do for you Chasing is give Dasha 1 and let her earn the second line from test skates on. Is it a deal?
My guess is you say yes.You want Maya to get two too? I think she gets one and I think she's promising. I'm a little disappointed she was thrown into the deep end of the pool all of a sudden at the team event. She's taller than the other girls so it will take her longer to develop.
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- Feb 27, 2014
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2018
The problem is these skaters may have fallen on their quads in the SP as they often do in their free skates so Alyona may have won those events anyway.Someone may put a mental asterix next to a case wins last season but there will never be a in official asterick nor should there be. The sport has never seen such a beautiful and mature figure skater at 16 that Aliona was last year.
Yes Doug at some point probably in the next couple years there will be one quad allowed for the ladies in the SP.
But that's sort of my point. For the reasons you mention, Aliona might have won regardless. But we'll never know. And there are inevitably going to be some people who discount her victory as a result, especially once the rules are changed.
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- Feb 10, 2018
Anna and Sasha were truly connected from some point. They started to create quad history together as was sometimes stated here:
Anna, 4T, 22.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCo5xP1eJ5o
Anna, 4T+3T, 24.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69ReOigeAk
Anna, 4T+3T+3Lo, 27.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh0WFeLrjZg
Sasha, 4S+3T, 24.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjIlYJDBdkw
Anna, 4T, 22.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCo5xP1eJ5o
Anna, 4T+3T, 24.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69ReOigeAk
Anna, 4T+3T+3Lo, 27.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh0WFeLrjZg
Sasha, 4S+3T, 24.4.2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjIlYJDBdkw
Yeah, I get what you are saying. Zhenya and Alina on form is absolutely world class. However, I feel that both of them has moved on in a way. They are very popular, the Team event was evidence of that, and RusFed and International Feds as well, tend to love stars.
But somehow, I feel cheated this year, Alina and Zhenya has not showed us anything, and yet they were on the National Team with funding. In Alina's case we kind of knew that from the start, that she would not compete, in Zhenya's case we just saw Test Skates, which was truly awful, and then nothing because of injury/COVID.
I doubt that either of them will be in a competitive mode next season, even if they work hard and have ambitions for it. Add to that Samodurova, who on the very weird World Rankings list is still a top name, then you have three old stars that I don't think will cut it when it comes to fairly distribute international GPs and World spots.
This is really a luxuary problem that Russian Ladies have, but at the same time it is a sad one. Because some skaters, with world class potentials just like Alina and Zhenya, will be snubbed next year I'm afraid. I am thinking mostly of Sinitsyna who is in a terrible place because of injuries of her own this season. There is a probability that Sinitsyna won't even get a GP - that is heartbreaking for me. And poor Khromykh and the likes of Tsibinova, Nugumanova, Talalaikina, all in the top 9 at the fierce RusNats won't stand a chance either. These skaters might not have world champion potential, but at least they deserve GP spots, but that most likely won't happen.
If Alina and Zhenya (and Sofia) gets National Team spots next year, I can't help to think it is unfair. They will get funding, other skaters won't.
That is a matter of opinion, and I for one don't share it.
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- Mar 20, 2019
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
GPs are named before test skates. And Russia has never been shy about giving opportunities to 15 year olds. Her age shouldn't be the limiting factor.Of course they are not to blame for Coronavirus crippling the world.
I'm pleasantly surprised we've seen such fine skating from the Russian ladies this season since their offseason was messed up and disrupted so badly by Coronavirus.
They're already going to give one fifteen year-old next season two GP events. We know who the top four girls are they get the Lion's Share of the Grand Prix events but everyone else earn their spot by test skates.
Dasha may get two and if she does I won't complain.. what's the depth of the talent from the ladies between the ages of 14 and 18 is off the chains and there are a lot of skaters to give an opportunity to.
Don't get me wrong Dasha is good. But she's not in Kamilas League. And she isn't Aliona last season or the year before. Now if Dasha had an ultra move it would be a game-changer.
Let's see if she has a nice triple axel by test skates. The most I can do for you Chasing is give Dasha 1 and let her earn the second line from test skates on. Is it a deal?
You want Maya to get two too? I think she gets one and I think she's promising. I'm a little disappointed she was thrown into the deep end of the pool all of a sudden at the team event. She's taller than the other girls so it will take her longer to develop.
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- Dec 31, 2019
First of All, Kseniia hasn't really showed anything more than Evgenia or Alina this year so that's not really a good comparison. And no one competed internationally.
Second of all, Sofia earned her World Ranking - how is that unfair? (For that matter Alina and Evgenia more than earned theirs too.)
This issue is there needs to be more spots - not that they don't deserve spots.
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- Jun 14, 2014
How anybody could even consider not giving Darya 2 GP spots is beyond me.
If Alena doesn't come back strongly, Darya is Russia's Nr 4 in the Olympic season. And she is more than deserving. She has beautiful jumps, much nicer 3s and 2A than some of the girls presenting ultra-C elements. Stunning spins with textbook centering, speed and flexibility only matched by Valieva and Lipnitskaya. Strong SS. And performance-wise, at 14yo and a junior, she is lightyears ahead of Trusova and Valieva, two of the 3 girls above her.
Most importantly, this season she has proven repeatedly that she can deliver when it counts and doesn't crack under pressure. You go skate last after Anna's and Kamila's performances at Nationals, with your coaches still literally crying about how great your competitor just did. Or skate last at that Team Event that everyone in Russia took as serious as a life death situation. And each time deliver prestinely clean skates.
Her 2A is screaming for a 3A.
No question she should get those spots over Alina(who is not showing up anyways), Evgenia(who may try but she at her best is inferior to Darya at this point), or Liza(sorry for her, but she just lacks in every department except for some selective jumps).
Edit: I do feel lots of sympathy for Liza, she is just from a different era. Had she come up under the same system that the new generation has, from a young age drilled spins, posture, SS as much as jumps, proper environment to forment ultra-c from the get go etc I think she would have achieved the same heights Eteri's girls do now. She is a much greater jump talent than lets say Anna, who is whipping out 4s. But you cannot undo or catch up years of formation or lack thereof.
If Alena doesn't come back strongly, Darya is Russia's Nr 4 in the Olympic season. And she is more than deserving. She has beautiful jumps, much nicer 3s and 2A than some of the girls presenting ultra-C elements. Stunning spins with textbook centering, speed and flexibility only matched by Valieva and Lipnitskaya. Strong SS. And performance-wise, at 14yo and a junior, she is lightyears ahead of Trusova and Valieva, two of the 3 girls above her.
Most importantly, this season she has proven repeatedly that she can deliver when it counts and doesn't crack under pressure. You go skate last after Anna's and Kamila's performances at Nationals, with your coaches still literally crying about how great your competitor just did. Or skate last at that Team Event that everyone in Russia took as serious as a life death situation. And each time deliver prestinely clean skates.
Her 2A is screaming for a 3A.
No question she should get those spots over Alina(who is not showing up anyways), Evgenia(who may try but she at her best is inferior to Darya at this point), or Liza(sorry for her, but she just lacks in every department except for some selective jumps).
Edit: I do feel lots of sympathy for Liza, she is just from a different era. Had she come up under the same system that the new generation has, from a young age drilled spins, posture, SS as much as jumps, proper environment to forment ultra-c from the get go etc I think she would have achieved the same heights Eteri's girls do now. She is a much greater jump talent than lets say Anna, who is whipping out 4s. But you cannot undo or catch up years of formation or lack thereof.
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- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
What's stopping them from naming Zagitova to whichever GP (even knowing she won't really go), and then have a last-minute WD and substitution of their intended "low world ranking" choice?
Isn't it up to the hosting fed to choose who is substituted? As in, there'd be no guarantee that a Russian lady would get the spot.
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