2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Shayuki]

Well, the fact that Kostornaya decided to change clubs outside of the regular transfer period indicates that it was not a planned move and was just something she did impulsively, which tends to not exactly be a recipe for success.

 

[chasingneverland]

Actually I'd say the reason's Kostornaya's ridiculously inflated PCS last season, Shcherbakova could compete with Kostornaya's technical content.

With Valieva though I think she mostly deserves the PCS she'll be getting so it's a little different on that front for me.

That's not true at all. Anna's PCS were less than 2.5 points lower than Aliona's across both programs at Euros - she had essentially almost caught her - and Aliona's SS deserve better PCSs. The reason Anna didn't win Euros is because she underrotated her 4F and 3Lo and fell on a downgraded 4Lz. While Aliona also fell, on her 3Lz, she at least rotated everything. If Anna had rotated everything even if she fell on her 4Lz she would have won.

 

[chasingneverland]

This might sound harsh but I think that Kostornaia is suffering more from the series of strategically wrong decisions and not from her currently reduced physical abilities due to her illness. I generally support the athletes when they decide to change their coaching teams, but in this situation I really do believe that Aliona would have had better chances for going to Worlds if she had staid with Eteri. Even without a 3A, they would have worked at least on getting her triples back (which is the problem right now, she is barely rotating them) and could have gone the path of Daria, who established herself as a very consistent skater, hence her status is getting more stable. This whole situation was really weird from the beginnin - I don't know why she freaked out when Rozanov left. And Pluschenko's obvious lack of interest in her as a student is beyond offensive..

Yeah, honestly if Aliona was were Daria is now - and they have similar strengths - then Aliona would be going to World's - even without the 3A.

 

[Magill]

Well, the fact that Kostornaya decided to change clubs outside of the regular transfer period indicates that it was not a planned move and was just something she did impulsively, which tends to not exactly be a recipe for success.

Or it implies something happened there which made the situation completely unbearable for her and she just couldn't cope anymore.

 

[MaggieLin]

Alyona's condition is worse than I thought of. Sure, that 3F landing wasn't ideal, but she could have easily added a 3T in the past, or at least a cleanly landed 2T. But 2 turns into a floppy 2T?? This is a training issue - she doesn't have the muscle memory to rely on anymore.

And with the program - it might be sliiiiightly better than Billie Eilish but...
As a classical music person, I'm never fan of programs that cross-cut same piece of music, especially during SHORT Program, especially during StepSequence, and this program did it what...4 times...

 

[Scott512]

You flatter me! I am a humble newbie, who can't skate to save my life, and who still needs the score box to be secure in my identification of the jumps! I'm just prolix, and enjoy gushing over these amazing young skaters and sharing my reactions with other people who love them too.

I think most of the posters here love the sport like we do but are not very good and were not very good at skating.

Looking forward to tomorrow..

And if Aliona has a bad warmup tomorrow pull her out!

 

[Shayuki]

I don't really know how to determine step sequence levels, but I think she fell behind the music, and missed some combination of turns or clusters or some actual technical terminology. I doubt they deliberately choreographed a level 2 anything.

I'm sure they all choreo lvl 4 step sequences, I doubt anyone would intentionally choreo a StSq that caps out at lvl 3.

Looking at the fan cam I see 5 obviously cheated turns, at least one on one of the combos. That's probably enough for lvl 2 in itself.

 

[chasingneverland]

It was an interview he and his son were doing with Olympic tv and the interviewer asks his son what athlete(s) inspire him? His son says his dad of course and then Plushenko mentions Sasha and Alena and his son says "Alena not so much at the moment but Sasha yes". Then they proceed to say a picture of Sasha with Plushenko and his family all while Pluskeno then responds " Alena has a cool vibe is a good skater".

I'm not going to criticize a child for liking one skater more - that's what kids do. Kids are honest and Sasha's quads must seem very impressive - especially to a young skater who probably wants quads himself. Also kids are going to be more loyal to ones they know more. This is a nothing post.

 

[Shayuki]

That's not true at all. Anna's PCS were less than 2.5 points lower than Aliona's across both programs at Euros - she had essentially almost caught her - and Aliona's SS deserve better PCSs. The reason Anna didn't win Euros is because she underrotated her 4F and 3Lo and fell on a downgraded 4Lz. While Aliona also fell, on her 3Lz, she at least rotated everything. If Anna had rotated everything even if she fell on her 4Lz she would have won.

Yeah, that just comes down to the fact that I don't think Kostornaya's Skating Skills are nearly as good as advertized, nor do I think her interpretation is even close to Shcherbakova's(I think Kostornaya has no musicality). You don't have to agree, that's why I labeled it as my opinion.

 

[rollerblade]

on a serious note, you do realize there’s a range in between those 2 extremes, it doesn’t have to be solely one or the other.
He seemed somewhat cold and distant, and Rozanov was at least trying to console and support her. She needs those words of support right now more than anyone.

I can't find the neutral fans in this thread. Only extreme fans and haters from all angles. Literally more chaotic than Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing Meskel Square.



To be fair though, a lot of coaches have poker faces, especially Mishin. We need to bring back the broccoli plush, that thing lit up his face. Almost.

 

[Vandevska]

I too think Aliona is suffering from bad decisions. Unfortunately at this point it might be too late to be able to do enough, both for going to Worlds, and for going to the Olympics.

 

[MaggieLin]

Yeah, that just comes down to the fact that I don't think Kostornaya's Skating Skills are nearly as good as advertized, nor do I think her interpretation is even close to Shcherbakova's(I think Kostornaya has no musicality). You don't have to agree, that's why I labeled it as my opinion.

I agree with you. I think Kostornaya's skating skills largely benefited from her programs before (esp. the two programs in her first junior season). Interpretation-wise...I never felt strong about her. Anna, Daria, Kamila...all are better PCS contestants. Even Sasha has better interpretation for certain type of music (though weaker skating skills) in my opinion.

 

[chasingneverland]

It might be news to you but COVID (or any illness, really) impacts people in different ways. Just because she wasn‘t gasping for air like she was dying after her program doesn‘t mean she wasn‘t struggling.

Especially because stamina is the last to come back and not having muscle memory hurts you too but if you're not doing runthroughs or are limited in how many you can do - you're going to be affected by that. COVID is especially hard because it impacts your lungs.

What Anna did at RusNats was impressive but set a dangerous precedent. And even her own coaches thought it would turn out like it did for Liza at RusNats and Aliona here (and different situation but Sasha at Rostelecom.) And I LOVE Anna and she's definitely a determined competitor but if she was to do that skate again in the condition she was in at RusNats there's a MUCH MUCH higher chance she couldn't capture that magic again and do it twice - she wasn't even doing run throughs at the time. (Even at Channel One Cup the effects of pneumonia were evident.) And more than risking a bad skate she was risking her own health - she could have very easily damaged her lungs and/or suffered a setback and suffered permanent damage.

Unfortunately what Anna did is making that the rule rather than the exception where it's really much more likely to turn out like Aliona here and Liza there. It's also making me happy that Aliona withdrew from RusNats (and Channel One Cup.)

 

[dhjh811]

Most of fans know why she left and there is objectively nothing respectful about it at all.
Not that I care - but it bothers me when some people justify and blame the rest of the world for her decision.

obviously not objective bcs many people don't think it was disrespectful, but you just don't like her so you couldn't be objective ig

 

[chasingneverland]

Yeah, that just comes down to the fact that I don't think Kostornaya's Skating Skills are nearly as good as advertized, nor do I think her interpretation is even close to Shcherbakova's(I think Kostornaya has no musicality). You don't have to agree, that's why I labeled it as my opinion.

Even if you give them the exact same PCS, Aliona wins by 0.81 points. PCS aren't why Aliona won. Aliona being cleaner is why Aliona won. (Although neither of them or Sasha looked like they were at their peak here.)

 

[Fluture]

Most of fans know why she left and there is objectively nothing respectful about it at all.
Not that I care - but it bothers me when some people justify and blame the rest of the world for her decision.

Yeah, sure, fans know better about her personal reason than she herself does. I’m sure you can read her thoughts too, considering you’ve figured it out so clearly. Give me a break, I‘ve heard it all before. Medvedeva‘s my favorite skater, I went through all this as a fan a mere two years ago lol, including the bombed SPs. I‘ve even had this exact same discussion ad nauseam, with the same amount of blaming for a teenage girl daring to make a choice for her own life.

Even if Aliona returns to Tutberidze tomorrow...nothing will shock me anymore. I just wish her good luck and hope she can conquer whatever‘s going on. You‘re free to do the opposite.

 

[brakes]

Wow that's brutal.

Covid played a role too that really kicked aliota's ass. Yes the coaching change was dramatic and hurt her performances but catching covid was unlucky. aliona could have been in the high 70s today with her other short program.

I'm not saying it didn't, but compare her physical state after the skate to Shcherbakova's - Alyona looked completely normal, while Anna looked like a patient awaiting ambulance.
What do you think about Alyona's costume today?
What do you think about her programs here and at Rostelekom?
What do you think about the whole program selection circus?

Does it all look like responsible coaching team strategy of preparing recovering athlete to pre-Olympic World Championships?

 

[P44]

Most of fans know why she left and there is objectively nothing respectful about it at all.
Not that I care - but it bothers me when some people justify and blame the rest of the world for her decision.

Could you be more explicit then ?

 

[chasingneverland]

I too think Aliona is suffering from bad decisions. Unfortunately at this point it might be too late to be able to do enough, both for going to Worlds, and for going to the Olympics.

Well worlds is still a year away so I won't count her out for that yet.

 

[chasingneverland]

I'm not saying it didn't, but compare her physical state after the skate to Shcherbakova's - Alyona looked completely normal, while Anna looked like a patient awaiting ambulance.
What do you think about Alyona's costume today?
What do you think about her programs here and at Rostelekom?
What do you think about the whole program selection circus?

Does it all look like responsible coaching team strategy of preparing recovering athlete to pre-Olympic World Championships?

Eh they both looked upset..

And I disagree Aliona looked completely normal - she was sobbing and clearly struggled to get through her step sequence or even rotate her jumps.