2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[chasingneverland]

Worlds are next month. It’s obvious that she’s not ready for an international competition with or without her 3A back.

Sorry I meant the Olympics here.

 

[chasingneverland]

Regarding Aliona's coaching situation, I think Rozanov is mainly in charge now and looking back at the timeline last summer, Aliona probably followed him to Plushenko's school (there were probably some additional factors, but we won't know). However, it's Rozanov's first year of having his own group and with Plushenko being mainly focused on Sasha, Aliona probably needs another, more experienced coach alongside Rozanov. And also, more stability - learning 2 new programs while recovering is never a good idea, especially considering that this season is almost over and her previous programs were normal and would still get her good PCS.

Also, it's not really correct to compare her recovery to, say, Anna's. We know that some people bounce back from Covid and other respiratory illnesses like it was some mild cold, while for others long term effects can be even career ending.

That was more to say that I don't think Anna or Liza for that matter have recovered completely either.

 

[Fluture]

you don't need a crystal ball for that, Daniil uploads the clips as soon as they are ready; guess whose were the first ones?

And because she got her programs first, this means there couldn’t have been any other issues/conflicts you may not know about? How is that even logical.

Newsflash. It isn‘t.

 

[JazzUp]

seems RusFed kept the tradition of counting two separate (semi-botched) jumps as a combo

 

[dhjh811]

you don't need a crystal ball for that, Daniil uploads the clips as soon as they are ready; guess whose were the first ones?

yup, and that somehow implies that her decision to leave was not respectful, seeing how you like the mind reader's posts
got it

 

[Shayuki]

And because she got her programs first, this means there couldn’t have been any other issues/conflicts you may not know about? How is that even logical.

Newsflash. It isn‘t.

From what they've said, there were conflicts about sharing ice time with the younger skaters as Alena felt she wasn't receiving enough attention. And also, she wanted to choose her own music or something(And we end up with Four Seasons...).

 

[brakes]

Mm. I think Shcherbakova's improved upon her skating skills quite a bit lately. She can actually hold some pretty impressive edges and seems to have a lot more control than before. Still does the momentum kicking but it's not as bad as before. During her skates at the nationals for example she didn't really seem to struggle all that much with the steps especially when compared to something like Kostornaya's StSq here. Shcherbakova's skating skills used to take away from her performing for me but this year it's not really been an issue at all.

Play Kostornaya's and Shcherbakova's step sequences side by side. Focus on the blades and the speed.
It will blow your mind.

 

[Shayuki]

seems RusFed kept the tradition of counting two separate (semi-botched) jumps as a combo

In the competition thread I said that it should be +COMBO for Alena. There was a clear edge change there too, and it wasn't very connected at all.

Kostornaya was overscored by several points, probably like 4.

 

[Lechat]

Good luck to all the skaters tomorrow. For many, it’s the last competition of a weird season.

 

[macy]

seems RusFed kept the tradition of counting two separate (semi-botched) jumps as a combo

Why shouldn't it have been counted as a combo? She didn't even put her other foot down or fall out of it, she did a 3 turn into the 2T.

 

[dhjh811]

seems RusFed kept the tradition of counting two separate (semi-botched) jumps as a combo

she didn't put her foot down, so it would be considered a combo at any competition.

 

[Fluture]

From what they've said, there were conflicts about sharing ice time with the younger skaters as Alena felt she wasn't receiving enough attention.

Actually, what she said was that she feared getting injured because the kids kept bumping into her while she was trying to practice. Seems like a rather reasonable complaint to me. If she feels like she wasn‘t receiving enough attention - also fair, although she‘s sadly finding herself in an even worse situation right now.

Anyway, it‘s perfectly possible she made a mistake in her coaching change. I for one am not an Eteri fan whatsoever but I am sure she would never have showed this stunning lack of professionalism like Plushenko currently does. I just find the gloating and condemning by certain users with obvious (and personally unacknowledged biases) ridiculous. As much as they like to pretend otherwise, they have no idea about Aliona‘s personal reasons, other than what‘s stated in interviews, personal speculation and what they read off some gossip sites/forums on the internet.

 

[chasingneverland]

Spoiler: do you mean Anna's dress? :)

I mean Daria and Sasha have the exact same FS music right down to the same cuts..

 

[Lechat]

In the competition thread I said that it should be +COMBO for Alena. There was a clear edge change there too, and it wasn't very connected at all.

Kostornaya was overscored by several points, probably like 4.

Hmmmm I wasn’t sure if it was a combo or not. At first I thought, damn it’s only one jump then she added another jump without really a connection.

 

[NaVi]

Some random thoughts on Kostornaia...
It could have been worse and the judges put her in a position to prove herself in the FS. That being said, I would personally trust Tukt at Worlds to secure 3 spots in an emergency.

First, points others have brought up... she's about a half year older than Shcherbakova and about 10 months older than Trusova. And of course COVID, but Shcherbakova also had that too.

I do find it weird that it seemed like she only did single flips and lutzes in the warm up(she might have but I only saw a 3S) and her Rozanov and Plushenko did not look confident.

In her practice she had the same big lean in her 3F that she had here but in practice was still able to pull of the combination.

Also, she skated last after Usacheva who lately has been solid.

I feel like she's a bit less self driven in comparison to Trusova and Shcherbakova. Thus Eteri's more authoritarian manner and the friendly camp competition helped drive her earlier. Also, I think being part of a group with a bit of a team feeling helped sublimate her own ego within the ego of the group which can help alleviate personal anxiety. The subconscious feeling earlier may be "I might screw up but a 'teammate' will do well and if they don't well then I won't be solely blamed"... now she's more or less on her own but it was inevitable to be that way because of the Olympics.

I've pretty positive about Plushenko as a coach, but the choreography and program situation with Kostornaia is a bit ridiculous. Four different programs of which 2 were done over Zoom(or simular app). And she wasn't able to compete them very often. Plushenko's bluster about how he'd get the best choreographers may have backfired a bit. Russians IMO should either avoid working with western choreographers all together because of cultural mismatch or work with one earlier and continue throughout their whole career.

 

[macy]

I'm really sorry for Aliona and especially how hard she is on herself. I hope her comment was an in the moment, emotional reaction and she is able to put it behind her and focus on tomorrow. I'm sure part of her being so crushed was knowing she can't catch Liza and her chances of making the team are over. I'm sure that's really hard to face after a world medal if not title was basically taken away from her last season.

I dont think this is all necessarily bad though, it would benefit her to begin preparing for next season instead of another competition. With the extra time she can really work hard and come back with a vengeance next season.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Exactly.

Can you imagine Tutberidze letting this happen?

You mean the same Tutberidze who gave Diana, Alina and Daria the same dress this season?

 

[Lechat]

Actually, what she said was that she feared getting injured because the kids kept bumping into her while she was trying to practice. Seems like a rather reasonable complaint to me. If she feels like she wasn‘t receiving enough attention - also fair, although she‘s sadly finding herself in an even worse situation right now.

Anyway, it‘s perfectly possible she made a mistake in her coaching change. I for one am not an Eteri fan whatsoever but I am sure she would never have showed this stunning lack of professionalism like Plushenko currently does. I just find the gloating and condemning by certain users with obvious (and personally unacknowledged biases) ridiculous. As much as they like to pretend otherwise, they have no idea about Aliona‘s personal reasons, other than what‘s stated in interviews, personal speculation and what they read off some gossip sites/forums on the internet.

Sure it’s not a confortable situation but it’s not like she totally blowed the season. She medalled in each competition and she had health issue. Changing her program now maybe not the most recommended thing to do But I do like this program more.

 

[Scott512]

Even more than Alyona's botched combo, I was surprised by lvl2 step sequence and Plushenko's apparent lack of interest in K&C.
From prima in "Khrustalnyi" to fifth wheel in "Angels". Life is art of making choices indeed.

EDIT: reportedly, after the skate she said "after today, there is no tomorrow."

To hear the emotion in aliona's voice is very raw and very upsetting. But this is sports and this is life.

Also brakes how could Aliona be the fifth wheel at PA? Does Sasha take up 4 wheels?

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

You mean the same Tutberidze who gave Diana, Alina and Daria the same dress this season?
View attachment 3315View attachment 3316View attachment 3317

Unrelated but does anyone know when that picture of Alina was taken? I don't recall having seen her anywhere near Kulikova or Paramonova this season.