Final Cup of Russia

[anonymoose_au]

Right, well, after all that excitement I have to turn in. I have work tomorrow.

Good luck to the dancers, pairs and ladies! Cheers for them all!

Goodnight all

 

[rollerblade]

I know this is a radical suggestion, but they might give one of the girls the spot

No, give it to Pairs!

 

[Kittosuni]

They will probably send Aliev just because of experience and PCS reputation.

no ways the youngsters are going to get the same PCS at worlds even with a hit routine

 

[norwegianfairytale]

They can send Samarin at this rate

I think if the girls had the same content they would likely be falling all over the place, too. Be gentle on the poor kids. They get compared to the girls so often.

I know they are trying the best, but sometimes we ought to have fun in this forum. Of course I would not joke about this in front of them. I respect them fully for the work they do, all though sometimes I like to make fun of such disaster moments.

 

[Baron Vladimir]

RusFed probably really really wants to send Aliev. But he was only 3rd here, I can't see it happen.

He won free here, and he is a current European champion, so they might send him after all.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

But Aliev won the free.... so it won‘t be too far fetched that they send him. However they did overscore him greatly...
Watching how Mika did the same mistake as Dima, i don‘t see this team this year being able to grab 3 places for Oly. Dima needs time to get in shape and be health again, Mika needs time to stabilise his jumps with Mishin help (this can not be done just in a couple of month, hence the „two years plan“.

 

[YuBluByMe]

The only way RusFed gets a third spot is with Aliev - in form . But he took himself out of the equation and he’s clearly not in form and none of the other guys are top 10 material.

So send Semeneko. That was a decisive win.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

They are top 10 material, a lot of them, if they hit. But if they don‘t, it will be even difficult to keep 2 places...so yeah... the decision won‘t pe easy.

 

[Skatesocs]

Ill put it like this: if this is because Rusfed wants 3 spots, I think the main issue is that both are relatively inexperienced, unlike Dima. Not like it protects Dima from a disaster skate, but he at least is recognized internationally.
Dima would have some PCS cushion, not sure it would be the case for Semenenko and Kondratyuk.

I know this is how RusFed's mind works. But I wouldn't say Aliev is going to be saved by the judges for a disaster skate - that 91 PCS is a Russia-exclusive special. His PCS at EC2020 was much lower with a clean program, and it was much harder technically, to boot. Anyway, we will see.

 

[elektra blue]

While you at it, take these loose bits of fabric of his shoulders as well!

that's the first thing that has to go, even before his wild hair

P.S.: i'm back just to see that everyone wanted to send Dima to Sweden. anyway Semenenko won, he also was pretty solid in almost every of his outing (but where it mattered the most, like Nationals, as any other good russian man would do) i think he should go, thing is he's kind of new internationally so he surely would be lawballed in pcs Dima on the other hand is anywhere near his best competition shape. what an hard choice

 

[rollerblade]

But Aliev won the free.... so it won‘t be too far fetched that they send him. However they did overscore him greatly...
Watching how Mika did the same mistake as Dima, i don‘t see this team this year being able to grab 3 places for Oly.

1A* is indeed a huge thorn.

I know the same duo achieved regaining 3 spots in 2018, but that was a post-Olympic worlds. This season though? It's kinda doubtful, given Aliev's conditioning, as well as Kolyada's recent neck pains(?)

 

[AlimaAsh]

Congratulations Zhenya! He clearly looked happy. He won his last two competitions with big gaps, so maybe that could push him for Worlds? I am not sure though, I think they might send Aliev anyway. I think he will probably move to seniors next season to try for a spot at the Olympics. It's a shame he didn't have a proper junior career though with his injuries.

Well done Petya! He did well. I thought it was weird that Yagudin complained about Petya having a bad skate like everyone else with under rotations and falls... when he literally fell once, and rotated that jump.

This may be unpopular, but I was genuinely frustrated when Savosin's jumps had such low GOE for genuinely good exits after Aliev got really high GOEs for some rough ones. I think they really pushed Aliev – I get why, but still, it left me a bit frustrated. But I mean, it was a thing across the board of some frustrating scoring sometimes. I am glad Aliev had a good skate though, especially after getting sick with COVID. I hope he heals fully and is ready to fight next season. There are even more men trying for the Olympic spot than the Worlds spot here.

I am saddened for Andrei. He started so well, but it seems like something went wrong. He had quite a few URs here and on the Team Event, I swear he didn't UR jumps so much before though? I hope he takes a really good rest and heals if there is anything to heal.

I am still impressed by Mark. Most guys here did pretty well in the beginning, but popped or fell at the last jumps, but he actually kept going with triple triples. The way he manages to save the wonkiest jumps as well is just crazy – the first jump was so off axis though that even he couldn't save it.

I must rewatch Artem K's program when he lands everything! I really love the way he presents the program, it was a joy to watch despite the frustrating falls at the end. He had the best skate of the night for me.

Overall, a bit of a frustrating competition, with many, if not all, not being able to deliver to their greatest potential. It is probably fair to say that many are tired or even injured after quite a long season though, so it is understandable. And also the nerves – unlike the other fields where it is more clear who will get the spots, in men – most men could feel nervous because they knew if everything went well, they can get the ticket.

 

[Kittosuni]

With how everyone performed here there is really no compeling basis why the winner should be sent to worlds instead of Aliev.

Both are inconsistent
Semenko having no international reputation means no way he is close to getting those PCS even with a hit routine while Aliev get pretty good PCS even with a splatfest skate.
Aliev winning the Free here.
Aliev raining Euro champ.
Aliev with tons of experience.

Objectively speaking I dont really see any upside of why Semenenko should be sent over Aliev.

 

[nussnacker]

I know this is how RusFed's mind works. But I wouldn't say Aliev is going to be saved by the judges for a disaster skate - that 91 PCS is a Russia-exclusive special. His PCS at EC2020 was much lower with a clean program, and it was much harder technically, to boot. Anyway, we will see.

I don’t think he’ll get 91, but I think Semenenko and Kondratyuk would score even lower in PCS.
Though, I also think Rusfed needs to start building younger skaters up right now too. Looking at how Shun Sato and Kagiyama are slowly becoming more and more prominent, I think rusfed needs to start thinking about international reputation of this new crop of men.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

Health?

 

[rollerblade]

Haha, now I understand the costume change. They can't have Semenenko go on the podium wearing Weathered Mithril .

 

[AlimaAsh]

That's quite cute and nice! Tatyana Mishina is awarded a medal for preparing the winner.

 

[elektra blue]

sweet granny got a medal too! did Semenenko kiss her hand? you should, boys she's a queen

 

[Dawn825]

I suspect ISU might decide to not assign spots based on these worlds.

That would be wild, since they're forcing everyone to go based on the fact that they've said it will determine Olympic spots.

 

[Baron Vladimir]

The other possibility is to send only Kolyada expecting to medal there and that will bring them 3 spots. But knowing how Kolayda is skating under pressure...