2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[nussnacker]

Actually, this is the first time all 3 of Maiia, Daria and Kamila are on the podium together (after turning junior, I think they shared podiums as novices).
Of course, it doesn’t mean all that much, since Sasha and Anna would totally keep 2/3 out of podium.

but with 2 quads Maiia actually has a chance to make it to Olympics, at least she will be in consideration together with Anna, Sasha and Kamila.
Also Kamila not being clean here and falling 2 times keeps things interesting. Obviously it is because she went for that insanely difficult content, but she showed us she’s still a human (I was starting to doubt that!)

After all, none of the girls can be consistent with their contents all the time, which is why selection for Olympics next year is going to be so tough and exciting at the same time.
Though, I wish that Russia just had more spots...

 

[Novalis]

Why do you think trying it out makes no sense? Now's as good a time as ever isn't it, in a meaningless competition. The next time she'll have this experience under her belt, and can make use of it. What if she had not tried it and had skated a safe program cleanly? Then she'd be trying this layout for the first time next season, most likely in some important competition like a senior GP event. Isn't it better to try now and have the entire summer to use the information to their advantage?

This. Very much this.

This was precisely the right moment to go for the olympic season level layout. Very little to lose. Move forward! She's had little time to practise it, but she said after the skate that she's been nailing it in practise already. So definitely give it a go! I loved that she was in good spirits afterwards. Onwards and upwards

 

[Novalis]

Liza Berestovskaya is indeed the most charming and adorable skater in recent years. Everything about her reminds me incredibly of little Elena Radionova, playing fun and all kinds of characters in different programs. They catch your heart even if you know absolutely nothing about figure skating. You know they both love, love the sport from the bottom of their heart.

Yes, Lena Radionova is who I see in little Liza as well

 

[nussnacker]

This. Very much this.

This was precisely the right moment to go for the olympic season level layout. Very little to lose. Move forward! She's had little time to practise it, but she said after the skate that she's been nailing it in practise already. So definitely give it a go! I loved that she was in good spirits afterwards. Onwards and upwards

It took her 2 competitions to start landing 3A, and she’s landed every single one since. Quite incredible, and her 3A fall happened to be at a very important competition, but her trying it out still made sense even then.
this competition meant nothing, so trying out 4S definitely was worth it.

 

[alexocfp]

She's also added to the Russian Nationals WIkipedia page:

2021 Russian Figure Skating Championships - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Anybody can edit that.

I want official word. Not counting my chickens before they hatch.

I need a paper bag to breath into. Haha

 

[Novalis]

It took her 2 competitions to start landing 3A, and she’s landed every single one since. Quite incredible, and her 3A fall happened to be at a very important competition, but her trying it out still made sense even then.
this competition meant nothing, so trying out 4S definitely made sense.

And doing a second half 4T. She's gonna need to do that. And she can

 

[chasingneverland]

Actually, this is the first time all 3 of Maiia, Daria and Kamila are on the podium together (after turning junior, I think they shared podiums as novices).
Of course, it doesn’t mean all that much, since Sasha and Anna would totally keep 2/3 out of podium.

but with 2 quads Maiia actually has a chance to make it to Olympics, at least she will be in consideration together with Anna, Sasha and Kamila.
Also Kamila not being clean here and falling 2 times keeps things interesting. Obviously it is because she went for that insanely difficult content, but she showed us she’s still a human (I was starting to doubt that!)

After all, none of the girls can be consistent with their contents all the time, which is why selection for Olympics next year is going to be so tough and exciting at the same time.
Though, I wish that Russia just had more spots...

There's a chance it would have happened this season at JGPF or Junior World's. Although Sofia A et al would have challenged that.

As seniors, Anna and Sasha can beat both Maiia and Daria.

And as for Kamila falling here, even with falls, only Sasha and Anna can beat that tech.

 

[Jontor]

Anybody can edit that.

I want official word. Not counting my chickens before they hatch.

I need a paper back to breath into. Haha

Yeah I know. And now she's been edited out.
Let's wait for the official word.

 

[icybear]

Can we now address how some people were saying last year that Rozanov was the quad master at Team Tut and how he was the one who trained the girls to learn 3a and quads. But Team tut is doing just fine without him. Kamila has solidified her 4t, learned a 3a, Maia has finally landed her quads, the junior girls are landing 3a and quads like crazy. People were saying how team tut were going to fall apart when he left. Maybe the other Sergei should be due more credit

 

[ruga]

Anybody can edit that.

I want official word. Not counting my chickens before they hatch.

I need a paper back to breath into. Haha

Even if RusFed doesn't say anything, I think full WC entries are coming soon, so all questions will be answered in the nearest future but Liza surely can buy her ticket to Sweden tonight.

 

[Scott512]

Right now she doesn't need to, even if Anna and Sasha upgrade a bit.

We agree. But I don't want to see EG make things too tough for kamila.
I mean they were playing around a bit today in terms of trying glass or trying that but that's also Risky Business.

 

[chasingneverland]

It took her 2 competitions to start landing 3A, and she’s landed every single one since. Quite incredible, and her 3A fall happened to be at a very important competition, but her trying it out still made sense even then.
this competition meant nothing, so trying out 4S definitely was worth it.

Eh, it wasn't that important a competition. It was RusNats but it had no effect on Kamila.

 

[chasingneverland]

Can we now address how some people were saying last year that Rozanov was the quad master at Team Tut and how he was the one who trained the girls to learn 3a and quads. But Team tut is doing just fine without him. Kamila has solidified her 4t, learned a 3a, Maia has finally landed her quads, the junior girls are landing 3a and quads like crazy. People were saying how team tut were going to fall apart when he left. Maybe the other Sergei should be due more credit

Anna solidified her 4F and added a combo to it in practice. And Daria and Anna are training other quads and 3As.

 

[chasingneverland]

We agree. But I don't want to see EG make things too tough for kamila.
I mean they were playing around a bit today in terms of trying glass or trying that but that's also Risky Business.

I think the past has shown Eteri will play relatively safe with their tech content only allowing them to perform relatively consistently what they can in meaningful competitions. She's held back both Anna and Sasha before. And she is with Anna right now. (It's partially why Sasha left.)

Eteri prefers them to be clean and consistent or at least landing relatively consistently in practice.

 

[Skater Boy]

I think the past has shown Eteri will play relatively safe with their tech content only allowing them to perform relatively consistently what they can in meaningful competitions. She's held back both Anna and Sasha before. And she is with Anna right now. (It's partially why Sasha left.)

Eteri prefers them to be clean and consistent or at least landing relatively consistently in practice.

 

[Fantik]

Queen Tut must be some kind of a genius! It's not enough that she churns out champs like hot potatoes, but that their skating styles are so versatile and dissimilar to one another. That said, I wish that other national teams come up to speed with the Russians. For no other reason than to render international competitions even more colorful.

 

[Skater Boy]

So does that mean by process of elimination ET gets the third spot for worlds? It says a lot that the "current' world champ and bronze medallists aren't competing/injured and Russia can't send their best because they are too young yet they still have a competitive team. If ET continues to regain her strength and 3A she could challenge for the bronze at worlds.

 

[chasingneverland]

Aliona is, unfortunately, out of the picture due to the "smart" decisions she has made for her skating career. Reading the comments here, I'm assuming a lot of people haven't watched Aliona's skating during the first half of the season, that's why they think her having been sick with COVID is the source of the problems. But really, looking at how she's been handling herself during the past year (I mean after GPF 2019), I've observed a lot of similarities between her and Sasha Cohen. So I'm not surprised to see her skating career is taking the same direction as Cohen.

However, Anna and Sasha are still in the conversation and can't be easily overtaken by Daria and Maiia. I'm quite optimistic regarding the longevity of this generation, specially Sasha. She has good technique on her jumps and Plushenko actually hit the nail on the head by bringing Morosov into their team. I think he's gonna help Sasha improve her artistic side as well.

We have. She was injured then though and changed coaches. COVID has only amplified it by giving her another setback..

 

[chasingneverland]

So does that mean by process of elimination ET gets the third spot for worlds? It says a lot that the "current' world champ and bronze medallists aren't competing/injured and Russia can't send their best because they are too young yet they still have a competitive team. If ET continues to regain her strength and 3A she could challenge for the bronze at worlds.

That's always been the case. And has been for years - with not just Russia. (Although just in Russia, Adelina, Yulia, Evgenia, Polia, Alina, Alena, Anna, Sasha, etc all were among the best Russia had to offer a year or two before they were age eligible...) This isn't new....

And you're crazy if you think regardless of age restrictions, sending Anna and Sasha to World's isn't sending your best. Anna and Sasha have the tech (plus the PCS) to match and compete with the best that Russia has to offer even regardless of age restrictions..and other than the year the 3A were juniors Russia is still sending some of their top three skaters..

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It's good for Russia to have Liza on the team. It will still be the first Worlds for Anna and Sasha, so it's advantageous to have an experienced skater like Liza competing in case one of the others struggles. If she skates like she did this weekend, Liza can fend off the women without a 3A/quad and finish in the top 5, which is probably bad for countries like the US who need a high placement to get back a third spot.