2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[halulupu]

Oh also, I doubt they will give Nugumanova a National Team place next year. It's just too crowded already.

This season we had six ladies plus 3 reserves.

Next season we will have:

Zagitova
Medvedeva
Shcherbakova
Trusova
Kostornaia
Valieva
Usacheva
Khromykh
Tuktamysheva

That's nine already. And then we have Sinitsyna, and Samodurova who still is high in the World rankings list.

I don't see any room for Nugumanova in there I'm afraid.

What are zagitova and zhenya doing there? Nugi should get her well deserved spot

 

[MaggieLin]

Really? I am usually not a fan of Team Tutberidze choreography, but I thought the free program was one of their better works. Especially in the beginning the jumps were very well timed to the music, Akatieva expressed every change in the music beautifully, the transitions, which often feel out of context in TT choreos suddenly had entries or exists matching to the music, so they didn't feel random anymore (maybe not the cantilever), there was a change in the spin to the music which I thought was well done... I really enjoyed that program. The short program was also enjoyable.
I think she is still a bit reserved, but her musicality is great and I like that her programs have a lighter mood.

Akatieva indeed performed the program really well today. It looked much better comparing to the beginning of the season - that's why I think she has loads of potential. The choreography is definitely not bad for a novice girl, but I hope they'll go for a more mature music next season as she'll be a junior. (she skates so maturally, sometimes I forget she's still in novice!)

 

[Magill]

There is also Guliakova and some others but I don't think they get spots. Samodurova potentially will get reserve because she is still ranked 10th in the world. That will change some after World's but not a lot..many many many beneath her aren't making it to World's either.

EDIT: With Alina I think THEY asked and insisted she stay on rather than she asked. I do think if she asked they would give it to her (at least reserve). Even with all the younger skaters moving to seniors no one other than Med has her star power. (Although that might change some depending on what Anna and Sasha do at World's but even still it's World's not the OLYMPICS.) I mean look at the Channel 1 Cup - Kamila turned in an OGM worthy skate - at the level none of the others can match (currently) and it was almost overshadowed by the Alina/Evgenia drama.

Oh, no matter how good a skate, it is never as good as a good drama, y'know!

 

[Jontor]

I've been looking at Russian Nationals and it seems the toughest competition ever must have been in 2019, the one when Shcherbakova won her first National title.

The whole top 12 scored over 199 points.
Leonova in 12th place with 199.52 would have placed 6th in 2020 and 9th in 2021.

But it's even more impressive when you look at the ladies who wasn't there. The Russian Cup qualifying was brutal back then.
Radionova was injured and Tuktamysheva got pneumonia, so Nugumanova (201+196) and Vasilieva (203+193) got called in as alternates.

These girls didn't make it from the Russian Cup with these scores:

Ksenia Sinitsyna 188+199
Elizaveta Shilenko 187+193
Serafima Sakhanovich 185+191
Anastasia Gracheva 191+183
Ksenia Tsibinova 189+176
Alina Solovieva 186+171
Natalia Ogoreltseva 179+181
Anastasia Kolomiets 180+166

In comparison, the year after in 2020, the last person qualifying for RusNats was Anastasia Gracheva with the scores 170+165

And this year it was Arina Onishchenko with the scores 149+155, but that's not comparable because of you know what...

 

[Mawwerg]

Is flanker banned?

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

Akatieva indeed performed the program really well today. It looked much better comparing to the beginning of the season - that's why I think she has loads of potential. The choreography is definitely not bad for a novice girl, but I hope they'll go for a more mature music next season as she'll be a junior. (she skates so maturally, sometimes I forget she's still in novice!)

Hm... I actually had the complete opposite route in mind! Obviously I don't want anything childish, but I don't know if I'd give Akatieva "mature" music yet. I think this Mulan free skate, if the step sequence was tweaked a bit, is a perfect program for her at this age. It gives her room to breathe, is built to the music and isn't too dramatic to the point where it drowns her out. I would definitely suggest switching the SP though, she does it well enough but it's kind of lackluster (not to mention the fact that Marin Honda used this music before and now any other program with this music pales in comparison) and doesn't bring out Akatieva's strengths that much.

 

[PaulE]

And now for something slightly off topic. I just clicked on YouTube to see what their algorithm might offer me to watch and one of the first page offerings was a video of Kamila Valieva at 5 years old. I really like her costume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QViJduIx7Is

 

[Fantik]

You keep missing the points of my comments!
First I was talking about Aliona's career taking the same DIRECTION as Sasha Cohen because they are similar in how they are handling their skating careers. You replied Aliona is more talented and skilled than Cohen. Who cares if she's more skilled than Cohen when her talents are going to waste?! The conversation was about where her career was going, not who's more talented.

You talked about Aliona has "mastery of the blades", I said based on the skaters that I watched she doesn't deserve that title.

Yes Patrick is a Canadian man and he's the gold standard for me and a lot of people in skating skills. When there are skaters like Patrick Chan and Daiuske Takahashi, it's ridiculous to claim Aliona has mastery of blades. She needs far more practice and training to DESERVE that title.

Yes, just like Cohen Aliona switched coaches at the very important juncture in her career. But it's not it, well... not just it. Aliona's body changed. I suspect that most of her energy went into fighting with the aforementioned changes, and the aftermath of the illness. Precious little was left for innovation and it was the innovation, combined with the superior mastery of the blade that had hoisted Kotornaia to the FS Olympus to begin with. IMO.

 

[katymay]

Hm... I actually had the complete opposite route in mind! Obviously I don't want anything childish, but I don't know if I'd give Akatieva "mature" music yet. I think this Mulan free skate, if the step sequence was tweaked a bit, is a perfect program for her at this age. It gives her room to breathe, is built to the music and isn't too dramatic to the point where it drowns her out. I would definitely suggest switching the SP though, she does it well enough but it's kind of lackluster (not to mention the fact that Marin Honda used this music before and now any other program with this music pales in comparison) and doesn't bring out Akatieva's strengths that much.

I think both programs are too old for her. The short seems borderline inappropriate, and the long is stodgy and boring to me. I think Team Eteri can do better-Anna, Sasha and Aliona had wonderful junior programs and junior music, most of those programs and music very memorable. (And no, I never minded Trusova's Sweet Charity program). I hope they find something more exciting and distinctive for next year.

 

[MaggieLin]

Hm... I actually had the complete opposite route in mind! Obviously I don't want anything childish, but I don't know if I'd give Akatieva "mature" music yet. I think this Mulan free skate, if the step sequence was tweaked a bit, is a perfect program for her at this age. It gives her room to breathe, is built to the music and isn't too dramatic to the point where it drowns her out. I would definitely suggest switching the SP though, she does it well enough but it's kind of lackluster (not to mention the fact that Marin Honda used this music before and now any other program with this music pales in comparison) and doesn't bring out Akatieva's strengths that much.

Haha, by "mature" music I certainly don't mean overly dramatic or age-inappropriate In fact, I actually think this music choice is a bit "too age-appropriate", if I expressed myself clearly - so many novice little girls all around the world skated to Mulan this year (of course none of them at the level of Akatieva). I kinda foresaw this happening, obviously, with the premiere of the Disney movie. (I remember loads of little girls skated to Frozen around 2014, even Gracie Gold used it for EX.) I just wish they'd chosen something more special for her

And I agree with the SP - Marin skated it so well!

 

[Scott512]

Yes, I'm sure Zhenya will try hard next season. I remember after 2018 Olympics she said she won't give up and that she will get the gold next time. But, assuming Russia has three spots for Olympics, I find it very hard for Zhenya to grab that 3rd spot. She needs to beat four Eteri girls, Kostornaia and Trusova, and Tuktamysheva. The tech she had when she won her Worlds doesn't cut it anymore, and her tech has not been getting any better, it has in fact gotten worse. She is a PCS skater, but you can't rely on that.

All that said, I wonder if Zhenya has revised her Olympic dreams. Maybe she has realised it's not very probable anymore...or maybe she has not...

She wants to compete she wants to be healthy she wants to go to Grand Prix events and challengers. Zhenya is hungry. But will her body hold up? She may have doubts that she can make the Olympic team. So what?
I say if she gets healthy let her skate as many events as possible and see where her game is after missing an entire season. Definitely a tough road but if Zhenya to take that road I support her.

We know who the top 3 are who are the odds on favorites to make the Olympic team. But I think 1 or 2 of those girls may not go to worlds and then you have the 4th and 5th girls ready for that event. I can see that happening.

She may not be able to match the top 3 girls could I could definitely see a journey of the and competitive with Liza and alliona if she doesn't have her 3A back.

 

[Minz]

There is also Guliakova and some others but I don't think they get spots. Samodurova potentially will get reserve because she is still ranked 10th in the world. That will change some after World's but not a lot..many many many beneath her aren't making it to World's either.

EDIT: With Alina I think THEY asked and insisted she stay on rather than she asked. I do think if she asked they would give it to her (at least reserve). Even with all the younger skaters moving to seniors no one other than Med has her star power. (Although that might change some depending on what Anna and Sasha do at World's but even still it's World's not the OLYMPICS.) I mean look at the Channel 1 Cup - Kamila turned in an OGM worthy skate - at the level none of the others can match (currently) and it was almost overshadowed by the Alina/Evgenia drama.

I don’t really think that World Rankings is going to make a huge difference. According to the ISU Website. Kamila Valieva is 38th and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is 11th. And we know that Kamila can probably beat a lot of the ladies in the top 10. The world rankings are based on 3 seasons’ of competition data. They don’t reflect the most up to date information especially at the rate that the sport is moving now

 

[Skatesocs]

Is flanker banned?

He'll be back, I think. I was confused why Blades of Passion didn't post anything about Russia Cup Final, but I think he was temp banned too We need the dramatic fights!

 

[Lzbee]

I don’t really think that World Rankings is going to make a huge difference. According to the ISU Website. Kamila Valieva is 38th and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is 11th. And we know that Kamila can probably beat a lot of the ladies in the top 10. The world rankings are based on 3 seasons’ of competition data. They don’t reflect the most up to date information especially at the rate that the sport is moving now

Top 24 in World ranking are guaranteed one GP spot if they're submitted iirc.

 

[NaVi]

Zhuk Memorial Nationals start in the middle of next week:

* https://fsrussia.ru/sorevnovaniya/5...-chikov-i-devochek-mladshij-vozrast-2021.html
* https://allskaters.info/competition/2020-2021/pervenstvo-rossii-ml-vz/

Here are the results from the qualifiers:
* https://allskaters.info/competition/2020-2021/pervenstvo-moskvy-ml-vz/
* https://allskaters.info/competition/2020-2021/pervenstvo-spb-ml/
* https://allskaters.info/competition/2020-2021/pervenstvo-rossii-ufo-pfo/
* https://allskaters.info/competition/2020-2021/tsfo-szfo-ufo-skfo/
* https://allskaters.info/competition/2020-2021/pervenstvo-rossii-sfo-dfo/

I find this interesting as the younger age group would have been about 4 years old at the most when the Sochi Olympics occurred and the older group would have been about 6 years old at the most.

 

[Minz]

Top 24 in World ranking are guaranteed one GP spot if they're submitted iirc.

True, but then that means Valieva isn’t guaranteed a single GP spot as she’s currently ranked 38th. Even if she gets a host spot at Rostelecom, she has no chance at the GPF

 

[Skatesocs]

True, but then that means Valieva isn’t guaranteed a single GP spot as she’s currently ranked 38th. Even if she gets a host spot at Rostelecom, she has no chance at the GPF

She'll get two.

 

[RatedPG]

Does anybody know what Eteri said to Adeliya after her free skate? She was kind of scolded harshly by Eteri. Even I was scared a bit of Eteri and I’m not part of Sambo 70. I live in another country. Adeliya is my favourite skater and she exceeded my expectations with a 2nd at National and 3rd at Russian Cup. I was happy with her performance. It wasn’t as good as Nationals, but, still solid. Just curious.

Also, Sofia and Eteri had an interesting word exchange. I think in that case, they were joking. I wish I could speak Russian to understand.

 

[Skatesocs]

Does anybody know what Eteri said to Adeliya after her free skate? She was kind of scolded harshly by Eteri. Even I was scared a bit of Eteri and I’m not part of Sambo 70. I live in another country. Adeliya is my favourite skater and she exceeded my expectations with a 2nd at National and 3rd at Russian Cup. I was happy with her performance. It wasn’t as good as Nationals, but, still solid. Just curious.

Also, Sofia and Eteri had an interesting word exchange. I think in that case, they were joking. I wish I could speak Russian to understand.

She says she didn’t emote enough, and that Adelia was doubting herself. She also said that there were some moves she „threw away“ without doing them properly (about her knee slide), and that she was too focused on technical elements and didn’t perform enough, that program should have both (performance and technical aspect).

She had much better jumps in the warm up, so I guess the nerves got to her.

 

[Tonight's the Night]

Does anybody know what Eteri said to Adeliya after her free skate? She was kind of scolded harshly by Eteri. Even I was scared a bit of Eteri and I’m not part of Sambo 70. I live in another country. Adeliya is my favourite skater and she exceeded my expectations with a 2nd at National and 3rd at Russian Cup. I was happy with her performance. It wasn’t as good as Nationals, but, still solid. Just curious.

Also, Sofia and Eteri had an interesting word exchange. I think in that case, they were joking. I wish I could speak Russian to understand.

OK there's the Adeliya conversation in the previous post, and here's a translation of the Sonya conversation, also from our very own Nussnacker:

Sofia Akateva

Sofia filming some other ad for Flysport together with Arseniy Fedotov: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLU0XH8JqDl/

www.goldenskate.com