2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[flanker]

A good learning experience for Anna is that she didn't panic after missing the combo, even though she only had 1 chance to put it in or else she'd Zayak. I think she thought the gold was gone when she fell on her 4F (given her reaction in the K&C), she looked the most relax I've seen her in the first half of the program which actually made in more beautiful like she was taking her time with everything. The second half was much better at nationals, though, because she had so much more attack there. I hope she can find a good mix of both in the future.

And now that the season is over, I really hope Anna gets some amazing choreography next season. The best part of her programs this season is the joy on her face before the steps in the FS. I loved her Perfume, but please no more dark programs. Her smile is so radiant and she comes alive with it. I really want something upbeat for the short and an intense tango or classical piece that builds a lot in the end. I'm over the generic lyrical pieces, she needs to show off her musicality.

Anna's performance at Nationals was perfect to me (even though she herself admitted she put some details off). I like the change of the music they did from the original version, because that way I could see precisely the radiant Anna that shines throughout the all arena. It wasn't on that level this time, but from the evident reasons. No other choero definitely didn't make any impression to me today, yes, probably because of the overall level of the competition, but that's it, it shouldn't be judged by how it looks when all the things don't go the best way.

Also I don't think we will see much changes in the creating process, because "why changing things that work". Because some people on GS or on particular youtube channels grumble? As soon as there will be medals and titles I don't think they will start to do different choreos or use the services of "foreign specialists" that proved themselves with some other russian girls right?

 

[colormyworld240]

Also I don't think we will see much changes in the creating process, because "why changing things that work". Because some people on GS or on particular youtube channels grumble? As soon as there will be medals and titles I don't think they will start to do different choreos or use the services of "foreign specialists" that proved themselves with some other russian girls right?

But this isn't the only choreography that worked for Anna. Her Firebird performance was great, won her many medals, and was a much better program. As was her Rondo. And I'll always remember that sassy novice program she did.

And when Anna posts on instagram of her dancing, it's always something more upbeat.

 

[NAOTMAA]

If Trusova was in the final skating group how much higher do people think her free skate score would have been if at all?

 

[Amei]

Sasha
Get the girl a sports psychologist and force her to reduce her damn quads to 3 so she can skate two CLEAN programs for once, then you would have had her go home with a Gold Medal today Plushy.
In the pres conference she said at the Olympics she wants to jump 5 quads... She clearly never learns. But shouldn't her coaches or parents?.. anybody? I'll hate to see the greatest athlete female FS has ever had to go down as never having won a mayor international gold in her senior career cause of stubbornness and mismanagement..

The mistake in the SP wasn't on a quad and considering she has been doing quads for years and this was 1 of the few times that she's made that type of error on a triple in the SP unless she says her quad preparation caused the error I think it's more likely a mental problem (yes, on the sports psychologist for her).

Regarding the 5 quads at the Olympics - today is not the day for a coach to go to her and argue against the 5 quads, she has a Worlds bronze today in large part because she attempted 5 quads.

 

[renebaebae]

wowwww I just watched the free skate and although that was a generally disappointing free skate I'm so happy for Trusova!!!!! I was so mad after her TES dropped so much but then I kept watching everyone after her skate and place under her. I was so happy when she got to top 5, I thought she would be happy with that. I can't actually believe she podiumed after that short!! Truly amazing!! Although I think that if she had gone with 3 quads, she'd have won the comp. Can she take out that darn quad sal???!!!!! It's literally not the jump for her. Pls figure skating Godssssss help.

 

[silveruskate]

After this, I still keep Valieva as 1st on most likely to get an Olympic spot and Anna 2nd. Sasha however isn't 3rd anymore in my books. GPF SP 3A miss, Euros 2020 2A step-out, Worlds 2021 combo miss.

If she tries her 5 quads at Nationals next year, a lot of skaters could snatch it from her if she performs like this. And I bet, even if she makes 3rd place they might not give it to her. If she makes 1st then definitely, but even if she's 2nd, I bet they'll test her at the Europeans and switch her out if she isn't up to standard.

It makes me quite sad because from Sasha's words she wants 5 quads and no one will change her mind. As long as it makes her happy.

 

[chasingneverland]

If Trusova was in the final skating group how much higher do people think her free skate score would have been if at all?

Not. She got a 66 in PCS. Even with 3 clean quads out of 5, she's "only" scores about 160-162 internationally. And here she only had one completely clean quad.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I haven't seen the performances yet, but just going by the protocols, I have to wonder -- where is this sport headed. Alexandra Trusova wins the free program by staying upright on 60% of her big elements while getting mediocre GOEs and program components. But she threw so much at the wall that something was bound to stick, plus everyone else left a lot on the table, too.

Half of a lot beats two-thirds of nothing, I guess.

That's how I felt initially, too. But her total of 217 could have been topped by at least 6 other women here. A skater with no successful quad beat her by 15 points. The kitchen sink strategy works especially well when no one else delivers.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

If Trusova was in the final skating group how much higher do people think her free skate score would have been if at all?

Not by much, I don't think. Her PCS was already too high and her program would not have looked better skating alongside Rika, Kaori, and Anna.

 

[Scott512]

I don't think she knew it, based on her reaction in the K&C. And you can see Daniil talking to her for a while, probably explaining the situation.

On that topic, I don't think it's a good idea to change her layout based on how others skated, and I really hope her team didn't tell her to. It's 5 minutes before you skate and the perfect way to disrupt your mental preparation, that would be very bad coaching, imo. The only think a skater should worry about right before going on the ice is themselves, thinking about what each skater did before you then changing your plans with no time for mental prep is just asking for disaster.

True about not wanting to mess up a skater's head let them go on and think of what they have to do and get done. I suppose Anna did not need the added pressure of just don't have a disaster and you're the worlds gold medalist..

 

[NAOTMAA]

That's how I felt initially, too. But her total of 217 could have been topped by at least 6 other women here. A skater with no successful quad beat her by 15 points. The kitchen sink strategy works especially well when no one else delivers.

Anna was dead even with her in the free skate! A fall and no quad or 3A yet still scored pretty much dead even. And all it took was the old fashioned 7 triples 2 double axels and some beautifully performed in between elements to match the kitchen sink score wise. I guess the full package still counts for something

 

[chasingneverland]

The mistake in the SP wasn't on a quad and considering she has been doing quads for years and this was 1 of the few times that she's made that type of error on a triple in the SP unless she says her quad preparation caused the error I think it's more likely a mental problem (yes, on the sports psychologist for her).

Regarding the 5 quads at the Olympics - today is not the day for a coach to go to her and argue against the 5 quads, she has a Worlds bronze today in large part because she attempted 5 quads.

The thing is if she had gone for 2 or 3 quads she actually would probably have done better.

 

[chasingneverland]

That's how I felt initially, too. But her total of 217 could have been topped by at least 6 other women here. A skater with no successful quad beat her by 15 points. The kitchen sink strategy works especially well when no one else delivers.

A 3A-less Aliona could have beaten that. I miss Aliona...

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

The thing is if she had gone for 2 or 3 quads she actually would probably have done better.

Maybe. But it's not like she missed the last 2 or 3. She nailed the first, fell on the second, nailed the third, fell on the fourth, and stayed on her feet on the fifth. If there were only some way she could do the odd-numbered quads.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

A 3A-less Aliona could have beaten that. I miss Aliona...

2019-20 Alena would have torn this competition to shreds.

 

[Magill]

2019-20 Alena would have torn this competition to shreds.

Still this competition would surely be a different competition in 2019/2020...

 

[NAOTMAA]

The thing is if she had gone for 2 or 3 quads she actually would probably have done better.

She lost to Liza buy some 3 points. If she had done her Russian nationals layout, and done it cleanly as she is capable of, she would have won silver. Her sloppy program with 5 attempted cost her one step higher on the podium.

I'm surprised she didn't perform better in the free. Considering she was in 12th place, with virtually no chance at gold, I thought it would relax her nerves and help her to just go for it and therefore be cleaner. Instead she performed pretty much no different then when she is in gold contention. It was weird that even in distant 12th place she couldn't let it go and perform with any sense of freedom. But I guess she isn't wired that way

 

[flanker]

A 3A-less Aliona could have beaten that. I miss Aliona...

That's not a good comparison. 3A-less Aliona didn't qualify there in the first place and nothing she delivered this season would make her a champion here. She also didn't skate at the conditions the ladies in Stockholm did and making comparisons between competitions at nearly ideal conditions and this doesn't give much sense. It could turn out for her like for Rika for instance. Claiming she could have beaten that can be also easily defeated by other hypothetical scenario where Anna was skating like at nationals, but that is all irrelevant.

 

[macy]

i think this likely makes Anna a lock for the team next year, but i'm not sure about the rest. i'm about 95% sure this was Liza's last worlds and despite the amazing feat she pulled off today, her skating is still extremely beatable by at least 3 other Russian ladies. Trusova also proved again she is a total wildcard even though she came away with a (very lucky) medal here because others faltered. i almost wonder if Plushenko doesn't exactly have much of an action plan with her either...it seemed they were much more focused on PCS at the beginning of the season and it was back to the jumps by RusNats. i don't think either of them are looking like a lock at this point.

i think Anna was likely very tired here (probably same with Trusova), especially after dealing with covid/pneumonia and the after effects. it's been a very very long and strange season for all of these girls and i'm sure they are glad to put it behind them.

 

[chasingneverland]

2019-20 Alena would have torn this competition to shreds.

Yeah that's not really fair though because a 2019-2020 Anna and Sasha were better too - both of them would have torn this competition to shreds as well.