2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[silveruskate]

I actually hope everyone's going to be on their best behaviour because it's Olympic season and there won't be any drama (until Nationals and Olympics when it will all go nuclear).

 

[chasingneverland]

Yes, I have read your other posts. She never landed the 4F this year because she never attempted it. The 4S is beautiful but I don't think it makes sense to include it because it's highly inconsistent for her. That said, I don't think it's necessarily the types of quads she does, it's the number of quads. I'm pretty sure it would be very difficult for her even if she was only doing two 4Lz and two 4T (obviously some in combination).

Considering that she was injured and therefore unable to practice either the 4F or the 4S (or the 3A for that matter) for awhile, I also think that played a role in their consistency as well. And she's been inconsistent on all 3 jumps even before injury. Her 4Lz and 4T ARE more consistent.

Also she CAN'T do both two 4Lz AND two 4T's. She'll Zayak. You're only allowed to repeat one quad (one in combo) and one triple (one in combo) (or two triples.) So she HAS to do either two 4Lz's, one 4T, one 4F, and one 4S OR two 4T's, one 4Lz, one 4F, and one 4S to bring her total to 5 quads. So actually she HAS to do the 4S AND the 4F, if she's determined to do 5 quads. Even if she does 4 quads, she HAS to do either the 4F (which she's getting edge calls on now but is worth more) or the 4S (which is inconsistent). As both the 4Lz and 4Ts are more stable, she backloads both and the 4Lz is worth more so she that's the one she chooses to repeat. But backloading them increases the chances that she misses them because she's more tired and then struggling to get the rotation in - and when she under-rotates them even if she doesn't fall she actually loses points compared to if she were to do her 3F+1Eu+3S and 3Lz+3T/3Lz+3Lo and 3Lz in the bonus section. So actually bringing in more quads DOES change the type of quads AND the layout she's forced to do.

 

[chasingneverland]

Anna is not always super composed, here's her fangirling over Nathan and Yuzu:

https://twitter.com/_mariaaaa18/status/1375879532964634625

I mean..I would have the same reaction haha.

 

[chasingneverland]

Hope Aliona and Sasha get 3As because I love their skating and I am biased

Sasha already technically has one - it's just not consistent.

 

[chasingneverland]

An interesting observation and, I guess, you are right. There is a famous "Zhenya's move" - a half turn with the straight leg up. She dropped it with Borser but then brought it back. There is Alina's 2A charlotte entry, Sasha has her cantilever that she keeps with Plushy, etc.

For me it makes sense as one of the popular criticism to diminish what Eteri has been doing is saying that all her skaters are "look alike robots". And I think that nothing is far from the reality than this as she tries to find ways to make all of them different and to play to their individual strengths. I think that she has been doing a terrific job there.

But saying that I see the challenge for her to not only keep them all standing out in their own way but also to bring serious changes to their programs every year. This seems to be an extremely big challenge that can be best overcome by upgrading their jump content and changing the jumps entries. But once again, I don't see it as a big issue. People here went mad when Zhenya brought a 911 program. The first outcry was about the topic and the voices but the second one was about her doing the same routine as in "hear - not hear". I won't comment on the first one but as for the second one, although there were basically the same elements in the same order I had no problem with that. The mood was different - her interpretaion was different, there were variations in the steps. For me there were 2 different programs by a genius skater.

OK, I will sum up my point. I see a number of challenges in the months to come. Anna who is a champ and a clear leader now, Kamila who is a superstar and beat Anna at TV1 event, Maia with quads who might get stronger, Alyona who returned "home" who was supposedly "the best skater in the world" last season, the last but not least Darya who is for me the best skater in Russia without ultra-C jumps and who has become very stable. That's 5 already. Then you have Zhenya and Alina with the unclear motivation to go on or not. That's 7. The biggest challenge is to manage them to avoid conflicts and psychological meltdowns, to prepare them to their best possible shape when it will matter most. The second biggest challenge is to guide them through puberty - I think there will be tough decisions to make. The third challenge is to keep working on the tech content: stabilize the quads for quadsters, bring back 3A to Alyona and learn 3A for Anna who needs it in the SP, learn quads for Darya, etc.

These are the key challenges TT is facing. Choreo? A very distant priority.

But their focus will stay the same - get everyone as upgraded and as consistent as possible and let the "chips fall where they may". They won't ignore the progress of anyone for the sake of anyone else.

 

[chasingneverland]

I actually hope everyone's going to be on their best behaviour because it's Olympic season and there won't be any drama (until Nationals and Olympics when it will all go nuclear).

LOL. As soon as test skates happen if not before it'll already be nuclear. And everyone will be falling behind, everyone's technique will be suspect, there will be DRAMA, etc.

 

[readernick]

Sasha already technically has one - it's just not consistent.

Sorry , I am terrible at typing on my phone. I meant to write Dasha ( I edited my original post) . I certainly hope Sasha's 3A becomes more consistent,too.

 

[chasingneverland]

I'm looking forward to seeing what coaching changes might take place after the season. And yeah, jump clips in general. Usually those are in April or May.

I actually hope the girls, especially Anna, Sasha, Liza, and Aliona actually get to rest for a bit..

But..that seems unlikely. There's the Tutberidze show, there's World Team trophy, and then more shows..

 

[chasingneverland]

Sorry , I am terrible at typing on my phone. I meant to write Dasha ( I edited my original post) . I certainly hope Sasha's 3A becomes more consistent,too.

Haha..oh that makes more sense. I hope so too! But I actually hope all of them get consistent upgrades on everything they want to do. This next year will be hard enough even if they do..it'll be worse if they all can't at least be contenders..

And I hope no one gets injured (or ill).

 

[karina17]

I mean...my post remains correct. I literally said she could, just that she hadn’t. Now she has.

Doesn't matter. I posted that mostly because I thought it was funny, but since I'm replying to this anyway:

It's not so much that what you said was factually right or wrong, it's that you (and other people) would use the "Anna doesn't have a major international title!" statement to discredit her against other skaters, usually Sasha and Alyona, going for the exact specific statement that excludes her three-time national champion status where she won against plenty of skaters with major international titles, excludes her silver medals where she placed ahead of those skaters with major international titles, excludes the fact that she never lost a free program internationally in the 19/20 season, etc...

There are many metrics that could be used to measure a skater's skills, and back then you (and others) were applying the "No major international title!" against a skater who was extremely accomplished, but had only ever had TWO international seasons to begin with, one of which was cut short before Worlds because of a pandemic and the other of which was literally her junior debut season.

Nobody thinks it wasn't true that Anna had no major international titles at the time. People just thought it was unfair to use that specific requirement against someone in her position because it downplayed her abilities and was specifically used to discredit her accomplishments.

And now it's funny because it doesn't even apply anymore lmao

 

[Lechat]

Congratulation to our 3 ladies for making the podium. So happy for Lisa with her silver medal And Anna for her title.

I’m impressed by Sasha and her 5 quads attempted but she’s still plagued with the third place. I hope she will win an international event.

 

[Paulipau]

Do we know who is going to Team Trophy?

 

[eterialskating]

I actually hope the girls, especially Anna, Sasha, Liza, and Aliona actually get to rest for a bit..

But..that seems unlikely. There's the Tutberidze show, there's World Team trophy, and then more shows..

It's Olympic season. Time to milk it as much as possible coz casual viewers will go MIA after Olympics and the skaters themselves might not even be in the next one. I wish I could go to one of the events for next season. I really want to attend Russian Nationals.

 

[chasingneverland]

Do we know who is going to Team Trophy?

I think Anna already said she was going to. Sasha or Liza for the second spot, most likely.

 

[silveruskate]

LOL. As soon as test skates happen if not before it'll already be nuclear. And everyone will be falling behind, everyone's technique will be suspect, there will be DRAMA, etc.

This forum will never rest. But I hope the real players won't be giving any ammunition.

 

[JazzUp]

Very nice touch at the gala

 

[flanker]

Very nice touch at the gala

It was a great moment. Thank you Nathan.

 

[chasingneverland]

This forum will never rest. But I hope the real players won't be giving any ammunition.

Have you heard of Eteri and Plushy and Tarasova?? lol

 

[silveruskate]

Have you heard of Eteri and Plushy and Tarasova?? lol

Well....I have a dream.

 

[chasingneverland]

Well....I have a dream.

I would actually love nothing better. Unfortunately, I think we're in for a year of drama - especially considering the stakes.