2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[chasingneverland]

Hmm I'm a bit confused on the rules then. I thought that you could repeat two types of quads as long as it's in combination, for example: 4T, 4T+3T, 4Lz, 4Lz+3T.

But if that's not possible then yeah, it does make it additionally harder.

I think since she was injured she might've not been able to practice the 4T and the 3A, and started focusing even more on the other jumps. As good as her 4S is, I think she might be struggling with it like with the 3A because it's an edge jump. But who knows.

All in all, I'd like to believe that we haven't seen the best of Sasha yet (we might never, but that's different).

You used to be able to repeat two types of quads - that was changed after the 2018 Olympics and season (basically a Nathan Chen rule - Hanyu liked 3A's better and Nathan really didn't like 3A's) and came into effect in 2019, right when Anna and Sasha were attempting one or two quads - 4Lz mostly. Basically it's now of all triples and quads only two can be done twice but those two can't BOTH be quads.

EDIT: It's also why the men tend to have programs comprised of two 3A's and two of whatever quad (plus other jumps.) And why the 3A is so important. (Or two 3Lz's and a +Lo combo.)

It's true that she was injured and wasn't able to practice the 3A and 4T but that also applies for the 4S. (It's kinda the same reason why Anna doesn't have any of them - and hasn't gotten her 4T back - since she was injured in 2017.)

I agree with that last statement but that doesn't make her program construction any less overambitious right now. Especially as she and Plushy are determined that she land 5 quads.

 

[Mariiiiskate]

Btw do we have any news on Sophia Dzepka? last I heard she left CSKA completely, is there any development with her?
She is so talented I just hope she doesn't get left behind.

 

[Amei]

Evgenia and Alina watching must've thought: hmmm, yup. We're not retiring....

Doubt it, both of them know fluke less than ideal competitions like that can happen and the quality in Russian ladies is still so ridiculously high that they have to get through before they go to any major competitions. Neither 1 of them were exactly close to competitive to what Shcherbakova did (which was a reduced difficulty to what she usually does) the last time we saw them. And since we've seen them last 1 (Medvedeva) has had significant enough injury that I think required surgery and for her to take the whole season off and the other (Zagitova) hasn't been competitively training for over a year at this point. I don't think they are delusional in thinking Worlds last week means they have a chance to make it out of Russia

 

[chasingneverland]

Both Anna (which we already knew) and Liza going to World Team Trophy!

 

[chasingneverland]

Doubt it, both of them know fluke less than ideal competitions like that can happen and the quality in Russian ladies is still so ridiculously high that they have to get through before they go to any major competitions. Neither 1 of them were exactly close to competitive to what Shcherbakova did (which was a reduced difficulty to what she usually does) the last time we saw them. And since we've seen them last 1 (Medvedeva) has had significant enough injury that I think required surgery and for her to take the whole season off and the other (Zagitova) hasn't been competitively training for over a year at this point. I don't think they are delusional in thinking Worlds last week means they have a chance to make it out of Russia

I think it more confirms the fact that the hardest job is getting out of Russia.

 

[Amei]

Both Anna (which we already knew) and Liza going to World Team Trophy!

The entire Russian team is the top 1 or 2 finishers from Worlds

 

[chasingneverland]

The entire Russian team is the top 1 or 2 finishers from Worlds

Yup. It's just that Anna said beforehand she was going.

Btw:
The team is:
Anna, Liza
Mikhail, Evgeni (yay team Mishin)
Anastasia/Aleksandr
Victoria/Nikita

 

[Fluture]

The entire Russian team is the top 1 or 2 finishers from Worlds

I really question why Shcherbakova would go. She's been having health issues basically all season long and both at the Worlds and the Channel 1 Trophy she looked rough (at the Cup she had tapes all around her knees). She fought through it to become WC - understandably - but instead of taking time to recover, she'll have to continue train fully competitively until mid-April. Then show season (in Russia at least) will start, which is a little less demanding, sure, but still requires readiness. Then the pre-Olympic training camp in Novogorsk. When's that girl gonna get the break she really, really needs? I'm sure she wants to go and WTT is a fun competition with nice prize money but this is the year before the Olympics and it's really not smart to risk your health like that. It would be very sad if this backfires on her - she's basically Medvedeva's age going into next season and I think we all remember that the first injuries from overtraining showed up for her at that time. And she, unlike Shcherbakova, didn't have to deal with pneumonia a mere months before.

Send Nugumanova, if Kostornaya is still recovering. It's not a serious event and she'd deserve some international exposure.

 

[Skatesocs]

I really question why Shcherbakova would go. She's been having health issues basically all season long and both at the Worlds and the Channel 1 Trophy she looked rough (at the Cup she had tapes all around her knees). She fought through it to become WC - understandably - but instead of taking time to recover, she'll have to continue train fully competitively until mid-April. Then show season (in Russia at least) will start, which is a little less demanding, sure, but still requires readiness. Then the pre-Olympic training camp in Novogorsk. When's that girl gonna get the break she really, really needs? I'm sure she wants to go and WTT is a fun competition with nice prize money but this is the year before the Olympics and it's really not smart to risk your health like that. It would be very sad if this backfires on her - she's basically Medvedeva's age going into next season and I think we all remember that the first injuries from overtraining showed up for her at that time. And she, unlike Shcherbakova, didn't have to deal with pneumonia a mere months before.

You're trying to detect logic where none exists.

 

[chasingneverland]

I really question why Shcherbakova would go. She's been having health issues basically all season long and both at the Worlds and the Channel 1 Trophy she looked rough (at the Cup she had tapes all around her knees). She fought through it to become WC - understandably - but instead of taking time to recover, she'll have to continue train fully competitively until mid-April. Then show season (in Russia at least) will start, which is a little less demanding, sure, but still requires readiness. Then the pre-Olympic training camp in Novogorsk. When's that girl gonna get the break she really, really needs? I'm sure she wants to go and WTT is a fun competition with nice prize money but this is the year before the Olympics and it's really not smart to risk your health like that. It would be very sad if this backfires on her - she's basically Medvedeva's age going into next season and I think we all remember that the first injuries from overtraining showed up for her at that time. And she, unlike Shcherbakova, didn't have to deal with pneumonia a mere months before.

Send Nugumanova, if Kostornaya is still recovering. It's not a serious event and she'd deserve some international exposure.

I mean even if she stayed home she would NOT be resting. It's actually during Eteri's tour. They have performances scheduled literally at the exact time. The thing with Sasha NOT going is she can definitely do any "easier" program. And show season actually starts before - she has a performance April 6 (maybe 2), I think - and I know she already said she was doing one competition program then. And they've all said competitions are actually easier than training. (They get more rest actually.) Eteri's show is April 2, 6, 14, 17, and 18.

They would send Sasha, NOT Nugumanova. (Who actually also could use the rest - I think the same with Liza T too though and most of the entire team.)

It basically comes down to, she would need the rest and wouldn't get it no matter if she goes or doesn't. And she HAS to go.
It goes by World's standing - using the GP 2019-2020 and the World Championships 2021. And Anna has the most points there - she just won World's 2021. And if one of the best ranked skaters decides NOT to go - of which Anna is - the ISU can exclude all of Team Russia and invite another team. So Anna has to go by the ISU. As Anna just moved to 2nd and Liza to 3rd. (I think). Liza N is like 150th or something like that. Liza N actually CAN'T go. Sasha could because she's next but not without a really really good reason from Anna (or Liza T).

 

[Amei]

I really question why Shcherbakova would go. She's been having health issues basically all season long and both at the Worlds and the Channel 1 Trophy she looked rough (at the Cup she had tapes all around her knees). She fought through it to become WC - understandably - but instead of taking time to recover, she'll have to continue train fully competitively until mid-April. Then show season (in Russia at least) will start, which is a little less demanding, sure, but still requires readiness. Then the pre-Olympic training camp in Novogorsk. When's that girl gonna get the break she really, really needs? I'm sure she wants to go and WTT is a fun competition with nice prize money but this is the year before the Olympics and it's really not smart to risk your health like that. It would be very sad if this backfires on her - she's basically Medvedeva's age going into next season and I think we all remember that the first injuries from overtraining showed up for her at that time. And she, unlike Shcherbakova, didn't have to deal with pneumonia a mere months before.

Send Nugumanova, if Kostornaya is still recovering. It's not a serious event and she'd deserve some international exposure.

Well based on the 2019 WTT document from the ISU, if a skater is invited they can only withdraw for specific reasons, don't know how well Shcherbakova could argue (if she wanted to) that she is too sick to go to WTT for recovering from an illness she had a few months ago given she went to Worlds. Additionally given Eteri's shows it would not look good to the ISU if she was there or at any other shows in April if she argued illness to withdraw from WTT

https://isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2018-19/international-22/announcements-66/19782-isu-world-team-trophy-2019-announcement

 

[silveruskate]

If Anna wants to go, why not? Not like we're her parents. Her parents think it's ok, coaches, she herself. She can do programs without quads if she wants. And this comes every 2 years so it's better to take all opportunities you can.

Unless she's doing quads I would even say she can rest more too as this competition isn't real.

 

[chasingneverland]

Here's the 2021 announcement:

https://www.isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2020-21/championships-32/announcements-96/25595-world-team-trophy-osaka-2021-announcement/file

Anna HAS to go.

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

Sasha has said her goal is to get 4Lo and land it competition. I have a feeling that she won't include it in her layout initially because the only attempt I've seen from her is still UR, but it's definitely one of her goals.

Sofia Samodelkina hasn't attempted her 4Lo since the Moscow local competition, but I'm rooting for her to land it too!

Young You also hasn't attempted her 4Lo ever, and I haven't seen a recent attempt.

Interesting fight to see who will land the first 4Lo! My money's on Sasha.

 

[Pale]

I'm fairly certain that she wants to go there. According to her own words before and after the announcement.
More fun, fans, money and almost no pressure. The choice is obvious to me.

 

[nussnacker]

We don’t know what kind physical load her current condition allows. Since several months have passed since she was sick, it probably isn’t doing 0 exercise.
I assume she’s allowed to train the amount of hours every day, which is below of what she’s used to. She might not be back to her regular training schedule yet, but still, it doesn’t mean „resting after worlds“ for her would mean 0 training.

 

[chasingneverland]

I'm fairly certain that she wants to go there. According to her own words before and after the announcement.
More fun, fans, money and almost no pressure. The choice is obvious to me.

Oh I'm positive she WANTS to.

 

[chasingneverland]

We don’t know what kind physical load her current condition allows. Since several months have passed since she was sick, it probably isn’t doing 0 exercise.
I assume she’s allowed to train the amount of hours every day, which is below of what she’s used to. She might not be back to her regular training schedule yet, but still, it doesn’t mean „resting after worlds“ would mean 0 training.

Oh it definitely wouldn't. She would be doing competition programs in the tour at the very least. (Not to a competition level maybe but more often.)

 

[chasingneverland]

Sasha has said her goal is to get 4Lo and land it competition. I have a feeling that she won't include it in her layout initially because the only attempt I've seen from her is still UR, but it's definitely one of her goals.

Sofia Samodelkina hasn't attempted her 4Lo since the Moscow local competition, but I'm rooting for her to land it too!

Young You also hasn't attempted her 4Lo ever, and I haven't seen a recent attempt.

Interesting fight to see who will land the first 4Lo! My money's on Sasha.

I think so too!

But I also wouldn't be surprised if it's Sofia S. Mainly because if they're smart they'll be trying to get Sasha consistent - and she'll need to be somewhat right from the start - there's the GP. All of which will factor into Olympic selection.

Whereas, we've seen Sofia attempt it in practice more recently and her competitions don't have quite the same weight.

 

[nussnacker]

Oh it definitely wouldn't. She would be doing competition programs in the tour at the very least. (Not to a competition level maybe but more often.)

Tutberidze also said that „not everything depended on them, and they had to work under offered conditions“. I assume it means (and based on what some journalists have reported) that Anna still had to train with certain limitations coming to worlds. Maybe they’ll just continue doing the same routine until she fully recovers. Then she can back to her proper training regimen.