Especially in a season like this where there has been so little else to watch
2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
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- Nov 13, 2020
Yes, these are some of the top athletes in the world, and Russia has been holding events left right and center. People are paying attention..
I think that during a normal season with challengers/GPs all contries hosting Natinals in normal fashion only superfans would have bothered with Russian cup etc. But since Russian cup was the most "normal" events and also the ones of the highest standard available this season many people who normally wouldnt have followed them this year.
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- Aug 20, 2019
I think Alina gets a good reputation for skating skills because she has some pretty iconic step sequences and skating skills and good step sequences are associated. So while I agree with you that they aren’t the best, I guess I understand why a lot of people look at her performances and say “BEST SKATING SKILLS EVER”
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- Oct 27, 2019
Gracie, at her best, had the potential to beat Medvedeva at her best. Even with what you consider a princess program. you lost me with Bradie having princess programs. Her packaging and skating is far from the princess stereotype you’re suggesting.
About reputation and "the push".
I know it will sound very simplistic/cynical and I tend to see conspiracies everywhere
but after 13 years of watching competitions I made up my idea of how things work politically in skating. First of all, reputation *is* important. Remember they changed the scoring system to make it more objective, but are we sure the judges were happy with such change? because years after years they have managed to perfect a system that use PCS and GOE's to achieve exactly what they were doing before: placing skaters where they wanted. Evan Lysacek won in 2010 for the quality of his skating, it has been said. Which actually means that he was awarded dubious points in GOE's on every single element. Those elements were not THAT great. And don't get me started on his PCS. the thing is that, at the same time, Jeremy Abbott who had outstanding skating skills and artistry, was judged harshily. Yes he made costly mistake that day but that didn't mean that his edges were suddenly shallow, his skating laboured and the presentation not captivating. Johnny Weir's scores were booed by the audience. I think it's clear that among the three U. S. men, only one was treated well and eventually won over Plush who did quads. Abbott and Weir were discarded because all the political push had to lead just one man to the gold. Otherwhise, how would you explaine the massive GOE's lysacek collected? This is an example of something I witnessed many times. It seems like powerful federations never let their regular piece of cake go to other Feds in important events. So they choose one or two among their skaters and present them to the judges as their best, so that the judges place them very high in important events, possibly to win gold. Reputation may not seem THIS important in non-olympic years, in GP events and so on, but the logic behind the sacred Olys is different. And it has always been. Because much more money and prestige are at stake.
Of course the top Russian Ladies will have to be very good and do their homework. But with all those 9's in PCS and high GOEs given out even when they make mistakes, I'm sorry to say, anyone who is not chosen to be pushed domestically *and then* internationally, doesn't stand a chance.
This is my cynical view on how the Feds and the judges operate, but being a musician my main focus has always been on the skaters and their commitment to the music.
I know it will sound very simplistic/cynical and I tend to see conspiracies everywhere
but after 13 years of watching competitions I made up my idea of how things work politically in skating. First of all, reputation *is* important. Remember they changed the scoring system to make it more objective, but are we sure the judges were happy with such change? because years after years they have managed to perfect a system that use PCS and GOE's to achieve exactly what they were doing before: placing skaters where they wanted. Evan Lysacek won in 2010 for the quality of his skating, it has been said. Which actually means that he was awarded dubious points in GOE's on every single element. Those elements were not THAT great. And don't get me started on his PCS. the thing is that, at the same time, Jeremy Abbott who had outstanding skating skills and artistry, was judged harshily. Yes he made costly mistake that day but that didn't mean that his edges were suddenly shallow, his skating laboured and the presentation not captivating. Johnny Weir's scores were booed by the audience. I think it's clear that among the three U. S. men, only one was treated well and eventually won over Plush who did quads. Abbott and Weir were discarded because all the political push had to lead just one man to the gold. Otherwhise, how would you explaine the massive GOE's lysacek collected? This is an example of something I witnessed many times. It seems like powerful federations never let their regular piece of cake go to other Feds in important events. So they choose one or two among their skaters and present them to the judges as their best, so that the judges place them very high in important events, possibly to win gold. Reputation may not seem THIS important in non-olympic years, in GP events and so on, but the logic behind the sacred Olys is different. And it has always been. Because much more money and prestige are at stake.Of course the top Russian Ladies will have to be very good and do their homework. But with all those 9's in PCS and high GOEs given out even when they make mistakes, I'm sorry to say, anyone who is not chosen to be pushed domestically *and then* internationally, doesn't stand a chance.
This is my cynical view on how the Feds and the judges operate, but being a musician my main focus has always been on the skaters and their commitment to the music.
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- Jun 14, 2014
If you actually read my post that you quote- I neither say that Gracie wasn't a good skater nor that a "princess program" can't win a competition.
I say that I disagree with the fact that "princess programs" naturally score higher with judges and that that would hinder Darya.
(And Bradie I'm not gonna get deeper into cause 1. I don't care about her and 2. This is the Russian Ladies thread, just used her as a random example. Feel free to disagree with my perception of her.)
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- Mar 20, 2019
I love the comment that says Daniel looks better wearing all black with the coat in practice compared to the jumper and jeans he actually wears during the show. Why you do this Daniil? WHY?!
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- Nov 13, 2020
That’s good to know. Honestly it’s not surprising, as we know Liza has had Covid and Anna had some sort of Covid/Pneumonia. And Sinitsina/Katsalapov got Covid too, so more than half of Russia’s WTT team has had Covid. Let‘s not get into a medical debate on getting Covid twice, but it is good to know that everyone tested negative.
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- Dec 9, 2017
I don't think being "generic" comes from Maiia being tall. Tsurskaya was also tall but she was generally seen as a very interesting skater. I think the problem with Maiia is her expressiveness in the styles that she skates. Before the SP this season, she was packaged with classical and lyrical music, and while her arms are beautifully soft (probably the best out of her, Daria, and Kamila), she didn't really have a connection with her music so the movements weren't effective. Her skating skills were pretty good in her first season too and she had a lot of speed, but it wasn't noticeable when she skated because it didn't look purposeful. She reminded me a lot of Sotskova in her last seasons.
That kind of changed for me this season with her SP, especially at test skates because it was the most shocking there compared to last season. Still, with her performances this season, I think her style doesn't stand out as much as Kamila or even Daria who I don't really love either.
Just saw that the World Standings List has been updated.
I never liked this list as it has its flaws, but this season it is just...weird. If this is going to be the basis on who gets GP assignments it will be a joke. The only international event that counts this season will be Worlds. And if you go to Worlds you get showered with points just for showing up. For example, Miyahara got 180 points for her 19th place. The big losers are the Juniors who had nothing this season. And especially the juniors turning senior next season.
The Seasons Best list is also totally irrelevant. Top 24 includes Hongyi Chen with 162.79 from her 21st place at Worlds.
I really really hope there is some special rule for the criteria for GP assignments next season. Otherwise it will be totally unfair.
I never liked this list as it has its flaws, but this season it is just...weird. If this is going to be the basis on who gets GP assignments it will be a joke. The only international event that counts this season will be Worlds. And if you go to Worlds you get showered with points just for showing up. For example, Miyahara got 180 points for her 19th place. The big losers are the Juniors who had nothing this season. And especially the juniors turning senior next season.
The Seasons Best list is also totally irrelevant. Top 24 includes Hongyi Chen with 162.79 from her 21st place at Worlds.
I really really hope there is some special rule for the criteria for GP assignments next season. Otherwise it will be totally unfair.
Hmm they'll have essentially raised the senior age by one year if they go by this list. Even Kamila and Daria wouldn't get a GP. But it also means Alysa won't so there'll be at least two big feds pushing them to do it differently. Plus other disciplines are affected too.
There's still WTT to come but that just gives people who went to worlds more WS points.
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- Nov 13, 2020
WTT doesn’t give more world standing points. It does however, count for PB scores and such. Regarding the GP’s, Anna was ranked 74th going into the 2019/20 season, and Aliona was ranked 36th. They both ended up with 2 GP’s. I think that Kamila and Daria and Alysa should be fine and worst comes to worst.. there are always host spots.
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- Apr 17, 2018
I just want to say that I think Maiia has some lovely lines. Especially in her SP where she holds the inside ina bauer. She has super long limbs so I think there is a lot that they can do with her artistically. This SP was certainly a step in the right direction! I think the main reason I don't find her nearly as interesting as Daria or Kamila is because of her programs. I like the SP for sure, but I still feel like they haven't really found "a style" for her. Like Daria owns the emotional and lyrical style and Kamila owns the soft flowy more unique style. But again, I think she's super talented, and has amazing lines, a fabulous combo spin and quite mature skating for her age (good musicality too!). By no means would I say she's "generic" nor boring.
Well, as the GP assignments are based on both the WS and SB lists, Anna was 9th on the SB list and Aliona 11th going into their senior year (Trusova 8th). So they were all already guaranteed GP assignments.
Next season though, with both SB and WS lists all being wonky, it's a different story, so we need some changes in the selection criteria for GPs.
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- Dec 18, 2014
Alina was able to showcase her SS at the highest level everytime she was competed. Now, other skaters could maybe do more with their own skating skills, just if there was no other elements/components in the programme to do as well. So, potential for something is one thing, the other thing is what we got in a programme of the competition day. That is how SS are judged - in a competitive programme, not in some vaccum indiferent of other things. In that conotation Alina's SS were (not the best ever, but) perfectly fine.
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Per what Minz said, WS points doesn't mean much for GP event assignment, both Kostornaia and Shcherbakova were ranked fairly low, and got 2 GPs going into their first senior season. I don't think Usacheva or Valieva will have a hard time getting GP assignments It will be interesting to see what the ISU does to the standings given the lack of season this year and the missed major competition last year. Also will be interesting to see of the Russian girls who is given 2 spots and who gets 1 spot
- Joined
- May 30, 2019
Relax, don't worry.
One of my first posts on this forum was about the criteria for assigning places in the Grand Prix.
Skaters who medaled at Junior World Championships and decide turn into seniors, will get at least one spot for the Grand Prix Series.
The Junior World Championships 2021 and all the season events were canceled, the current Junior World Champion is K-missile (Kamila), the silver medal is Daria. They have secured at least one spot. But the RussFed is going to get them two assignments.
When T-SH-K turned into Senior, Sasha was ranked 19th, Anna and Alëna were deeper down on the list. Alena missed the JWC because of an injury and still she got two assignments.
That WS list is wrong, why are they still classifying Victoria Vasileva, Viveca Lindfords? I didn't go through the full list, but I wouldn't be surprised if Alëna Kanisheva was ranked.
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