2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating | Page 52 | Golden Skate

2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

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Looking at the SB list with skaters over 200 points. This is how it looks like in each GP in the order they are ranked:

Skate America 9 girls: Trusova, Sakamoto, You, Tennell, Sinitsyna, Miyahara, Usacheva, Kim, Kurakova
Skate Canada 8 girls: Kostornaia, Kihira, Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Chen, Liu, Higuchi, Lee
NHK 7 girls: Trusova, Kihira, Sakamoto, You, Liu, Usacheva, Lim
IdF 7 girls: Kostornaia, Shcherbakova, Sinitsyna, Bell, Chen, Higuchi, Lee
Cup of China 6 girls: Shcherbakova, Tennell, Miyahara, Hendrickx, Kim, Lim
Rostelecom Cup 5 girls: Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Bell, Hendrickx, Kurakova

Maiia Khromykh is not included here as her SB is 198.24. But we all know she is capable of a score well into the 200s. So CoC and RC will be tougher with her in it.

All SBs are from the 2020 season except for Shcherbakova, Sakamoto, Tuktamysheva, Chen, Hendrickx who had better SBs in 2021.

Skate Canada looks toughest at first glance, but Skate America has the potential to be just as tough.

Let's hope that all skaters stays healthy and that we can enjoy this AMAZING season of Grand Prix.
 
I feel like I'm the only one who is really hoping for Darya to pull off a come-from-behind movie style ticket to the Olympics. She's such a phenomenal all around skater and I'm tired of her playing second fiddel to the ultra-c girls, some of whom may do those quads, but are just overall not as good of a skater.
I'd really love to see the 3A from Alena and a 3A or 4S from Darya so they are clear contenders on everyone's radar in the RusFed. Cause from the GP placements right now it's clear they're betting on Anna-Sasha-Kamila.
 
I wish all the best to Daria. The problem is I wish all the best to the other girls as well. Choosing just three of them for the olympics is close to impossible.
Totally agree. I wish all of them could go...

Looking at Daria, she has by far the toughest road in her GP assignments. She has to meat Sakamoto twice, and I kind of think they are at the same level. Daria has higher tech, but the judges looooves Sakamoto when she's good (like at WTT). Then Daria has also Trusova and You at SA, and Trusova and You (again!) and Kihira at NHK. These competitions will be important for her self confidence, and also to show the judges what a great PCS skater she is.

If Daria adds a 3A or a quad, and can keep it consistent, then it's a total different story. But as it stands now, she has the toughest road of all the Eteri girls to reach the GPF. If she manages that, then I think the road opens for her a lot for an Olympic spot.
 
I feel like I'm the only one who is really hoping for Darya to pull off a come-from-behind movie style ticket to the Olympics. She's such a phenomenal all around skater and I'm tired of her playing second fiddel to the ultra-c girls, some of whom may do those quads, but are just overall not as good of a skater.
I'd really love to see the 3A from Alena and a 3A or 4S from Darya so they are clear contenders on everyone's radar in the RusFed. Cause from the GP placements right now it's clear they're betting on Anna-Sasha-Kamila.
I'm not so sure Trusova has an easy road at the GPs. On paper she should win everything, but as we know, Trusova can be all over the place, and she hasn't won anything with tough competition since GPF two years ago. If Trusova has a bad day, Usacheva can beat her.

The GPs will be important, but it will all come down to Nationals in December. For example, if Anna doesn't podium there, she is not a safe bet anymore. Then the drama will move on to Europeans, and the three girls selected there will be expected to sweep the podium. If not, one of them will be substituted for Olympics.

We have a long winding road ahead of us to see what happens...
 
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I think Daria and Aliona are in the same boat. At this moment they officially dont have ultra-C elements, but if they skated clean programs with standard triple jumps, they would beat others doing the same (like Bradie and Kaori) on PCS. If Rika or Alysa have rough season starts, maybe one of them could get to the final. But since they're obviously shooting for the Olympic team, they'll have to use the GP to try out harder elements. They'll risk missing the final but have a better chance at the Nationals podium.
 
I think Daria and Aliona are in the same boat. At this moment they officially dont have ultra-C elements, but if they skated clean programs with standard triple jumps, they would beat others doing the same (like Bradie and Kaori) on PCS. If Rika or Alysa have rough season starts, maybe one of them could get to the final. But since they're obviously shooting for the Olympic team, they'll have to use the GP to try out harder elements. They'll risk missing the final but have a better chance at the Nationals podium.
Yes, and there are six Challengers before the GP starts (four of them in Europe and one in Olympic Beijing), and I expect the Russian girls will all go to at least one of them.

RusFed usually don't send skaters to Challengers outside Europe, so it will be interesting to see if they take the opportunity here and send someone to the Olympic Challenger. Just to check things out, and if you have a terrible skate or a terrible time you know what NOT to do if you go to the Olympics. The Challenger in Beijing is one week before Skate America, so I guess that means that Trusova, Usacheva and Sinitsyna will not go there.
 
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I think Daria and Aliona are in the same boat. At this moment they officially dont have ultra-C elements, but if they skated clean programs with standard triple jumps, they would beat others doing the same (like Bradie and Kaori) on PCS.
I do think that Aliona has a slight advantage when it comes to ultra-C elements, as we have seen 3A work from her semi-recently, plus she got her 3A in around a month last time, so she can learn it fast. But then again, I don’t really know what Daria is up to.

However, in terms of GP assignments, I think that they are in somewhat of the same boat because of the fields they are in. At Skate America, Daria will have to compete against many strong skaters who are doing similar tech content to her, plus Sasha. And at Skate Canada, Aliona will face up to 5 competitors, (Alysa, Wakaba, Rika, Liza, and Kamila) who are doing 3A’s, so she loses any of the bonuses from doing the 3A that she got before. Then add in that Kamila has quads, and Alysa, Rika, and Liza might have quads, and she is at even more of a deficit.
 
The only reason Daria has less chance is because she doesn't have ultra c elements in the first place though. She doesn't have the hardest assignments. That honor would probably go to Aliona, Ksenia or Liza. I don't know if she's very close to a triple axel, she was training a loop combo in the last video. Maybe they think that's more viable for her?
 
The only reason Daria has less chance is because she doesn't have ultra c elements in the first place though. She doesn't have the hardest assignments. That honor would probably go to Aliona, Ksenia or Liza. I don't know if she's very close to a triple axel, she was training a loop combo in the last video. Maybe they think that's more viable for her?

Wouldn't it be amazing if Daria comes out of the gate this season with a 3axel and a 3lutz/flip--3LOOP combo for her SP??? She would instantly be taken seriously for the team.
 
I feel like I'm the only one who is really hoping for Darya to pull off a come-from-behind movie style ticket to the Olympics. She's such a phenomenal all around skater and I'm tired of her playing second fiddel to the ultra-c girls, some of whom may do those quads, but are just overall not as good of a skater.
I'd really love to see the 3A from Alena and a 3A or 4S from Darya so they are clear contenders on everyone's radar in the RusFed. Cause from the GP placements right now it's clear they're betting on Anna-Sasha-Kamila.

Well of course they are betting on Shcherbakova, Valieva and Trusova - that's their reigning national podium at this time and both Shcherbakova and Valieva are very consistent + do quite well for the non-jump portion of their scores, and Trusova while not consistent has a multitude of quads that can compensate for mistakes.
 
Well of course they are betting on Shcherbakova, Valieva and Trusova - that's their reigning national podium at this time and both Shcherbakova and Valieva are very consistent + do quite well for the non-jump portion of their scores, and Trusova while not consistent has a multitude of quads that can compensate for mistakes.
And RusFed HAS to consider that Trusova WON the LP at Worlds. Even though she was a train wreck. RusFed is probably smart enough to know that you don't leave Trusova at home. She might bomb and be out of the medals or not, but if she hits she could walk away with the title by a mile. That's what worries me with Anna.... Valieva is a sure thing. So there are only two spots left. Trusova needs to be on the team for what I said above. That leaves Anna fighting against all the rest. IMO.
 
I do think that Aliona has a slight advantage when it comes to ultra-C elements, as we have seen 3A work from her semi-recently, plus she got her 3A in around a month last time, so she can learn it fast. But then again, I don’t really know what Daria is up to.

However, in terms of GP assignments, I think that they are in somewhat of the same boat because of the fields they are in. At Skate America, Daria will have to compete against many strong skaters who are doing similar tech content to her, plus Sasha. And at Skate Canada, Aliona will face up to 5 competitors, (Alysa, Wakaba, Rika, Liza, and Kamila) who are doing 3A’s, so she loses any of the bonuses from doing the 3A that she got before. Then add in that Kamila has quads, and Alysa, Rika, and Liza might have quads, and she is at even more of a deficit.
Imo, Aliona already had her 3A back for a few months. Ever since we saw her trying it. Don’t wanna jinx it, but the fact that it wasn’t in the video means nothing, neither was Sofia A.‘s 3A shown.

She doesn’t lose any of the bonuses by having a 3A comparatively to Alysa, Wakaba, Rika and Liza. First and foremost, because Alysa and Wakaba still have to show consistent 3A in both programs, a big question mark, especially from Wakaba. Alysa with 3As lost to Daria in juniors, how will she suddenly start winning over Aliona? Aliona will also easily win over Liza, even Kaori without any 3As did so.
Rika‘s injuries have prevented her from maximizing her content for last couple of years, something tells me it would unfortunately be hard for her to be pumping out 3A and 4S consistently next season.

With Kamila, yes. Aliona is in disadvantage compared to her, technically. In PCS Kamila will probably catch up rather quickly. I think one chance Aliona has, is that Kamila can be nervous, since she’s a rookie, while Aliona is a more experienced competitor. It would be her first senior GP ever and her nerves have somewhat impacted her before. I obviously don’t wish for that to happen at all! Just trying to consider what might happen.
 
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And RusFed HAS to consider that Trusova WON the LP at Worlds. Even though she was a train wreck. RusFed is probably smart enough to know that you don't leave Trusova at home. She might bomb and be out of the medals or not, but if she hits she could walk away with the title by a mile. That's what worries me with Anna.... Valieva is a sure thing. So there are only two spots left. Trusova needs to be on the team for what I said above. That leaves Anna fighting against all the rest. IMO.
Technically, she did win that LP, but by mere 0.3 points, if I remember correctly. Not sure that’s enough for Rusfed to „push“ Sasha to be in a team, purely because of that win.
I think they wanted all 4 to have fair chances, I don’t know why Aliona got assigned vs Kamila and Anna, and not vs Sasha, but I wouldn’t put too much thought into it. The strongest girl will win, and past accomplishments won’t be enough to have anyone’s spot secured, if they seriously underperform.
 
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Technically, she did win that LP, but by mere 0.3 points, if I remember correctly. Not sure that’s enough for Rusfed to „push“ Sasha to be in a team, purely because of that win.
I think they wanted all 4 to have fair chances, I don’t know why Aliona got assigned vs Kamila and Anna, and not vs Sasha,

But the lasting impression is that even a train wreck Trusova program still WON the LP at Worlds. You don't discount a woman who goes from 14th to 3rd overall. When she hits, and obviously even when she doesn't she can still be the best in the world.

I really thought Alyona was going to be paired with Trusova and am surprised at her assignments. I'm starting to get NERVOUS now!!! lol. I need videos!!!
 
But the lasting impression is that even a train wreck Trusova program still WON the LP at Worlds. You don't discount a woman who goes from 14th to 3rd overall. When she hits, and obviously even when she doesn't she can still be the best in the world.

I really thought Alyona was going to be paired with Trusova and am surprised at her assignments. I'm starting to get NERVOUS now!!! lol. I need videos!!!
Oh, im not trying to discount any of it. My point is that in case any of them don’t do well, there won’t be any preferential treatment given to any of them. Sasha is obviously one of top athletes Rusfed is considering sending to Olympics, but I don’t think she’s being given any unfair advantage right now.
 
Well of course they are betting on Shcherbakova, Valieva and Trusova - that's their reigning national podium at this time and both Shcherbakova and Valieva are very consistent + do quite well for the non-jump portion of their scores, and Trusova while not consistent has a multitude of quads that can compensate for mistakes.
Yes, obviously they are betting on who they think will score the highest.
But my wish would be for Darya to get into just as serious consideration because I think she deserves it and I honestly believe of all the skaters out there who "only" do a triples program, she is the best all around. And her 2A definitely has potential for a 3A, looks very much like Alena's looked.

Also, I think she just really captured my heart when she had to go last after Anna at those Russian Nationals where her entire coaching staff was crying over her direct competitor while sending her off to her first ever senior Nats FS at 14yo, and she nailed it.
 
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