There was never a “secret” or a “specific method” that needed to be figured out. Pretty sure other coaches knew how to teach quads before too. It’s just there wasn’t a need for that, when tech contents with triples still were allowing them to do well. They didn’t do it, because it wasn’t necessary.
Now the bar was raised not just within Russia, but internationally as well and everyone knows that. We’ll still probably occasionally have podium finishes without ultra-C jumps from time to time, but it would be increasingly rare. Skate Canada will have how many 3A jumpers? That’s a clear message to everyone, without it the podium chance is minimal.
So what I mean is I’m sure now they all see that having a good chance of getting on any international podiums these days implies having these jumps. That’s why they are coaching girls to jump, and why girls themselves want to learn those jumps.
I do agree with what you are saying. The standard has been pushed and this season, an Olympic seson, will be a showdown.
However, I also think that this might be a
defining season and show how hard and difficult these ultra-c elements are.
Let's take a look at the potential 3A girls at Skate Canada:
Kostornaia - in the 2020 season she got the 3A in just a few months, and then she delivered all the time! She had a couple of URs but she NEVER fell on it. That was extraordinary and I don't think that will happen again. If she gets it back for this season, I expect her to be semi-consistent with it.
Kihira - she was really the disappointment of last season. Maybe it was because of all the COVID circumstances. But I think she is still a hit or miss when it comes to the 3A.
Valieva - I expect her to have a solid 4T for this season. But she's in that age where the body changes quickly and the 3A is a very vulnerable jump. Hopefully she can be solid with it.
Tuktamysheva - she is the one I am least worried about. Her 3A is in her backbone, and it is pretty solid, just a few stepouts now and then, but that's OK.
Liu - Frankly, I will be very surprised if we will see good 3A's from Alysa. She is the one that I think will have the most problems to get it back.
Higuchi - she has a powerful and fantastic 3A, when she lands it. But I will be surprised here too if she can deliver it consistently.
Did I miss anyone?
So, what I think is that there is a lot of potential out there, on paper at SC, but I am not so sure we will see it. The ultra-c elements means that the women will move towards what Men competitions are like - that is, some will succeed, some won't, and we might have some shocking results like Men often has, like Aymoz not even Q for Euros long, or Zhou not even Q for Worlds long.
).
