Who can defeat the Russian Women in 2021-22?

[GS Forum Staff]

The posts discussing full blade jumps have been moved to the Lutz Corner in the "Full blade takeoff discussion" thread since they're off topic for this thread. Please feel free to continue this discussion in that thread.

 

[alexocfp]

I think your opinion might change after the Cranberry Open.

Watched the entire 2 day event. Even you will concede that the gap certainly wasn’t closed at the Cranberry Cup.

 

[yume]

Watched the entire 2 day event. Even you will concede that the gap certainly wasn’t closed at the Cranberry Cup.

There isn't a gap since Russians haven't skated yet.

 

[alexocfp]

There isn't a gap since Russians haven't skated yet.

They don’t need to. All 5 or 6 of the real contenders from there won’t all regress at the same time this upcoming season.

 

[icybear]

After watching the ladies at Cranberry Cup, i dont think the Russians need to be concerned about Alysa liu like they did in her first junior season. Daria would win over her easily and she has no 3a or quads. Of all the US ladies, Bradie has a better chance of snatching an olympic medal if one of the russians slip. If she skates clean, i can see the judges giving her 70-72pcs and she has always had decent goe. Mariah is still hungover from her last season.

 

[Amei]

Watched the entire 2 day event. Even you will concede that the gap certainly wasn’t closed at the Cranberry Cup.

Well it is early in the season and Alysa along with Young You on paper have the elements to be competitive but below are a couple tables to compare both of their competition results today vs. a few months ago for Shcherbakova at Worlds and WTT. And Worlds was Shcherbakova's weakest FS performance last season.

	Cranberry Open SP	Cranberry Open FS	Cranberry Open total
Alysa	71.42	134.32	205.74
Young You	59.74	123.14	182.88

Shcherbakova

	Worlds	WTT
SP	81	81.07
FS	152.17	160.58
Total	233.17

 

[Skater Boy]

I was impressed by Alysa Liu. Her speed, power and maturity compared to say that Canadian lady who recently placed second Kaiya. She has a much more mature and powerful look. If the Russians all struggle with puberty big if and Liza doesn't improve her pcs I guess Liu, you, Kaori, Rika, Wakaba, all could beat the Russians but I am doubtful that there won't be at least one russian lady onthe podium.

 

[[email protected]]

I was impressed by Alysa Liu. Her speed, power and maturity compared to say that Canadian lady who recently placed second Kaiya. She has a much more mature and powerful look. If the Russians all struggle with puberty big if and Liza doesn't improve her pcs I guess Liu, you, Kaori, Rika, Wakaba, all could beat the Russians but I am doubtful that there won't be at least one russian lady onthe podium.

I am glad that your gloom and doom scenarios are back here. For me it means that everything is under control.

 

[AxelLover]

To be honest, I don't think Alysa Liu is a medal contender at all. Her jumps are a complete mess.

 

[AlysaLiuStan]

Highly doubt Trusova is going to be able to magically put it all together at the olympics after consistently falling at least twice in the free skate.


Please explain to me exactly what aspects of Trusova (and Liza's) PCS are "better" than Alysa?

 

[Arbitrary]

The big question if any Russian skaters will be allowed to come to Olympics at all.
This vaccination bacchanalia with accepted and not accepted vaccines may result in so harsh conditions many athletes will not participate, less being able to win a medal.
Easy way to "regulate"...

 

[yume]

To be honest, I don't think Alysa Liu is a medal contender at all. Her jumps are a complete mess.

They seem more solid than when she was in juniors (the usual triples).

 

[MUALover]

I still think Anna Scherbakova will win the OGM. The silver and bronze are up for grabs but I think Kamila will win one of them. I think Anna will beat Kamila for OGM because I think Bolero looks terrible on Kamila.

 

[Lzbee]

Highly doubt Trusova is going to be able to magically put it all together at the olympics after consistently falling at least twice in the free skate.


Please explain to me exactly what aspects of Trusova (and Liza's) PCS are "better" than Alysa?

I'll take the bait

Trusova:
* More speed (Sasha is very fast)
* More transitions (maybe)

Tuktamysheva:
... I'm not sure tbh...

Alysa has improved a lot this year but although Sasha's skating doesn't look as smooth or refined as Usacheva or Kostornaia, you can't take away from the fact that she does have a lot of power and difficult moves.

Tuktamysheva doesn't have as much difficulty or speed but she has natural charisma and can bring an exciting performance. Is her performance quality better than Alysa's? I think that would depend on personal preference and how well the jumps went.

These two don't get very high PCS anyway and I would fully expect Alysa to challenge their PCS if she skates well this season. (Liza's FP highest: 69.08, Sasha's FP highest: 67.42)

 

[Amei]

I still think Anna Scherbakova will win the OGM. The silver and bronze are up for grabs but I think Kamila will win one of them. I think Anna will beat Kamila for OGM because I think Bolero looks terrible on Kamila.

I would love to see Shcherbakova or another skater of her age (in particular a Russian) win, not because I'm opposed to a 15 year old winning but because it will be a slap in the face to those that proclaim the Russian ladies to be 1 year wonders and why the age limit needs to be raised. Well if Shcherbakova, Trusova or Kostornaia wins they will be 18 or close to it

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I still think Anna Scherbakova will win the OGM. The silver and bronze are up for grabs but I think Kamila will win one of them. I think Anna will beat Kamila for OGM because I think Bolero looks terrible on Kamila.

For me, and this is just my personal opinion, Kamila is the heavy favorite for OGM at this point. She does both the 3A and quads, which means she would go into the LP with a substantial lead when clean and stay ahead. She's already scoring very close to Anna in PCS domestically, and there's no reason to think that wouldn't translate to international panels. Most of all, her jumps look very secure and rarely fails to finish rotation in the air. Anna's quads, to me, seem to require absolutely flawless timing to get them rotated enough whereas Kamila's more explosive quads can be landed even when her timing and axis are a bit off.

 

[AxelLover]

Kamila's more explosive quads can be landed even when her timing and axis are a bit off

I don't think so. It seemed to me last season that most of Kamila's off-axis 4Ts ended up badly (watch her free skate at the test skates and at the 2nd stage of the Russian cup series).

But other than that I agree with you. My bet is on Kamila to win the gold.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I don't think so. It seemed to me last season that most of Kamila's off-axis 4Ts ended up badly (watch her free skate at the test skates and at the 2nd stage of the Russian cup series).

But other than that I agree with you. My bet is on Kamila to win the gold.

Yes, if she's very off she tends to fall on the 4T, but other times if it's not leaning too much she is able land the jump (and her 3A) on an inside edge and still save it.

 

[Dawn825]

I think the conversation is really about who could be first in line if one of the Russians really mess up at the Olympics. If the top 3 russian girls, whoever they may be, skate clean or even close to clean, I cant imagine how they wouldnt sweep the podium. PCS always rises with consistency, which is what the TT skaters are known for, and the other skaters with ultra-C elements - Alysa, Young, Rika, Wakaba - are not.

 

[Greengemmonster]

Just curious because I wasn't mad about figure skating at the last Olympic cycle but was Alina the indisputable favorite or did people think xyz could have beaten her?

I know Zhenya obviously was the other favorite but did anyone think another skater could beat those two?

If you can send me to an old thread I'd be happy to read it!