Alena Kostornaia

[nussnacker]

i think all in all this weekend was a huge win and step in the right direction for her. she already looks better than last season and the fact she did two 3As is huge! people are saying she looked empty in her programs, but she was clearly thinking about the jumps which is no surprise. she has HUGE pressure on her shoulders after everything that's happened the last few months...losing the 3A, going back to Eteri with the condition she gets it back, and expectation for her to have it back by test skates. she did really really well. it will come together with more training.

Aliona also said she was very nervous before her SP, because she felt like it was her first time competing after a long break with 0 competitions. I think that explains her not being 100% invested in performance and mistake on 3A.
In the free she didn’t have the same nerves, because the conflict with doping officers exhausted her prior to that, so she was completely calm. So I think it helped her to land her 3A. Still she forgot choreo/stsq, so there‘s way to go.

Overall though, I am confident she’s going to keep getting better from here on.

 

[silveruskate]

That clean -eu-3S said everything to me, just as much as the 3A. She was underrotating it all the time last season! But she went there with this one. There's definitely so much work to do, but I remember her first performance of Lovely was lackluster and then a few weeks later just AMAZING.

I really thought the stamina issue would be gone, is it nerves? It's just surprising because she spent the whole time at Novogorsk and did the intense Eteri training.

That music. She said she listened to so many Blues songs and arrived at this one. I don't know what I can say, it's HER choice. But I hope it isn't her undoing. I'm still in the Vivaldi short and Lovely free gang. I am kind of surprised Eteri allowed it because she had all ability to exercise her power considering Aliona game back.

 

[Hammer24]

Big step forward for Aliona. She is much stronger and much more explosive athletically. Can’t wait to too see the worlds most beautiful skater perform again!

I like her music, especially the vocals with raw emotion in her SP. I listen to punk, blues and Janis Joplin too.

 

[patee]

I wonder how the LP starting order was decided though. Does anyone know?

Just like that!

 

[Scott512]

But what about the SP? AK has to score mid to upper 80s in her SP then nail the free skate. She's going have to be able to score 235 points again to be a factor. I hope she can do it and I hope Aliona can nail that SP like 2 years ago.

 

[spicymacaron]

I have nothing to add other than how insane it is that Aliona still has not fallen on a triple axel

 

[pete]

Aliona will go to Finlandia last time she went it was a pretty good experience for her

 

[Artemisa]

I think will be good for her

 

[Lechat]

She gives Patrick Chan’s vibes. I think Vivaldi suits her and she improved a lot since last season.

 

[Scott512]

That clean -eu-3S said everything to me, just as much as the 3A. She was underrotating it all the time last season! But she went there with this one. There's definitely so much work to do, but I remember her first performance of Lovely was lackluster and then a few weeks later just AMAZING.

I really thought the stamina issue would be gone, is it nerves? It's just surprising because she spent the whole time at Novogorsk and did the intense Eteri training.

That music. She said she listened to so many Blues songs and arrived at this one. I don't know what I can say, it's HER choice. But I hope it isn't her undoing. I'm still in the Vivaldi short and Lovely free gang. I am kind of surprised Eteri allowed it because she had all ability to exercise her power considering Aliona game back.

Remember AK wanted a big say in her music before and now she has it. But this girl is so fabulous at skating she will make both programs work.

 

[Vemvane]

More FP photos.

 

[elbkup]

Remember AK wanted a big say in her music before and now she has it. But this girl is so fabulous at skating she will make both programs work.

Agree.. as a package set, both pieces work and she is comitted to them..
just adding Patrick Chan’s Winter as a reference.. he is a divine skater!!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

As for Beth Hart, there are just as many lovers as haters and I am in the first camp a stretch for her that I believe she is equal to and beyond..

 

[Scott512]

Agree.. as a package set, both pieces work and she is comitted to them..
just adding Patrick Chan’s Winter as a reference.. he is a divine skater!!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

As for Beth Hart, there are just as many lovers as haters and I am in the first camp a stretch for her that I believe she is equal to and beyond..

Agreed

We also need to give Aliona time to put her fingerprints on these programs.

For now all the girls are behind Sasha. But there is plenty of time to get in the mix. If Aliona loves these programs then she will make them work and make us happy.

As for her short program I would have loved AK to do something like take 5 or summer time. Both those programs would superbly show off her brilliant skating skills.

The 3rd is Olympic spot is wide open.
between Anna Liza Aliona and perhaps Maia.

 

[macy]

Agreed

We also need to give Aliona time to put her fingerprints on these programs.

For now all the girls are behind Sasha. But there is plenty of time to get in the mix. If Aliona loves these programs then she will make them work and make us happy.

As for her short program I would have loved AK to do something like take 5 or summer time. Both those programs would superbly show off her brilliant skating skills.

The 3rd is Olympic spot is wide open.
between Anna Liza Aliona and perhaps Maia.

she would do amazing with summertime. i think i posted this in RLT but shine on you crazy diamond would be perfect for her.

 

[Scott512]

she would do amazing with summertime. i think i posted this in RLT but shine on you crazy diamond would be perfect for her.

That would be perfect for her. But it's not to be and I hope AK can make a masterpiece of each of the programs.

It's good that she has her triple axel back. How many will she have to do in her frees skate to score 240 plus points?

I am thinking she will have to hit 2 at least. I expect sasha and KV to be scoring 240 to 260 points during the season if they season if they skate fairly clean.

 

[Artemisa]

That would be perfect for her. But it's not to be and I hope AK can make a masterpiece of each of the programs.

It's good that she has her triple axel back. How many will she have to do in her freescape to score 240 plus points?
I am thinking she will have to hit 2 at least. I expect sasha and KV to be scoring 240 to 260 points during the season if they season if they skate fairly clean.

I think for her have a shot .. ... she needs to nail 3A in the SP and 2 in LP and have a perfect 4. Because the true weapon of Kostornaia is perfection to the limit. Sasha have a lot of quads but for her have a shot to win she needs a least no nail 3-4 quads to win ... her PCs are base if she jumps the 4 .. and how many men's we know that land everyone of them everytime?

 

[Scott512]

I think for her have a shot .. ... she needs to nail 3A in the SP and 2 in LP and have a perfect 4. Because the true weapon of Kostornaia is perfection to the limit. Sasha have a lot of quads but for her have a shot to win she needs a least no nail 3-4 quads to win ... her PCs are base if she jumps the 4 .. and how many men's we know that land everyone of them everytime?

It's very good point and Aliona's perfection as a skater can put her in the scoring range of sasha and KV and Anna.

Like you I think she will try two 3As in her free skate.

Yes it's going to be very hard for sasha to land 5 quads in her free skate and for KV to land 3 quads and a 3A in her free. If we go off last season both girls are spectacular and sensational but mistake prone. If AK gets her full confidence back she is not mistake prone.

 

[patee]

Gleikhengauz talks about new Free Programs at Khrustalny (English subs)
"I don't see any reason why she shouldn't be able to jump quads. Body-wise she can, head-wise no."

 

[irriya]

I just wish her healthy and best performance at the most critical competitions.

 

[AxelLover]

Recently I saw an older picture of Aliona with Boyang Jin and can't find it anymore. Does anybody know of such a picture? It must have been taken at a competition which both of the skaters attended.