Actually I'd say Kaori > Kostornaia > Rika = Kamila > Daria... And I'm not including Ksenia Sinitsyina only because she's not a top competitor. I think we are finally past the phase where the Russian women's jumping skills >>> their skating skills.
Who can defeat the Russian Women in 2021-22?
- Thread starter silveruskate
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- Mar 30, 2021
Daria and Rika are both better than Kamila imo. Their edges are better and they are also more effortless across the ice. Kamila is above average, but she's not at the wow tier for ss.
I agree Kamila's not "wow" tier, but I disagree with the rest. I don't think Daria and Rika are "wow" either. Daria's edges tend to be shallower and less controlled, and she's less powerful than Kamila. Rika's better than Daria, and I'd say she's more "all around" than Kamila (clear strength on blade control, depth of edge, and speed variation) as Kamila's edge depth isn't always as good, but Kamila's slightly better glide and speed, with a slightly better ability to control her edges puts her on par, for me.
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- Jan 19, 2021
Agreed. There's no country that thinks stiff knees, shallow edges, sickled feet, poor posture, slow speed, etc, constitute good skating skills.
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What is your ranking if we include Satoko and Alysa?
Satoko>Kaori>Kostornaia>Rika=Kamila>Alysa/Shcherbakova/Trusova>Daria>Tuktamysheva
Satoko has the best overall edge control. Kaori has amazing depth of edge and speed, but lower control.
Alysa/Shcherbakova/Trusova each have different strengths, and there isn't much of a difference, but I ordered them about who is better to me in terms of minute details (which people can disagree with - I don't think it matters who should be getting 8.25 on their best day). Alysa also shows most potential to improve because of how much she's changed since last season. Sasha and Anna have too, but their progress has been slower in their senior years. All have better edges or better power or better blade control than Daria. Daria is good, just needs more work overall. Tukt is Tukt.
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- Jul 3, 2018
Agreed, 100%. I'd even take it a step further and say that there are quite a few program components that are not entirely subjective. For example, per the PCS chart, "Composition" includes ice coverage; "Interpretation" includes movements and steps in time to the music; "Performance" includes variety and contrast of movements and energy; "Transitions" includes continuity of movements from one element to another. All of these have an objective component to them, in addition to the more subjective aspects like originality, energy, and engagement with each other (in ID and pairs).
Does a skater skate small patterns that don't fill up the rink? Reflect that in the Composition score.
Do a skater's movements and elements not match up to the rhythm or phrasing of the music? That should lower their Interpretation score.
Does a skater utilize large sweeping arm movements without any choreo that engages their core, free leg, or head? Ding them on Performance.
Does the skater break up their program with lots of crossovers, glides, and two-foot skating? They shouldn't get a high Transitions score for that.
It drives me crazy that the judges don't seem to apply the more objective criteria when considering PCS. This is what leads to skaters mostly getting scores in the same range for each category.
I wouldn't rank Shcherbakova and Trusova above Usacheva.
Usacheva has better speed and edge control than Shchebakova imo. Trusova has the same speed but not deeper or better controlled edges.
When she's on, she flies accross the ice. Which Shcherbakova and Trusova doesn't do with the same effortlessness.
I think Usacheva has better flow in her steps than both Trusova and Shcherbakova when she's on. But IDK if I'd say she's better overall in terms of edges or control. I compared the 2021 Test Skates SP to Anna's Russian Nationals LP and Trusova's Nationals SP from last season, just for reference (and I think they're both slightly better this season, so I could have compared all their test skates showings).
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- Jan 10, 2014
The only people who I can think of that could beat the Russian girls are the Japanese- Kaori, Higuchi (apologize if the spelling is wrong) and Satoko I am dying for some other country to medal in the olympics because I dislike it when any country sweeps the medals.
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- Jul 9, 2014
This was my original answer and after watching the first 2 events I'm even more convinced that there will be a Russian Sweep at Europeans, and The Olympics. There's a possibility that the OGM winner will skip Worlds Like Tara and Sarah both did after their wins. In that case, all bets are off.
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- Feb 24, 2012
Alyssa, Loena, Kaori, Wakaba, Mai and Karen are all possible threats to beating some or all of the Russians imho.
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- Jul 9, 2014
Only if they have an off day. I base my answer on "If They All Skate Clean Programs" and if they do, I can't see any of those ladies defeating the Russians. A clean Alyssa is the best hope in the US and the Japanese Ladies are always strong so, if a Russian Lady has a rough night, then, I can see it happening.
Karen as in Karen Chen? What Russian in contention for an Olympic spot is she going to beat?
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- Jul 9, 2014
I don't think Karen has defeated any of the "Current" top ladies from Russia. As we saw in last years Worlds, The Russian Ladies Swept the Podium and Karen was Pewter. She was as good as she could possibly be and we all proud of her. If not for Karen, the US Ladies would only have two spots.
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- Nov 12, 2011
Karen, Loena, and Mai will likely never ever beat the top Russian ladies. it would take spectacular implosions.
Wakaba, Kaori, Rika and Alysa are the biggest threats, however it would take everything aligning- the Russians not skating well and clean skates from all of them which aren't really likely. Kaori and Rika are wildly inconsistent, Wakaba has a track record of inconsistency although improving, but not the judges favorite, and Alysa hasn't really proven herself yet as she's a new senior.
clean skates against clean skates i can see Rika sneaking in, but as i said she is inconsistent and also injured.
Wakaba, Kaori, Rika and Alysa are the biggest threats, however it would take everything aligning- the Russians not skating well and clean skates from all of them which aren't really likely. Kaori and Rika are wildly inconsistent, Wakaba has a track record of inconsistency although improving, but not the judges favorite, and Alysa hasn't really proven herself yet as she's a new senior.
clean skates against clean skates i can see Rika sneaking in, but as i said she is inconsistent and also injured.
Um when you say the Russians I'm assuming you mean the top 7 Russians? Because Sinitsyna and Samodurova are beatable for sure.
Of the top Russians though, Kostornaia almost lost to Mihara at Skate Canada and Usacheva almost lost to Young You and Sakamoto at Skate America.
Of the top Russians though, Kostornaia almost lost to Mihara at Skate Canada and Usacheva almost lost to Young You and Sakamoto at Skate America.
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- Feb 24, 2012
Oh I see. Sorry. If everyone skated cleanly what they can do then maybe Rika could be some of the Russians. So forgetting injuries then Kamila and Sasha would definitely be 1 and 2. And Anna S could hold off Kaori et al and maybe even Rika too. Even Maia could be a threat to Kaori and Rika. Satoko might be in the mix because she is the Jason Brown. IF all skated cleanly she would move up. Maybe the Korean ladies would be in the mix too. The thing is no one skates cleanly really in the ladies with triple axels and quads.
