2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Scott512]

12 hours ago (originally I wrote 5, but found older post):

I knew it. KV is co-piloting the plane!

Good luck to her in her first senior Grand Prix event.

 

[jenaj]

I feel, on some level, she may have been practicing the new programs for a while. Very happy about the FS; hoping New York is Frank Sinatra!

Liza Minelli has a good version of NY, NY, too. I actually think it's the original.

 

[ruga]

Two things about Sasha at SkAm:
* did she kind of spill the beans in her interview, when she mentioned Alina and Zhenya don't train with them on a daily basis anymore? I'm not sure we knew that officially, did we?
* what's that I hear about her skating on a broken foot??

Well, it was pretty well known that Zhenya and Alina are not skating at the high level anymore. Evgenia has to prepare for Ice Age show performances and Alina has hosting responsibilities there and also studies at the university, so what Sasha said is pretty much a given.

I doubt she has actually broken a foot. She was walking around Las Vegas with no problems and considering Anna had to skip training for broken toe, I can't see how Eteri would let Sasha jump quads with a broken foot. And the source isn't the best, they also said Zhilina broke a leg when it was a fracture.

 

[alexocfp]

Liza also has arrived in Canada. 30 hour trip. Quite the ordeal.

 

[sclloyd]

I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, that screaming SP music was irredeemable so I'm very happy they're replacing it. The FS didnt really work for her either, and we know she responds to the Lovely music, so that could be a big improvement as well.
On the other hand, even with the most beautiful programs in the world, Kostornaia isnt going to the Olympics without at least 2 triple axels and GP victories over Liza and Anna. So I'm worried that the stress of learning and performing new programs might make her less likely to acheive either of those things, especially this weekend.

I think that perhaps this is good though— Aliona values perfection and I think not being mentally in that headspace of knowing everything will go will really messes with her willingness to throw the 3A. So if she has the lovely layout she was familiar with, and two programs she connects to, that might make her more comfortable. Like Daniil said and we’ve so evidently seen, it’s all mental. Also Winter might be reminiscent of her time at Plushenko and the failures therein which could be making the situation worse. Besides, it’s not like she was super settled into the new choreo, so I think this is good. At least the music will be easier to listen to if the performances don’t go as planned.

 

[fabienne1996]

Well, it was pretty well known that Zhenya and Alina are not skating at the high level anymore. Evgenia has to prepare for Ice Age show performances and Alina has hosting responsibilities there and also studies at the university, so what Sasha said is pretty much a given.

I doubt she has actually broken a foot. She was walking around Las Vegas with no problems and considering Anna had to skip training for broken toe, I can't see how Eteri would let Sasha jump quads with a broken foot. And the source isn't the best, they also said Zhilina broke a leg when it was a fracture.

Considering that eteri let zhenya run around with a stress fracture for two gp events without putting her foot down and sending her to the doctor to find out what's wrong? I would sadly not be surprised , but i did actualky hope they learned from 4 years ago, but if this goes on it is apprently not so. I cant be the only one to sadly get flashbacks.?. Only that zhenya had her spot on the Olympic team safe and Sasha doesn't? .

 

[Climb]

Sokolovskaya with some other coaches
"They let us out on the balcony !!! / 3 days of quarantine"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CViaV6jJ90T/

 

[[email protected]]

Does it mean that there won't be any practice? Now that "conspiracy theories" have materialized I want more than ever that Russian trio "tear them apart".

 

[bubblecherry]

i’m glad aliona changed her programs... the previous ones were genuinely awful and i don’t feel bad for saying that anymore. hopefully this will help her mental game, and she’s still got some work to do to be in peak physical form too but this is a good start imo

i don’t get the feeling that they care much, but if they were smart they would change daria’s LP immediately too

 

[flanker]

And I still wonder how the IdF will look like...

 

[Mauvedreamer]

I would have loved for her to do take 5 or summer time as her SP and Hope as her free skate. But I'm not on Instagram and can't pepper her IG page with Hey you need to do these programs.

I think these program changes will be good for aliona. But at some point by national she's gonna have to be nailing her 3A and then putting up big scores in the SP again. If she doesn't have her triple axle back it significantly reduces her chances to make the Olympic team although it's still possible because I think she can score 225 to 230 points skating top notch even without her ultra jump.

Summertime I would have loved too. Yes she has to nail her triple axel , perhaps the more familiar program will give more space in her head to concentrate on the 3A. Pure speculation atm. We shall see soon enough. I really want her to fight at least and skate to her potential.

 

[Mauvedreamer]

Liza Minelli has a good version of NY, NY, too. I actually think it's the original.

She does indeed. Fabulous legend.

 

[icybear]

I have doubts over Alena using Frank Sinatra New York New York. Its very rare for ladies to use a male vocal in their program so I'm not sure how it will play out. Also Frank Sinatra has a very masculine voice which Alena style definitely isnt so it might clash.

 

[el henry]

Does it mean that there won't be any practice? Now that "conspiracy theories" have materialized I want more than ever that Russian trio "tear them apart".

where have conspiracy theories materialized? Who would be stating such unsupported nonsense? (assuming that it involves some unknown and unfounded conspiracy to keep Russian skaters out of Canada and out of Skate Canada)

"tear them apart"? tear "who" apart? This is unclear to me. Why would anyone need to be torn apart?

I do hope that every skater at Skate Canada skates their very best and is happy with their skates, including the Russian women. That after all is the primary motivation (or so I have read) of every skater.

 

[Scott512]

Summertime I would have loved too. Yes she has to nail her triple axel , perhaps the more familiar program will give more space in her head to concentrate on the 3A. Pure speculation atm. We shall see soon enough. I really want her to fight at least and skate to her potential.

Summertime would have been the perfect SP for AK and she would have scored big with it.
I think you made the most pertinent part of all which is these programs will make it easier for her to do her triple axel.

 

[soccerjc77]

i’m glad aliona changed her programs... the previous ones were genuinely awful and i don’t feel bad for saying that anymore. hopefully this will help her mental game, and she’s still got some work to do to be in peak physical form too but this is a good start imo

i don’t get the feeling that they care much, but if they were smart they would change daria’s LP immediately too

I agree with you !

If Eteri care about Aliona and make the good decision to change her program who suit her better.

Eteri need also to care about Daria LP because it's not working for me. Daria deserve a better LP or a better choreography for that LP.

I hope Eteri realise the potiential of Daria and change something about the LP.

Because the SP of Daria for me is one of the best of the season !

 

[[email protected]]

where have conspiracy theories materialized? Who would be stating such unsupported nonsense? (assuming that it involves some unknown and unfounded conspiracy to keep Russian skaters out of Canada and out of Skate Canada)

"tear them apart"? tear "who" apart? This is unclear to me. Why would anyone need to be torn apart?

I do hope that every skater at Skate Canada skates their very best and is happy with their skates, including the Russian women. That after all is the primary motivation (or so I have read) of every skater.

You don't understand? I can explain. Russian FED did everything according to a normal procedure. They could not get to Canada much in advance. The entry papers were delayed. The team has just arrived and it is Wednesday already. According to the Russian coach they are put into 3 day quarantinin their rooms. This means that they are going to miss practice. Russian skaters if nothing is changed will be in a very unfavorable situation vs. the others. I just hope that they will find extra strength and will crush the competition despite all this nonsense. If Canada same as France cannot provide equal terms to all athletes they should not organize international competitions.

 

[Paulipau]

Why on earth is Aliona changing her programs?

She changed last year and ended up not being able to land a 3-3....
Just focus on tech and steps, polish it.

Why make the same mistake twice?

 

[beepboop]

Do we know if Aliona will be competing these new programs at Skate Canada? The official program still lists Beth Hart and Vivaldi.

 

[Sjs5572]

You don't understand? I can explain. Russian FED did everything according to a normal procedure. They could not get to Canada much in advance. The entry papers were delayed. The team has just arrived and it is Wednesday already. According to the Russian coach they are put into 3 day quarantinin their rooms. This means that they are going to miss practice. Russian skaters if nothing is changed will be in a very unfavorable situation vs. the others. I just hope that they will find extra strength and will crush the competition despite all this nonsense. If Canada same as France cannot provide equal terms to all athletes they should not organize international competitions.

I surmise the quarantine is just for nonvaxxed adults who are not competitors. I bet all three Russian ladies will be at official practice in morning.