2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Arbitrary]

There will be another rehearsal of the Great Russian Bloodbath 2022 in December. Or, actually, not.

My opinion the Ladies Team for Olympics is already booked. Two out of three are going to skate today....

 

[Scott512]

I hope not. Kamila has the best chance perhaps ever of achieving the season’s gold slam as she is so far ahead of her nearest rival Shcherbakova. Compared to medo/Zagitova where Zagitova was only narrowly ahead of medvedeva (and would have probably lost the season’s gold sweep even before worlds had Medvedeva gone to GPF). And in 2026 I imagine it will also be closer between whichever skaters are at the top

A golden slam senior debut season would be incredible but at this point I just want to KV to get through this pandemic Olympic season healthy and then let the chips fall where they may as we say here in America.

I am telling you though Anna and Sasha when she gets healthy they're laying in the weeds and we don't know if Valieva will be tired by the Olympics or how massive the pressure will be on her to win Olympic gold especially if she still undefeated.

 

[sclloyd]

That’s why I said +12 instead of +14. One clean 3A is worth ~10 points (if it gets exactly +2.00 GOE) whereas a 3A with -5 GOE is worth 4 points then with the fall deduction is worth 3 points. So 7 points difference x2 is 14, but the stepout cost her about 2 points (maybe 3 in hindsight).

Do I think it’s a little odd that Kamila is two points ahead of Alena? Yes, but 1) home field advantage and 2) I also found it odd that Alena 2019 GPF was 3 points ahead of Rika 2018 GPF so I’m not sweating it

7 point difference, so if it was purely the 3A the short would be 82, which is roughly what I assessed the whole program at earlier for Scott512. The five points came from where else? I'd say Finlandia was the best competition for the SP performance wise, but she is getting 9.5-10 in nearly all components for worse performances. It is nonsense. If Kamila gets a ten for THAT then I would absolutely give Liza a 10 as well, and I don't like her skating even more than I don't like Kamila's. +5 for spins that are obviously uncentered??? I can't justify that, even with her flexibility.

Kostornaia's near perfect SP in NHK was ranked in the 8's mostly, and it was decidedly much better in most categories-- especially composition, performance, and interpretation of music. Same with Carmen. This is why I think it is only on par with Perfume. It is okay and good elements, but there is nothing notable about it except what she has said to the viewers. If there is no explanation, could you even discern what it is supposed to be about? A skater shouldn't have to explain and rewrite the meaning to give it any. Here is the magic of Anna's FS's, of Zheyna, Aliona, and Alina. This is why I think Kamila would do so much better committing to war horses with predetermined stories and why Bolero is SO BAD-- she is not good at conveying them so the music must do it for her. Every time she competes to Bolero it is something new on her face. What is she even trying to portray? It is just pretty skating to some lyrical music in the short, and arm movements over crossovers to bad music in the free. It is to her benefit that she has such long legs to give a physical display that is divorced from the emotional aspect of the performance because it's her limbs that make people think she is doing something different than Anna or Sasha or Aliona and nothing else honestly.

 

[sclloyd]

What about her sensational spins?

I disagree that the results are pre determined. If KV bombs her free skate with 3 falls she loses to Anna or sasha or Liza. Maybe even with 2 falls in the free if someone does well in their free.

Yes, but if Anna and KV have equal skates do you really believe they will not favor KV given the scoring we've seen this season? Anna and KV have roughly similar quality of spins. I dislike that Anna's spins are underlooked just because she is not double jointed. Especially this season. 2019 KV spins were the best hands down, but they've definitely degraded in favor of other elements practice. They are very good. But they are also overscored. As was Anna's sit spin at RusNats to be fair.

 

[Lzbee]

The difference between Kamila and Alina's Olympics is that Kamila can afford up to 2 falls (assuming Anna has 2 quads and Sasha doesn't pull out a miraculous clean 5 quads skate) and still win, whereas Alina had to be squeaky clean or better to beat Evgenia. That should be easier on Kamila's mental game as she has a lot more leeway for mistakes.

 

[alexocfp]

I just saw the best skate of all time. Wow wow WOW

Didn‘t need to wait for the score, what’s the point?

I saw a quad landed at the 3 minute mark that looked like it was jumped at half strength. It‘s unfair at this point.

The snake came hungry today. Had a feast on 11 skaters, so it’s now full.

 

[starlight97]

I just saw the best skate of all time. Wow wow WOW

People will disagree, stating she's too new to say that, not mature enough, not enough personality and whatever they come up with, but yes, I feel the same. Objectively this was the overall technically best skate that has ever been delivered by a female skater.

Her 4s look easier than the vast majority of female skaters' 3s.
Her 3A looks easier than anyone's 2A except maybe Kostornaya's.
It's also not just what she jumps but the quality of those jumps. Difficult entry and exit, in combination, height and beautiful flow coming out.
The back to back comparison of for example her 3A to Liza's 3A illustrates this point better than words can.
She's without question the best spinner around and people can keep crying about her choreo (which is not her choice) but she executes it to perfection.
It's insanity.

I wish she had a longer life span than these Russian girls have because she clearly has the potential to be the greatest female skater of all time.

 

[Novalis]

2 Salchow!?! What was that?! Very disappointed in Kamila

 

[alexocfp]

2 Salchow!?! What was that?! Very disappointed in Kamila

Yeah, she’s slipping. Haha

 

[alexocfp]

People will disagree, stating she's too new to say that, not mature enough, not enough personality and whatever they come up with, but yes, I feel the same. Objectively this was the overall technically best skate that has ever been delivered by a female skater.

Her 4s look easier than the vast majority of female skaters' 3s.
Her 3A looks easier than anyone's 2A except maybe Kostornaya's.
It's also not just what she jumps but the quality of those jumps. Difficult entry and exit, in combination, height and beautiful flow coming out.
The back to back comparison of for example her 3A to Liza's 3A illustrates this point better than words can.
She's without question the best spinner around and people can keep crying about her choreo (which is not her choice) but she executes it to perfection.
It's insanity.

I wish she had a longer life span than these Russian girls have because she clearly has the potential to be the greatest female skater of all time.

This is nothing new. We see it in team sports where a team wins the league by 20 points yet people say that they are no good.

You don‘t have to like it, but greatness is greatness.

Here is a tip: don‘t try to pet the snake. It’s dangerous to your well being.

She is Ms. Electricity. Her skating can power a small town.

 

[silveruskate]

If she can maintain at least a 20 or 30 point gap between her and the rest then the mental game won't be an issue. It's going to be similar to Evgenia 2016-17 where she knew she was going to win and it gave her limitless confidence.

 

[sclloyd]

I can’t. Its just so not worth a world record I can’t even believe it.

 

[alexocfp]

If she can maintain at least a 20 or 30 point gap between her and the rest then the mental game won't be an issue. It's going to be similar to Evgenia 2016-17 where she knew she was going to win and it gave her limitless confidence.

The thing is, her confidence is growing and she has answered the bell every single time. Her mental strength has been fantastic so far. It‘s not easy skating with this much pressure or expectation.

The bar has been set so high that there will be mass panic if she misses a jump.

 

[alexocfp]

You really actually praise Kamila, you have started comparing her to the men.

Give it some time. At this pace, she will start outscoring them outright too soon enough. Haha

Right on cue, this free skate was the 6th best man or woman using the women‘s factor. At 2.0, it’s 3rd and she can easily find another 10-30 points to go second or even top.

Her TOTAL score as it is now, just missed the top 10 ever by a few tenths. Think about that for a moment. That’s with the handicap if no SP quads and a factor that is a fraction of the men.

 

[prorussian fan]

I'm really on board Kamila's train, she's awesome, the Bolero program really fits her like a glove.
However, 76 points for PCS at this point I think is too early, I do not understand the point of the judges, 72 would have been something more real, which could show their progress until the Olympics.

 

[AshWagsFan]

After this week, I think the Olympic team is most likely going to be Valieva, Shcherbakova, and Tuktamysheva. Valieva for obvious reasons being she is winning everything with world records. Shcherbakova is the world champion and has restored her quads.
The battle between Liza Aliona and Sasha currently has Liza winning. She has had the best season so far, is healthy, and, because Sasha is injured, has the best body of work (she did beat Sasha at worlds last year and now made it to GPF whigh Sasha didn’t because she is hurt). Trusova and Aliona could kill it at nationals, but since both have been rather inconsistent, Liza is probably the best most reliable option to guarantee a Russian sweep.

 

[RatedPG]

Kamila! Wow! She really is spectacular. Elizaveta, another silver medal. All three of her events have been against this talented star from Russia. Her 3A is quite solid and I love that she is now going for that 3Lz 3T combo. At this moment, I see her as the third best skater. She won silver at Worlds behind Anna and finished third in Grand Prix Series heading into the Finals, behind Kamila and Anna. The Grand Prix Finals, in a way, can be seen as a Russian Cup event. Aliona and Maia have an opportunity to make a move there and then at Nationals, Trusova is going to have to make it to the podium to be in consideration for a spot. It is going to be a fierce battle between these six. Plus, they have some Juniors to fend off, as well, which, may makes things interesting. Kamila to me, is a lock for Olympics, at this point. I don’t see how they can leave her at home. Then, there is Anna, who was undefeated last year, winning worlds and wtt. Plus, now, she has two golds from her two events. If Anna comes in second place in the finals, I would think her spot at Olympics, should be solidified.

 

[alyssamarie]

I read online that the Russian olympic ladies team is Valieva, Tuktamysheva, and Shcherbakova from Sports.Ru. Is that set in stone? I'm happy for Tuktamysheva, but I know Aliona, Maiia, and Sasha (pre injury) have been looking pretty good.

 

[alexocfp]

I'm really on board Kamila's train, she's awesome, the Bolero program really fits her like a glove.
However, 76 points for PCS at this point I think is too early, I do not understand the point of the judges, 72 would have been something more real, which could show their progress until the Olympics.

I never understood this argument. It’s never to early for anything.

You should be able to score 80 in your first skate if you skate great.

Scoring isn’t a cookie you withhold from a child until chores are done. Haha

She didn’t put a foot wrong today.

 

[LiamV426]

It is okay and good elements, but there is nothing notable about it except what she has said to the viewers. If there is no explanation, could you even discern what it is supposed to be about? A skater shouldn't have to explain and rewrite the meaning to give it any.

I'm not sure I completely agree with this. In some cases, the subject of the program is obvious just by the music choice and in others it can be more abstract. I think if a skater gives an explanation of what they are portraying and I watch the performance and see can it being interpreted then yes, that's fine, you've done a good job.

I do agree I would rather be able to interpret the program for myself and skaters who can convey whole stories without any explanation are amazing. But I also think Kamila portrays grief and nostalgia very well in her SP, so even before knowing the full story I was moved. The music choice already made it clear that it was going to be about coming to terms with loss, so no real explanation needed.

Can't say the same for the FS, no idea what the hell is happening there.