2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Tomadeur]

She has not competed this season against anyone with a base value to beat hers. She has not competed against the reigning national and world champion. She has not competed against Sasha with her five quads. I don’t think she is the best skater in the world because she’s never had any real competition. This is saying the Lionel Messi is the best player in the world because they beat a bunch of low ranked teams before his team squares off against Ronaldo’s.

I think it's just different what you compare. On the one hand the performance in the competitions and on the other hand potentials scores.

The one can be discussed more or less objectively based on the videos and scores we have. The other are quite arbitrary assumptions with which it is difficult to discuss more than a meaningless what if.

In the first discussion Valieva is well ahead of the rest atm, in the second whomever one prefers.

 

[Thrashergurl]

I can't

I know that is because of the rules.
It's just a rule that makes no sense considering the intimacy with the only person in a 2 meters range

For example I do asbsolutely agree on a mask obligation while moving in common areas.

If you’re an expert then maybe you should be working at the CDC and not posting on message boards.

Why not just be happy we get a season to watch. Yeah, some rules don’t make sense. But it’s for their protection. So many of the top Russians got Covid last year and didn’t appear to be taking precautions. This will provide safety for all the skaters.

I’d rather be safe than sorry and mess up an Olympic season

PS- I’ll apologize in advance if you think this is a personal attack. I know at least 7 people that have died from Covid. I get a little upset when people don’t take it seriously

 

[Scott512]

I dont know how unforseen it would be. While I expect Anna to do well at Nationals, she and Maiia both have an air of "hanging on" physically. If they both peak at Nationals I wouldnt be surprised, if one of them withdraws right before I wouldnt be surprised either.

We just have to let it all play out and hope everybody stays healthy and happy. Yet the stress on these athletes must be immense and now there's another virus variant out there threatening is threatening the world.

Anna peaked at Russian nationals last season she was absolutely phenomenal coming off covid. I don't know what to expect from Maya anymore I'm just glad she made the grand pre final and we'll go from there. She's at the beginning of her career so there's a lot to improve on

 

[Scott512]

She has not competed this season against anyone with a base value to beat hers. She has not competed against the reigning national and world champion. She has not competed against Sasha with her five quads. I don’t think she is the best skater in the world because she’s never had any real competition. This is saying the Lionel Messi is the best player in the world because they beat a bunch of low ranked teams before his team squares off against Ronaldo’s.

KV will want to make mince meat of both Anna and sasha! Even as much as she likes them she will want to thrash them! It's OK that sports and that's life. Kamila takes no prisoners! That said I don't think she will win by such huge margins like 40 to 50 points the rest of the season.

We will see all 3 together at nationals and Anna with Valleva at GPF.

No one knows if KV can handle the pressure I think she can at this point but nobody knows for sure if she goes into the Olympics undefeated. But if for some reason sasha is not on the Olympic team I agree that will improve Vallevas chances of winning Olympic gold.

 

[starlight97]

I don't understand how people can be predicting any of the 3 Olympic spots except Kamila's.
And even hers is only a lock if she doesn't suddenly get injured. Look what happened to Darya, it only takes one unfortunate move, all these girls are physically overworked.

The 2. and 3. spot for me are wide open between Anna, Sasha, Liza and then Maya, Alena. Out of the first three I see no clear favorite.
Anna has been unstable and has not produced a two 4s FS yet, Liza while stable is just an overall inferior skater and if Anna can deliver they will clearly prefer to send her. And then there's Sasha, who is a huge question mark but who can outscore them both comfortable if she heals in time for RusNats.

And even then, if Alena gets three 3A back into her programs she outscores. Liza and challenges the other two. And Maya with two 4s and absolutely clean skates could pick up the last spot if everyone else falters and the Russian judges 'decide' to send her.

It's just all so unclear and open.
What a thriller, I hope RusFed is providing good sports psychologists.

 

[Azikin]

Anna has been unstable and has not produced a two 4s FS yet

Yeah, Anna is very unstable, winning to GP events...

 

[McBibus]

If you’re an expert then maybe you should be working at the CDC and not posting on message boards.

Why not just be happy we get a season to watch. Yeah, some rules don’t make sense. But it’s for their protection. So many of the top Russians got Covid last year and didn’t appear to be taking precautions. This will provide safety for all the skaters.

I’d rather be safe than sorry and mess up an Olympic season

PS- I’ll apologize in advance if you think this is a personal attack. I know at least 7 people that have died from Covid. I get a little upset when people don’t take it seriously

Don't worry about taking it personal.
Places like this are made to exchange opinions.
I'm not taking COVID lightly and I get mad too when I see people being careless.

I'm sorry for you losses

 

[starlight97]

Yeah, Anna is very unstable, winning to GP events...

Winning or not has nothing to do with her skating being unstable for her high standards and the standard it will take to get on the Russian team.

Beating skaters from Finland or Hungary in a GP has nothing to do with getting in the top 3 at Russian Nationals and the Russian Team selection.

 

[Scott512]

I don't understand how people can be predicting any of the 3 Olympic spots except Kamila's.
And even hers is only a lock if she doesn't suddenly get injured. Look what happened to Darya, it only takes one unfortunate move, all these girls are physically overworked.

The 2. and 3. spot for me are wide open between Anna, Sasha, Liza and then Maya, Alena. Out of the first three I see no clear favorite.
Anna has been unstable and has not produced a two 4s FS yet, Liza while stable is just an overall inferior skater and if Anna can deliver they will clearly prefer to send her. And then there's Sasha, who is a huge question mark but who can outscore them both comfortable if she heals in time for RusNats.

And even then, if Alena gets three 3A back into her programs she outscores. Liza and challenges the other two. And Maya with two 4s and absolutely clean skates could pick up the last spot if everyone else falters and the Russian judges 'decide' to send her.

It's just all so unclear and open.
What a thriller, I hope RusFed is providing good sports psychologists.

The only battle is between 3 skaters for the 3rd spot. The 1st 2 are taken.

Liza is looking good but sasha is a wild card and we have to see if aleona actually gets her 3A back.

After nationals we will have a better idea of who gets the 3rd spot. The 1st 2 spots are taken.

 

[Minz]

Actually, I don’t think any spots are taken just yet. There is still GPF and nationals to go, both of which could throw several wrenches into the works, depending on how people skate.

Knowing this sport, anything can happen between now and February.

 

[Manitou]

I am thinking they are not giving the third spot based on this season performance and national placements. The spots 1 and 2 yes, but at the same time they can afford to give a tribute to Liza for her career achievement.

 

[Arbitrary]

There is a list of preferenzi to be sent to Olympics, provided the games happen right now.
Today the list includes Scherbakova (WC-2021), Tuktamisheva (WC-2015, WSM-2021) and Valieva (top rating).
I don't see any other Ladies Teams with two WCs.

This list may be changed if any of those three become non-fit for any reason. RusNats, FGP and EC are just competitions for some money and pasteboard medals.

 

[Briananing]

Actually, I don’t think any spots are taken just yet. There is still GPF and nationals to go, both of which could throw several wrenches into the works, depending on how people skate.

Knowing this sport, anything can happen between now and February.

Oh well you just jinxed it. Japan is closing their border and they are supposed to have gpf there next week. Kamila isnt getting her japanese candies that she wants just yet lol.

 

[sclloyd]

KV will want to make mince meat of both Anna and sasha! Even as much as she likes them she will want to thrash them! It's OK that sports and that's life. Kamila takes no prisoners! That said I don't think she will win by such huge margins like 40 to 50 points the rest of the season.

We will see all 3 together at nationals and Anna with Valleva at GPF.

No one knows if KV can handle the pressure I think she can at this point but nobody knows for sure if she goes into the Olympics undefeated. But if for some reason sasha is not on the Olympic team I agree that will improve Vallevas chances of winning Olympic gold.

The same could be said of any of the 3A who were winning by massive double digit margins in the Grand Prix stages, but who couldn’t get that margin against one another.

Sasha is clean without pressure and then falters under it. We haven’t seen Kamila under pressure, so who knows if she’s the same.

I think predicting her success as “making meat” out of her competitors, and saying she’s going to thrash two skaters who are very close to her in both BV and talent when she hasn’t faced them at all this season, nor has she been judged by a panel who hasn’t given out candy just because they know there’s a base value difference between her and her competitors is just silly.

Everyone is still ignoring that she was literally given positive GOE by some judges for FALLS and +5 GOE for spins that travel. But when Anna was given a good score for a traveling spin at nationals against Kamila now then it is outrageous.

I have nothing else to say. It’s nonsense scoring and I don’t think anyone can be predicting GOAT status and undefeated seasons based on two grand prix stages against her weakest competition.

 

[nussnacker]

Everyone is still ignoring that she was literally given positive GOE by some judges for FALLS

You keep saying this. When did it happen? Can you provide a score sheet?

 

[sclloyd]

You keep saying this. When did it happen? Can you provide a score sheet?

Skate Canada, Judge 3. I mentioned it here a while back. At least that was the worst. I’d also go back and look at the way all of the judges scored URs for the other girls— landed elements etc. The same judge gave Mana Kawabe negative GOE for a UR on the 2Lo in her 3-2-2, and Kostornaia like a -3 or -4 for a step out. Judge 5 probably second worst.

 

[Minz]

Anna, Kamila, Maiia, and Aliona are going to be on the Evening Urgant show in about two days! (December 1st, 2021)

[Tarasova will be on the show day after]
sports.ru

 

[nussnacker]

Skate Canada, Judge 3.

Can you kindly give me a time stamp of a fall? Which program are you talking about? I’m pretty sure there were literally 0 falls Kamila had at Skate Canada.

 

[Minz]

Skate Canada, Judge 3. I mentioned it here a while back. At least that was the worst. I’d also go back and look at the way all of the judges scored URs for the other girls— landed elements etc. The same judges gave Mana Kawabe negative GOE for a UR on the 2Lo in her 3-2-2, and Kostornaia like a -3 or -4 for a step out. Judge 5 probably second worst.

First of all, it was not a fall, it was a step out.

(See below for protocols)

 

[Minz]