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- Nov 12, 2021
Alena Kostornaia
- Thread starter vesperalvioletta
- Start date
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- May 24, 2021
Oh? Where is her channel?
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2019
I searched her name in both Russian and English on YouTube but nothing came up. She just announced she’d be starting one in her most recent Instagram post, so it might not be live yet.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2019
As a whole I'm rather relieved by GPF cancellation in case Alyona was not ready for a 3-trixel comp.
Still I wonder if RusFed won't organise an internal competition for Russian-training skaters qualified or alternates to GPF. No World-Standing points but some comp mileage and review before Nats to assess skaters' levels in view of forming EC, Olys and Worlds teams.
Also I wonder if RusFed couldn't postpone their decision after EC and send to EC the skaters who fight for the third spot rather than Kamila Valieva but if Kamila Valieva is to retire next year they may prefer her to go to EC to try the Super Slam.
Still I wonder if RusFed won't organise an internal competition for Russian-training skaters qualified or alternates to GPF. No World-Standing points but some comp mileage and review before Nats to assess skaters' levels in view of forming EC, Olys and Worlds teams.
Also I wonder if RusFed couldn't postpone their decision after EC and send to EC the skaters who fight for the third spot rather than Kamila Valieva but if Kamila Valieva is to retire next year they may prefer her to go to EC to try the Super Slam.
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- Nov 12, 2011
the GPF being cancelled does no favors for her and works against her in the big picture. this was a huge opportunity taken away to beat Liza and cement a spot as a top contender.
there's no getting around it now- she HAS to bring 3 3As and clean performances for nationals or it's not happening. that is a pretty tall order with what she's shown so far this season. it's not impossible, just a lot to ask, but i think she will fight until the end no matter what happens.
Go Aliona
there's no getting around it now- she HAS to bring 3 3As and clean performances for nationals or it's not happening. that is a pretty tall order with what she's shown so far this season. it's not impossible, just a lot to ask, but i think she will fight until the end no matter what happens.
Go Aliona
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
Hmmm, I don't think so, RusNats are kind of knocking on the door already..
But maybe it will actually work for her, she can focus on training, which is something she really needs, instead of focusing on going to Japan and everything associated with it.. and if she gets to Podium as RusNats, there's a big chance she will go to Olympics I'd say...
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- Dec 9, 2019
I think you're quite right if she was to be ready for the 3-3As. But should she have not had them she would have lost momentum instead of won.the GPF being cancelled does no favors for her and works against her in the big picture. this was a huge opportunity taken away to beat Liza and cement a spot as a top contender.
there's no getting around it now- she HAS to bring 3 3As and clean performances for nationals or it's not happening. that is a pretty tall order with what she's shown so far this season. it's not impossible, just a lot to ask, but i think she will fight until the end no matter what happens.
Go Aliona
That's why I've decided to be optimistic.
I agree with you, macy -- I think it's a huge blow for Aliona not to have the GPF. In my mind, if she had a very narrow path to getting onto the podium at Russian Nationals and onto the team -- which is if she were able to do three clean 3A's in front of a relatively fair international judging panel at GPF and manage to outscore Liza, Maia, and possibly even Anna. If that happened, then I thought that perhaps the domestic judges would give her a chance at Nationals, so if someone faltered and Aliona skated clean again, she might just be able to get onto the podium.the GPF being cancelled does no favors for her and works against her in the big picture. this was a huge opportunity taken away to beat Liza and cement a spot as a top contender.
there's no getting around it now- she HAS to bring 3 3As and clean performances for nationals or it's not happening. that is a pretty tall order with what she's shown so far this season. it's not impossible, just a lot to ask, but i think she will fight until the end no matter what happens.
Go Aliona
Now, however, I think the Russian Fed (and thus the judges at Nationals) will just look at the GP series results, where Aliona ended up at the bottom of the pile, even below Maia in terms of average scores. They have no evidence that a clean Aliona with three 3A's would outscore a clean Liza or Anna with 1-2 quads at an international competition, so there's no reason to score her generously at Nationals.
In that case, even if Aliona skated perfectly with three 3As, I think several of the others would need to totally bomb their performances (multiple falls) for her to make the podium.
But there is so much uncertainty between now and the Olympics. (Who knows -- the Olympics might even get postponed!) Even if Aliona doesn't make the team, I'm pretty sure that she will be named as an alternate and will train with the other girls in Krasnoyarsk prior to the Games. So if someone gets injured or ill or tests positive for COVID-19, she might end up competing. Anything is possible!
I guess all that Aliona can do now is train hard (but guard her health) and nail those three 3As (and the rest of her programs) at Nationals.
GO ALIONA!!
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- Jan 12, 2018
Yeah, only that it wouldn't happen. Does anyone really believe she would be ready to jump "three clean 3A's" at GPF? I don't think so. Her only chance now is to focus on training and to shine at RusNats.
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- Nov 12, 2011
i will say that there will be immense pressure at nationals and those who have nerves of steel will be the ones to shine.
Liza doesn't have a good track record at nationals and has faltered her last 2 attempts to make the olympic team. if she places as low as she did last year (7th i think) she's out.
Not much is known on Sasha's condition and she can either blow everyone out of the water or go up in flames.
Maiia hasn't been the most consistent this season and the pressure will be on. last season she seemed to falter the most in competition. how will she handle it?
i think we can count on Anna and likely Kamila to deliver.
i just hope Aliona focuses on what is in her control and does that to the best of her ability.
Liza doesn't have a good track record at nationals and has faltered her last 2 attempts to make the olympic team. if she places as low as she did last year (7th i think) she's out.
Not much is known on Sasha's condition and she can either blow everyone out of the water or go up in flames.
Maiia hasn't been the most consistent this season and the pressure will be on. last season she seemed to falter the most in competition. how will she handle it?
i think we can count on Anna and likely Kamila to deliver.
i just hope Aliona focuses on what is in her control and does that to the best of her ability.
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- Aug 20, 2019
I think Anna yes— she has nerves of steel.
But Kamila is untested against pressure. Last year she had nothing to lose at nationals. This year she hasn’t gone against Anna or Sasha. And she has a bad track record under pressure, as does Sasha.
I think Sasha’s injury will help her. Because she’s not exactly expected to make the team due to the injury, she can come with much less pressure knowing she has an out with the Fed for a meltdown. Kamila doesn’t. Keep in mind that even without pressure she still hasn’t put together two performances in competition this season without a mistake.
That leaves a very narrow window for Aliona, who has nothing to lose, to just skate without almost any pressure. She goes for her full content. I also think if the start order ends up a certain way, Aliona will have an advantage. If she stuns early, that might add pressure to those who skate after who might not be expecting such a result. On the other hand, audiences don’t lie so it would be preferable for her to skate later so she doesn’t get deflated in PCS.
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- Mar 16, 2019
I actually think we saw tides shifting as season went on. I am cautious, but I suspect Rusfed and judges were warming up to Aliona.
Liza’s PCS went from 73 (!!!) in FS to “just” 70. Aliona’s “climbed” to 70 in France.
So it lookes like they want to open a door for Aliona, but she has to grab this opportunity. The opportunity is certainly there.
Both performances have to be enthusiastic and energetic, like how she did her SP in France. She’ll get the PCS then and TES has to be as clean as possible as well, even with 2 3As.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
One thing is sure. It will be the most nerve wrecking competition in history. At least for me for sure..
I disagree ... a clean Aliona with 3A will always beat a clean Liza with the same element in international competition ... that's one of a few things that I'm certain .. best score of Aliona this year without the 3A 221 .. LIza with the 3A in both program 233 (and with the big push in PCs) .. Aliona doesn't need the 3A to have good scores, Liza needs him (and if she fails she will loose the podium in the olympcs) ... I'm more afraid if russfed decide to adjust the scores at nationals to the skater of her choice .. and aliona burn some bridges over there
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- Nov 12, 2011
I will be completely honest, and I'm not trying to be a Debbie downer, but I'm going to go into rusnats expecting her not to make the team. The odds are against her and I just think the competition is too great. However that being said, if she does make it it will make it that much sweeter. I'm basically trying to protect myself against the crushing disappointment I know I will feel. I'm sure some others can relate. I just hope she has a competition she can come out of with no regrets.
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- Mar 16, 2019
Yes, unfortunately. The odds aren’t great, and not even because of Liza, but because of Sasha.
It seemed to me like (just my speculation) it was agreed with Rusfed that she will WD from NHK and focus on Nationals. 5 quads from test skates probably made them choose Kamila, Sasha and Anna as their team, so it sounded like they were fine with Sasha only going to nationals.
Sasha seems to be on a good path in her recovery, 4Lz is for sure back, so in the worst case she’ll likely have a repeat of last year’s Nationals.
No GPF unfortunately was hurtful for Aliona. I thought she could medal and put herself up there.
Now we just have to wait and see. Aliona’s other chance would be (if she’s 4th) that the 3rd chosen skater doesn’t have a good showing at Euros, Rusfed makes them skate one more time and she wins the spot this way. For this, however, she has to be great at both Nationals, be at least 4th with clean skate and be clean at any other opportunity.
Regardless, I hope to see her continue in the next quad. She still has so much to give to skating.
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- Dec 9, 2019
We don't know yet if Sasha can skate a good program at Nationals. Of course her recovery lowers Alyona's probability of making it effectually to Olympics because there's no doubt she'll go to Krasnoyarsk at least as a reserve. I'm not sure Oly team will be chosen before.
Edit. I have read elsewhere from a well meaning but generally credulous poster, that Alyona had few chances to be assigned GP spots next season. At least this can be easily contradicted. The 12 best skaters (finalists and the 6 next) in GPF scores at a season's Grand Prix, get automatically 2 assignments for next season GP. Alyona was 6th this year so she will have GP assignments next year.
It's page 3 here.
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It means the opposite. Aliona's already fulfilled the requirements for 2 spots, so if she keeps skating after this season, she'll definitely be on the grand prix next year,Does that mean we won't see her at another year's GP?
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