2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Amei]

the reason for doubts about Sasha is still the same - lack of stability. Perhaps she needs to remember the experience of last year, when she showed a clean performance in which there were only two quads, but which, nevertheless, could have brought gold in the European Championships.

I'm sure Eteri is going to push her to be more conservative and focus on getting to the Olympics even if it means sacrificing a shot at Nationals and/or Europeans gold. And credit to Trusova she has listened when coaches pushed her to go lighter on the quads, begrudgingly but she did it.

 

[[email protected]]

Uh changing the subject...

If the age limit was increased, how would it affect the state of the Russian ladies scene? Who would dominate seniors and juniors?

If it's a straight jump to 17, I assume current 15 y/o seniors would get to stay in seniors. But how would this affect the current juniors? Do people think Akatieva would still dominate?

If it's a staggered increase to 17, ie next year it's 16 then the year after it's 17, who would be the new seniors then?

The main target of the age raise is Akatieva who is the most likely "heir" of Valieva. Everything else is of little significance. Sofia will be likely as dominant as Kamila now. But she will turn 17 only in July 2024, hence before 2024-25 season. And we shall have 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. Should Kamila win the OG, will she stay for 2 more seasons at the same level? I hope that this nonsensical proposal by Norway won't go through

 

[Mauvedreamer]

Not sure what you’re implying, but nobody is picking on Johnny. People can have whatever preference in commentary that they choose.

You admitted you’re not familiar with his shenanigans while a competitive skater. Perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to reply without doing research.

Moving on….

I was really hoping for Alena to the Olympic team. She’s a skaters skater. The world fell in love with her 2 years ago. Terrible timing all the way around for her.

I am merely asking you to clarify what you mean. Tbh your perception is different to mine and that is fine. Honestly I have no desire to continue.. it felt negative and an unnecessary post! I take your points on board.

 

[sclloyd]

the reason for doubts about Sasha is still the same - lack of stability. Perhaps she needs to remember the experience of last year, when she showed a clean performance in which there were only two quads, but which, nevertheless, could have brought gold in the European Championships.

Yes, precisely. Liza has been consistent this year while Sasha had a bad showing in Boston. Does anyone remember her score there?

A good showing at nationals may still leave some indecision because she’s hit or miss, so one more competition to see how she does would probably be desirable for the Fed.

 

[sclloyd]

I am merely asking you to clarify what you mean. Tbh your perception is different to mine and that is fine. Honestly I have no desire to continue.. it felt negative and an unnecessary post! I take your points on board.

Since I am the one who started the discussion— I simply meant that to me Johnny and Tara are very general and often uninformed commentators who speak too much without saying anything important, especially during the skate when they should be silent.

I was surprised to see Ted announced as I thought Johnny was somehow vying for the nationals commentator gig when he went and spent a week with TT. I really knew nothing about Johnny’s history with Russia except that he skated for the US in what I’d consider a competitive era for men’s skating. It just seems to me that he seemed invested in the girls and it would help him break out of working almost exclusively for NBC.

 

[Arbitrary]

From visitors' perspective, having Trusova at Olympics is more desirable than Tuktamisheva. People like to watch quads. Sasha is interesting to see...

 

[Amei]

Yes, precisely. Liza has been consistent this year while Sasha had a bad showing in Boston. Does anyone remember her score there?

A good showing at nationals may still leave some indecision because she’s hit or miss, so one more competition to see how she does would probably be desirable for the Fed.

I don't think the US classic will hurt Trusova too much, she had a meltdown and scored 216, Tuktamysheva on fire is only scoring 229-233. Trusova could make those points up had she went with solid triples.

At Skate America where Trusova focused on only 1 quad she scored 232. Per my earlier post, if Eteri tells her to focus on a conservative layout to focus on getting to the Olympics she will be a no brainer choice for the team over Tuktamysheva, she just has better scoring potential with a lower number of risky elements to secure a podium sweep. The Fed probably though needs to consider putting their foot down on her not going max out at the Olympics with the triple axel and 5 quad program as a condition of her being on the team over Tuktamysheva to avoid an implosion

 

[Amei]

From visitors' perspective, having Trusova at Olympics is more desirable than Tuktamisheva. People like to watch quads. Sasha is interesting to see...

Tuktamysheva has her own charm, she does have crowd support. But I think the Fed will prioritize who is best capable of securing a podium sweep and that is a conservative Trusova going for 2-3 quads, remember Tuktamysheva is doing pretty much the same FS layout that she did in the 19-20 season and she lost to both Tennell and Satoko. I know I harp on this but Tuktamysheva's layout has no wiggle room for errors like Trusova or Shcherbakova.

 

[Momtoiceprincess]

I think they'll send Tuktamysheva to send a message to the world that they don't just have to rely on Eteri's camp & they don't have to rely on young teens to get the job done... I reckon they'll send her & still get a clean sweep, she has the triple axel in the short also wfich Sasha doesn't have

 

[snowflake]

Honestly, dunno about others, but Olympics without Trusova just won’t feel like Olympics to me. Obviously, if she is recovered enough from her injury. She makes women’s skating exciting. I love Valieva too, and fully expect her to be the champion, but Trusova has the unique ability to liven the competition and her programs are bold and bright vs the usual. Dunno if it’s human nature, but it’s my nature to love and ‘get’ flawed and fighting tooth and nail more than perfect.

Same for me. It's been exciting following her being part of changing women's figure skating. My dream for Beijing was the '3A' but that won't happen.

I had my favorites at the start of the season. Now I have others. But let the skating decide in comps to come

 

[lurkerghost1]

I don't think the US classic will hurt Trusova too much, she had a meltdown and scored 216, Tuktamysheva on fire is only scoring 229-233. Trusova could make those points up had she went with solid triples.

At Skate America where Trusova focused on only 1 quad she scored 232. Per my earlier post, if Eteri tells her to focus on a conservative layout to focus on getting to the Olympics she will be a no brainer choice for the team over Tuktamysheva, she just has better scoring potential with a lower number of risky elements to secure a podium sweep. The Fed probably though needs to consider putting their foot down on her not going max out at the Olympics with the triple axel and 5 quad program as a condition of her being on the team over Tuktamysheva to avoid an implosion

The case where Tuktamysheva is chosen is simple. She outscores Trusova. Regardless of whether Trusova goes for 2 quads and falls on one (beatable) or 5 quads and falls on 3 (beatable). Trusova unfortunately is just not consistent with the quads. And she clearly has a problem with nerves, she is always practicing well and then competing below that, the opposite of Anna and Aliona. Had anyone said 2 years ago that Trusova would lose to Anna at world championships despite Anna landing no quads, no one would believe it. No scores in the last year makes a case for Trusova to be selected over Tukt if Tuktik beats her.

Now on the other hand the last time Liza gave a good performance at nationals was like 6 years ago. So it should not be hard for Trusova to beat her. But it also was not supposed to be hard for Trusova to beat Anna which she hasn’t done since 2019 Junior worlds

 

[beachmouse]

I wonder if it's the pandemic that messed up their training/fitness/routine etc

It's just bizzare the number of athletes who are injured. I love Rika and Bradie. Never thought they'd both be taken out at the same time, in the same season. Now add them plus the string of other injuries and I'm going to blame the damn pandemic.

In a broad sense, the pandemic may have a lot to do with it. In sports medicine it’s well known that athletes who’ve taken a break are far more prone to injury. This is especially true in contact sports. Football players always see a spate of injuries at the beginning of the season as they return from just regular off season conditioning to actual contact sport because you lose muscle memory, your body isn’t used to the daily impacts anymore, etc.

In a normal competitive year, there's a definite rhythm and cycle- periods of base work followed by a tapering before competition so that every practice will be more focused and perfect right before the event.(Also travel time takes away from ice time) And then after the season ends, maybe 2-3 weeks of a break where keeping it to a little bit of yoga or pilates at the beach or some bicycle riding while on holiday allows for healing of a bunch of nagging little aches and pains.

But the pandemic causes giant unplanned training break and then when everyone is on the ice again, every athlete is feeling like they've got to catch up after far too long of a break and then they go on social media and see what their peers are doing and you don't have as many of those competition weeks that are a less wear and tear on the body and for an athlete motivated enough to reach national or international level competition, it's easy to slide into an overtraining cycle that leaves the body more vulnerable to injury or illness.

 

[AshWagsFan]

Does anyone know Trusova’s training status? I’d love to see her at the olympics, but I think it will be difficult for her to break into the toP 3 of Kamila, Anna, and Liza without 3+ quads

 

[AshWagsFan]

If it is not decided and Sasha and Liza are close I think what is most likely is that they send Sasha to Euros and then select Liza if Sasha splats. Maia also has a chance with Aliona out now, and if she lands her quads and presents the FS the way she does the SP could also overtake Liza.

If they select the team based on body of work though (as they did in 2018 with Medvedeva), Liza would get the spot. she beat trusova at worlds and Maiia on the grand prix

 

[Greengemmonster]

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1470901089197244416?s=20

Alena likely will skate for another 4 years! This is excellent news if it's true!!!! If this pandemic will ever settle she'll get plenty of chances at Worlds etc

 

[Rudel-chw]

From visitors' perspective, having Trusova at Olympics is more desirable than Tuktamisheva.

At least this visitor enjoys more watching Liza than Trusova, and so I hope she will beat the odds and go to Beijing.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I'm sure Eteri is going to push her to be more conservative and focus on getting to the Olympics even if it means sacrificing a shot at Nationals and/or Europeans gold. And credit to Trusova she has listened when coaches pushed her to go lighter on the quads, begrudgingly but she did it.

But then she's going to go to the Olympics and try five, which could prevent a podium sweep if things don't go as planned. Because of that, I don't think Sasha will be scored generously; she'll have to earn her spot resoundingly.

 

[Scott512]

I don't think these ladies want to become number one in the team of Tutberidze, Plushenko, Mishin or Orser. They want to be number one in the world, but does the transition to another coach guarantee the achievement of such a goal? Here Trusova was already number one among the "angels", but this did not bring her gold.

No guarantee.

Let's see what happens. My thoughts are with aleona I can't imagine how devastating this must be to her. I mean ther ewas a Grand Prix final would she have been elsewhere would she have been resting? This injury might not have even happened.

?
Anna, Kamila, Maiia, Sasha, Liza count as three?

5?

 

[Scott512]

Well .. with this evolutions ... russian maybe won't have ladies in the olympics ..

Kogan is on the case! They may need to call Nastya back!

But probably not they are still loaded with ladies even with Dasha and Aliona injured.
Russia legitimately has 5 ladies for 3 Olympic spots even without Dasha and AK.

 

[alexocfp]

From visitors' perspective, having Trusova at Olympics is more desirable than Tuktamisheva. People like to watch quads. Sasha is interesting to see...

They each bring excitement but in different ways. Obviously, jumps wise it’s no contest and complete one way traffic.

But to the average Olympic viewer that knows nothing about the sport and just watches only because it’s the Olympics, Liza‘s human interest story easily fits right in with that audience.

Plus her program is fun and hot and that counts for a lot to a casual audience. It has been getting standing ovations with the figure skating audience let’s not forget.