2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Scott512]

But Daniil is the last person she speaks to and holds hands with before skating. Even when Eteri is there. No other skater in Sambo has ever. It isn't like Alina-Daniil, it's much closer. He always accompanies her to every competition even when Eteri doesn't (like GPs).

I agree with you and the other person that said Daniil is harsh on Aliona and I dislike him for it. But for the ones he likes he is more caring and affectionate. Like when crying Kamila tilted her head towards Daniil as he is more likely to comfort her than Eteri...lol.

Danil and Anna have a special relationship a special connection. I think if he could have picked someone from that team to win the Olympic gold it would have been Anna for sure. Aliona would not have even been second. I'm sure the skaters know who the coaches and choreographers prefer although EG probably has no favorites. Maybe whoever works the hardest that day.

 

[Amei]

I always feel that Daniil isn´t so caring with every skater. He has his favorites, much more than Eteri has her favorites. Daniil was very close with Alina as well. And he has a very close relationship with Anna. But he doesn´t care a lot about Aliona. He was critisizing her very harsh this season.

I heard that when Daniil joined team Eteri, he was given a group of very young skaters (around 10 years old). And Anna was one of them. So their relationship has developed over a very long time and that is the reason they are really close. Anna was very close with Eteri as well, but I don´t get this close relationship any more. I think Eteri cares the most for the girl who is the strongest right now and this season Kamila appeared to be the strongest.

I don´t think, Anna needs to be handled with special care. She is mentally very strong. And even when she had a disappointing competition like Russian Nationals she doesn´t get an outburst.

Yeah, if we are going to over-analyze things (which let's admit it's a trademark of figure skating fans, lol) interestingly there's been no standalone pictures of Eteri with Shcherbakova and the OGM that I've seen.

But Daniil is the last person she speaks to and holds hands with before skating. Even when Eteri is there. No other skater in Sambo has ever. It isn't like Alina-Daniil, it's much closer. He always accompanies her to every competition even when Eteri doesn't (like GPs).

I agree with you and the other person that said Daniil is harsh on Aliona and I dislike him for it. But for the ones he likes he is more caring and affectionate. Like when crying Kamila tilted her head towards Daniil as he is more likely to comfort her than Eteri...lol.

If I remember correctly Plushenko publicly talked how Kostornaia hated Daniil's programs for her last year when she moved. While it would be fantastic to see coaches/choreographers all be like Davydov and not take it 'personal' when a skater leaves (and then returns) ala Berestovskaia, but my guess is that plays into Daniil's 'harshness' this season to Kostornaia.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

2005 is the upper age limit? Is that right? That would suggest that skaters like Valieva, Muravieva, Samodelkina, Petrosyan, and so on were all eligible, in theory, to compete in all three of senior, junior, and older novice nationals this season?

Yes, that is right. Generally, most top Russian women choose to compete in the oldest age-group they are eligible in or do half-senior-half-junior seasons (in the season before they'll be international seniors or if they're having trouble breaking into the top ranks as seniors), but you'll find some of the "lower" ranked skaters take advantage of this system. For example Viktoria Morozova - She finished 9th at Jr nationals, 3rd here in the older age group of younger-age novice nationals and she has qualified for older-age novice nationals.

Some folks were suggesting that a top five or six finish at the younger novice nationals this past week guarantees a spot on the novice national team. But you're saying it only guarantees a *reserve* spot, and only for the top three finishers, and only for the older age group? (Which would also imply that the younger group from this past week gains nothing from their placements?)

I don't know if there is an official document detailing how they choose the national teams, but this is based on my observations.
If you compare this year's novice national team to the placements at the national championships in these three age groups, I think it becomes quite clear.

Novice national team:
Alina Gorbacheva
Alisa Dvoeglazova
Anastasia Zinina
Elizaveta Osokina
Daria Sadkova
Ulyana Shiryaeva
Sofia Titova
Veronika Zhilina
Elizaveta Kulikova

Older age nationals:
1. Elizaveta Osokina
2. Alina Gorbacheva
3. Daria Sadkova
4. Anastasia Zinina
5. Alisa Dvoeglazova
6. Ulyana Shiryaeva
Younger age nationals, older age group:
1. Alisa Dvoeglazova
2. Sofia Titova
3. Elizaveta Kulikova
4. Daria Sadkova
5. Lyubov Rubtsova
6. Polina Plakhotnaya
Younger age nationals, younger age group:
1. Alena Prineva
2. Elena Kostyleva
3. Alena Krivonosova
4. Taisya Korobitsina
5. Daria Sarymsakova
6. Margarita Bazylyuk

So yeah, basically the top 6 at older age nats, plus the 2 of the top 3 in the older age group at younger age nationals that didn't get onto the main team through older age nats. And Nika, who was (same with Liza Kulikova, by the way) added after Jr Test Skates.

What is the official upper age limit for juniors in Russia? I thought it was the same as the upper age limit for international juniors, which for this season was 2002-July-1, I believe. (Even though it's rare to see skaters that old competing.)

Yep, the upper age limit is the same for juniors nationally and internationally. In women's it is indeed very rare, in men's it is a bit more common (for example Artem Kovalev, who placed 3rd at Jr Nationals this season. He was born on the 27th of June 2003, so this is his last Jr season.).

 

[flanker]

The Channel 1 Trophy will be held on 20th March in Saransk:

Кубок Первого канала по фигурному катанию пройдет в Саранске в 20-х числах марта

Кубок Первого канала по фигурному катанию пройдет в Саранске в 20-х числах марта - Фигурное катание на Sports.ru

www.sports.ru

 

[Trusova4Ever]

The Channel 1 Trophy will be held on 20th March in Saransk:

Кубок Первого канала по фигурному катанию пройдет в Саранске в 20-х числах марта

Кубок Первого канала по фигурному катанию пройдет в Саранске в 20-х числах марта - Фигурное катание на Sports.ru

www.sports.ru

Just about to post this, thanks!

 

[NaVi]

The Channel 1 Trophy will be held on 20th March in Saransk:

Кубок Первого канала по фигурному катанию пройдет в Саранске в 20-х числах марта

Кубок Первого канала по фигурному катанию пройдет в Саранске в 20-х числах марта - Фигурное катание на Sports.ru

www.sports.ru

I think this is a bad idea. Events like these need a relaxing and celebratory mood which is going to be hard to do considering the circumstances. The event is just going to feel awkward. I kind of feel like many of the skaters won't be psychologically prepared to perform near their peak. I worry that putting on this event could derail putting on future events like it more than if it was just skipped for the year.

 

[macy]

and again that was a mental breakdown, you think she asked for press or for the organi zers ornhelpers to hound her instead of giving her just a few minutes to herself? it was of the backroom and in my opinion should have never been shown on camera. she didnt have anywhere else to go, she tried turning away , she tried to hide and everytime someone was going after her .

i completely agree, i wish they would have left her alone.

 

[Amei]

I think this is a bad idea. Events like these need a relaxing and celebratory mood which is going to be hard to do considering the circumstances. The event is just going to feel awkward. I kind of feel like many of the skaters won't be psychologically prepared to perform near their peak. I worry that putting on this event could derail putting on future events like it more than if it was just skipped for the year.

It might be awkward for some international viewers who selectively cannot separate a government from sport not sure why it should feel awkward for Russian skaters, citizens or international fans who can separate sport from government.

So should Russian skaters just hideaway and cancel anything they were planning on doing, they are already being punished for their governments actions by an indefinite suspension from international events which could impact sponsorship deals (how they earn money), now domestic events need to go?

 

[NaVi]

It might be awkward for some international viewers who selectively cannot separate a government from sport not sure why it should feel awkward for Russian skaters, citizens or international fans who can separate sport from government.

So should Russian skaters just hideaway and cancel anything they were planning on doing, they are already being punished for their governments actions by an indefinite suspension from international events which could impact sponsorship deals (how they earn money), now domestic events need to go?

They have to eat and make money so I'm completely fine with them doing shows, but this event just seems awkward to me.

 

[Amei]

They have to eat and make money so I'm completely fine with them doing shows, but this event just seems awkward to me.

Its as much an exhibition as the Champions on Ice show the exception being a trophy (and last year there was a check as well) getting presented to the winning team. Or more like the old ice wars event that was big years ago.

 

[Trusova4Ever]

Okay TSL posted a YouTube poll asking if you were more or less excited for worlds now that the Russians are out. And it was genuinely disheartening how many people said in the comments: "Yes, because it will be nice to see someone on the podium besides doped up, skinny little girls who are over scored and have cheated quads for a change." or things along those lines. Just because TMZ was found in Kamila's system all those uneducated Olympic viewers are thinking that all Russian's dope, meanwhile Sasha and Anna were always clean, and are discrediting their achievements because of it. It makes me mad to be honest.

 

[Trusova4Ever]

Okay TSL posted a YouTube poll asking if you were more or less excited for worlds now that the Russians are out. And it was genuinely disheartening how many people said in the comments: "Yes, because it will be nice to see someone on the podium besides doped up, skinny little girls who are over scored and have cheated quads for a change." or things along those lines. Just because TMZ was found in Kamila's system all those uneducated Olympic viewers are thinking that all Russian's dope, meanwhile Sasha and Anna were always clean, and are discrediting their achievements because of it. It makes me mad to be honest.

And furthermore, about their cheated technique, name me 5 non-Russian women skaters with a correct edges on their flips and lutzes and have between 0-90 degrees of pre-rotation. They fail to realize that so many people have flawed technique, almost everyone has an ! on their lutzes it is almost rare at this point to see a true, text-book lutz jumper, let alone one without a problematic flip edge.

Honestly, off the top of my head, I think only Rika and Liza (after she fixed her lip this season) are the only ones with the right edges on both.

 

[Trusova4Ever]

Okay and like pardon my rant, but when I first started really following figure skating at the end of the 2019-2020 season and start of the 2020-2021 season and becoming a bit obsessed. I was right on that poor technique, flutz/floopz/loopz/lip/saltoe, pre-rotation, under-rotation bandwagon, (cause that was all anyone talked about) not the toxic side, but like, just fascinated by the technique aspect of FS and the judging system. I was recognized that "Yeah that isn't a 'proper' quad," but at this point, who cares? It gives the impression of a quad, it looks impressive, more impressive than a triple anyway. Nothing in the rules is stopping them from pre-rotating by 180 degrees except the vague rule about forward takeoff, so, in actuality, what is so wrong about their technique despite the blade full/partial blade assistance and edge problems which are a whole different issue (a judging issue)?*

*And this excluding the points about their technique being damaging to the body (alleged back/hip/foot problems, fractures, unsustainable for skaters with low muscle mass, jumping from the back not the legs, using their arms, exploiting/relying on their hips' ability to bounce/snap them into rotation after they change and harden after puberty (for some skaters), etc. From a purely "points" point of view.

 

[Amei]

Okay TSL posted a YouTube poll asking if you were more or less excited for worlds now that the Russians are out. And it was genuinely disheartening how many people said in the comments: "Yes, because it will be nice to see someone on the podium besides doped up, skinny little girls who are over scored and have cheated quads for a change." or things along those lines. Just because TMZ was found in Kamila's system all those uneducated Olympic viewers are thinking that all Russian's dope, meanwhile Sasha and Anna were always clean, and are discrediting their achievements because of it. It makes me mad to be honest.

TSL is a skewed audience, because I think a lot of fans of Russian skaters refuse to watch their channel because of their nasty commentary about the Russian athletes, I literally have their channel blocked from appearing on my Youtube.

 

[Trusova4Ever]

TSL is a skewed audience, because I think a lot of fans of Russian skaters refuse to watch their channel because of their nasty commentary about the Russian athletes, I literally have their channel blocked from appearing on my Youtube.

Yes on the other hand, that is true.

 

[Lzbee]

Okay and like pardon my rant, but when I first started really following figure skating at the end of the 2019-2020 season and start of the 2020-2021 season and becoming a bit obsessed. I was right on that poor technique, flutz/floopz/loopz/lip/saltoe, pre-rotation, under-rotation bandwagon, (cause that was all anyone talked about) not the toxic side, but like, just fascinated by the technique aspect of FS and the judging system. I was recognized that "Yeah that isn't a 'proper' quad," but at this point, who cares? It gives the impression of a quad, it looks impressive, more impressive than a triple anyway. Nothing in the rules is stopping them from pre-rotating by 180 degrees except the vague rule about forward takeoff, so, in actuality, what is so wrong about their technique despite the blade full/partial blade assistance and edge problems which are a whole different issue (a judging issue)?*

*And this excluding the points about their technique being damaging to the body (alleged back/hip/foot problems, fractures, unsustainable for skaters with low muscle mass, jumping from the back not the legs, using their arms, exploiting/relying on their hips' ability to bounce/snap them into rotation after they change and harden after puberty (for some skaters), etc. From a purely "points" point of view.

I'm not sure you wanted to start a discussion but my opinion is that if the scoring system is set up to grade skaters differently based on how well they execute an element then they should be scrutinized on technique. If technique doesn't matter then all jumps should have the same value and they just compete on how efficiently you can get more rotations.

 

[flanker]

Okay TSL posted a YouTube poll asking if you were more or less excited for worlds now that the Russians are out. And it was genuinely disheartening how many people said in the comments: "Yes, because it will be nice to see someone on the podium besides doped up, skinny little girls who are over scored and have cheated quads for a change." or things along those lines. Just because TMZ was found in Kamila's system all those uneducated Olympic viewers are thinking that all Russian's dope, meanwhile Sasha and Anna were always clean, and are discrediting their achievements because of it. It makes me mad to be honest.

TSL regulars are not the representative sample of FS fans, at least I hope...

 

[Trusova4Ever]

I'm not sure you wanted to start a discussion but my opinion is that if the scoring system is set up to grade skaters differently based on how well they execute an element then they should be scrutinized on technique. If technique doesn't matter then all jumps should have the same value and they just compete on how efficiently you can get more rotations.

Yes, I am trying to make the point also that there does need to be a judging reform too, don't get me wrong. Pre-rotation definitely needs to be looked at. I am saying that so many skaters are getting away with it regardless of whether they are consciously trying to pre-rotate or not because there is no clause in the ISU handbooks that says otherwise, that says they cannot pre-rotate 90+ degrees on the ice.

 

[DougDorsey]

Novices:
Older/Elder age: For singles: 2005 and younger

By the way, is there a lower cutoff date for the older age novice nationals?

For example, I imagine all of the skaters in the older age group of the younger novice nationals that just took place last week, like Masha Gordeeva and Vika Morozova, are age eligible to compete in older age novice nationals?

But what about the skaters who were in the younger age group, like Valeria Lukashova and Margarita Bazylyuk?

 

[Jumping_Bean]

By the way, is there a lower cutoff date for the older age novice nationals?

For example, I imagine all of the skaters in the older age group of the younger novice nationals that just took place last week, like Masha Gordeeva and Vika Morozova, are age eligible to compete in older age novice nationals?

But what about the skaters who were in the younger age group, like Valeria Lukashova and Margarita Bazylyuk?

Thank you for reminding me, I wanted to look for that. I remember there being a lower limit for both the younger group of younger age novices (2013) and older age novices (2010) but couldn't find a document to support this.

I've found one now - Not on the website of the Russian Skating Fed but on the website of the Moscow Skating Federation for the Moscow Championships (Qualifiers for the Russian Novice Championships). I'll edit it into the original post.

So yes, the skaters in the older age group of younger age novices are eligible for older age novices, the skaters in the younger group are not.