2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Amei]

"Bad season of Maiia..."

Well I wonder where do people go for such claims... Internationally she had only one competition that would not provide her a medal at the last "worlds". Her "bad" in Russia is still one of the best internationally and at her international appearances she was only defeated by other Russians.

She is not stable, but even the best of nonrussian skaters are not. Maiia defeated Loena Hendrickx twice, she defeated Mariah Bell, Mai Mihara, Kim Ye-lim, Lindsay Thorngren and others, about whom the same people would surely not say they had a "bad season". Again, it amazes me how people can have so very different standards based on their prefecences.

I agree i don't think she had a bad season. However I will say it's similar to what we have said about placements at competitions its not the skaters from the other countries that could be the problem but getting assignments over other skaters in her home country could be problematic.

 

[Flying Feijoa]

Well Samsonov suffers from health conditions that would occur anywhere else as well. As for the others, it can't be said something significantly changed (=imprtoved) with their move elsewhere. Erokhov has some good skates here and there, but otherwise he is one of the typical russian men, just when you start to think he will finally stabilize, he performs another splatfest. If there is a problem, then the problem is not restricted to just one team.

On the other hand, when people talk about the expiration, whether they mean Eteri's team (boys or girls) or the russian skating, to be honest I think it's not that rare, I saw more US, japanese or korean skaters who were quite promising and then disappeared/did not fulfill the expectations/got injured etc., and if some of them are still active they usually take the lower positions in their countries. Just not so much attention was paid to them to be talked about "expiration dates".

We both agree on this Actually in the men's category, I don't think there is any one coach that can successfully raise more than 2-3 direct competitors at a time (same country/level). Maybe their psyche doesn't respond well to the day-to-day stress of competitive training environments.

I think 'expiration' (retirement or going past their prime) tends to be more widespread/earlier on average wherever the field is deep (Russia, US, Japan, Korea). Skaters in small feds might be more motivated to prolong their careers, since they still have a realistic chance of representing their country in international competition for many years.

 

[flanker]

Eh, defeated is a strong word. I mean, ever since juniors she was forgiven the endless falls, but it accumulates with every competition she goes to and falls. And it’s not like she has any outstanding beauty of skating. She is always awkward on ice. Her music selection leaves a big room for improvement too. Her personality is not particularly inspiring, she always looks sort of martyred and vaguely unhappy.

It's the right word. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

 

[halulupu]

"Bad season of Maiia..."

Well I wonder where do people go for such claims... Internationally she had only one competition that would not provide her a medal at the last "worlds". Her "bad" in Russia is still one of the best internationally and at her international appearances she was only defeated by other Russians.

She is not stable, but even the best of nonrussian skaters are not. Maiia defeated Loena Hendrickx twice, she defeated Mariah Bell, Mai Mihara, Kim Ye-lim, Lindsay Thorngren and others, about whom the same people would surely not say they had a "bad season". Again, it amazes me how people can have so very different standards based on their prefecences.

Well it doesn't make sense to compare her with international skaters of course, there will be no international competition for quite a time with russian skaters anyway. two different ballgames. You of all should know that.

But her season wasn't stellar, no real progress and eteri doesn't have endless places in her rink. Decisions will need to be made

 

[flanker]

I agree i don't think she had a bad season. However I will say it's similar to what we have said about placements at competitions its not the skaters from the other countries that could be the problem but getting assignments over other skaters in her home country could be problematic.

Unfortunately the first question is whether there even will be any assignments at all next season. But if after all there will be, then Maiia is still factually a GP finallist and that should provide her some assignments. Other skaters like Samodurova or Konstantinova who usually had far worse results gained assignments during previous seasons.

 

[flanker]

Well it doesn't make sense to compare her with international skaters of course, there will be no international competition for quite a time with russian skaters anyway. two different ballgames. You of all should know that.

But her season wasn't stellar, no real progress and eteri doesn't have endless places in her rink. Decisions will need to be made

Let me quote this:

There is a not so unrealistic, however not hopefull, pathway Liza can even become russias only gold medal hope: omnicrom outbreak in team tuberize.

Just how relevant your posts are.

 

[halulupu]

Let me quote this:



Just how relevant your posts are.

It was a possible scenario at that time

 

[flanker]

It was a possible scenario at that time

It was wishful thinking. And far from being the lonely one.

 

[halulupu]

It was wishful thinking. And far from being the lonely one.

Think what you want. But why do you guys always need to turn an analytic thread into an emotional fan fest?

 

[lariko]

It's the right word. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Whatever. She won't be on my list to watch next season. Honestly, I'd rather follow Usacheva if it has to be just Tutberidze cohorts.

 

[flanker]

Whatever. She won't be on my list to watch next season. Honestly, I'd rather follow Usacheva if it has to be just Tutberidze cohorts.

What's on your list is not my concern at all. I'm also not presenting who is on my "list to watch" because it has nothing to do with a statement like "Khromykh had a bad season overall" and several similars to what I reacted.

Though being interested in Daria and Maiia can hardly exclude each other, it's another thing I don't understand, how people act as if it does.

 

[flanker]

Think what you want. But why do you guys always need to turn an analytic thread into an emotional fan fest?

If you have an analysis you are welcome. Wishful thinking is not an analysis, in fact it's just a claim based on emotional evaluation of things.

 

[Amei]

Unfortunately the first question is whether there even will be any assignments at all next season. But if after all there will be, then Maiia is still factually a GP finallist and that should provide her some assignments. Other skaters like Samodurova or Konstantinova who usually had far worse results gained assignments during previous seasons.

They were able to still get assignments based on their ranking and lulls in Russian skaters at the time. Assuming they get international assignments next year, in addition to the existing seniors (none of whom seem to be retiring - not that I'm opposedwe just all had a few possibly penciled in to free up spots) there are going to be several junior skaters moving up all 3 of whom beat Khromykh at Russian Nationals last year, now while 2 of them didn't have the greatest Channel One Cup (similar to Khromykh) they have performed well this season.

 

[lariko]

What's on your list is not my concern at all. I'm also not presenting who is on my "list to watch" because it has nothing to do with a statement like "Khromykh had a bad season overall" and several similars to what I reacted.

Though being interested in Daria and Maiia can hardly exclude each other, it's another thing I don't understand, how people act as if it does.

I think her season was bad. She just really skated worse and worse as it went.

 

[flanker]

They were able to still get assignments based on their ranking and lulls in Russian skaters at the time. Assuming they get international assignments next year, in addition to the existing seniors (none of whom seem to be retiring - not that I'm opposedwe just all had a few possibly penciled in to free up spots) there are going to be several junior skaters moving up all 3 of whom beat Khromykh at Russian Nationals last year, now while 2 of them didn't have the greatest Channel One Cup (similar to Khromykh) they have performed well this season.

Supposing there will be international events for russian skaters (for which I hope but of course we must be prepared for the opposite eventuality), I think Maiia's potential assignments should not be endangered IMO. She's among 24 best in worlds standings. I don't knowwhat will be the status of the upcoming russian seniors (Samodelkina, Petrosian, Muravieva, Zinina) will be assigned as not having JGPF and not attending junior worlds. Who come into mind overally apart from the juniors:
Anna
Sasha
Aliona
Liza
Kamila (still not sure about the result of investigation)
Daria (if she's healed and in competitive form again)
Maiia

Those - and we are not sure if all of them would compete - will be probably accompanied with the upcoming seniors, but I'm definitely not sure they will all receive two spots at GP. From the international perspective Maiia's chance is bigger. Again, if they even will be allowed to compete internationally.

 

[flanker]

I think her season was bad.

Yes, you think.

 

[Amei]

The show that Shcherbakova is skating in tomorrow (or today depending on where you are in the world) is apparently going to b e livestreamed on YouTube. Valieva, Medvedeva and Tuktamysheva are skating there as well

 

[Trusova4Ever]

I would not give up Maiia just yet. Some people are just late bloomers. I still have a good feeling about her long term.

But I am not naive, I do realize that results matter here and sooner or later she will need to get consistent good results otherwise she will be released.

"released", we know what that means... Kostornaiia was the first.

 

[Amei]

"released", we know what that means... Kostornaiia was the first.

Well Kostornaia I think is a different situation, there was obviously conflicts between how they coach and either what works best for her or what she wants from her coaches, either way the relationship wasn't working. I've never gotten that sense from Khromykh that there was friction between her and her coaches.

 

[Trusova4Ever]

Eh, defeated is a strong word. I mean, ever since juniors she was forgiven the endless falls, but it accumulates with every competition she goes to and falls. And it’s not like she has any outstanding beauty of skating. She is always awkward on ice. Her music selection leaves a big room for improvement too. Her personality is not particularly inspiring, she always looks sort of martyred and vaguely unhappy.

When she skates well, the crowd really gets behind her and she gets super confident/smiles, so I don't know if that is totally 100 percent true. Look at her SP at this years channel one cup.