Russian Junior Test Skates 2022

[Jumping_Bean]

i was talking about international competition but rising up to seniors internationally is pretty much impossible for that pairing. Not able to go to JGP and have to wait 3 seasons to start going to challengers to get a senior GP later on.

I mean, the ban is still ongoing, if it continues for even one more season after this one, Russian skaters (including pairs) will have barely any World standing left and they'll likely all have to re-build from (almost) nothing. And they'll only have 3 pairs spots on the JGP anyways for one season after the ban, and I currently couldn't see any of those precious spots going to them even if they were both still age-eligible.

I'm not a fan of these huge age-gap pairings for different reasons, but it's not like Antonyshev has kept the same partner for more than one season either way, even when they were doing decently and were closer in age.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Quite enjoyable pairs, it's kind of sad here is full of talent and Courchavel won't have pairs

Courchevel wouldn't have any pairs even if the Russian pairs were allowed to compete internationally, there's not much to be sad about in that respect. Now, if they had to cancel a pairs stage due to lack of competitors, then yes, but like this, not so much. There's plenty of time to be sad when it comes to the stages actually including pairs (but not the Russians due to obvious reasons).

Interestingly, there have been only 4 or so stages with pairs out of the 7 total JGP stages each season since 2006. Before that, they actually had 8 JGP stages (instead of 7) in total, all with pairs.

 

[Mariiiiskate]

The Velikovs have a lot of pairs here today!

 

[Mariiiiskate]

That was really great from Dybkova and Khvalko !

 

[lariko]

Quite enjoyable pairs, it's kind of sad here is full of talent and Courchavel won't have pairs

They are Courchevel’s pairs for me. That way JGP has 5 stages with pairs.

Actually, I am maybe going to rando slot in all the test skates performances into JGP as way to cope

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

I still don't get the idea behind second test skates. Just commenting about the boys here, yes the field was generally weaker than last season. But that was to be expected with the current line up with the top juniors missing and lots of novices moving up. The skaters themselves didn't do worse than a year ago. In particular in the SP I believe there weren't as many missed jumps and the FS was just typical junior boys going for the quads with inconsistent success. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Why do another test run in a season of only domestic competitions? All of the eligible boys from test skates will get two JRGP stages anyway.
Maybe the fed will reconsider and have a proper competition instead? Because that's what's actually missing in the early season!

Another question is whether they will only invite singles skaters to test skates reloaded or pairs and dancers as well?

 

[lariko]

I still don't get the idea behind second test skates. Just commenting about the boys here, yes the field was generally weaker than last season. But that was to be expected with the current line up with the top juniors missing and lots of novices moving up. The skaters themselves didn't do worse than a year ago. In particular in the SP I believe there weren't as many missed jumps and the FS was just typical junior boys going for the quads with inconsistent success. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Why do another test run in a season of only domestic competitions? All of the eligible boys from test skates will get two JRGP stages anyway.
Maybe the fed will reconsider and have a proper competition instead? Because that's what's actually missing in the early season!

Another question is whether they will only invite singles skaters to test skates reloaded or pairs and dancers as well?

Honestly, it could be just the desire to show a little bit different line-up and have more TV time. It doesn’t hurt juniors to have more face time, particularly next to the seniors and maximize the capture of the talent, decide who does jun or seniors or both (because let’s face it, some might have to do both). They will have ice in Novogorsk and the coaches, so… maybe not so bad?

So long a it doesn’t come with the admonitions like last year’s junior Nats which was probably the worst I had seen out of RusFed.

And, yes, the field is young, and like, they realize that those 13-17 yo are just coming out of pandemic into ban that probably is career-ending?

But if Popov and Co doesn’t make it any of the 3 events… I might have a cow.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

Honestly, it could be just the desire to show a little bit different line-up and have more TV time. It doesn’t hurt juniors to have more face time, particularly next to the seniors and maximize the capture of the talent. They will have ice in Novogorsk and the coaches, so… maybe not so bad?

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm happy about more opportunities to see them skate. I guess I'm just bothered by the way it was communicated again. The back and forth... It just sounds like nobody has a plan how to get these young athletes through such a difficult time in their careers. They need motivation now more than ever and what the fed is doing at the moment doesn't seem particularly motivating to me.

 

[lariko]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm happy about more opportunities to see them skate. I guess I'm just bothered by the way it was communicated again. The back and forth... It just sounds like nobody has a plan how to get these young athletes through such a difficult time in their careers. They need motivation now more than ever and what the fed is doing at the moment doesn't seem particularly motivating to me.

Oh, I am with you on the ‘hold the bashing’ and, like, maybe check the latest news or something… and maybe get a 5-year plan together for Russian-only skating and competition circuit. I mean, Russian boys will be fine competing with other Russian boys and so on and so forth. They seriously need to relax to survive it.

 

[hanca]

I'm not a fan of these huge age-gap pairings for different reasons, but it's not like Antonyshev has kept the same partner for more than one season either way, even when they were doing decently and were closer in age.

I don’t think you can blame Antonyshev for his frequent partner changes. Based on Mukhametzianova’s interview, she was partnered with him by the coaches, and a few months later she was told by the coaches that he would skate with someone else. I am guessing his partner splits before that would probably be the same because he was with the same coaches. after that he was with Osokina, they moved to Pluschenko’s school and Osokina left the school, so I am guessing there might have been something she didn’t like and Antonyshev probably stayed because he liked it there.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I don’t think you can blame Antonyshev for his frequent partner changes. Based on Mukhametzianova’s interview, she was partnered with him by the coaches, and a few months later she was told by the coaches that he would skate with someone else. I am guessing his partner splits before that would probably be the same because he was with the same coaches. after that he was with Osokina, they moved to Pluschenko’s school and Osokina left the school, so I am guessing there might have been something she didn’t like and Antonyshev probably stayed because he liked it there.

Sure, the coaches had a lot to do with the constantly rotating line of female partners for him (and I have a bone to pick with them for constantly changing partners for basically every single skater they coach), but Antonyshev was also an adult when every single switch happened. At some point, you'd think he would have stepped in if he thought it was too much changing around.

Also, who is Andrei Rud skating with now? This is the second partner who was switched from skating with Andrei to skating with Vladislav, the first was Liza Osokina (though they never competed together as far as I know).

 

[lariko]

I can’t resist! Watching it today!

 

[lariko]

You guys are right, Artemeva and Brukhanov are really fun. Actually loved both them and the first pair.

 

[lariko]

Wow out of like 3 partnerships I saw Antonyshev in, this was actually fun! But the age difference is weird… I also really liked Cheremnykh/Butenko. But like, Petushkova/Malikov…I dunno. I think it’s just not working.

 

[lariko]

Oh, Chikmareva/Yanchenkov are lovely… but I guess she’s growing taller so they need a bit of time to adjust….

 

[Flying Feijoa]

Chernyshova/Antonyshev's swan dive transition was cool!
Shegai/Shamshurov are definitely wearing the wrong costumes for a K-pop programme...
Pretty decent music selection from the pairs so far I think.

 

[Kittosuni]

Artemeva and Brukhanov looks senior ready. They look very polish. Great elements. Her triple twist with her former partner is usually a weak one but with Brukhanov its noticeably looks strong with good height and easily a level 4.

They are both strong jumper too. I think the weaknesses from their previous partners they covered it this time. Excited for them.

 

[Kittosuni]

Chikmareva/Yanchenkov this pair has STAR quality.

She grew a lot and looks like almost the same height now. Glad their triple twist(Gorgeous) is not affected but their throw jumps looks like need adjusting.

I'm rooting for this pair because they have the goods to be Russia's new stars.

It's funny because them and Artemeva/Brukhanov reminds me so much of B/K and M/G when they are starting.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

The pairs were lovely.

Note to myself: Stop worrying and complaining about the fed and appreciate the skating instead. After all, they are really doing an incredible job of making it accessible all around the world.

 

[hanca]

Sure, the coaches had a lot to do with the constantly rotating line of female partners for him (and I have a bone to pick with them for constantly changing partners for basically every single skater they coach), but Antonyshev was also an adult when every single switch happened. At some point, you'd think he would have stepped in if he thought it was too much changing around.

But there could have been reason for the switch which may be reason why he didn’t put his foot down and said that he doesn’t want to change. For example, considering the results with Ermakova (scoring total scores around 100-115 points for both programs together) it may be that it wasn’t going anywhere. If there are no improvements, would you be happy to stay in such partnership? Then he got Finohkina, and let’s face it, she is quite a tall for pairs. They didn’t match physically and she still was growing… Then he got Mukhametzianova, who couldn’t land a jump to save her life, and then he got Osokina who is still a pairs beginner. Also, Osokina left Pluschenko’s school, so it could easily be that she didn’t like it there, whereas he believed that this is the best place for his skating development. When you look at the number of the previous partners and the frequency of changing, yes it sounds a lot, but I don’t believe it is as if someone says ‘I am so bored, let’s swap partners around’. You wouldn’t be skating with partner when every professional thinks that there is no progress. You would not continue with a partner which got so tall that there may be safety issues. And with Mukhametzianova, well, if she still can’t land jumps, there is no future for her in pairs. Osokina could have left him because she may not liked the skating conditions… I don’t think we have enough information to blame him at this stage yet.