2015-16 State of Russian Ladies skating

[Ophelia]

It's more that Sot, Lip, and Tukt skated badly than the field is so deep as the reason for them getting buried. If they skated well, they would've been up in the standings. They would've gotten buried at Japan Nationals too, and maybe even be off podium at US Nationals.

 

[pororocheburashka]

2016 European Figure Skating Championships, January 2016

Who will be the first substitute skater (for Russia)?
What do you think?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It's more that Sot, Lip, and Tukt skated badly than the field is so deep as the reason for them getting buried. If they skated well, they would've been up in the standings. They would've gotten buried at Japan Nationals too, and maybe even be off podium at US Nationals.

Conversely, Ashley and Gracie have made the US team several years running and I think, if they were Russian, their performances at US Nationals would not have made the podium at Russians most years. They are able to bomb one segment and still medal, whereas a skater can't at Russian nationals.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

2016 European Figure Skating Championships, January 2016

Who will be the first substitute skater (for Russia)?
What do you think?

Is Anna officially in and Liza out? I'd be a bit surprised if they don't give Liza another shot since she is the reigning world champion.

 

[winky97]

Is Anna officially in and Liza out? I'd be a bit surprised if they don't give Liza another shot since she is the reigning world champion.

The Russian Fed has not decided yet. It is supposed to be decided tomorrow.

 

[whatif]

Technically, we should remove Polina and Maria from the mix and the 2nd tier standings are Sotnikova- 4th, Lipnitskaya-5th, and Tukt -6th. I would say that Stonikova may opt to skip the rest of the season and the substitutes for Pogo will be either Lip or Tuk. Liza looks really out of shape and tired, even TAT commented on that. So for her as well, going to Worlds in this condition may not be the smartest decision. Better just rest. So I would be inclined to give the wild card to Lip who is hungry BUT only if Pogo withdraws which will not happen.

 

[Weathergal]

2016 European Figure Skating Championships, January 2016

Who will be the first substitute skater (for Russia)?
What do you think?

Is Anna officially in and Liza out? I'd be a bit surprised if they don't give Liza another shot since she is the reigning world champion.

Although Liza is the reigning WC, I don't think she should be sent to Euros over Anna. Yulia wasn't sent last season even though she was reigning Euro and World silver medalist and Olympic Team gold medalist. And she shouldn't have been. (Note I'm I am quite fond of both Liza and Yulia.)

I also would have put Anna over Elena in the FS. Either way very happy for Anna and hoping she will get a chance to go to Euros and Worlds.

 

[silverlake22]

Is Anna officially in and Liza out? I'd be a bit surprised if they don't give Liza another shot since she is the reigning world champion.

I assume Anna will be sent to Euros and the World team will be left open ended. If Anna performs well at Euros, I would think she'd get sent to Worlds, but if she bombs at Euros, I think Tuk, Sot, or Lip might be considered for Worlds, maybe they'd have a test skate or something. The results here weren't really close among the 4 and none of them have been consistent this season either, so I'd be a bit surprised if Pogo is bumped for Euros. Worlds I do think is still up for grabs though, but Anna does have the opportunity in her hands methinks, if she can hold it together at Euros I would assume she'll get the nod. Tuk is reigning world champ but she hasn't been too impressive this season unfortunately, if she had say medaled at GPF, then I could see her being given a Euros berth, but she didn't even qualify. Plus, I think it gets tricky because Tuk finished below Adelina and Julia at Nationals, so if she is given the Euros spot over those two and Anna (who was 20 points ahead here) it would mean the Fed completely disregarded the Nationals results.

 

[Shayuki]

Technically, we should remove Polina and Maria from the mix and the 2nd tier standings are Sotnikova- 4th, Lipnitskaya-5th, and Tukt -6th. I would say that Stonikova may opt to skip the rest of the season and the substitutes for Pogo will be either Lip or Tuk. Liza looks really out of shape and tired, even TAT commented on that. So for her as well, going to Worlds in this condition may not be the smartest decision. Better just rest. So I would be inclined to give the wild card to Lip who is hungry BUT only if Pogo withdraws which will not happen.

Maria removed why? She's a senior, and her season has been hell of a lot more consistent than any of the others' you mentioned.


And no discussion of youth olympics? ;S

 

[whatif]

Maria removed why? She's a senior, and her season has been hell of a lot more consistent than any of the others' you mentioned.


And no discussion of youth olympics? ;S

I know she age eligible but I doubt she is even in any serious consideration given the amount of politics happening around her. Did she end on the podium, it would have been been different. But 5th in this field? She will be pushed aside so hard and nobody will blink.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think the top 2 is pretty much decided, since Elena and Evgenia both have been quite consistent in their season and they probably will be 1 and 2 at Euros. Now, Anna should be sent to Euros, but she has to hold it together there, especially this year. Rajicova is on a rise, and if one of the russians has a bad competition, and she goes clean I can totally see Nicole getting a home bonus to get on the podium, and that would probably be pretty bad for a russian, especially if the second tiers are the likes of Sotnikova, Lipnitskaia and Tuktamysheva - even though their season was not stellar.

But we have to remember that Euros is all but a rehearsal for worlds. And this year in the US I doubt the competition is going to be so easy for the russians - they can't send anyone that might drag them down, and Anna, unfortunately, did a lot of that last year.

 

[whatif]

Pogo has to bomb pretty bad to finish behind Rajicova. But we all know she is very capable of that.

Is Leonova done now?

 

[coldblueeyes]

Pogo has to bomb pretty bad to finish behind Rajicova. But we all know she is very capable of that.

If Pogo bombs as she did at NHK or even last year worlds, she can lose to more than just Rajicova. Nicole, if clean, will probably score around 180 at Euros. Pogorilaya got less than that at NHK and ON, and a little bit over that at COC just this year alone. She only managed to compete amazingly at MO and RN, both in Russia. There's a big chance of she bombing enough to push her out of the podium easily. In the same way she can become the euro champ. I can see both ways.

 

[whatif]

If Pogo bombs as she did at NHK or even last year worlds, she can lose to more than just Rajicova. Nicole, if clean, will probably score around 180 at Euros. Pogorilaya got less than that at NHK and ON, and a little bit over that at COC just this year alone. She only managed to compete amazingly at MO and RN, both in Russia. There's a big chance of she bombing enough to push her out of the podium easily. In the same way she can become the euro champ. I can see both ways.

Well, Rajicova needs to actually get those scores at that level, while Pogo has done that and actually faced Rajicova this season. Also more experience and reputation. So the bets are currently not in Rajicova's favour. I am afraid. But the ice is slippery.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Well, Rajicova needs to actually get those scores at that level, while Pogo has done that and actually faced Rajicova this season. Also more experience and reputation. So the bets are currently not in Rajicova's favour. I am afraid. But the ice is slippery.

Oh, yes, ideed. The fact is that this year Anna had not managed to compete well outside of Russia, and Nicole might get a home bonus. But it's lot of ifs. Though, Pogo has been more prone to bombing than not, which really hurts her reputation.

 

[Shayuki]

She'd need to bomb as hard as in NHK, 3 falls in short... Even with a relatively mediocre performance Anna can easily score 180+, whereas Anna's peak allows her to even win the entire competition if the other Russians don't skate clean.

 

[Totentanz]

I don't understand you guys, why you are thinking in a bad way about Anna. She might have bad showings outside the Russia but come on give the girl a chance. You have seen how fierce she was plus she competed very well under pressure. European Championships won't be more difficult than Russian Nationals. I think the bronze is Anna's to lose there. Let's not produce theories of her bombing...

 

[shmay]

Pardon if this has already been asked and answered...but is there any precedent, in history, for someone going from World Champion to 8th at their Nationals?

That must be a new low.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I'm not thinking in a bad way about Anna, but does she ever made two clean competitions in a row in the last seasons? No. Barely a week ago people were not even betting on her, and just today people were begging her to actually not bomb. I'm sorry but, she's not reliable. Besides Elena and Evgenia, none of the other seniors had been reliable. I'm pretty sure if one bombs, they can ceretainly put her aside and push any of the others. Even before Liza started to go down this season, or even Yulia in the last one, Anna didn't have a good rep. Sorry if I seem skeptical about her suddenly becoming consistent all of sudden.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Pardon if this has already been asked and answered...but is there any precedent, in history, for someone going from World Champion to 8th at their Nationals?

That must be a new low.

I see no special reason to that. She competed badly, she placed low. It's not like she could score 195 and still have a chance this year. This is not some Nationals.