2016-17 State of Russian Ladies skating

[Pracygr]

Regarding Sotskova move to Buyanova, as she mentioned in her recent interview the reason was lack of proper training conditions. The club she skated for is really just a junior hockey club. Figure skating is a tertiary priority for them, so skaters have to use not so well suited facilities (PE room is a boxing gym of all things), and limited ice access meant she had to train alongside a dozen juniors. Access to specialist training and choreographers is rather limited as well.

The ideal situation would be if Panova had her conditions dramatically improved, but this doesn't seem likely at the moment. And the only way Sotskova was going to get all the things that she needs right now is by moving to somebody like Buyanova.

 

[Alexz]

http://www.fsrussia.ru/news/2156-is...isok-kandidatov-v-sbornye-komandy-strany.html

National team ladies skaters (those are the skaters who get the funding, correct?): Lipnitskaya, Leonova, Medvedeva, Pogorilaya, Radionova, Sotnikova, Sotskova, Tuktamysheva

That feeling when you feel like someone doubted your right to go to 2018 Olympics...

 

[SarahSynchro]

That feeling when you feel like someone doubted your right to go to 2018 Olympics...

Aha!

 

[stryke]

I also don't get the reasoning of the skaters moving to Buyanova (or do I? get it - funding, CSKA, more power etc.). But these things will be useless in some time unless you produce consistent results.

So far, none of her skaters was consistent. Both Sotnikova and Kovtun have been headcases.
Also, besides Kovtun and Sotnikova, she has not produced any top contenders. Especially compared to Eteri, let alone Mishin etc.

Maria was doing well with Panova, especially considering her growth. Indeed, she has been doing a lot better this season that season before.
And Adian... Oh well, I am so gutted he left Tutberidze after all she has done to him

I think you've got it. By this point I'm thinking skaters are joining her more for the overall training conditions than her coaching ability. I don't see Maria or Adian succeeding under Buyanova unfortunately.

 

[LRK]

That feeling when you feel like someone doubted your right to go to 2018 Olympics...

I think that is great - but just to note, since I doubt most people know, that Plushy himself actually posted that:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC2Jf_Emy7d/

(His reaction after his visit to the doctor, and finding out what his treatment would be.) I just think credit should go where credit is due - to Plushy.

(Well - what? - injured tone - I am an uber after all! Must make myself deserving of the title, mustn't I?)

 

[boskil]

Evgenia Medvedeva - Unique jump combos
https://vimeo.com/167534973

 

[boskil]

2016 Junior Russian Championships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Ksg_BggJg

 

[plushyfan]

2016 Junior Russian Championships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Ksg_BggJg

OMG! These girls are so talented and beautiful!

 

[boskil]

Today Julia is celebrating her 18th birthday!

 

[Skater Boy]

The state of Russian skating is really in the eye of the beholders. Most countries would be happy with their state. First off their weakest event is dance. But they have four potentially podium teams. B and S are returning. I and Z, K and S and Stepanova and Bukin all show promise and definitely top ten material if not top 5. not horrible at all. but admittedly the podium will be tough with the French and 2 americans and now 2 canadians not to mention the italians. while it probably won't happen I could see the italians out of the top eight 3 americans, 3 canadians 2 russians and the french. it will be key to see if they regain three spots in 2017 and which team announces themselves as olympic medal contender if any.

IN ladies itis amazing to say that that they have won five world medals and the olympic gold since 2014 and yet not one of the ladies has stayed at the top. They keep switching. So they have depth but no staying power. Will Evgenia stay at the top. Will Rad readjust to her height change. Will Julia come back and deal with her womanly body. Will Sotnikova get back in shape and stop her ur's. Will ET regain her confidence and form that brought her a world title. Will Leonova fight back one more time or will one of the new stars takes over just like the last one. The team is unstable but they seem to be still strong contenders especially if the Americans continue their inconsistency despite a world silver from Ashley.

In men we definitely see some potential. Though one of the men needs to take the lead and own it. And in pairs well the future doesn't look terribly great but right now they have three senior mature teams. K and S may be through but one hopes they get on that podium after all their injuries. S and K AND v AND T really need to get healthy, train and show the passion for the sport they have previously shown. They have shown flashes of brilliance are very competition when on even without quads. T and M are bland but certainly a contender for top 5 even without the others. if all three top teams could skate their best they could sweep the podium unlikely with the Chinese and Canadians and well liked Germans though.

Comparatively they have top ten or top 5 contenders in all disciplines which i am not sure you can say about any other nation right now. USA would iffy in pairs and men. Canada would have problems in the ladies. France just isn't the same as it once was. italy still has issues in men and a tough fight in pairs. japan still just has men and women really. China has dance as its albatross.

 

[PiggytailProdigy]

there are gonna be strong japanese newbies like wakabi marin and kihira
i doubt the ladies side domination

 

[hugo]

4salchow attempt, not landed but though...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCNGlUkFPtV/
skater: Polina Makarova, 15 y/o

 

[lyndichee]

4salchow attempt, not landed but though...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCNGlUkFPtV/
skater: Polina Makarova, 15 y/o

I think that would >>.

With the incredible competition, I wouldn't be surprised seeing more young girls trying 4S.

 

[andromache]

Comparatively they have top ten or top 5 contenders in all disciplines which i am not sure you can say about any other nation right now. USA would iffy in pairs and men. Canada would have problems in the ladies. France just isn't the same as it once was. italy still has issues in men and a tough fight in pairs. japan still just has men and women really. China has dance as its albatross.

I'd say US men and Russian men are fairly equal right now. 1-2 top 5 contenders, quite a few top 10 contenders. Just looking at the numbers, US ice dance = Russian ladies, US pairs = Russian ice dance in terms of strength, at least during last season. The depth of the Russian ladies is pretty well-matched by the depth of US ice dance teams. The primary difference regarding each country's weakest disciplines is that there are some Russian ice dance teams who look promising for the future, not so much in US pairs though.

Then US ladies = Russian pairs: both have potential for moments of brilliance but also disappointing.

Olympic team event will be interesting. US and Russia may be pretty evenly matched, with Canada playing spoiler (assuming V/M and D/R are still in the top 3 in the world and PChan delivers, could make up for their weakness in ladies.)

What Russian ladies new music/program reveal are you all most excited for? I'm torn between Evgenia and Yulia. And a little afraid to see what Elena Rad ends up with.

 

[AlexRus]

there are gonna be strong japanese newbies like wakabi marin and kihira
i doubt the ladies side domination

StPetersburg - Konstantinova, Lozko, Nugumanova, Samodurova.
Moscow - Tarusina, Gulyakova, Panenkova, Mitrofanova, Shuboderova, Mukhortova, Kurakova, Zagitova.
These are Ladies who had not JGP Events and are age eligibe to JGP-2016. All strong and nice.

Also there are Ladies too young for JGP-2016 - Vasilyeva, Scherbakova, Kostornaya, Trusova, Kadyrova, Kostyuk, Ryabova, Kanysheva etc.

 

[hanca]

StPetersburg - Konstantinova, Lozko, Nugumanova, Samodurova.
Moscow - Tarusina, Gulyakova, Panenkova, Mitrofanova, Shuboderova, Mukhortova, Kurakova, Zagitova.
These are Ladies who had not JGP Events and are age eligibe to JGP-2016. All strong and nice.

Also there are Ladies too young for JGP-2016 - Vasilyeva, Scherbakova, Kostornaya, Trusova, Kadyrova, Kostyuk, Ryabova, Kanysheva etc.

Have you given up on Gubanova? Or did you just forget her? She still has a few months, she may stabilise her skating. I know she struggled a bit last season, but I would think she is better than Guliakova, Panenkova, Mitrofanova, Mukhortova etc.

 

[SarahSynchro]

I'm really hoping Evgenia can continue her dominance and consistency into next season and prove to the "puberty monster" naysayers that she's here to stay. Same goes for Anna, I want both of them to show the skating world that they mean business and their world medals were not a fluke.

I'm also holding out for a Julia comeback. Oh please pease please, skating gods, make it happen! I can't wait to see her new programs under Alexei Urmanov's tutelage.

I'd actually love to see Alena in contention again. Never say never, Mirai Nagasu had an awesome comeback year when so many others had counted her out.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I hope Mitrofinova can pull it together. I know some are counting her out but I really like the way she skates. Maybe she'll land a really good program this year. :yes:

 

[winky97]

I hope Elena, Liza, and Yulia will be back in form this season. Good luck also to Anna. Let's see if see can get confidence from her world medal and but together a consistent season.

 

[Shayuki]

Have you given up on Gubanova? Or did you just forget her? She still has a few months, she may stabilise her skating. I know she struggled a bit last season, but I would think she is better than Guliakova, Panenkova, Mitrofanova, Mukhortova etc.

Actually, she's looked much better towards the end of the season. Gubanova also had the 2A -> 3T -> 3Lo video clip which was impressive.