2017-18 State of Russian Ladies skating | Page 269 | Golden Skate

2017-18 State of Russian Ladies skating

Not the same thing, and of course when we're talking broadly in terms of country (now it just depends how each of them responds to that). But if anyone is fully at home, it's Zhenya, which for her is probably a bonus (in terms of having that extra kick you're skating in your home city). We'll see, hopefully they all do well because it's a special feeling when you skate well in your own country.

That's true, I'll give you that.
I think they'll all face an extra supportive audience, and I'm grateful for that :)
 
Medvedeva has nerves of steel indeed, but she's never been in such position before.
She'd been always healthy and start ready afair, now she took a break and her younger compatriot completely exploded on international scene. It must feel different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wb9C4A5jNM

Alina is an amazing jumper, obviously - but is it just my impression or is her 3lz3lo looking more laboured than last year? It could just be my impression though, I'm not really amazing with technical details :)

Either way, I'm sure Zhenya will be nervous, but she's also such a fierce competitor. In any case, if she is to make mistakes because of nerves, better now than at OG tbh
 
Alina is an amazing jumper, obviously - but is it just my impression or is her 3lz3lo looking more laboured than last year? It could just be my impression though, I'm not really amazing with technical details :)

Either way, I'm sure Zhenya will be nervous, but she's also such a fierce competitor. In any case, if she is to make mistakes because of nerves, better now than at OG tbh
In the free, it looks about the same
her three jump combo looks a bit worse though, imo...
 
No need to start all those anti-Radionova campaigns. She behaved quite correctly there and haven't said anything controversial, she was quite respectful, even despite interviewers probably trying a little bit to make her say something provocative. Regarding her being injured twice, she said that just because she was explicitly asked about that by interviewers, like "was you also injured like that? was it really that painful?". She didn't say that just to switch attention from Medvedeva to herself as some people here think.

Also, i hate hearing the same narrative from this channel (like it was in documentary about Alina) - i mean they are basically trying to make skaters say that all those young girls are nothing else but jumping beans, and our 18-20 yo skaters are the real skaters. Looks disrespectful tbh, but what else would you expect from a government-run channel which says that Radionova is a medalist in BIATHLON... :palmf:
actually Elena behaved more correctly that Anna when she was asked a similar question
 
I used to be an executive for more than the last 15 years, hence, I am not sure if my work at the rink will make more sense to Russian figure skating than my work as a bureaucrat (not sure if the latter would make sense as well but time will tell).

My suggestion was not reflection on your ability (e.g. I am not claiming that renewing ice or doing ice supervisor is the only job you are capable doing), but if you want to get the insider knowledge of what’s going on at the rink, I don’t think that working for the federation is going to be help you do that. The rinks only share with the federation what they want the federation to know. For the real info you need to go to the source.
 
My suggestion was not reflection on your ability (e.g. I am not claiming that renewing ice or doing ice supervisor is the only job you are capable doing), but if you want to get the insider knowledge of what’s going on at the rink, I don’t think that working for the federation is going to be help you do that. The rinks only share with the federation what they want the federation to know. For the real info you need to go to the source.

hanca knows everything about spy-games and receiving the insider information! :yes: I guess we found our James Bond, who was at the last Junior Russian Nationals. Gotcha!
 
No, she's not. Alina is from Izhevsk. It is Zhenya who is skating at home as she was born in Moscow.

Anyway, Radio's just salty but at this point it's just a shake my head kind of moment. She should get a grip and start concentrating on herself, not lashing out. It's hardly Zhenya's fault that she has all these problems but I guess it's easier for her to blame someone else.

About the nerves, Alina is not as steady as Zhenya is. It sort of got taken for granted ever since last season that Alina would be a copy of Zhenya in this regard, I am not even entirely sure where this originated but it seems very apparent that this is not the case.

Zhenya's personality is pretty fierce so if anything, I expect her to come out chomping at the bit to regain her place in the standings, if she is indeed healthy now, knock on wood. Alina has all the pressure to keep that momentum, which is a worse position to be in. It's also her first season as Senior so she got thrust in the spotlight right away, without a single year to act as a learning buffer. Tough situation to be in.

Personally I'm glad to hear Zhenya's well because I am going to cross everything that her being at Europeans, along with Caro, are going to be enough to put a damper on Alina's out of control PCS.
Alina was never as stable as Zhenya, even last season. Puberty which at least has begun in Alina, although I think she has quite a way to go yet, does things to your head as much as to your body. In her recent interview, Polina said that a couple of years ago she used to be fearless and go out and skate without a second thought, and now she has all those thoughts milling around in her head that get in the way. This happens when kids start to grow up. Zhenya has an exceptionally strong mentality, Alina is simply more normal in this regard.

Alina gets into this pattern where she is afraid of making a mistake in the SP, so she makes it. The more pressure for her not to make mistakes, the more anxious she gets, which leads to mistakes. She still wins in the end, but I she is in an atmosphere where that is not seen as enough, you have to be flawless - the girls have to reskate programs until they are perfect. I think in her particular case she needs to mentally permit herself not to be perfect, but good enough. That can actually lead to fewer flaws. Zhenya is a fierce competitor who loves the challenge of going out and being more perfect than everyone else, I don't think that's how Alina is motivated.

Also, her SP is overchoreographed like crazy, can they make her life a bit easier at least? A lot of tansitions are there just to be there. The goal is likely to make up for her weaknesses, but there needs to be a balance.
 
No need to start all those anti-Radionova campaigns. She behaved quite correctly there and haven't said anything controversial, she was quite respectful, even despite interviewers probably trying a little bit to make her say something provocative. Regarding her being injured twice, she said that just because she was explicitly asked about that by interviewers, like "was you also injured like that? was it really that painful?". She didn't say that just to switch attention from Medvedeva to herself as some people here think.

Also, i hate hearing the same narrative from this channel (like it was in documentary about Alina) - i mean they are basically trying to make skaters say that all those young girls are nothing else but jumping beans, and our 18-20 yo skaters are the real skaters. Looks disrespectful tbh, but what else would you expect from a government-run channel which says that Radionova is a medalist in BIATHLON... :palmf:
actually Elena behaved more correctly that Anna when she asked

Thank you because I was wondering about this. It seemed really strange so I wondered if this was said in response to questions poised to her.
 
No need to start all those anti-Radionova campaigns. She behaved quite correctly there and haven't said anything controversial, she was quite respectful, even despite interviewers probably trying a little bit to make her say something provocative. Regarding her being injured twice, she said that just because she was explicitly asked about that by interviewers, like "was you also injured like that? was it really that painful?". She didn't say that just to switch attention from Medvedeva to herself as some people here think.

Well in that case I apologize. My reaction was based on the summarized translation of the interview. Thanks for clarifying.
 
It's completely normal to expect Zagitova coming out on top with all her momentum in unblemished and unbeaten season, against injured, uncertain of her form Medvedeva. I'm pretty sure Zhenya will be more nervous than Alina in Moscow. All eyes and expectations will be on great champion rather than the younger contender.

She was unbeaten, but it definitely was not unblemished. She hasn't had one clean short program.
 
It will be wise for Zagitova to change the combo in the short... She'll not manage to overcome the fear to not make a mistake, especially at the next competitions where the level of pressure is huge. Changing mental patterns takes a lot of time and courage and, unfortunately, she with the help of her team (probably) made of that mistake an issue, a fear. She needs appreciation from her team and to focus on positive aspects than harsh critiques which only add pressure and block her mind.
 
It will be wise for Zagitova to change the combo in the short... She'll not manage to overcome the fear to not make a mistake, especially at the next competitions where the level of pressure is huge. Changing mental patterns takes a lot of time and courage and, unfortunately, she with the help of her team (probably) made of that mistake an issue, a fear. She needs appreciation from her team and to focus on positive aspects than harsh critiques which only add pressure and block her mind.
I have a feeling they haven't figured out a proper way to put her in the right mindset for competitions. What works for Zhenya or for 13 year olds doesn't quite work for her right now. She is not as mentally tough. And they do not seem to want to lighten her programs - presumably she can skate everything perfectly in training, but it's not always the same as skating in competitions.
 
No need to start all those anti-Radionova campaigns. She behaved quite correctly there and haven't said anything controversial, she was quite respectful, even despite interviewers probably trying a little bit to make her say something provocative. Regarding her being injured twice, she said that just because she was explicitly asked about that by interviewers, like "was you also injured like that? was it really that painful?". She didn't say that just to switch attention from Medvedeva to herself as some people here think.

Also, i hate hearing the same narrative from this channel (like it was in documentary about Alina) - i mean they are basically trying to make skaters say that all those young girls are nothing else but jumping beans, and our 18-20 yo skaters are the real skaters. Looks disrespectful tbh, but what else would you expect from a government-run channel which says that Radionova is a medalist in BIATHLON... :palmf:
actually Elena behaved more correctly that Anna when she was asked a similar question
I don't mean to stir up drama, but what did Anna say?
also, really, biathlon? think again!
 
I have a feeling they haven't figured out a proper way to put her in the right mindset for competitions. What works for Zhenya or for 13 year olds doesn't quite work for her right now. She is not as mentally tough. And they do not seem to want to lighten her programs - presumably she can skate everything perfectly in training, but it's not always the same as skating in competitions.

She definitely needs a different approach and I'm mad that her team doesn't do anything (in terms of content and from a psychological point of view), even though they see that there are problems which can really explode under more pressure.
I also think that the music in the short doesn't help her to feel relaxed, on the contrary adds pressure, and I hope that next season they'll not choose something similar: heavy, turbulent. As she seems to be a really sensitive person, she needs comfort in everything, including in the choice of music, not to speak about the relationships with the coaches.
 
Ah, so Alina broke her hand and her leg a couple of years ago and is now a star.
Anya broke her arm and her leg. Will it happen for her too?
 
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