2017-18 State of Russian Ladies skating

[unplanned]

it's not like the first and the second. all skaters learn how to jump as well as they are visiting choreography classes. no one skips choreogrpahy. but some girls are naturally artistic, and some are not. just look at shcherbakova at 10, she's already such a star

the same was with baby gubanova. of course everyone improves with time, even if you are not a natural performer you can make your pcss decent. but it's not the system fault that nastya are not as good as the other girls at her age

Nastya is stunning among others of her age.

ET students do have choreography classes with former Bolshoi ballerina. Nastya's PCS is more than decent. She and Sasha Trusova have posture problems but that's ok because they're just 13 and they came from different school.

Shcherbakova and Medvedeva, who don't have that problem, grew up training in Sambo-70.

 

[unplanned]

They screwed her out of JWC last year. They should give her another shot

And take that spot from Stasya who performed better?

They didn't 'screw her out' of JWC last year. Nastya did it herself with not perfect performances. It's not like she was 4th or something, she was 7th.

I was upset too because I was sure she would've done well at worlds. But it would've not be fair to send her when she didn't do well at nationals.

 

[Grin]

So, next battle is Panenkova vs Kihira, am I right?

It will be interesting to watch.

 

[russianfan]

kinda funny though that Gubanova's 4th place considered a disaster. I bet many countries would love to have such skater, but in Russia it seems to be more like "you either in top 2(at least) or you're out"

 

[plushyfan]

kinda funny though that Gubanova's 4th place considered a disaster. I bet many countries would love to have such skater, but in Russia it seems to be more like "you either in top 2(at least) or you're out"

yes, but she is too amazing to be on 4th place!

 

[hanca]

kinda funny though that Gubanova's 4th place considered a disaster. I bet many countries would love to have such skater, but in Russia it seems to be more like "you either in top 2(at least) or you're out"

True, but if you have 11 junior eligible ladies fighting for 14 spots, and all of them good enough skaters to medal at JGP, then 4th place is a disaster because that does not make it likely that she would get a second spot.

 

[silverfoxes]

If Gubanova's struggling that much with her jumps there is no reason to believe the next competition would be any different. It's not like her 4th place score was just a couple points shy of the medalists - it was over 20 points shy! Come on. There are other girls who deserve a chance.

 

[vorravorra]

Yes, I love Gubanova and Konstantinova, but I have to admit either of them falling four times in their first event wouldn't merit a second spot.

 

[Tolstoj]

kinda funny though that Gubanova's 4th place considered a disaster. I bet many countries would love to have such skater, but in Russia it seems to be more like "you either in top 2(at least) or you're out"

I know but here's the thing: Russia has dozens of skaters as strong as Gubanova, each with their own strenghts.

The fed just want more skaters to be successful and this is arguagbly the best way of doing it, instead of pushing 3-4 skaters leaving the others out.

I think they did receive already of backlash for pushing Stanislava Konstantinova last year at Nationals and then she wasn't great at JW (while there were other 5-6 skaters in russia arguagbly with the skills to compete for a medal)

4th place wouldn't be necessarily a disaster but the total score is going to hurt her for sure, because even in the case that there is still one spot available they will pick the skater who has the best placement at the first GP and with the best combined score.

 

[puremagic]

I know but here's the thing: Russia has dozens of skaters as strong as Gubanova, each with their own strenghts.

Nope. Nastya is one and only. Many skaters are stronger in jumps than she is, yes. But in skating - I didn't see any skater in Russia except Sotnikova with such a skating talent. Nastya is a pure figure skater. Pure perfection.

 

[russianfan]

The fed just want more skaters to be successful and this is arguagbly the best way of doing it, instead of pushing 3-4 skaters leaving the others out.

I agree with you.
But i also don't understand why some people were complaining so much after Pogo disastrous performance at worlds, when "evil" fed decided to give Radionova a chance to participate at team trophy. I mean people were like "how evil this fed is", although it was very similar case in my opinion, and fed was just trying to give a chance to other skater

 

[hippomoomin]

Gubanova should spend some time, or work with a jump specialist to fix her jumps. Many people said she had a bad jump day, but it looks more like her technique was wrong. I doubt she is clean in practice either. She was not Evgenia thin from the very beginning. She grew a lot since last season, if you compare her last year's JGP videos with what she is now. I believe her jumps are easier to fix, than say Serafima's jumps.

Now I think a skater should learn jumps first, and then artistry, and upper body movement. Gobanova has a unique way of moving her arms and upper body, and she does her jumps with that relaxed and loosened arms and upper body, which is causing problems. She typically "throws" her arms, and she also "throws" herself like a sack into the air.

 

[iamchrislao]

Are u Effin kidding me?!?!
Gubanova despite the falls was the only performance worth my time. She was exquisite. Very different from the robotic, system-milking program installed in the other Russians.
Seriously.

If Gubanova's struggling that much with her jumps there is no reason to believe the next competition would be any different. It's not like her 4th place score was just a couple points shy of the medalists - it was over 20 points shy! Come on. There are other girls who deserve a chance.

 

[silverfoxes]

Are u Effin kidding me?!?!
Gubanova despite the falls was the only performance worth my time. She was exquisite. Very different from the robotic, system-milking program installed in the other Russians.
Seriously.

First of all, it's a competition. Not a show for your eyes only. Why should the Russian Fed send her to another competition when she failed both the short and long program here? They have plenty more talented girls waiting in the wings. And if you think Fedichkina, Samodurova, etc. are "robotic system-milkers" then it's pointless trying to have a discussion at all. You are simply wrong.

 

[vorravorra]

Are u Effin kidding me?!?!
Gubanova despite the falls was the only performance worth my time. She was exquisite. Very different from the robotic, system-milking program installed in the other Russians.
Seriously.

Yes, but it's not that matters any more, unfortunately. In juniors especially it's all about stability and high tech content. You have that - your PCS are going to catch up, whether that's justified or unjustified in a particular case. Of course they are going to prefer someone who wins over someone who places fourth, you can hardly blame them for that.

 

[iamchrislao]

Who do u think moves like Nastya from the russians? I'm waiting. yep. I thought so. I even think eun soo outperformed tarakanova. The latter was just all over the place. So frantic and over the top. Anyway it is what skating has become. U love it? Good for u. I don't. Period. Agree to disagree.

First of all, it's a competition. Not a show for your eyes only. Why should the Russian Fed send her to another competition when she failed both the short and long program here? They have plenty more talented girls waiting in the wings. And if you think Fedichkina, Samodurova, etc. are "robotic system-milkers" then it's pointless trying to have a discussion at all. You are simply wrong.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

First of all, it's a competition. Not a show for your eyes only. Why should the Russian Fed send her to another competition when she failed both the short and long program here? They have plenty more talented girls waiting in the wings. And if you think Fedichkina, Samodurova, etc. are "robotic system-milkers" then it's pointless trying to have a discussion at all. You are simply wrong.

They probably should have sent Nastya to JW last year. Maybe it's ok to give a freebie this year ...nothing wrong with showing a little love

Honestly I'm not pressed for anything but I hope they give her more chances. She's only 14 with some of the best interpretation of any ladies skater...junior or senior. That should be worth something. I mean...she's worth a little patience and TBH...it's not like she can't jump and spin...she's just missing the landings. Personally I think it's all related to pressure but that's just my opinion. I hate the rush to put skaters out before they've stabilized their growth and technique. There are plenty of skaters already crowding the scene so I'd welcome a slowing of the flow so that the skaters can develop and have lasting careers.

 

[vorravorra]

Gubanova most likely needs time to adjust to body changes, this is not something that anyone is immune from, though some have it easier than others. She has quite recently shown that she can skate two clean program, but maybe it requires a lot of mental control right now and a stressful competition throws that off. She had bad periods before and she has come back from them, no reason she can't now. She might have to stay in juniors for another season though, as she can't get a high season best without JGP or Junior Worlds. But then, she won't be the first.

 

[ejnsofi]

They probably should have sent Nastya to JW last year. Maybe it's ok to give a freebie this year ...nothing wrong with showing a little love

Honestly I'm not pressed for anything but I hope they give her more chances. She's only 14 with some of the best interpretation of any ladies skater...junior or senior. That should be worth something. I mean...she's worth a little patience and TBH...it's not like she can't jump and spin...she's just missing the landings. Personally I think it's all related to pressure but that's just my opinion. I hate the rush to put skaters out before they've stabilized their growth and technique. There are plenty of skaters already crowding the scene so I'd welcome a slowing of the flow so that the skaters can develop and have lasting careers.

I love Anastasia but why should they send her to JW? She didn't miss the podium by couple of points at Nationals, she missed it by 15 points.

Junior Worlds is competition... there is no love and only results matters. Is it right? No. But it isn't only RusFed issue. Moa Iwano was replaces right after her short program in Austria (!). Ladies' field in Russia and Japan is so deep that government isn't eager to wait few more years for results or appreciate artistry - it's results that matters. And actually Gubanova's issues with jumps isn't new - last season her technique was questionable as well. She will get more chances but I doubt it will be at JGP (which is really sad). She is one of the kind and all she needs is proper jump coach to teach her.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I love Anastasia but why should they send her to JW? She didn't miss the podium by couple of points at Nationals, she missed it by 15 points.

Junior Worlds is competition... there is no love and only results matters. Is it right? No. But it isn't only RusFed issue. Moa Iwano was replaces right after her short program in Austria (!). Ladies' field in Russia and Japan is so deep that government isn't eager to wait few more years for results or appreciate artistry - it's results that matters. And actually Gubanova's issues with jumps isn't new - last season her technique was questionable as well. She will get more chances but I doubt it will be at JGP (which is really sad). She is one of the kind and all she needs is proper jump coach to teach her.

I meant they should have sent her....last year. She had plenty of success last season and they didn't send her.

What I meant was just a lighthearted jab. Like they owe the girl a solid or something..give her that second GP spot.