2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[SamuraiKike]

I mean GP, but if they were great at challengers and won, then did well at nationals, you’d think the fed may pay them some love the next season by giving them the host spot.

Additionally, they could do a challenger to get on the SB for the next year and obtain a GP.

The closest we got to that was Maria Artemieva who didnt set the JGP on fire but later became a decent enough senior skaters winning some Senior B medals and competed on the GP for a while, but still with no great results. There's also Maria Stavitskaya and Valeria Mikhailova who sneaked only once on the circuit (host picks for both).

 

[SamuraiKike]

Konstantinova begs to differ. Remember that getting a chance is different from using it.

Konstantinova may seem relatively like a late bloomer compared to the 13 y.o. girls rocking the JGP right now but she has actually followed the standard route of progress for any non RUS-JPN junior lady.

 

[Fluture]

I may be totally reaching here, but what if the situation is like they explained in the film about Russian rhytmic gymnastics: any weight over certain limit means injury sooner or later? What if the girl return after summer break with few kilos over her limit because of puberty issues or bad diet and she and her mom keep saying "we'll do anything to become a champion, invested our whole lives in this, please give us a chance, we'll do anything to lose weight"?
Should Eteri ignore all of this and say goodbye to them, let them hurt themselves or take on powder diet?

Not an easy moral dilemma, if you ask me.

It isn‘t easy, I agree with that. We know that gaining too much weight changes the aerodynamics of your jumps so naturally skaters have to avoid that. But starving themselves isn‘t the correct way. Long term, it doesn‘t help. It‘s not even about Eteri now but you can‘t just cancel puberty or weight gain by denying it happens and just not eating. It will take a toll on your body and mainly your bones will be hurt just like they would with too much weight. There needs to be a compromise and to my mind, it should be proper technique to begin with, healthy diet and more focus on building muscles than just rotating fast. Because, if you have the right technique, you don‘t have to starve yourself in order to hit your jumps. Then puberty will be something you struggle with but reasonably like a lot do. It won‘t be an ultimate career end. It‘s just a combination of things that to my mind aren‘t healthy. They are bringing success though and we‘re talking about elite level sports here so pretty understandable why the formula isn‘t changed.

By the way, this still is not an ED nor is it necessarily starving(depending on calorie intake). You can have a recommended daily amount in nothing but powdered nutritions, or you can have an alarming malnutrition eating proper food.

Regardless, even if it's very low calorie intake, extreme dieting is not the same thing as EDs, nor does extreme dieting innately cause EDs.

Well, I guess everybody knows anyway that I‘m talking about Yulia so here we go: I‘m sure it wasn‘t just the rigid diet that made her develop an ED but a combination of things. For example, in an interview after joining Urmanov she stated how she‘s not afraid to go to the gym anymore which she was before because she was afraid to gain muslces. To me, that tells a lot. Yulia probably had mental problems to begin with - she just couldn’t handle her Sochi post-team event fame and the insane pressure put on her. And to top that, she isn‘t properly nutritioned. Here we go, that‘s how you develop an ED. Pressure, stress, mental problems AND a rigorous diet. But really, that‘s not really totally about Eteri but the system. Eteri’s just a part of it and while she’s a big part, she surely isn’t the only one to blame. Instead, she does quite amazing with all her skaters.

Howwver, even though I know this formula’sbringing results it also makes longevity in Russian skating nealy impossible. You will shine for a season or two and then comes the next young skater with here again, on me quad, two, three...

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Konstantinova may seem relatively like a late bloomer compared to the 13 y.o. girls rocking the JGP right now but she has actually followed the standard route of progress for any non RUS-JPN junior lady.

Well, who would be a late bloomer then? Mai Mihara is thought to be one, but she followed a similar path to Konstantinova. I think anyone who's in juniors at 17 while competing for Russia is definitely a late bloomer, especially in comparison to their peers, who are often on their second or third senior season (regardless of success there).

 

[moriel]

The closest we got to that was Maria Artemieva who didnt set the JGP on fire but later became a decent enough senior skaters winning some Senior B medals and competed on the GP for a while, but still with no great results. There's also Maria Stavitskaya and Valeria Mikhailova who sneaked only once on the circuit (host picks for both).

Maria Stavitskaia actually got a JGP Bronze ^^
But all 3 didn't really win anything in seniors either, so its not like they performed poorly in juniors and then did well as seniors.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

I feel like there might be someone like that soon, considering how crowded the Russian juniors are. It would probably start to be a lot easier to be the host pick and medal then medal at the JGP, which is kind of awe-inspiring

And just while we're on the subject: Russia! Host some JGPs and get that 3rd spot!

 

[SamuraiKike]

Well, who would be a late bloomer then? Mai Mihara is thought to be one, but she followed a similar path to Konstantinova. I think anyone who's in juniors at 17 while competing for Russia is definitely a late bloomer, especially in comparison to their peers, who are often on their second or third senior season (regardless of success there).

Currently? hardly anyone.. maybe Bradie Tenell who was a no name until last season at age 19 and already aged out from juniors but in RUS and JPN fields? nobody.

As for Stasia I dont think so because its not like she just right now out of nowhere started to "bloom". If anything she's been sandbagging on the junior ranks due to the already crowded senior field.

 

[SamuraiKike]

Maria Stavitskaia actually got a JGP Bronze ^^
But all 3 didn't really win anything in seniors either, so its not like they performed poorly in juniors and then did well as seniors.

I know but what I meant is that Artemieva was a skater like Ziotic wondered, meaning someone who got on the GP thanks to her senior b/nationals results. She didnt jump straight from juniors but yeah that scenario is going to be less and less likely with each season.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Guys, entries for Bratislava close tomorrow! And whoever wins that wins the final

 

[russianfan]

Guys, entries for Bratislava close tomorrow! And whoever wins that wins the final

It's not necessary to win, medaling is enough (statistically) I don't remember who exactly that was(Sotskova?), but someone did get silver and then won the final.

 

[Elana]

Guys, entries for Bratislava close tomorrow! And whoever wins that wins the final

If they close tomorrow, when do we get to see the list? Does it come out right away?

 

[Fluture]

I have no idea who that is and she‘s probably not Russian but this girl‘s giving me Lipnitskaya-vibes with her flexibility in her spins which is rare.

(Don‘t sue me, I know she‘s no Russian lady, just got reminded of our Yulia upon watching the video )


https://www.instagram.com/p/BlZxClbHBG-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[Spirals for Miles]

I have no idea who that is and she‘s probably not Russian but this girl‘s giving me Lipnitskaya-vibes with her flexibility in her spins which is rare.

(Don‘t sue me, I know she‘s no Russian lady, just got reminded of our Yulia upon watching the video )


https://www.instagram.com/p/BlZxClbHBG-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Her name's Ava Stephens and it appears she made US Nationals (unsure what level, though) last year
Also reminds me of Lipnitskaya.

I would like to see Shcherbakova and Kanysheva at Bratislava -- it means Shcherbakova wins the final

 

[Fluture]

Her name's Ava Stephens and it appears she made US Nationals (unsure what level, though) last year
Also reminds me of Lipnitskaya.

I would like to see Shcherbakova and Kanysheva at Bratislava -- it means Shcherbakova wins the final

I don‘t think she‘s a top contender or we‘d have heard of her by now.

Or Kanysheva But I would actually not mind Sherbakova winning the final. I‘d love it to be precise! Not as much as Kostornaya but still, Anna‘s amazing. Trusova already had her turn last year, though, it‘s the other‘s turn.

(I‘m joking, just for the record, the best skater will obviously win so that may very well be Sasha)

 

[[email protected]]

Jealousy about Eteri‘s success? Here? What would we be jealous of? The users here are spending hours on end to discuss the Russian ladies, why would we be jealous if they achieve something? We want them to be successful, otherwise we wouldn‘t be in this thread. Eteri is a fundamental part of Russia‘s success in ladies skating over the last years. She must do something right considering how many ladies go to her and succeed after working only a short time with her. However, that doesn‘t mean we should take everything she does with a smile and an approving nod just because she‘s „empress Eteri“. I think that especially if someone’s as successful as her, they should be questioned. We‘re just worried at what cost she might achieve these incredible feats because we care about the fate of these girls. And nope, that‘s not false concern, at least not for me and I guess not for the majority here either. And it‘s not like we don‘t have reasons to question her. Excuse me, but a woman that gushes about a 15 year old girl praising her determination because she „can live for days only by powdered nutritions“ and said girl later suffers from an eating disorder, constantly bashes students after they leave is hardly innocent. Yes, she is a good coach but some of her actions aren‘t morally tolerable and I think this should be pointed out. That‘s not hate or anything it‘s just the truth.

I truly hope that your whole post was written out of good intentions. And that your join date corresponds to your arrival at GS. So that I don't need to respond at length that there is crtitique and there is critique. That 2 seasons ago there was not a single week that a dedicated thread about this or that Medvedeva's issue did not appear here. And that the last season Eteri "took the baton". And whatever she said or did not say resulted in lengthy discussions about how bad she is. I said and will keep saying that I don't believe in saints and villains in figure skating. Every coach is working to reach the same goals, every coach has injuries among their athletes - it's inevitable. I see no reasons to single out Eteri and she was singled out as she collected more attacks and negativity than all other coaches combined.

 

[Fluture]

I truly hope that your whole post was written out of good intentions. And that your join date corresponds to your arrival at GS. So that I don't need to respond at length that there is crtitique and there is critique. That 2 seasons ago there was not a single week that a dedicated thread about this or that Medvedeva's issue did not appear here. And that the last season Eteri "took the baton". And whatever she said or did not say resulted in lengthy discussions about how bad she is. I said and will keep saying that I don't believe in saints and villains in figure skating. Every coach is working to reach the same goals, every coach has injuries among their athletes - it's inevitable. I see no reasons to single out Eteri and she was singled out as she collected more attacks and negativity than all other coaches combined.

Well, I‘ve been lurking on GS far longer than my join date would suggest just for the news, so yes, I definitely know what you are talking about. What I do not get, though, is the jealousy part. Yes, there were some (a lot, actually) users who went over the top with their criticism I‘m very well aware of that. And outside of the Russian ladies thread I can imagine that there is hate and jealousy towards her. A lot of jealousy actually as she constantly beats Japanese/American/Canadian ladies with her students. Naturally, people who are afraid she’s beating their favourite would use every chance to criticize her or talk down her success. (Kinda the same with Medvedeva. Success always attracts that sort of behaviour) But in here we all want our Russian girls to do well so if there are some who are „jealous“ of her success, they really don‘t belong in here and should better leave. Criticism is okay, hate isn‘t.

However, I‘ve already said it. Eteri did some pretty questionable things, if you ask me. There are no saints and villains in figure skating (are there anywhere, really?) because no one is either completely good or bad but seriously, I don‘t question Eteri‘s success but some of her methods. Doesn‘t mean I hate her and doesn‘t mean I approve of posts hating her. But if you‘re as successful as her you should expect people questioning you all the time and be a bit careful with what you say and do. Because even if she has good intentions she sometimes fails to portray it accordingly and what she says comes across as pretty controversial.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

I would like to see Shcherbakova and Kanysheva at Bratislava -- it means Shcherbakova wins the final

When are test skates? I'm wondering if they may go with girls who are more of a "sure thing" for Bratislava like Trusova and Tarusina and make the wild cards duke it out at test skates for assignments.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

In slightly related but unquestionably unrelated news.....one of my favorite “Russian Skaters” made a quick trip from Moscow to St Petersburg and the vibes seemed to be really good. To all my friends in Russia...if you see Alina coming down the sidewalk give her a little extra space please

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlbISEunN0e/

#OffSeassonOffTopics

 

[Spirals for Miles]

When are test skates? I'm wondering if they may go with girls who are more of a "sure thing" for Bratislava like Trusova and Tarusina and make the wild cards duke it out at test skates for assignments.

Dang I forgot about that. You’re probably right about that. Trusova for 2018 JGPF champion?

 

[Graciegold2018]

I don‘t think she‘s a top contender or we‘d have heard of her by now.

Or Kanysheva But I would actually not mind Sherbakova winning the final. I‘d love it to be precise! Not as much as Kostornaya but still, Anna‘s amazing. Trusova already had her turn last year, though, it‘s the other‘s turn.

(I‘m joking, just for the record, the best skater will obviously win so that may very well be Sasha)

She competes novice I believe. She was at the North American Series in Milwaukee about 2 weeks ago.