2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Sam L]

Kostornaia may well be the first Russian skater I've watched who I've been wowed by. To think her clean skate only won the FP by 1 point is, for me, a travesty. Her flow, skating skills, innate musicality and almost everything about her skating is quality in the same way messy quads are not. She was superior to everyone else today.

I wish these girls would stop with the quads. Alena K's program is perfect. You can win the ladies competition with a 2A and 7 triples, that's how it's always been done. Why the need for quads?

 

[serephy]

I don't understand how Kostornaia is SO GOOD. WHERE did she learn her basics? The musicality must be something she's born with.

Apparently from an ice-dance coach back in her novice days.

 

[Ambivalent]

I don't understand how Kostornaia is SO GOOD. WHERE did she learn her basics? The musicality must be something she's born with.

I'd like to know, too, because her flow and skating are so far removed from what we have come to expect from someone trained exclusively under Eteri.

 

[Jontor]

Hmm. Something I don't understand about Trusova's scores. She got 1.72 points for her second 4Lz. Shouldn't it be 0 as it was a repeated jump with no combination?
And if it counts as a 3Lz - then she reapeated the jump one time too many as she had two 3Lz combinations later on. ??

 

[Ambivalent]

I wish these girls would stop with the quads. Alena K's program is perfect. You can win the ladies competition with a 2A and 7 triples, that's how it's always been done. Why the need for quads?

Because two quads with falls or poor landings got Trusova within 2 points of winning the FP over a near-faultless Kostornaia. Have to give it to Trusova though - she has spunk and guts, and I like that.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Because two quads with falls or poor landings got Trusova within 2 points of winning the FP over a near-faultless Kostornaia. Have to give it to Trusova though - she has spunk and guts, and I like that.

Yes!! Both girls are great and offer a lot for fans and the sport as a whole :agree:

 

[Metis]

Hmm. Something I don't understand about Trusova's scores. She got 1.72 points for her second 4Lz. Shouldn't it be 0 as it was a repeated jump with no combination?
And if it counts as a 3Lz - then she reapeated the jump one time too many as she had two 3Lz combinations later on. ??

If a jump is repeated without being in combination, the second instance is called as +REP and loses 30% BV. The <</downgrade means it’s mathematically scored as a 3Lz but it’s listed as a 4Lz<<, which allows for two more 3Lzs, as a skater can’t know whether or not an intended quad or triple was downgraded to a triple or double while skating and subsequently change their layout if necessary. In Trusova’s case, while she probably could have guessed the jump would be called << after the fall, but she had no way of knowing while on the ice and subsequently can’t be expected to remove one of her 3Lz jumping passes.

Basically, a 4Lz<<REP is different from a 3Lz, even if the points for a 4Lz<< are the same as those of a 3Lz. There’s some leeway for intentionality.

 

[fabienne1996]

Yes. She is slightly behind in development comparing to other Russians. But that is only a matter of time. She will get there. She is not catching up, she is just delaying her rise. We wait. The whole world will wait.

If she falls like that one time to often it could also sadly mean the end of her career, same goes for Sasha. Those falls are dangerous. And Anna has already broken her leg when she fell on a triple in training. I am scared her.i wish her the best but I am scared she will not make it to the Olympics. Really the one I see there from those three is alina.

 

[[email protected]]

I wish these girls would stop with the quads. Alena K's program is perfect. You can win the ladies competition with a 2A and 7 triples, that's how it's always been done. Why the need for quads?

You could but now that Kihira landed 2 3As out of 3 the gauntlet has been thrown down. Looking at Alena's first 2A I am sure the spot is reserved for a triple. And this means that next season (or may be even during the JWC) she will start jumping it (or at least try).

As for quad girls, Anna did not look strong today. But Sasha not only had a cleanish 4T - her first 4Lz was almost there. Next season if she jumps at least 2 quads with one "planned" fall she will be almost unbeatable. If Trusova masters 3A as well I don't see anyone who could challenge her.

Hence, the strategy is right. You can win with 2A and 7 triples if quad/2 triple 3A girls make 2 mistakes. With just 1 mistake this won't be enough. We saw it quite clear today.

 

[fabienne1996]

Sorry I deleted my original post! I felt it had a negative/dismissive tone and decided to reword it! But yes, Liza may very well retire and if thats the case anyone below her would be bumped up a spot (similarly if one of 3A decided to stay junior).

Honestly I don't know what will happen with Russian GP assignments next year. Their depth in ladies is really beginning to break the system.

I don't think Liz a plans on retiring . At the moment she is again rising.

 

[fabienne1996]

The sad question is if not when Sasha gets them right. Honestly I am scared for her and Anna. At some point it could very well be that their body's can't take another bad fall. Anna already broke her leg once. How many times can she fall on that leg and have luck, sadly most times luck ends at some point.

You could but now that Kihira landed 2 3As out of 3 the gauntlet has been thrown down. Looking at Alena's first 2A I am sure the spot is reserved for a triple. And this means that next season (or may be even during the JWC) she will start jumping it (or at least try).

As for quad girls, Anna did not look strong today. But Sasha not only had a cleanish 4T - her first 4Lz was almost there. Next season if she jumps at least 2 quads with one "planned" fall she will be almost unbeatable. If Trusova masters 3A as well I don't see anyone who could challenge her.

Hence, the strategy is right. You can win with 2A and 7 triples if quad/2 triple 3A girls make 2 mistakes. With just 1 mistake this won't be enough. We saw it quite clear today.

 

[Amei]

I'm glad that she didn't. That would have been bad optics after coming in second in the short program. There would be even more talk.

The GPF outcome really isn't that big a deal but I fear this may shake her confidence for future skates. Especially given all the animosity post olympics and that this season was supposed to be about "proving" herself as the champion.

And the realist in me says people who are looking for a reason to knock her are going to side eye this announcement by Ted any ways. Hopefully no one is letting 'potentially bad optics' make/recommend her to compete with injuries, especially if it's a foot - as we've seen with the likes of Karen Chen it lingers and isn't the foot Polina Edmunds issue as well....

 

[skatenewbie]

I don't think Liz a plans on retiring . At the moment she is again rising.

yes i'll be really sad if she plans to retire. She has yet skate to her potential. I also think she need to put 3Lz-3T in SP and put 3F/3Lo as solo jump. Hopefully she make it to World/Euros team. Im rooting for her. Next season is much tougher with Trusova and Kostornaia skate as senior but who knows? Alina/Evgenia/Liza will battle for 3rd place is gonna be interesting

 

[BillNeal]

The sad question is if not when Sasha gets them right. Honestly I am scared for her and Anna. At some point it could very well be that their body's can't take another bad fall. Anna already broke her leg once. How many times can she fall on that leg and have luck, sadly most times luck ends at some point.

It's too bad that for some coaches, the priority is on winning rather than the health of young athletes. It's truly hard to watch these young ladies take those hard falls in competition. And they're practicing a high number of quads every single day so who knows what types of falls they sustain behind closed doors.

 

[Alexz]

If she falls like that one time to often it could also sadly mean the end of her career, same goes for Sasha. Those falls are dangerous. And Anna has already broken her leg when she fell on a triple in training. I am scared her.i wish her the best but I am scared she will not make it to the Olympics. Really the one I see there from those three is alina.

It is FS. Any figure skater falls. A lot. All of them. Just like in gymnastics we see those athletes only for a few minutes during competitions, but what we don't see is hours and hours of training every day for many years. There are really no magic method, pill or technique to grow a good figure skating other than hard work. They all train hard. Unfortunately, injuries happen. That's the ugly truth of professional sport. But this is how it is for all other sports too, in every country. If you watched short documentary made by Japanese TV you will see how Anna herself is very insisting on doing quads, while Daniil is trying to talk her into just doing nice triple-triples. Yet Anna still wants to jump quads. It is an arms race in difficulty. Race for difficulty. Just like in gymnastics and many other sports. And yet Alyona proved that right balance between difficulty and nice execution could be more rewarding. So we will see where Eteri and her girls will head to in terms of strategy. Alyona's strategy paid off. Eteri is certainly happy with her.

 

[hippomoomin]

Alexandra and Anna should focus landing the 4T consistent and super clean, not the more difficult 4Lz in combo, though 4lz might be the easiest quad for Anna. Both are so fearless and tried a 2nd 4Lz after an unsuccessful first one. I have to admire their guts. I think Alexandra has grown taller his season.

 

[Vlad Karigov]

Kostornaia is a fair winner, she skated like never before, but I know that deep down she knows that she won only because her 2 rivals fell, she esaid it at the end of the SP. It is undeniable that she is today the skater with the best interpretation of the all circuit (junior and ladies), although we all know that in front of Kihira her PCS will be very inferior without a 3A.

Without 3A and without Shcherbakova and Trusova jumping quads, the future of the Russian ladies is uncertain, since without waiting for Kihira to fall they will have to get used to second place.

After many years Japan has regained supremacy in ladies seniors, and if the russian decision to no jump quads does prevail, this supremacy will be extended for many, many more years.

 

[moriel]

Ok, folks.
A japanese lady winning one competition does not mean "japanese ladies supremacy".
Same as "Alina not winning" does not mean she is done. She is still one of the best skaters in the world.

The fact that Trusova and Shcherbakova had a bad day also means nothing. Today they messed up, tomorrow they will slay.

You people say "Kihira" like she is unbeatable like Zhenya or Alina were last year. Rika bombed in France, for example, and with a score like that she wouldn't even medal here. She is not a leage of her own, and she is not unbeatable.


It is really ridiculous how you people are eager to bury everybody after one bad competition, or after not winning a competition. When Zagitova doesn't make GPF, when Trusova and Shcherbakova bomb an entire season, then maybe. But now, LOL. Lets celebrate the achievements.

 

[Ambivalent]

The quad-jumping girls are very likable, very gutsy, and very good competitors. But after seeing them splat this competition, I cannot help but feel that jumping in this manner, with the volume and intensity, is not a long-term proposition. I don't have any information to go off because such jumping is unprecedented, but it would not surprise me to see Kostornaia end up having the best longevity of all of them. And good, because she is a beautiful skater.

 

[GoodMorningGrapeseed]

Kostornaia is a fair winner, she skated like never before, but I know that deep down she knows that she won only because her 2 rivals fell, she esaid it at the end of the SP. It is undeniable that she is today the skater with the best interpretation of the all circuit (junior and ladies), although we all know that in front of Kihira her PCS will be very inferior without a 3A.

But Zagitova doesn't have a 3A and her PCS is not inferior to Rika's.