2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[lesnar001]

Understandable, and as you know this event excludes the top NA and Asia skaters. Given the lack of depth in some Euro countries skating as of late, it appears for many to be a Russian nationals repeat, most notably in the ladies event.

I don't understand this. Europeans and 4CC are both ISU championships and are both prestigious events - neither is "more important" than the other. Both Alina's win at Europeans and Kaori's win at 4CC are valuable and important. Regardless of the competition, they both performed their best at their respective championships.

OK, how about we say she won 1.5 out of the 3.5 major events in 2018.

Thats a .429 batting average.
Not to shabby at all!

 

[moriel]

Understandable, and as you know this event excludes the top NA and Asia skaters. Given the lack of depth in some Euro countries skating as of late, it appears for many to be a Russian nationals repeat, most notably in the ladies event.

it is not like rusnats is a weak competition.
Considering that rusnats also includes top juniors, it is currently one of the hardest competitions in the world, maybe even harder than Worlds.

For instance, right now, we can estimate that Worlds will feature 12 ladies who scored over 190 internationally this season.
Now, rusnats will also have 12 of those.

 

[DenissVFan]

I don't understand this. Europeans and 4CC are both ISU championships and are both prestigious events - neither is "more important" than the other. Both Alina's win at Europeans and Kaori's win at 4CC are valuable and important. Regardless of the competition, they both performed their best at their respective championships.

Exactly, and a Japanese sweep doesn't make 4CC the Japanese Nationals 2.0. Currently Euros and 4CC are comparable in that they're dominated by one or two countries. The difference is that North American skaters tend to treat 4CC as some sort of B competition, while for European skaters Euros are extremely important. They are still ISU CHAMPIONSHIPS, second in ISU's own hierarchy of competitions.

 

[Osmond4gold]

European Championships in most sports are either the first, second or third most important competitions of the year – including football (I'm talking about national teams), athletics, figure skating etc. If athletes want to take some time off, a considerable number of them will skip earlier competitions but return for Europeans. It's about prestige and tradition. Just ask any European skater what's more important: GP or Europeans.

Sure, the Euros held prestige for decades, but given the decline in the sport from other countries such as the UK, Finland, Sweden, Spain, the former Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany and others, this previously revered championship has lost a certain charm. Being a European Champion does not have the same relevance as a GP Final, an Olympic or a World Champion, imho.

 

[yoloaxel]

So, she was doing spins with new music playing. But, it was just a Christmas carol. So, no new SP - just practicing to Christmas music

That's what I thought too but in the 2A video you can hear something else too... rumor has it it may be a Tosca SP choreographed by Misha. Idk how reliable that can be but at this point who knows

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

So maybe RusFed can prevent Serafima from going to Nationals but Bolzano Passion Gala has enough sense to invite her to perform in their show in Italy. :dance: Carolina, Shoma, C/L, and T/M will be headlining.


Announcement in English
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVc6TuBFgT/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=6n8vnfq56oo0


I think that she is maybe taking Liza’s spot. I’m not even sure what her exhibition is this year but I’m for video.

#UnderCoverUnicorn

 

[[email protected]]

No matter how I dislike her short program, changing it before the crucial competition does not look like a smart idea.

 

[DenissVFan]

Sure, the Euros held prestige for decades, but given the decline in the sport from other countries such as the UK, Finland, Sweden, Spain, the former Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany and others, this previously revered championship has lost a certain charm. Being a European Champion does not have the same relevance as a GP Final, an Olympic or a World Champion, imho.

This may be your impression but European skaters don't see it this way. For example, Evgenia, Alina, Liza, Javier and Mikhail list their European medals in their instagram bios but they don't mention GPF medals. Olympics and Worlds are more important than Europeans but the GPF isn't. This is stated by ISU itself in its hierarchy of points.

(Btw, the Czech Republic was still a country the last time I checked...)

 

[melgirl25]

No matter how I dislike her short program, changing it before the crucial competition does not look like a smart idea.

Yeah but if after IDF she said she really was uncomfortable with the program, I can't see how doing it again at Nationals under that stage would be good either. Either way it is not great and risky.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

No matter how I dislike her short program, changing it before the crucial competition does not look like a smart idea.

I actually wish skaters had the courage and creativity to give us multiple programs in the same season. Keep the basic layout the same but just tweak some basic stuff and the music from event to event. . I’m just thinking out loud but I think it isn’t unreasonable to have a GP program and a then a Euros and WC program that looks similar but is a different music/theme.

 

[[email protected]]

That's an instagram video with some claims that it is her new program. Don't know if it is true but I like what I see here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVbd3OBWkF/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=44s3wb74viff

 

[Sam L]

European Championships are the oldest ISU Figure Skating competition. So it will always have prestige and relevance. Only Ilympics and Worlds can beat it. Also we’re looking at it too much from perspective of ladies with Russia. Russia hasn’t been so dominant in other disciplines at the Europeans.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

That's an instagram video with some claims that it is her new program. Don't know if it is true but I like what I see here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVbd3OBWkF/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=44s3wb74viff

People think it is Tosca. I can hear also a little bit of Tosca under the Christmas music but it also could be my imagination

 

[DenissVFan]

European Championships are the oldest ISU Figure Skating competition. So it will always have prestige and relevance. Only Ilympics and Worlds can beat it. Also we’re looking at it too much from perspective of ladies with Russia. Russia hasn’t been so dominant in other disciplines at the Europeans.

:agree:

 

[Fluture]

That's an instagram video with some claims that it is her new program. Don't know if it is true but I like what I see here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVbd3OBWkF/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=44s3wb74viff

I‘m not sure whether I should be scared or excited

 

[Lunalovesskating]

I‘m not sure whether I should be scared or excited

I am kind of both. I am both scared, because if it is new she only trained it for a month which is a really short amount of time and kind of risky, but also excited because it is a type of music Evgenia is comfortable with and it would be easier for her to relax and not stress while performing it.

 

[Scott512]

The depth of competition depends on the discipline and changes with time. For example, at the 1983 World Championships 7 of the top 10 ladies were European.

Europeans aren't like a national competition. When you win Europeans, you're the champion of the entire continent = ~35 countries (depending on the year and discipline). If you only define big championships by the depth of competition, then the Russian and Japanese nationals should be "bigger" than Worlds as they're more competitive overall.

Europeans have been broadcasted on the main national channels for decades. Casual fans don't watch the GPF but watch Europeans. Some skaters, for example Alina, Liza and Evgenia, don't list their GPF medals in their instagram bios but list their European medals. Javier Fernandez is planning to come back specifically for Europeans this season.

By the way, ISU actually has the official hierarchy of competitions: 1) Olympics / Worlds; 2) Europeans / 4 Conts; 3) Junior Worlds; 4) GPF; 5) GP; 6) JGPF; 7) JGP; 8) international senior competitions.



Exactly.

Wow the isu doesn't think much their Grand Prix finals do they? Lol. They are way down the list. I like the Grand Prix season and the Grand Prix final but it's pretty much a warm up for Nationals and the rest of the season.

 

[Metis]

Wow the isu doesn't think much their Grand Prix finals do they? Lol. They are way down the list. I like the Grand Prix season and the Grand Prix final but it's pretty much a warm up for Nationals and the rest of the season.

I assume it’s because the GP events and GPF itself are easier for a skater to compete at, in theory (and WDs can make a huge difference as well). Look at Leona. I adore her, but it’s clear RusFed isn’t exactly backing her as a skater who can make the GPF, let alone as one of their top skaters. But every national fed controls the rules about who makes Euros and Worlds, minus those pesky TES minimums, and berths are much smaller: each nation has the spot they have, end of story. The GP is mostly fed politicking — for host nations, no fed wants their skater in the host spot to have to go head to head with their strongest competitor, etc.

 

[Osmond4gold]

I don't understand this. Europeans and 4CC are both ISU championships and are both prestigious events - neither is "more important" than the other. Both Alina's win at Europeans and Kaori's win at 4CC are valuable and important. Regardless of the competition, they both performed their best at their respective championships.

As you know, 4CCs tends to be a Senior B comp. as many of the tops simply decide not to attend. The timing of the event and the distance between NA and Asia are always a factor. There is a difference between a 2 hour flight to a comp. versus a 22 hour flight. How many 4CC's did Ashley miss, as I lost count...

Understanding the logistics of this comp. and the stamina needed to both travel then compete have been factors in the results, and not worth it for some on the eve of Worlds.

 

[fabienne1996]

I‘m not sure whether I should be scared or excited

Would it be so bad to mabye change the music but most of the choreo stays? She clearly isn't comfortable with the sp anymore. She was at the beginning but I think that her fall and step out in the last to comps were to much and she just can't seem to relax with the programm.