2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[LenaRadiFan]

They have good tracking scores, but their recent competitions were not really good. Radionova has been underperforming since the 2016/2017 season, and Pogorilaya is a big risk since she is either incredible or a disaster (and we don't know her actual level yet). Whereas Tarusina is one of the most consistent ladies out there...Her scoring potential is low, but if she keeps being that consistent, then her PCS will rise a bit. I hope these two will get 2 GPs tho, because I like them very much.

I would call a total score of 207 underperformed, fairly Radi did bomb nationals pretty hard but she didn't have the worst season

 

[Ziotic]

I don't see it as black and white. Once again, I supported her decision when she made it. But now as her fan and by no way hater, I am free to ask the rhetorical question: what does she have to do if her cooperation with Borser does not work out like it did not work with Gabby and Lizbet? Will she continue next season or she might be willing to reconsider? And this is a legitimate question as not a random hater by an honorary head of Rusfed Mr. Piseev said that Zhenya would be better off back home.

It did work with Gabby, she went from not even top 10 at worlds to WBM and OGM, although with team she still had to prove she could compete with the best or Keatlyn could have done both segments.

Zhenya just happened to be 2xWGM so she falls farther before improvements really start to show.

 

[DenissVFan]

I wish there were simply more GPs and more spots, so that all of these skaters could get at least a spot. (I know it's unrealistic but one can dream, right?)

 

[Tavi...]

We are not questioning.
We are just genuinely surprised and puzzled on how many people disliked Zhenya before, while she was winning everything, and now that we dare to say the truth, "she is struggling", we suddenly because the h*ters

Who is “we”? Are you speaking for yourself or for others?

I can’t speak for any other relatively “new” Zhenya fans, but speaking only for myself, I never disliked Zhenya when she was winning everything. I simply never followed ladies’ skating very closely. I’m a fan now because I loved her FS at the Olympics. Beyond that, I think it took a lot of courage for her to take a leap into the unknown, and I really admire her for that.

I don’t think everyone has to love Zhenya, nor do I think it’s wrong to point out that she’s struggling right now. But quite a few comments here and elsewhere are extremely negative and go well beyond simply saying she’s struggling. And just a minor point: anyone who has ever made a huge change - technical or otherwise - knows that 6 months is not a long time when you’re trying to master something new and difficult. So I find it kind of silly that so many people seem to “know” that she made a huge mistake in leaving Eteri and going to Brian, and that she will never improve or be competitive again. JMO.

 

[Jontor]

I wish there were simply more GPs and more spots, so that all of these skaters could get at least a spot. (I know it's unrealistic but one can dream, right?)

Speaking of spots. Is there any discusiion at all in the ISU to increase a federations max spots to 4 in worlds/euros etc? I guess at the moment both Russia and Japan would like to have more than three spots for these events. Is this discussion deadlocked on max three??

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Speaking of spots. Is there any discusiion at all in the ISU to increase a federations max spots to 4 in worlds/euros etc? I guess at the moment both Russia and Japan would like to have more than three spots for these events. Is this discussion deadlocked on max three??

People are going to throw internet pies at you for suggesting this :scard7:


not me btw

 

[Jontor]

People are going to throw internet pies at you for suggesting this :scard7:


not me btw

Oops! I guess then the topic is somewhat...toxic?:giveup:

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Oops! I guess then the topic is somewhat...toxic?:giveup:

It shouldn’t be :agree:

 

[Alexz]

I fear that Gubanova will miss out on GB assignments again next year. She is currently ranked #10 russian on the SB list, and there is max 9 girls from each country if they all get 2 assignments. Plus, Konstantinova (ranked below her) and Radionova/Pogorilaya (if they return) will probably get assignments ahead of her, so Gubanova is in reality ranked ~#13 which is not enough.:sad4:

It’s been a safe prediction for years that Gubanova will not be given a chance

I kind of feel that Gubanova had proved a lot this RusNats. SHe left good impression on public and Russian FS establishment. I see things will change for her in a good way. But I still think she deserves a better choreography. She will be better packaged next season, I'm sure of that. RusFed probably will insist on her coaches to invite a prominent big-name choreographer for her next season. Either Russian or foreigner one. They def will allocate more money for her choreography if that would be needed.

 

[el henry]

Who is “we”? Are you speaking for yourself or for others?

I can’t speak for any other relatively “new” Zhenya fans, but speaking only for myself, I never disliked Zhenya when she was winning everything. I simply never followed ladies’ skating very closely. I’m a fan now because I loved her FS at the Olympics. Beyond that, I think it took a lot of courage for her to take a leap into the unknown, and I really admire her for that.

I don’t think everyone has to love Zhenya, nor do I think it’s wrong to point out that she’s struggling right now. But quite a few comments here and elsewhere are extremely negative and go well beyond simply saying she’s struggling. And just a minor point: anyone who has ever made a huge change - technical or otherwise - knows that 6 months is not a long time when you’re trying to master something new and difficult. So I find it kind of silly that so many people seem to “know” that she made a huge mistake in leaving Eteri and going to Brian, and that she will never improve or be competitive again. JMO.

No idea who these others are:scratch3:

I did not follow Zhenya because I don’t follow the ladies. I really disliked, and in one instance despised Averbukh’s programs, but that ETA: and what I now see as the interpretations that were foisted on her, was not Zhenya’s fault (and yes, I despised them more than David Wilson’s programs).

I now follow Zhenya because she is Jason’s training mate. A perfectly natural reaction. There are people who never cared about Jason who now follow him because he is Zhenya’s training mate. And I say, welcome aboard, always more room on the train! And most of Zhenya’s fans have been very welcoming to those of us who now follow her because of Jason.:agree:

When I love a skater, I love the *skater*. I follow and support that skater no matter where they go. If they have a rough patch, I still support them. And their decisions. Because they’re the ones who need to skate, not me. And when Zhenya says she wants to leave, I’ll support that. But not before. And certainly not call in an air strike after six months

But that’s just me

 

[DenissVFan]

Gubanova also proved that she's currently Buyanova's #1, while at the beginning of the season there were worries she'd be #4.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I kind of feel that Gubanova had proved a lot this RusNats. SHe left good impression on public and Russian FS establishment. I see things will change for her in a good way. But I still think she deserves a better choreography. She will be better packaged next season, I'm sure of that. RusFed probably will insist on her coaches to invite a prominent big-name choreographer for her next season. Either Russian or foreigner one. They def will allocate more money for her choreography if that would be needed.

I’m holding you to this.

 

[Resa]

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think they should do it the same they they do it at the JGP. No politicking necessary, just objective results. If a skater bombs, well thats bad luck. They can still go to senior B events to rack up a high SB to stay spot eligible for the next season.

 

[skatenewbie]

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think they should do it the same they they do it at the JGP. No politicking necessary, just objective results. If a skater bombs, well thats bad luck. They can still go to senior B events to rack up a high SB to stay spot eligible for the next season.

they cannot do this. Senior GP works differently than junior GP. in senior skaters is invited, while in junior the fed decided themselves

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think they should do it the same they they do it at the JGP. No politicking necessary, just objective results. If a skater bombs, well thats bad luck. They can still go to senior B events to rack up a high SB to stay spot eligible for the next season.

I’ve been saying this for years! Sure...there is some positives and negatives to changing the selection format but in the end it could help to significantly increase the opportunity for skaters from crowded federations to lengthen their career. One good event for a skater on the outside looking in could really make a huge difference. Skaters may be less reluctant to give up if there is at least hope that they could earn a GP spot. Besides...the federations stacking their own events to help their own skaters has been tolerated for far to long IMO.

If we must limit them to a max of three entries per country then I think they should be able to send who ever they want to wherever they want in order to give their skaters the best opportunities possible based on their results. The landscape of who is in the best competive shape can evolve in just a few weeks time. They may gamble on some skaters or lose out by not sending others. It is a very interesting dynamic on the JGP. Way better than back door favors and stacking home events going unchecked.

 

[Mathman]

Way better than back door favors and stacking home events going unchecked.

I don't know what you mean by "stacking" Grand Prix events. The host country can invite only three skaters from their own country no matter what.

Sometimes there is suspicion that a host country invites weaker competitors from other countries in order to give their guys a better chance to win at home. But the opportunities are limited. A GP event must invite one of the top three from the previous worlds, plus one from 4th to 6th. All of the top 12 must invited to two GPs no matter what. The top 24 skaters on the world standing list must be invited to at least one. Etc.

 

[Elucidus]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Br4nsE_B8jv/
Where I can see ESPN3 videos?

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I don't know what you mean by "stacking" Grand Prix events. The host country can invite only three skaters from their own country no matter what.

Sometimes there is suspicion that a host country invites weaker competitors from other countries in order to give their guys a better chance to win at home. But the opportunities are limited. A GP event must invite one of the top three from the previous worlds, plus one from 4th to 6th. All of the top 12 must invited to two GPs no matter what. The top 24 skaters on the world standing list must be invited to at least one. Etc.

Maybe stacking is a bit over dramatic I admit but between selecting who your top skaters face off against in combination with inviting the eligible judges the federations certainly can increase the odds in their skaters favors. What the skater does with that opportunity still matters obviously.

Backdoor favors was referring to backroom deals or the closed door GP selection meetings where they likely scratch each other’s backs and make concessions to shape who goes where.

 

[Jontor]

I don't know what you mean by "stacking" Grand Prix events. The host country can invite only three skaters from their own country no matter what.

Sometimes there is suspicion that a host country invites weaker competitors from other countries in order to give their guys a better chance to win at home. But the opportunities are limited. A GP event must invite one of the top three from the previous worlds, plus one from 4th to 6th. All of the top 12 must invited to two GPs no matter what. The top 24 skaters on the world standing list must be invited to at least one. Etc.

As I understand it, the top twelve from worlds are not invited but randomly drawn where their assignments will be, and in seeded order, so 1-3 can't meet each other, then 4-6 etc.

 

[Ziotic]

As I understand it, the top twelve from worlds are not invited but randomly drawn where their assignments will be, and in seeded order, so 1-3 can't meet each other, then 4-6 etc.

They are seeded, but it’s not random. A fed can use their host picks to ensure they get their seeded skater in a given group. For example USA having Nathan and Bradie. Russia having T/M. France having P/C.