Well about Masha for me it's not about placements but about how she skated -- not so well, making mistakes in nearly everything and placing 4th at Euros.. FOURTH... there's literally no way to place lower if you're Russian...
I love Polina and Daria. I think Dasha's really good but a lot of people think she's bland and doesn't have much personality. Personally, I think it's those garbage programs of hers, and I want her to do some salsa maybe -- she's got a really fun and sassy personality and I want to see it on the ice which should help her get the PCS she needs. Her jumps: Absolutely magnificent
Yes, I know, everybody was thinking of a Russian podium sweep and instead Caro sneaked in and took 3rd
Must be terrible, though, seeing your copatriots on a podium realising that if you had just been a little better (one place to be correct) you could stand there with them. I feel sad for her, but well. I feel sad for a lot of overlooked skaters.
I love Polina! Her jumps are just gorgeous. If anyone ever dares to say again that Russian ladies don‘t have any technique just show them some of Tuktamysheva or Tsurskaya‘s jumps. They‘re textbook, really. Daria‘s... I‘ve watched a few programs of hers and maybe it‘s because of them (they‘re very... well, a bit boring) and she didn‘t really stand out to me... :/ Maybe she could, if she had interesting programs but now? Polina looks better to my mind and she didn‘t have that great programs either. I do hope they both get nice ones so that they can finally show their potential.
She has several issues honestly. She needs to use the tano more tastefully and not on every jump. I think it helped extend her spine though which seemed to help eliminate some of the UR issues. It seemed to be a solution to the UR problem but I think it hurt her PCS too.
Also...she has nice character and can perform so the programs need to better reflect that but it sounds like she’s going in that direction.
Well know for certain at Russian Nationals though where she fits in. She’s stretched her patience with the judges far enough. I’d have given Gubanova and Kostornaya 2nd and 3rd place last year if I were on that judging panel.
I’m curious about Polina but I suspect they’ll give her boring programs this year. It’s just a gut feeling I have. :hopelessness:
I agree that her tanos are a bit... used too often. But that‘s not really her fault, she doesn‘t make her own programs after all.
Personally, I‘m not too fond of her so I really hope Polina‘ll get the third spot this year. She‘s just a sentimental favourite of mine. Please don‘t give her bland programs, pleaaaase. But yeah, I understand where your feeling is coming from. I think this is not very unlikely, sadly.
I never miss a chance to spam this program out there
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VPRAbYQJoHc
Watching this on livestream was the first time I really watched Masha and I loved it and I can become quite loyal. It’s very original skating IMO which was her calling card back then. Her R&J was from a modern day movie and nothing like traditional R&J programs or music. Heck she’s even done a Santana program
My favorite Zhenya program ever.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=G9wSxrr2CE4
Interesting program, I have to admit this. But well, I can‘t help but say that I still don‘t feel anything while watching her skate. But that‘s just personal taste, I guess and has nothing to do with her quality as a skater.
Zhenya‘s program seems to have a pretty interesting theme but it‘s not a personal favourite after watching it. The change from the melancholic music to the upbeat, happy one is just too... sudden ? For my taste at least.
with... let‘s say... Anna (1), Alena (2), Sasha (3) Yes, I know, that‘s NOT going to happen at all. Just my wishful thinking.
eace:
REAL TALK: Tarakanova is the perfect example of how to spread out the arm variations. Different jumps in different situations spread throughout different programs. 
