2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[moriel]

I've been thinking that with Elizabet TurSynbaeva and Alina, Eteri has two competitive senior ladies training.

And with Zhenya training at TCC, Eteri may feel the gauntlet has been thrown down in terms of helping Alina to future senior titles.

That is to say, the time is now to expand her program to look longer horizons for her seniors.

I really hope Eteri will commit to Alina's competitive future. I'm not comfortable with folks stating speculation already that Alina will soon need to move on to another training site.

I am actually unsure if it is time to expand her program to seniors.
Her approach seems more similar to the classical rythmic gymnastics approach - you train a bunch of every brilliant juniors every year, they win stuff for 2-3 years max in seniors, and then next juniors come in.

Expanding to seniors is actually pointless and overall bad, it will have lower return.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I've been thinking that with Elizabet TurSynbaeva and Alina, Eteri has two competitive senior ladies training.

And with Zhenya training at TCC, Eteri may feel the gauntlet has been thrown down in terms of helping Alina to future senior titles.

That is to say, the time is now to expand her program to look longer horizons for her seniors.

I really hope Eteri will commit to Alina's competitive future. I'm not comfortable with folks stating speculation already that Alina will soon need to move on to another training site.

I’ve always wondered what dynamic the fact that she teachers in a school type environment plays. Is it just natural that she only trains students while they are still of a school age (mostly)? It sort of makes sense once they finish their schooling to move onto a different environment away from those youngsters who are still attending school and at a different point of life. These are rather large groups after all. I don’t think Alina drives to the rink and trains individually. I think they work in a group setting there.

I’m just not sure there is anything nefarious in people leaving once they hit a certain point in principle. Not that I condone or appreciate some of the exits but if Alina turns somewhere else I not only wouldn’t be surprised...I probably wouldn’t be upset either. I never even got salty over the Yulia departure really. Well...Ilya triggered me a few times but I’ve since moved on :2thumbs:

 

[moriel]

I’ve always wondered what dynamic the fact that she teachers in a school type environment if it’s just natural that she only trains students while they are still of a school age. It sort of makes sense once they finish their schooling to move onto a different environment away from those youngsters who are still attending school.

I’m just not sure there is anything nefarious in people leaving once they hit a certain point in principle. Not that o condone or appreciate some of the exits but if Alina turns somewhere else I not only wouldn’t be surprised...I probably wouldn’t be upset either. I never even got salty over the Yulia departure really. Well...Ilya triggered me a few times but I’ve since moved on :2thumbs:

I am about 95% certain that the focus is not on individual skaters or their careers (and much likely will be even less after Zhenya's demise), but on winning the most medals every given year.

 

[colormyworld240]

I've been thinking that with Elizabet TurSynbaeva and Alina, Eteri has two competitive senior ladies training.

And with Zhenya training at TCC, Eteri may feel the gauntlet has been thrown down in terms of helping Alina to future senior titles.

That is to say, the time is now to expand her program to look longer horizons for her seniors.

I really hope Eteri will commit to Alina's competitive future. I'm not comfortable with folks stating speculation already that Alina will soon need to move on to another training site.

I'm sure Eteri is committed to Alina's competitive future, otherwise she would have asked Alina to leave, as she has done previously, or Alina would have left herself. In a large group with a lot of talent, sometimes skaters will feel that there is too much competition, pressure, etc., and want to leave themselves for another group and is a choice of the individual. That doesn't translate to the coach giving up on them; skaters do not have monopoly over a coach.

I would hope that Eteri is equally committed to all her students' futures next season, and not more or less for Alina's. We have to remember that these skaters all put in the same amount of work and many share the same goals. They should have equal opportunities from the coaching team regardless of their age, how much longer they've been around, and who we as fans prefer. I think the only argument is possibly that a coach may be taking on too many students, but that's not for us to decide, and ultimately a skater will know what they're signing up for in this regard. And if it doesn't suit them, then they are free to leave; everyone has their own preferences. And of course, as skaters grow they may change their minds, and that's fine too, it's only natural in development.

 

[lavoix]

I am not sure but yep, i keep seeing mentions about Yulia's mother being quite pushy, not just about controlling the training, but also about pressuring Yulia to win and so on.
It would actually make sense because i see how puberty + demanding coach + demanding mom who expect medals can lead to major issues.

This was true.

I was hoping moving to Urmanov would have changed things, Yulia looked in great shape after she went to him.

 

[DougDorsey]

I think the significance of Alina's performance last week cannot be understated. The biggest question mark for her coming out of the Olympics was whether the imminent maturation of her body would prevent her from ever again achieving such greatness. At Nebelhorn, she provided a pretty definitive answer: It will not. In fact, if anything, she seems to have gained physical strength that will likely only increase her stamina and longevity. (Perhaps not surprising for the daughter of a hockey player!) I give Alina, Eteri, and the rest of the coaching staff a lot of credit, and I'm excited for what's to come.

As for our three other Eteri A-ngels...

• I agree with the comment about Alena Kostnernaia : ). She feels her music in a way that can't be taught, just like Carolina. It's entrancing. That's something that will always give her an advantage and that should, if she wishes, allow her to remain competitive into her 20s and 30s; I can't imagine ever not enjoying watching her skate.

• Alexandra's technique and fearlessness are unparalleled. I think people don't fully appreciate how athletic she is. While maturation may or may not keep her from doing quads forever, that preternatural athleticism should allow her to remain one of the best jumpers ever, as long as injuries don't interfere.

• I adore Anna, she is absolutely angelic and arguably the most graceful of all four girls, but she is the one I'd worry about the most with regards to consistency and injury, and unlike Alena and Alexandra, she seems to lack a singular strength that you can bank on going forward. That's not to say she won't achieve greatness or doesn't have a shot at coming out on top, it's just that I don't think she's as safe a bet as the rest of the group. I'm a big fan of hers, though, and I'd love to see her pull off a WC or Olympic medal.

Of course, this is all speculation and anything can happen in the coming months and years. And who knows what other talented young skaters have yet to emerge. All I can say is that the next few seasons are poised to be a golden era for figure skating, due in large part to not just one country but to a single club, Eteri and her A-ngels! I feel really privileged to be witness to this, as I'm sure many of you do, too.

 

[hippomoomin]

I think the significance of Alina's performance last week cannot be understated. The biggest question mark for her coming out of the Olympics was whether the imminent maturation of her body would prevent her from ever again achieving such greatness. At Nebelhorn, she provided a pretty definitive answer: It will not. In fact, if anything, she seems to have gained physical strength that will likely only increase her stamina and longevity. (Perhaps not surprising for the daughter of a hockey player!) I give Alina, Eteri, and the rest of the coaching staff a lot of credit, and I'm excited for what's to come.

Looking at her Dad I think Alina is quite promising. He is tall but quite thin. Alina will probably continues to grow taller, but with the muscle strength she inherits from her Dad, she has an advantage.

 

[typeyournamehere]

• I agree with the comment about Alena Kostnernaia : ). She feels her music in a way that can't be taught, just like Carolina. It's entrancing. That's something that will always give her an advantage and that should, if she wishes, allow her to remain competitive into her 20s and 30s; I can't imagine ever not enjoying watching her skate.

Well, I would say she wouldn't have any advantage against someone like this prodigy

 

[atsumiri]

And who knows what other talented young skaters have yet to emerge.

Kamila Valieva for example)
SP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKv2ahAl-XU
dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxHOxenUW_Y

 

[MsLiinaLii]

This was true.

I was hoping moving to Urmanov would have changed things, Yulia looked in great shape after she went to him.

I don't get one thing.
People accuse Eteri of Julia's problems with dieting
BUT
she became unhealthily thin with Urmanov, not Eteri. How is that "she looked in great shape"?
With Eteri she simply stopped training properly hence the results plus a bad attitude towards each other (Eteri vs Julia) did not help her results

 

[ejnsofi]

I don't get one thing.
People accuse Eteri of Julia's problems with dieting
BUT
she became unhealthily thin with Urmanov, not Eteri. How is that "she looked in great shape"?
With Eteri she simply stopped training properly hence the results plus a bad attitude towards each other (Eteri vs Julia) did not help her results

Problems with Yulia's eating habits started long before her move to Urmanov. Just to remind you her protein shakes diet around 2014 Winter Olympics. ED isn't something you develop in weeks. It takes months or even years and consequences very often are long term things

 

[Scott512]

With the great depth of Russian ladies and Russian junior girls have why was there only one Russian Lady in Germany and only one Russian girl in Ostrava? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[lavenderblossom]

With the great depth of Russian ladies and Rusian have why was there only one Russian Lady in Germany and only one Russian girl in Ostrava? Inquiring minds want to know.

Alina was meant to be at Ondrej Nepela in the first place with Stanislava Konstantinova, she was reassigned to Nebelhorn after the mess with her travel papers. Why RusFed initially decided not to send any ladies to Nebelhorn I don't know.
In Ostrava there were 2 girls - Alena Kostornaia and Viktoria Vasilieva.

 

[Vilord]

There where two russians in Ostrava. I dont know why there werent more russian girls at Nebelhorn but it may be that those who havent got GPs focus on national competitions now to qualify for nationals and will go to later CS

 

[sweetice]

With the great depth of Russian ladies and Russian junior girls have why was there only one Russian Lady in Germany and only one Russian girl in Ostrava? Inquiring minds want to know.

?

Both Vasilieva and Kostornaia were at Ostrava. No one missing, they haven't three spot for event.

Challenger are a different question, and Zagitova wasn't even expected to be at the Nebelhorn Trophy, but why the RusFed choose that is unknown.

 

[Alex65]

I think the significance of Alina's performance last week cannot be understated. The biggest question mark for her coming out of the Olympics was whether the imminent maturation of her body would prevent her from ever again achieving such greatness. At Nebelhorn, she provided a pretty definitive answer: It will not. In fact, if anything, she seems to have gained physical strength that will likely only increase her stamina and longevity. (Perhaps not surprising for the daughter of a hockey player!) I give Alina, Eteri, and the rest of the coaching staff a lot of credit, and I'm excited for what's to come.

As for our three other Eteri A-ngels...

• I agree with the comment about Alena Kostnernaia : ). She feels her music in a way that can't be taught, just like Carolina. It's entrancing. That's something that will always give her an advantage and that should, if she wishes, allow her to remain competitive into her 20s and 30s; I can't imagine ever not enjoying watching her skate.

• Alexandra's technique and fearlessness are unparalleled. I think people don't fully appreciate how athletic she is. While maturation may or may not keep her from doing quads forever, that preternatural athleticism should allow her to remain one of the best jumpers ever, as long as injuries don't interfere.

• I adore Anna, she is absolutely angelic and arguably the most graceful of all four girls, but she is the one I'd worry about the most with regards to consistency and injury, and unlike Alena and Alexandra, she seems to lack a singular strength that you can bank on going forward. That's not to say she won't achieve greatness or doesn't have a shot at coming out on top, it's just that I don't think she's as safe a bet as the rest of the group. I'm a big fan of hers, though, and I'd love to see her pull off a WC or Olympic medal.

Of course, this is all speculation and anything can happen in the coming months and years. And who knows what other talented young skaters have yet to emerge. All I can say is that the next few seasons are poised to be a golden era for figure skating, due in large part to not just one country but to a single club, Eteri and her A-ngels! I feel really privileged to be witness to this, as I'm sure many of you do, too.

Your message deserves a special prize as one of the most positive in this topic. Thank you

 

[Spirals for Miles]

At this point, 11/18 spots for nationals are filled:

By the GP: Medvedeva, Zagitova, Tsurskaya, Sotskova, Konstantinova, Panenkova, Samodurova, Tuktamysheva, Radionova
By qualifying to JGPF: Shcherbakova, Kostornaya

Expected to qualify to JGPF: Trusova, (Kanysheva - not eligible), Tarakanova/Tarusina (only one of the above)

This leaves 5 spots to be filled by Russian Cup events. Gulyakova has a 1st place so she'll likely get one of them. Vasilieva right now has a second place. Other contenders are Gubanova, the other of Tarusina/Tarakanova, Pogorilaya, and perhaps Sinitsyna.

 

[j00mla]

At this point, 11/18 spots for nationals are filled:

By the GP: Medvedeva, Zagitova, Tsurskaya, Sotskova, Konstantinova, Panenkova, Samodurova, Tuktamysheva, Radionova

if none of them will skip her event or WD due to injury, remember how Yulia skated her program with injury - it was too late to qualify through the Cup so she had to finish her performance to be scored.

 

[macy]

crazy idea...would any Russian ladies (moreso ones who have a lesser chance of being top 3) ever consider representing the US? or another country way less competitive than Russia? Do you think we may see anyone think in this direction?

 

[Scott512]

Alina was meant to be at Ondrej Nepela in the first place with Stanislava Konstantinova, she was reassigned to Nebelhorn after the mess with her travel papers. Why RusFed initially decided not to send any ladies to Nebelhorn I don't know.
In Ostrava there were 2 girls - Alena Kostornaia and Viktoria Vasilieva.

Thank you. I just think that there should be two or three Russian girls or ladies at every junior or senior competition because of the amazing depth on both.