2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[moriel]

Next year is going to be so great, even better than this year, 3A in seniors and Valieva/Usacheva rivalry in juniors :luv17:

probably more awesome juniors that we don't really know about yet will come out too.
As for 3A in seniors, yep, it is likely, more and more.

 

[hippomoomin]

I didn't know the purpose of the thread was for everyone to like it. And now I know it.

Also nah, the interview thread is likely just closed by mods, so they can delete messages and also give warnings and infractions to whoever didn't like the interview.
It will be back soon.

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

a little bit off topic but I don’t think Nastya (Gubanova) has been nearly as disappointing. And Masha’s test skate appearance (SP especially) was good too. I think some of Polina’s bad performances can be attributed to a lack of a coach for some time since it took quite some convincing for Buyanova to take her.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

a little bit off topic but I don’t think Nastya (Gubanova) has been nearly as disappointing. And Masha’s test skate appearance (SP especially) was good too. I think some of Polina’s bad performances can be attributed to a lack of a coach for some time since it took quite some convincing for Buyanova to take her.

The thing with Buyanova is that she doesn't pay attention to details, like levels on spins and step sequences (no excuses for Gubanova to be consistently getting 1s and 2s) and the big things (like URs and actually landing jumps). But her students will get lots of politicking anyway, so maybe she isn't as concerned with that as a coach whose students aren't automatically favored (like Turenko, for example) would be... not to be critical, just an observation.

 

[Canadianskatingfan]

Well, lets see her current students and folks that recently left, and what 3 jumps combos they do.

Zagitova does it, a 3F+2T+2Lo
Tursynbaeva does a 2A+2T+2T, butshe was not doing a +2Lo under Orser either. I suppose that that is what she currently can do, simply put.
Trusova does not need a +2Lo, as her current layout has a 4T+3T, 3Lz+3Lo and 3Lz+1Eu+3S ^^
Kostornaya does 3Lz+2T+2T
Shcherbakova does 3F+2T+2Lo
Zhenya did 2A+2T+2T
Tsurskaya did 2A+3T+2T
Tarakanova did 3Lz+1Lo+3S
Panenkova did 3F+1Lo+2S

Lets see, out of the ladies who do a -2T, what other combos they have in their programs?
Tursynbaeva does not do a -3Lo combo. Her other 2 combos are 3S+3T.
Kostornaya does not do a -3Lo combo. Her other 2 combos are 3F+3T and 3S+3T.
Zhenya also didnt do a -3Lo combo under Eteri. Her other 2 combos were 3F+3T and 3S+3T.
Tsurskaya also didnt do a -3Lo combo. Her other 2 combos were 3Lz+3T and 3S+2T.

I think there is some correlation here, right? My guess is that some Eteri skaters do 2T-2T because their -3Lo or -2Lo combos are not stable enough to be included in programs, so it is not worth it, as a consistent -2T with high GOE is worth more than a -2Lo with UR and low GOE.

Kostornaya did 3F3T3Lo in JW exhibition practice last year and it was perfect. Evgenia has done one too in practices on videos. And a double loop must be easier than a 3Lo on a combo so I believe it is just either preference or they think the 2T2T will get higher GOE than the 2T2Lo.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Kostornaya did 3F3T3Lo in JW exhibition practice last year and it was perfect. Evgenia has done one too in practices on videos. And a double loop must be easier than a 3Lo on a combo so I believe it is just either preference or they think the 2T2T will get higher GOE than the 2T2Lo.

They all "over-jump" during practice, but big difference between practice and competition.
Case in point: Sasha's 4S-3T-1Lo-3S-1Lo-3S like a boss

 

[TGee]

Kostornaya did 3F3T3Lo in JW exhibition practice last year and it was perfect. Evgenia has done one too in practices on videos. And a double loop must be easier than a 3Lo on a combo so I believe it is just either preference or they think the 2T2T will get higher GOE than the 2T2Lo.

I think we need to take into account the revisions of the IJS.

It's crucial that the GOE on the later jumps be good, because it affects the scoring of the entire combination.

This includes the crucial 'must have' bullets of
- height and distance
- take off and landing
- effortless throughout

Better to go with the 2T-2T for the last two jumps and get the critical bullets needed to get considered for +4 or +5.

 

[vorravorra]

The thing with Buyanova is that she doesn't pay attention to details, like levels on spins and step sequences (no excuses for Gubanova to be consistently getting 1s and 2s) and the big things (like URs and actually landing jumps). But her students will get lots of politicking anyway, so maybe she isn't as concerned with that as a coach whose students aren't automatically favored (like Turenko, for example) would be... not to be critical, just an observation.

So far there has been precious little evidence of politicking on Nastya's part. And politicking doesn't actually replace skating, you still have to do the latter.

 

[Canadianskatingfan]

Exactly! :agree2:

 

[Spirals for Miles]

So far there has been precious little evidence of politicking on Nastya's part. And politicking doesn't actually replace skating, you still have to do the latter.

But there is no excuse for a coach of her level to not be able to fix URs, in fact letting them get worse, not improving posture or jumps, or to let her students have poor levels on spins and steps.

 

[Jeanie19]

Next year is going to be so great, even better than this year, 3A in seniors and Valieva/Usacheva rivalry in juniors :luv17:

Will they be 13 before July 1st to be on the JGP?

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

yes. Kamila is april 16 and Daria is may 22. They’re both eligible for the 2022 Olympics too, although I don’t think they’re nearly as good as our current top juniors.

 

[moriel]

Kostornaya did 3F3T3Lo in JW exhibition practice last year and it was perfect. Evgenia has done one too in practices on videos. And a double loop must be easier than a 3Lo on a combo so I believe it is just either preference or they think the 2T2T will get higher GOE than the 2T2Lo.

Practice and exibition is different from competitive programs.
Pretty sure those are not included due to rotation issues, and also speed and fluidity.

 

[lavoix]

a little bit off topic but I don’t think Nastya (Gubanova) has been nearly as disappointing. And Masha’s test skate appearance (SP especially) was good too. I think some of Polina’s bad performances can be attributed to a lack of a coach for some time since it took quite some convincing for Buyanova to take her.

Odd that she'd refuse such a talented girl. She's probably her most talented out of everyone.

Sotskova's status this season will be interesting as she seems more focused on things outside skating. Her JO routines were quite bad.

 

[vesperalvioletta]

Odd that she'd refuse such a talented girl. She's probably her most talented out of everyone.

Sotskova's status this season will be interesting as she seems more focused on things outside skating. Her JO routines were quite bad.

I think Buianova might have been concerned about all of the rumors that were circulating about Polina's health and whether or not she could actually take her to the next level. I'm not sure what's true and what isn't in that whole debacle, but I can see why Buianova hesitated.

On another note, it would reflect poorly on her if Polina's results began to suffer under her tutelage after Polya's success with Eteri. We're seeing how that worked out...

 

[moriel]

I think Buianova might have been concerned about all of the rumors that were circulating about Polina's health and whether or not she could actually take her to the next level. I'm not sure what's true and what isn't in that whole debacle, but I can see why Buianova hesitated.

On another note, it would reflect poorly on her if Polina's results began to suffer under her tutelage after Polya's success with Eteri. We're seeing how that worked out...

Specially now that she seems to not have a lady in senior Russian top 3 anymore.
If we count current total best scores, we have
# Zagitova with 238.43
#2 Tuktamysheva with 206.07
#3 Medvedeva with 204.89

Masha didnt skate her SP yet, but if we take Masha's score at JO, there is literally no chance she will get anywhere close, even if she scores 80 in her SP.


Last season, we had
#1 Zagitova with 239.57
#2 Medvedeva with 238.26
#3 Sotskova with 216.28
So Buianova had a real #3 of the team.

But now, that does not seem the case anymore, none of her skaters are anywhere close to challenge the top 3 right now at least.
Last season she could not care about Lena because she had Masha as russian #3. But this season... I think it is already reflecting poorly

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

we should give Masha some time. Last season Sakamoto has a terrible first half of the season but was able to pull it together by Skate America and 4CC. This was one competition, where the score doesn’t even really count. I don’t think we should loose hope yet. Anyway, I agree with lavoix. Masha got into university this year, and she might be more focused on her future than just one figure skating season.

 

[moriel]

we should give Masha some time. Last season Sakamoto has a terrible first half of the season but was able to pull it together by Skate America and 4CC. This was one competition, where the score doesn’t even really count. I don’t think we should loose hope yet. Anyway, I agree with lavoix. Masha got into university this year, and she might be more focused on her future than just one figure skating season.

Yep totally. Plus her university is not your regular sport and physical culture stuff, where you can graduate basically without showing up. It is a bit more demanding, and they are not likely to cut her slack just because she is competing.

As for time... We evaluate at any given point with what we have right here right now. So far things look grim for Buianova.

 

[hippomoomin]

If Maria is attending a regular university, not online or the special university programs created for top athletes, she probably has a plan outside of figure skating for her future. Then I don't think she can be competitive any more in Russia without the necessary time dedicated to training.

I noticed even with the bad showing at JO, she didn't seen upset at all, which might mean she was expecting that, due to the lack of training.
Well, does that mean she is in the process of retiring? I seriously don't see anyone can handle regular college and be a top skater in today's field. Shizuka Arakawa did that but that was many years ago.

 

[moriel]

Just for info, she joined this uni: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Academy_of_Theatre_Arts
She studies to be a choreographer. She initially wanted to do the on ice choreo, but Tchaikovskaya is not getting new students this year, so she entered the regular ballet choreo course.

Actually, there was a very nice interview about her training, life and plans: https://rsport.ria.ru/interview/20180824/1140728499.html
Not sure if it was translated, if no, i can quickly hack it.