2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Alexz]

Momentum is important. I can't imagine Alina would want to go into Worlds with this as her last showing.

True. Momentum. That would be the only reason for Liza and Alina to show up at Euros this season.

 

[Alexz]

Zagitova's been taped up all year and she was taped up in some of the pictures I saw of some of the summer performances yet she was still doing triple jumps in meaningless skates like galas; I don't buy injury as an excuse for bad skates when the skaters are turning around and skating fine in exhibitions. If you're injured - you don't do exhibition skates or if you do it's doing watered down programs or programs choreographed without jumps.

Yeah. Me too. Those tapping looks like just a kinesio therapy: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_therapeutic_tape. Most scientists think it is just a placebo for the most part. Alina hit with a growth spurt this year. Her muscles are not catching up with her bones. Yet. It is that simple. All what she needs right now is to keep trainning through this period of growth and probably to adjust her jumping technique accordingly.

Those kinesio tapes are "providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion". At best. Quote unquote. Kinesio is mostly a placebo. They are pretty useless to treat any serious injury, but could be just a little extra help for muscles.

So Alina is unlikely to have any knee injury if she jumps 3-3 combos at exhibition galas.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

It’s enough to break your heart

https://www.instagram.com/p/Brs5uOpA_5U/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=dctuulm639y9

and yet all she posted was a thank you for her coaches for being there for her

 

[NAOTMAA]

Yeah. Me too. Those tapping looks like just a kinesio therapy: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_therapeutic_tape. Most scientists think it is just a placebo for the most part. Alina hit with a growth spurt this year. Her muscles are not catching up with her bones. Yet. It is that simple. All what she needs right now is to keep trainning through this period of growth and probably to adjust her jumping technique accordingly.

Those kinesio tapes are "providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion". At best. Quote unquote. Kinesio is mostly a placebo. They are pretty useless to treat any serious injury, but could be just a little extra help for muscles.

So Alina is unlikely to have any knee injury if she jumps 3-3 combos at exhibition galas.

Or perhaps she so single minded determined to be the best that she's stupidly pushing herself even when injured. Tara Lipinski had hip issues yet was still cranking out the 3loop-3loop combos left and right in practice even when told not to so it wouldn't be so shocking to see another skater do it (especially with competition in Russia so tough)

I don't think its injury. I think her body's changing and she's fighting against it best she can. She just needs to get through Euros and worlds mentally unscathed, keep practicing and hopefully next season she'll be more settled in her new body and back to the Alina who won gold in Korea. I think she will be fine as long as she puts it behind her and doesn't mentally kill herself

 

[neusw]

I don't think Alina's any more injured/in pain than she's been the whole season. You could see from the second she went up on the first 2A that she was a nervous wreck and it was going to be a bad skate. She was sooo tight that she couldn't get her normal amplitude on any of the jumps. Unfortunately she struggles with nerves and once in a while it manifests rather catastrophically, while other times she holds it together. I think she especially has difficulty with nerves in major events where she's the clear favorite--too much expectation to win and no one to chase in front of her to set her mind on. Honestly I expect her to perform better at Worlds just because she won't be the obvious favorite.

 

[bubblecherry]

The idea of Alina (and Liza) sitting out of Euros is interesting (yet obviously unrealistic) however I don't see a positive in Alina doing that (unless she's injured). Regardless of if she sits out of Euros or not, she still needs to train hard for Worlds until then. It's not like she can just take weeks off or train easier, she'd unnecessarily lose some form. She will have to train hard until Worlds regardless, going to Euros or not wouldn't change that. Now, if she's unhealthy and needs a couple of weeks to train lightly before she goes hard for Worlds (like Liza may do?) that would make sense, but I see it as highly unlikely.

Hopefully both Liza and Alina will make good decisions for their health, whether that means going or not.

 

[Alexz]

Or perhaps she so single minded determined to be the best that she's stupidly pushing herself even when injured. Tara Lipinski had hip issues yet was still cranking out the 3loop-3loop combos left and right in practice even when told not to so it wouldn't be so shocking to see another skater do it (especially with competition in Russia so tough)

I don't think its injury. I think her body's changing and she's fighting against it best she can. She just needs to get through Euros and worlds mentally unscathed, keep practicing and hopefully next season she'll be more settled in her new body and back to the Alina who won gold in Korea. I think she will be fine as long as she puts it behind her and doesn't mentally kill herself

If this a serious injury Eteri would most likely put her foot down. Alina would def won't be jumping on EX.

BTW, if I recall correctly Zhenya refused to wear her orthopedic boot till her fracture heals cometely despite the advice by doctor and Eteri, and that got her subsequently injured at competition in Japan. That probably costed her the Olympic gold medal, because after that fracture Zhenya never fully recovered in time for the Olympics. And still not recovered. Afaik, after that she did not train at all and did not compete for the long 6 months. This is too long to take a break from sport at pro level. We know a pro gymnast who took a vacation for 3 months for honeymoon, came back to the gym and couldn't do a "simple" single somersault. One simply don't take a break for that long if you are at the pro level.

Alina seems to be more complaint to Eteri's will and doctors recommendation. They tell her to wear kinesio tape - she does that. The only way to struggle through puberty is to train it through as usual. Struggle and train. There is no any other way around it. Zhenya did that too until her fracture stopped and slowed her down like. Although puberty was more gentle on her, and her growth was steady and consistent. That helped her to be so dominant for 3 years straight. Just taking all the usual precautions. Kneepads, doctor checkups. And to be pushed when coach feels it right, and to be given an easy day when coach feels it needed, a simple psychological support at home and a good rest with beauty sleep. Rinse and repeat.

There is no easy way through puberty and growth spurt. Recipee is really simple. All those things which for instance Elena Radionova did not do. She took a long rest (like year off, right?) and she never fully returned to her previously high level after that. And one never should do that at any balance-body complex coordination sports. Especially if you are a teen. And Zhenya is still a teen turning into a woman. You take a long break at teen ages - you loose. Coming back to the previously high level is harder, if ever possible. Trust me. Or ask any gymnast. Simply put, not preventing the injury and not following doctor's advice was a mistake. After Olympics Zhenya took a long sabbatical. That was a mistake too. Her struggles right now is totally fine and understandable. She needs patience and time. And full-on training.

Not training for a lengthy period of time is always a mistake. Especially if you are young and your body is still changing. This is how it is for all balance-body coordination sports (like gymnastics or figure skating). For hand-eye coordination sports (like volleyball, ping pong, tennis, baseball, ice hockey, basketball) taking long months breaks are easier and less taxing. But it is still hard to comeback in shape and to be an old self. There are no magic pills for coordination. If you lost it - you have to learn it again almost from the scratch. It is not like riding a bicycle - that's easy. Consistently landing 3Lz-3T is harder. Much harder. 3A, 4T and 4S are even a bit harder too. Especially if you did not train them previously at the younger ages.

OK,

 

[anonymoose_au]

It’s enough to break your heart

https://www.instagram.com/p/Brs5uOpA_5U/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=dctuulm639y9

and yet all she posted was a thank you for her coaches for being there for her

Poor Maria she's had a bad season, which is a big shame because I really like her programs this season.

Artur Danielian wrote a really nice message of support on that post as did many others which will hopefully cheer her up a bit!

 

[Ophelia]

One simply don't take a break that long if you are at the pro level.

You take a long break at teen ages - you loose. Coming back to the previously high level is harder, if ever possible. Trust me. Or ask any gymnast.

Not training for a lengthy period of time is always a mistake. Especially if you are young and your body is still changing. This is how it is for all balance-body coordination sports (like gymnastics or figure ska learn them

Simone Biles begs to differ.

 

[dorispulaski]

look at that skirt in action:



(hey, I want bbcode tag to work for me too :>)[/QUOTE]

It is one of the perks of being a GS supporter.

 

[Alexz]

Simone Biles begs to differ.

Have not you noticed she is not quite her old self too? She felt 4-5 times at Doha. Besides, Biles could be a exception here. And she is NOT a teenager already. She is 21 and she never was hit with a growth spurt. She is 4' 8". 142 cm. Are you kidding me? It's like she never grew since 12 years old. She is unique, no doubt. It is her DNA or smth. I can name you hundreds of other brilliant young gymnasts who took a break at teen ages or took a hit with injury or growth spurt and never got back to their previous level of difficulty and consistency. Mustafina is a special case as well, because maternity is probably even harder.

 

[Alexz]

It is one of the perks of being a GS supporter.

oh, I almost sold then. Almost.

 

[Sugarpova]

Night passed but I'm still mad at the scoring for Sofa yeah God forbid Mishin has 2 gals in the team
Lisa def should stay out of Euros to fully get in fighting shape:agree: she especially was missed at this juniour dominating Nats.
Aw super happy with how much support I see for age limit @runet ! I hope Raf sees it!

 

[dobrevaria]

I just woke up, and I'm surprised -and shocked- to know that Konstantinova is going to be sent again. I just don't understand the Russian federation.
Konstantinova is not consistent at all, unlike Sofia, and she doesn't have the scoring potential either, unlike Liza or Medvedeva. Stanislava is incredibly overscored at home for god-know-what reason, but her scores will never be the same outside of Russsia. Did the Russian federation forgot they almost lose their three spots last year?

 

[thexfireball]

Rusfed has announced that Alina, Stasya and Sofia will be sent to Euros. Liza and Evgenia as substitutes.

 

[lanceupper1114]

Rusfed has announced that Alina, Stasya and Sofia will be sent to Euros. Liza and Evgenia as substitutes.

Elizaveta is a sub?

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Elizaveta and Stanislava also have the spots for Universiade. This doesn't make sense to me but oh well. Evgenia and Maria are substitutes

 

[malya]

Rusfed has announced that Alina, Stasya and Sofia will be sent to Euros. Liza and Evgenia as substitutes.

What?? I mean I love it (Sofia deserves <3) but I did not expect that decicion.

I think they will give Liza and Evgenia a chance to show their level in the Russian Cup Final and get chosen for worlds

 

[Watch]

Rusfed has announced that Alina, Stasya and Sofia will be sent to Euros. Liza and Evgenia as substitutes.

Well, I'm happy for Sofia. I want to see more of her. I hope the only reasoning for Liza being sub is that pneumonia has a longer recovery time. She should absolutely go to Worlds and it'd be a travesty if she doesn't.

 

[Shanshani]

I'm happy for Sofia, but they better send Liza to Worlds then because leaving her off both the Worlds and Euros teams after her season would be some nonsense.