2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[GS Forum Staff]

Temporary closing of thread during competitions

Due to the ongoing competition chat during events, we will be temporarily closing threads that continue to blow off the guidelines in the future, beginning with JW and Worlds. Select threads will be closed before segments and reopened after each segment is over.

Please also bear in mind, if you can't or don't wish to purchase a season pass, threads are created immediately in the Edge for discussion for all to participate in.

 

[Resa]

Whohoo Sofia! Well done! I believe in Alina, she will recover

 

[MissBeeFarm]

Oh no. What happened?

Alina struggled with her jumps again. It wasn't as bad as Worlds and she kinda almost held it together, but in the end she didn't.

 

[fabienne1996]

No. Because we didn't expect Alina to have a meltdown. We weren't underestimating Sofia. We just didn't expect something like that from Alina.

Well i wasnt so sure cause i do remember worlds last season. Anyone can see that she is struggling this year . The girl needs a break

 

[Elana]

We might wanna rethink who needs to lose their spot for Worlds

I predict Medvedeva goes to Worlds, has a season's best and wins

I prefer zhenya over Alina, but would they really send her to worlds over Alina? I mean Alina still came in second today, and Mevedeva hasn’t place in ages?

 

[chopinskate]

I’m puzzled you didn’t bargain for the probability of this outcome, especially given Nationals.

It definitely was probable. I think most assumed her troubles due to injury would be behind her by now.

 

[Metis]

No. Because we didn't expect Alina to have a meltdown. We weren't underestimating Sofia. We just didn't expect something like that from Alina.

I don’t think she had a meltdown, though. She had one fall on the -3T — which you could tell was coming in the air and her landings have honestly just been very insecure this season — and the -1Lo in combo, which was where she lost most of her points. That’s... not a meltdown. Not in this field, anyway. She didn’t straight up donate any of her jumping passes by popping to an invalid element or doing a waxel. She had two problems with two key combos, and the three jump was not well-executed either, but a fall on a -3T and having to fight for a combo is not really epic meltdown territory.

WC18 was three separate falls. That’s very different from all the jumps looking insecure, like they did today. Meltdown at Worlds, yes. Meltdown here, no.

 

[starla16]

are we seeing the rise of Team Mishin in ladies skating ?
he teaches good technique and his skaters have longevity look at Tuk and hopefully Sofia.

 

[Fluture]

Why not? She’s been steadily getting worse and worse and heading in this direction as this season has progressed.

I’m puzzled you didn’t bargain for the probability of this outcome, especially given Nationals.

Maybe I was just hoping for something different... I thought she'd fight after Nationals because that's what she did after Worlds. She came back strong the next season.

You know, I'm not blind. I see what's happening. And I have more than once expressed my concerns about certain methods. I can see what's happening. But maybe I was just hoping that it could be different. I don't know what exactly the problem is but I think we all can see that there is a problem.

 

[Ophelia]

It definitely was probable. I think most assumed her troubles due to injury would be behind her by now.

I think her issues largely tie into technique, which is coming apart due to her growth spurt, as much as many people refuse to see or admit this.

 

[Vandevska]

Alina struggled with her jumps again. It wasn't as bad as Worlds and she kinda almost held it together, but in the end she didn't.

Actually if you compare the scores it's worse

 

[starla16]

Boy, this means only one thing for Med.

politicking or skate off ?

 

[Vandevska]

I prefer zhenya over Alina, but would they really send her to worlds over Alina? I mean Alina still came in second today, and Mevedeva hasn’t place in ages?

No I don't think so. However, after this I do believe that if there is a skate off, Alina will be in it as well.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think her issues largely tie into technique, which is coming apart due to her growth spurt, as much as many people refuse to see or admit this.

I don't think we want to open this can of worms because we might offend the lineage.

 

[Fluture]

I don’t think she had a meltdown, though. She had one fall on the -3T — which you could tell was coming in the air and her landings have honestly just been very insecure this season — and the -1Lo in combo, which was where she lost most of her points. That’s... not a meltdown. Not in this field, anyway. She didn’t straight up donate any of her jumping passes by popping to an invalid element or doing a waxel. She had two problems with two key combos, and the three jump was not well-executed either, but a fall on a -3T and having to fight for a combo is not really epic meltdown territory.

WC18 was three separate falls. That’s very different from all the jumps looking insecure, like they did today. Meltdown at Worlds, yes. Meltdown here, no.

Well, okay, maybe it wasn't a meltdown. But it's far from what she usually puts out. I guess I exaggerated. Maybe she'll come back stronger. I hope so. And she still won silver. So it's not that bad. I was and am still shocked a bit.

 

[starla16]

should Zagitova move to Mishin ???

 

[chopinskate]

I think her issues largely tie into technique, which is coming apart due to her growth spurt, as much as many people refuse to see or admit this.

Oh, no, I agree. It's getting worse, and it looks like growth spurt + injury. Just saying why (I think) the others thought she would likely win. I did think she would win, but I had the falls from RusNats in the back of my mind too.

 

[MissBeeFarm]

Actually if you compare the scores it's worse

If you compare the result, it isn't.

I thought it was better than Worlds, no matter the scores. As others have pointed out, it wasn't as much of a meltdown as last year.

 

[Metis]

Well, okay, maybe it wasn't a meltdown. But it's far from what she usually puts out. I guess I exaggerated. Maybe she'll come back stronger. I hope so. And she still won silver. So it's not that bad. I was am still shocked a bit.

I guess I just want to try to keep things in perspective, despite this not being an outcome many anticipated.

The thing is, if she wasn’t Alina Zagitova, the fact that she’s rotating triples at all after a growth spurt would be celebrated and everyone would be encouraging. But she is Alina Zagitova, and the conversation quickly moved to her rapidly-approaching obsolescence in the face of the 3A, when most countries would kill to have a skater that retained any of their jumps after such a rapid change in height.

 

[chopinskate]

he teaches good technique and his skaters have longevity look at Tuk and hopefully Sofia.

Sofya's technique isn't that great, actually. Just look at the quality.

His skaters DO have flaws. Look at Tukt's basic skating.