2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Tolstoj]

The major risk right now is that Alina may think of retirement, if leaved by Eteri, but it's something that we can easily see it happen at the end of this season. Eteri is not supporting her, she's just using her, because this season she haven't another choice.

What, or we better say "how", this is happening is 99% Eteri's fault, imho, but i think it's already inscribing all the **** she'll going to trow on Alina, when will be ready to leave her out (again).

Don't take this like a trolling rumbling. I think it's something very sad.

I think at this point of her career she needs to have a conversation with the coaches, and speak openly about this.

She is no longer Eteri's young prodigy, it doesn't makes sense for her to push quads when you need to rework some of your triples, BUT she is still the Olympic Champion, i don't think Eteri will ever ask her to leave, and if she skates consistently she can receive high marks for years to come because of her status and because i believe she is still a great skater.

We saw what happen when skaters leave Eteri, but what if she doesn't? what if she stays there, she fixes her issues with the triples and she wins medals as long as she can or as long as she wants.

She losts the gold at Europeans and GPF this year, big deal, but wasn't her goal to win Worlds? that is still to come, and i don't think RusFed will ask the Olympic Champion to leave her spot to someone else, so let's focus on Worlds, on skating clean there and less on other things like the 4F.

 

[sweetice]

I don’t think she will retire not before becoming the next world champion and maybe she also wants to make the next olympic games like yuna

I wasn't doubting her participation on the next worlds, or say that Alina can't still have legitimate ambitions for her future.

Well... maybe i was just overly anticipating something that i feel it may happen, as i don't like how Eteri is handling the thing.

 

[Lechat]

I wasn't doubting her participation on the next worlds, or say that Alina can't still have legitimate ambitions for her future.

Well... maybe i was just overly anticipating something that i feel it may happen, as i don't like how Eteri is handling the thing.

I don’t like it either, Eteri thinks she doesn’t have to change her way of coaching but we can see Alina is falling more and more. I hope Alina will shine in Japan.

 

[silverfoxes]

I think they mean in comparison to Medvedeva not that Zagitova is weak. Medvedeva’s technique started to fail after her first senior season, just like Zagitova. But, strength of will kept her going almost mistake free for two more years. Among Eteri skaters only Med has ever shown that kind of mental strength. Alina is not weak. She is a fighter. But, the strength needed to leave Eteri like Med did is beyond the reach of most people.

Is it really? Every single one of Eteri's skaters leave eventually...except for Moris. The odds are far more likely that she will be out of there by next season than not.

 

[Amei]

so does this mean Sonya will 100% be on the world team?

I think it does, the Fed would be idiots to bump her off the team after winning Europeans; she's the most consistent skater they've got of the top ladies, either Alina or Stanislava seem to be the wiser choice to get booted from Worlds if they want Liza on the team. I would think Stanislava but I don't know if there is a rule that the highest placing senior-eligible woman gets an automatic bid. Maybe Alina should consider bowing out of Worlds - her last 3 major competitions (worlds last year, Nationals and Europeans this year) have been rough, this season her performances have gotten worse not better as the season has progressed which is the opposite of last year, and all season we've been getting it pointed out about how much she's grown this year and that she's learning quads.

She doesn't need to change coach but her coach needs to change her method. It’s heartbreaking to see her doing well during practice until she can’t jump anymore. Alina doesn’t have the same stamina like last year, she’s growing and she’s older now.

Everything we've heard of Eteri, she doesn't strike me as someone that will change her ways - her ways have won a ton of medals and championships, if you don't/can't win with her methods that's on you, ship up or ship out.

 

[karina17]

Send Anna Tarusina. Problem solved.

(I'm joking.....kind of)

Send Samodurova, Tarusina, and Gubanova to Worlds. Done.

(Also joking. Mostly.)

 

[Scott512]

So excited for Sofia! Congratulations! I love her skating, she's got sass and consistency!

Also I see Stanislava had a really good free too, although it looks like she won't be going to World's?

Finally, I'm sorry Alina is having such a hard time, I hope she can have a bit of a break between this and Worlds, the growth spurt really seems to be affecting her!

Alina is going through changes and it's apparent she is better as the hunter rather than the hunted. I had a funny feeling about Sofia. Congrats to her.

 

[rachno2]

Send Samodurova, Tarusina, and Gubanova to Worlds. Done.

(Also joking. Mostly.)

I love Gubanova, but I want to see Toxic again

 

[Scott512]

I'm more worried to have to see Alena's future on Eteri's hands than not, but we was talking about Alina, why put Alena on this ?

Don't worry she is an amazing skater. The sky is the limit. Alena has what can't be taught.

 

[BossT]

Europian nightmare 1 (Ladies' FP, EC 2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0utuQpv6z8

 

[Globetrotter]

Alina is going through changes and it's apparent she is better as the hunter rather than the hunted. I had a funny feeling about Sofia. Congrats to her.

Seeing the expression on Alina’s face after the final combo spin was.....heartbreaking. I completely get it the way Eteri sets her training. You either shape up or ship out. Being from Asia, this system of many youngsters falling by the wayside while only the one or two rarified stars reach the top such as table tennis in China is the norm. Still when you see the one who has fallen, it is painful.

 

[chopinskate]

I’m more confused as to why people seem to be shocked when a Russian lady starts to decline. It’s been happening for years now; Yulia, Adelina, Radionova, Pogorilya, Medvedeva, Sotskova, and now Zagitova. Other than Tukt and her 3A they have all been passed over for a younger model. It’s the nature of the sport in Russia, once their jumps start to fail it’s on to the next.

I don't think Sotnikova is the same. To me she more had a clear loss in motivation after Sochi.

The rest, yes, agreed. I think people do notice it.

 

[alvina9894]

Dream (and most reliable) world's team:
Tuktamysheva, Samodurova, Tarusina

 

[Orlov]

Dream (and most reliable) world's team:
Tuktamysheva, Samodurova, Tarusina

The question is whose dreams are these?

 

[vesperalvioletta]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know when Liza Tuktamysheva first started learning her 3A and when she started competing it? I know she learned the jump fairly young, but I haven't been in the FS community long enough to know how old she was when she first started competing it.

 

[alvina9894]

The question is whose dreams are these?

Anyone who wishes for 3A to all go to worlds next year.

 

[vesperalvioletta]

i think there is video of her landing it when she was 12 or 13. But she only start attempt it in competition in 2015 WC when she was almost 18 years old

Interesting. Obviously times were different then, but watching all of these young girls get their 3As or quads and start competing them right away made me wonder what Liza's approach was.

 

[alvina9894]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know when Liza Tuktamysheva first started learning her 3A and when she started competing it? I know she learned the jump fairly young, but I haven't been in the FS community long enough to know how old she was when she first started competing it.

Video of Liza landing 3A in 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdkDLBmBFBU&frags=pl,wn

 

[skatenewbie]

Interesting. Obviously times were different then, but watching all of these young girls get their 3As or quads and start competing them right away made me wonder what Liza's approach was.

i think she did intend to attempt it but maybe puberty problems? She's known as great jumper when she still teenager and make it to GPF at her senior debut, but then she's kind of dip down and comeback in 2014-15 season with obvious puberty, where she sweep everything and then dip again and comeback again now.

 

[sx98423]

it seems to me like eteri has been investing even more time in alina now because of her issues rather than ditching her like some people believe? staying with alina for an extra day before nationals, putting out that video of her trying the quad, and alina doing extra training with dudakov all show that they're putting in extra work with her. the only student eteri follows on ig is alina, it's pretty clear that they've gotten closer this season. probably because of all the drama.

i know everyone is freaking out because the results haven't been so good but alina's jump technique has gotten better. she twists her body way less to get her jumps around and uses her legs more, there's a huge difference if you watch last seasons competitions vs this season. her spins have gotten better as well. the coaching team seems pretty relaxed, daniil posted stories of them trying out curling in the middle of euros. it seems like the only people who are stressed out are the fans lol.