2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[DougDorsey]

Tuktamysheva is more slavic (russian) than tatar, comparing her with Zagitova, there is too much difference, since she is more tatar than Russian; instead, other girls like Shcherbakova are more balanced (50/50) russian-tatar.

How do you know Anna is half Tatar? Just curious.

Also, what's Sofia's ethnicity? She has a distinctive look. (And such elegance...https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFi77MhNcc.)

 

[hippomoomin]

Sofia and Liza are both the sassy league. Sofia looked somewhat midwestern too, and a very mature look for her age.

How do you know Anna is half Tatar? Just curious.

Also, what's Sofia's ethnicity? She has a distinctive look. (And such elegance...https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFi77MhNcc.)

 

[solani]

I'd love to see less transitions too. I am not even sure they helped her scores this season. Now Alina is much taller, so could try some minimalist modern style as Kostner. The crazy amount of transitions are more demanding for skaters with longer arms and legs.

I totally agree. I've already written this in another thread, but I'll do it again here - I don't think that Alina's jump technique is the real problem at this point in her career, this overstuffed FS, this crazy choreography is the real problem. Her team should recognize that. It's almost as if they want to see her fail, it's mindblowing. She's knee pain, she's grown a lot, she's been extremely busy in the last years and she's still doing quite well.
Mishin skater's choreographies have been critizised a lot in this forum, but he knows how to make a skater feel confident about his/her skating. A skater has to be able to handle the program under pressure. Alina's not able to do that. A couple of breathing points, a few additional crossovers here and there and I think she would actually be able to rotate her jumps. And the choreography isn't even very good. I want to see her glide, take her time, feel beautiful on the ice.
Alina, as reigning Olympic champ would get the PCS no matter what, so I would go as far as call the current approach stupid.
And, I must say, I think that Averbukh always gave Evgenia a real chance to be able to cope with the choreography. She never seemed overwhelmned by it.
So, my rant is over. I'm not a big fan of Alina, but I don't like to see her struggle like that.
I think that Eteri is a good coach, but she doesn't seem to be able to adapt her strategy to the needs of a growing and aging skater like Alina. She should try it imo, I think that Alina could have a lasting career.

 

[j00mla]

How do you know Anna is half Tatar? Just curious.

Also, what's Sofia's ethnicity? She has a distinctive look. (And such elegance...https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFi77MhNcc.)

Me neither. Never heard anything about it.
Sofia, as they say, has Jewish roots, but in fact there is no information about her parents. It's probably just rumors arising from her SP of last season.

Speaking of intermingling of peoples, it should be noted that in Russia it began several centuries earlier than in U.S. And because of the WWII, many people were orphaned, lost information about their parents, and received fictitious names.

 

[DougDorsey]

Me neither. Never heard anything about it.
Sofia, as they say, has Jewish roots, but in fact there is no information about her parents.

As who says? Not sure what that means.

 

[DougDorsey]

Sofia, as they say, has Jewish roots, but in fact there is no information about her parents.

It looks like she was born in Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, a city that's closer to Mongolia and Kazakhstan than it is to Moscow and St. Petersburg. So maybe she has some central Asian blood?

 

[j00mla]

It looks like she was born in Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, a city that's closer to Mongolia and Kazakhstan than it is to Moscow and St. Petersburg. So maybe she has some central Asian blood?

In Siberia there are most nations that you can find in Russia, and in Krasnoyarsk region http://worldgeo.ru/russia/lists/?id=33&code=24
percentage of total population is 89% for Russians, 2,31% for Ukranians, 1.50% for Tatars, 1.24% for Germans... aboriginal nations are at 11th "place" and down, and they are closer to Aleuts and Eskimos than to people of central Asia.

As who says? Not sure what that means.

some people, who are not close to Sofia, just guys from Internet like you and me (remember? "Money, so they say Is the root of all evil today"...)

 

[Tolstoj]

So, next to Rika Kihira, is Alysa Liu now the biggest longer-term threat to Sasha, Anna, Alena, and Kamila? This is really good, and I'm an American who feels like he hasn't been able to say that for a U.S. skater in some time...

https://youtu.be/eaL9BBe9LIc

Sure, there are areas of her presentation that can use some polish, but keep in mind that she's younger than all but Kamila.

BTW, watching 3As from Rika, Liza, and now Alysa makes me really appreciate how amazing Alena's 3A is in the rare moments that we've seen it. I really hope it becomes a regular part of her programs. Sure, her body is changing, but if Liza can do it, why not Alena? Throwing in Mirai, too, I'm curious how folks would rank their 3As, along with any other contemporary ladies skaters I'm forgetting.

I hope they work a little more on the elevation of Alysa's jumps cause some of them are UR or borderline UR and because these are national competitions judges are usually generous with the calls, but she could be dinged a little in JGP if she doesn't fix it.

And just like Eteri's girls we have to ask the same question: she jumps amazingly well now, but we have to see when puberty hits, if she can find a way to keep the technique. She should be fine with that this Olympic cycle.

Beyond that great talent, she will probably be the best skater in US for years to come, and a podium contender.

 

[Lechat]

I totally agree. I've already written this in another thread, but I'll do it again here - I don't think that Alina's jump technique is the real problem at this point in her career, this overstuffed FS, this crazy choreography is the real problem. Her team should recognize that. It's almost as if they want to see her fail, it's mindblowing. She's knee pain, she's grown a lot, she's been extremely busy in the last years and she's still doing quite well.
Mishin skater's choreographies have been critizised a lot in this forum, but he knows how to make a skater feel confident about his/her skating. A skater has to be able to handle the program under pressure. Alina's not able to do that. A couple of breathing points, a few additional crossovers here and there and I think she would actually be able to rotate her jumps. And the choreography isn't even very good. I want to see her glide, take her time, feel beautiful on the ice.
Alina, as reigning Olympic champ would get the PCS no matter what, so I would go as far as call the current approach stupid.
And, I must say, I think that Averbukh always gave Evgenia a real chance to be able to cope with the choreography. She never seemed overwhelmned by it.
So, my rant is over. I'm not a big fan of Alina, but I don't like to see her struggle like that.
I think that Eteri is a good coach, but she doesn't seem to be able to adapt her strategy to the needs of a growing and aging skater like Alina. She should try it imo, I think that Alina could have a lasting career.

I agree Alina’s technic is good, she was doing well during her training with dudakov before the short and they don’t have to ask her to jump so many times just before the free.

 

[madison]

I ve just read that the decision of the World team will be made based on Europeans and Russian Cup. Does it mean that even Alina is in danger to lose her spot?

 

[Lechat]

Just a few words for Sofia. I read that she was feeling a little unconfortable for beating the olympic champion like Alina was when she beat the two time world champion. I like this girl, she’s a sweety and I hope she will also medal in Japan.

 

[Lechat]

I ve just read that the decision of the World team will be made based on Europeans and Russian Cup. Does it mean that even Alina is in danger to lose her spot?

I don’t think so. I can’t see who could replace her and she will go to Japan with Masaru.

 

[DenissVFan]

Just a few words for Sofia. I read that she was feeling a little unconfortable for beating the olympic champion like Alina was when she beat the two time world champion. I like this girl, she’s a sweety and I hope she will also medal in Japan.

Poor Sofia, she always has mixed feelings about beating someone or qualifying for an event over someone else (Evgenia, Liza, Alina).

 

[Vandevska]

Isn't this beautiful?

https://imgur.com/M28UfhM

 

[fabienne1996]

I don’t think so. I can’t see who could replace her and she will go to Japan with Masaru.

At this moment no her place is not safe rusfed already made a statement that the decison will be made after the cup of russia. They will decide based on that and euros so yes it could be that the do decide against alina.

 

[madison]

At this moment no her place is not safe rusfed already made a statement that the decison will be made after the cup of russia. They will decide based on that and euros so yes it could be that the do decide against alina.

Does it mean that Alina, Sonya, Stasya, Evgenia and Liza will skate at the Cup of Russia?

 

[Scott512]

She just won US Nationals. Some would say that means she is the best American lady.

P.S. I have my reservations about this.

it looks like the Russian girls will have a rival in Alysa. But wat a blow to Bradie and Mariah to lose nationals to her.b

So much pressure on Alysa now. How tall is she? She looks really small like even smaller than Alena. I have noticed the best young skaters are really small like under 5ft like Alysa and 3a and Rika is barely 5 feet tall. the smaller and lighter you are the better chance you have to pull off quadruple jumps and triple axels. Puberty will be very important to these briiliant girls.

Someone mentioned that they think Zagitova should do less transitions in the future because she has grown a couple inches since the Olympics and I agree with that idea. I am hoping her coaches have thought of that too they need to simplify the process for her especially in the long program. They have to do something to ease the transition for her because Alina was scoring in the two twenties and 230's up until the GPF. Right now I see her it's a mental game with her in the free skate And once it's a mental game it's hard to beat that.

 

[fabienne1996]

Does it mean that Alina, Sonya, Stasya, Evgenia and Liza will skate at the Cup of Russia?

I dont think so i think it will be zhenya and liza who will skate there. I think sofia will get a place since she won euros and is consistent. If liza has her 3a back and lands it consistently she has a good chanse. I dont think stasya has a good chance so i think third spot will be decided beween alina and zhenya or if liza will not skate well and zhenya does it could be alina,sofia And zhenya. We will have to wait and see

 

[madison]

I dont think so i think it will be zhenya and liza who will skate there. I think sofia will get a place since she won euros and is consistent. If liza has her 3a back and lands it consistently she has a good chanse. I dont think stasya has a good chance so i think third spot will be decided beween alina and zhenya or if liza will not skate well and zhenya does it could be alina,sofia And zhenya. We will have to wait and see

You mean stasya has a better chance than Alina? How come? She finished behind her at the Euros.
I suppose the best team is Sonya (consistent, she can back the other 2 if they bomb and help to keep the three spots), Alina (if clean, she has huge score potential), and Liza (if she gets back the 3 axel can compete for the podium). But i doubt they will go with 2 Mishin's girls, plus Stasya is their fave.

 

[fabienne1996]

You mean stasya has a better chance than Alina? How come? She finished behind her at the Euros.
I suppose the best team is Sonya (consistent, she can back the other 2 if they bomb and help to keep the three spots), Alina (if clean, she has huge score potential), and Liza (if she gets back the 3 axel can compete for the podium). But i doubt they will go with 2 Mishin's girls, plus Stasya is their fave.

I said i dont think stasya has a good chance if at all.