2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[plushyfan]

Nasta is currently best Plushenko skater, so even if she lose RusFed funding, I think on her training program it doesnt change anything. Plush have obviously access to money of some of his rich donors/friends in amount bigger than small, when he can afford to opening another outposts of his school in other russian cities, so expenses on Nasta are negligible matter in all of it.

The academy is succesful. The academy has more than a hundred pupils now. Their monthly fees are enough to support some poorer talented students or Nastya in such situation. And Plush is incredible wealthy himself he doesn't need rich donors..:yes: But if they want to support Nastya why not?

 

[Draculus]

Another thing to note:
Senior Nationals - Tarakanova's PCS 58
Junior Nationals: PCS 66.
I found her Senior Nationals Performance flawless, how can there be an 8(!!) Point difference?!?

Anastasia said that during Senior Nationals she "was not herself". Because her grandmother died on a day of her short program.
So from the point of skater during Seniors she skated worse.

 

[Jeanie19]

All in all, what an impressive event we had!

3A aside I was impressed by Anna Tarusina (as usual) and Ksenia Sinitsina. I never paid attention to Ksenia before but now I have changed my mind. Not only is she a powerful technician - her skating is far from what people name "juniorish". She already has Alina's set of jumps which means that technically she is already at the top, 3A and quad girls aside.

If she keeps cosistency, even without adding triple axel or quads she can dominate the junior circle during the "post 3A year".

:agree: Ksenia was my surprise from the event. I am looking forward to seeing her next season on Junior Grand Prix circuit.

 

[sx98423]

I’m actually wondering what’s preventing Alena from the triple axel and quads sooner than the other girls. Is t the rotations or the drawing strength for the height? Her execution and technique now is nearly flawless (+4 and +5s all around) and if anyone should even be ready to take on a next challenge because of their superb mastery or the other jumps at this point, I’d say it’s Alena. Also, I’m always extremely impressed at the nearly no travel on her spins. They’re so centered!!

i think this season started off kinda rough for her. i remember an interview where she pretty much said it was a difficult time. she looks like she's gone through puberty which must have affected her jumps and you could tell her spins got a lot slower at the beginning of the season. she probably made the decision to get all of her elements back to their previous quality instead of doing quads.

i think it's interesting that alina is going through similar issues with puberty but is trying out quads anyways. i guess the girls have a bigger say in how they train than some might think.

 

[VenusHalley]

i think this season started off kinda rough for her. i remember an interview where she pretty much said it was a difficult time. she looks like she's gone through puberty which must have affected her jumps and you could tell her spins got a lot slower at the beginning of the season. she probably made the decision to get all of her elements back to their previous quality instead of doing quads.

i think it's interesting that alina is going through similar issues with puberty but is trying out quads anyways. i guess the girls have a bigger say in how they train than some might think.

I think Alina's quads are more of PR thing. And if it is for real... well, it's not really working for her. I am glad Alëna goes for clean performances rather than for falling on quads.

 

[plushyfan]

I think Alina's quads are more of PR thing. And if it is for real... well, it's not really working for her. I am glad Alëna goes for clean performances rather than for falling on quads.

In next season she is planning to jump 3A because of their Japanese opponents. https://www.sovsport.ru/figure/news...e-planiruyu-vstavit-v-programmu-troynoy-aksel

 

[Fluture]

Where‘s Tina‘s medal? Come on, Eteri, you have two of them!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btb2XVrBfZW/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=if3va9e7xaol

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I want to argue. All FS Sasha built on the plot of the film. From the first movement to the final. All her movements in the program and even the first jump organically correspond to the plot and spirit of the film. Every time she skates in this program, I kind of re-watch the two-hour film compressed in 2 minutes. I would not call it a bad interpretation.

I certainly think her skating can be summed up in one scene from the movie

https://youtu.be/Uwzg7SYZKF0

Still....the program is really good and does a good job capturing the movie’s vibe. I think it’s one of the better programs too this season. This insta post helps show some of a few of the signature movements that are designed around the movie and the way Leeloo fights and moves IMO. I’ve watched it like 10 times now since Sasha took on this program but only (luckily) because it was randomly on TV a bunch

I also think it’s hilariously extra that she had her dress maker also make a dress of the character Diva for Tina.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Where‘s Tina‘s medal? Come on, Eteri, you have two of them!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btb2XVrBfZW/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=if3va9e7xaol

No one can resist Tina’s Charm. That last pic though of Tina on the podium and you can only see everyone’s skates

 

[Fool]

Where‘s Tina‘s medal? Come on, Eteri, you have two of them!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btb2XVrBfZW/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=if3va9e7xaol

I'm weak

 

[katymay]

that's it :thumbsup:
I like this one from twizzles to spin https://youtu.be/3O8v2lFfHK0?t=140
and the spin is very good
and next...
and next...

Much of what she does seems deceptively simple, and isn't.
We are living in a world where-viva la difference-men who adapt ladies skating moves are celebrated. And yet, with Trusova, we have a skater who has adapted more of a masculine skating style and the hate (on twitter, another site etc.) just pours out. No, she doesn't have the light, airy elegance or grace of Anna or Alyona, she does adapt a more masculine style. That doesn't mean she is any 'less', or at least it shouldn't in this new, allegedly gender free world. Right? I mean seems to me it is sort of a double standard. I am glad to see that the judges understand that her particular skating skills are not easy. (She does need to work on those spins though. lol)

 

[lusterfan]

These quads are amazing, congrats to Trusova! However, does anyone feel like quads give too much of an advantage? For example, Shcherbakova has 7 triples + 1 quad + 1 euler. Kostornaia has 7 triples + 2 doubles. I'm fine with quads, but shouldn't they replace a triple in a program rather be in addition to? Seems like the advantage is too much when you can just throw in an extra quad without giving up anything (you give up a double, but they're barely worth anything compared to a quad).

 

[tempo]

I think Trusova has some pretty difficult transitions. A few moves need work, and her spins could be better, but her skating skills (a more masculine style to be sure) are better than people think or give her credit for.

I believe that Sasha has a potential which isn't realized in her current programs. Just look at the footwork at the end of her old program:
_youtube.com/watch?v=H62su9jrgv4
I think it would be nice to add a piece of footwork for some of her new programs for the next season. But it would be dependent on the music style, of course.

 

[DSQ]

I guess that user meant Alysa.

Aah okay. Thank you!

 

[starlight97]

We all knew Sasha would come to kill today. Just goes to show that girls character. The result is really unsatisfying, but that's not sasha's fault.

It must be SO hurtful for Alena to know that even at absolute perfection she's still so easily beaten by those freaking 4s, even if Sasha is 10 points behind and skates the way she just naturally skates.
It's unsatisfying to watch as a fan but for her it must be incredibly discouraging.

 

[Scott512]

We all knew Sasha would come to kill today. Just goes to show that girls character. The result is really unsatisfying, but that's not sasha's fault.

It must be SO hurtful for Alena to know that even at absolute perfection she's still so easily beaten by those freaking 4s, even if Sasha is 10 points behind and skates the way she just naturally skates.
It's unsatisfying to watch as a fan but for her it must be incredibly discouraging.

Alena will be fine. She knows she will need to add 3a in the future No rush to do it now. Alenas skating will last. Results now wont mean much in 3 years.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Sasha‘s FS has a unique quality in the beginning but after the first jump it just begins to feel like a jumping fest because the interesting choreography was traded for jump after jump.

But look at how well they structure this particular section. They are portraying a part of the movie when Diva comes out and gives us a beautiful moment of opera singing. You see definitive movements from that scene throughout. Watch how well the program fits the swells and character of the vocals. It starts right after a Beillmann.

https://youtu.be/84IEJBesPXc?t=2m18s

I see some really cool nuances here myself. The character of Leeloo is easily visible in the build up to the 3z-3lo and right after but the jump itself breathes and flows with the vocals so well. After the 3z-3lo she makes her way across the ice they use her cantilever very cleverly matched with the opera swells right into a 3z-1eu-3s that again matches the musical highlights perfectly. Now the music begins to peak and she springs forward with a bit of a lunge and uses some very nice twizzles as an entrance into a spin. Watch the free leg into the spin and how it seemingly flows with the vocals and how it subsequently matches music and rotation. There is a subtle quality here but especially in those last two positions and the speed of them. I really like when the music quiets a bit and she raises her hand in a sit position all the way up until she stands and puts her hands out as the kettle drums sound. This whole section (2 jumps in combination and a spin) are really in tune with the feel of this one of the best scenes from the movie IMO.

I mean...this is the formula they use and it’s easy to see that her team uses her technical skills as a vehicle to achieve higher PCS. Maybe Sasha isn’t lyrical like Alena but I do find a subtle thought process behind her movements and in this program. I’d go as far to say there is a brilliance to it. The character of Leeloo is certainly given life as I see it. It may drive people nuts to see a skater using her athletic ability (jumps and spins) as a means of musical interpretation and overall setting the feel of their program but I certainly don’t think this is just a jumping fest and there is a lot of character and attention to detail.

Here is a link to the scene from 5th Element if anyone is interested.
https://youtu.be/0DrUi8I40aI

 

[katymay]

:agree: Ksenia was my surprise from the event. I am looking forward to seeing her next season on Junior Grand Prix circuit.

Really I would have had her above Anna today. The whole package. It is going to be hard to tune into 4CC after watching Russian Junior Nationals. (Except for Rika and Kaori).

 

[katymay]

These quads are amazing, congrats to Trusova! However, does anyone feel like quads give too much of an advantage? For example, Shcherbakova has 7 triples + 1 quad + 1 euler. Kostornaia has 7 triples + 2 doubles. I'm fine with quads, but shouldn't they replace a triple in a program rather be in addition to? Seems like the advantage is too much when you can just throw in an extra quad without giving up anything (you give up a double, but they're barely worth anything compared to a quad).

No, because each one is a HUGE risk. If Trusova had missed either one of them, she would have been off the podium, and probably off the JW team. Trusova goes for them, even when missing them means losing everything. Same with Anna-had she done that huge beautiful Russian Nationals 4L3T, she would have won today. Instead, she was lucky to get 3d. Also, Trusova served notice last year that-quads-were going to be a thing. Now there are skaters all over working on them, landing them etc. If skaters are not working on at least one (4S or 4T) that is on them. The next Olympics will, I think, have many women from Japan, Korea (young you) and the US attempting quads and 3A's. I don't think it will be possible to be in the top 6 without one or the other.

 

[sx98423]

These quads are amazing, congrats to Trusova! However, does anyone feel like quads give too much of an advantage? For example, Shcherbakova has 7 triples + 1 quad + 1 euler. Kostornaia has 7 triples + 2 doubles. I'm fine with quads, but shouldn't they replace a triple in a program rather be in addition to? Seems like the advantage is too much when you can just throw in an extra quad without giving up anything (you give up a double, but they're barely worth anything compared to a quad).

at the idea of someone just casually throwing in a quad when they feel like winning.

and well yes one of the advantages of doing quads is that you could do a program without any doubles apart from the 2A. idky a skater should be forced to take out a triple and put in a double just because they can do a quad.