- Joined
- Jul 3, 2018
If by Lilbet you mean Tursunbayeva, she represents Kazakhstan, not Russia, so she won't be thrown into the Russian ladies mix for qualification.
We were talking about GPF qualifications
If by Lilbet you mean Tursunbayeva, she represents Kazakhstan, not Russia, so she won't be thrown into the Russian ladies mix for qualification.
We were talking about GPF qualifications
It was a solemn anniversary of Mishin, if I am not mistaken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0IGMcV86U
She is still not doing Bielman.... back issues tend to be chronic....
The question is how far it will go - we haven't actually seen a clean Alina against a quad routine yet, and hopefully we will get to see this comparison next year.
We actually just did see that at worlds and Alina was way ahead of Elizabeth with one quad.
Alyona ZHILINA [8] - 2A+Eu+3S, practice (05/2019)
https://youtu.be/46tCqvZFdxc
The problem with Alina not being with other top Russian ladies is that this year there's just so many top Russian ladies (I'd count the 3A, Alina, Zhenya, and Liza as top). Alina will for sure be at Rostelecom, but I feel like they won't put Sasha there just to protect Alina. I think Anna might actually be there choice because she's the national champion, but at the same time they probably could still PCS a clean Alina to a win assuming Anna doesn't up her layout by a crazy amount (which is still completely possible).
What makes us think they are going to protect Alina against the 3A? Having four skaters from the same training school be successful in the same season is probably more of a concern for them than protecting her honestly. That result would affect the whole of Russian skating and I can guarantee some bitter reactions should that be the result. In the past they have made obvious efforts to support other training schools to save face and I don’t doubt they will continue to do so. But we will have to wait and see, it’s something we haven’t been lucky enough to have to deal with as of yet.
What makes us think they are going to protect Alina against the 3A? Having four skaters from the same training school be successful in the same season is probably more of a concern for them than protecting her honestly. That result would affect the whole of Russian skating and I can guarantee some bitter reactions should that be the result. In the past they have made obvious efforts to support other training schools to save face and I don’t doubt they will continue to do so. But we will have to wait and see, it’s something we haven’t been lucky enough to have to deal with as of yet.
What makes us think they are going to protect Alina against the 3A? Having four skaters from the same training school be successful in the same season is probably more of a concern for them than protecting her honestly. That result would affect the whole of Russian skating and I can guarantee some bitter reactions should that be the result. In the past they have made obvious efforts to support other training schools to save face and I don’t doubt they will continue to do so. But we will have to wait and see, it’s something we haven’t been lucky enough to have to deal with as of yet.
We also have to remember Alina was in the lead after the short program at Russian Nationals then bombef the free skate and that carried over in my opinion to Europeans a couple weeks later where she bombed the free skate there after leading after the short program. Then she had a few weeks off to regroup and train and really prepare for worlds and it worked out fine. The Russian Federation doesn't have to protect her at all. But I think they will give her Grand Prix assignments she will be happy with.
well, at Russian nationals she gotten positive GOE for a choreo where she dropped her leg and almost fell and was throughly doused in PCS in the free. If this was not done, she'd may end up even lower and out of the European team.
So they were at least willing to give her a chance.
If your assessment is correct and i think it is then Alina has earned it.While Team ET clearly showed they will give equal opportunities to all skaters, that is indeed not the case of Rusfed.
Rusfed is obviously biased towards certain skaters and teams (CSKA, Konstantinova), and will prop them at least internally, even if that means leaving out potentially stronger skaters.
BUT.
Even last year, despite a number of ambiguous declaration by russian FS coaching and skating elite, Alina was somewhat protected (they gave her Rostelecom and propped her at Rusnats).
My guess here is that Rusfed will keep protecting Alina, at least during the GP.
I would not be surprised if they sacrifice one or two of 3A to (1) protect Alina and (2) to ensure one of the Worlds/Euros spots go to CSKA or, if thats not the case, to Mishin.
What makes us think they are going to protect Alina against the 3A?
What? Who would have been off euro team? Alina? Not last year because she was OGM and cream of the crop. This year? Maybe. It depends on a lot of things.