2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Seren]

The great thing about the test skates is that there are things to love about all the ladies. I was equally impressed with Alina and Evgenia’s maturity as I was with the technical mastery of the younger girls. It’s going to be an exciting year. Although there is going to be a lot of heartbreak, I hope everyone has performances they can be happy with.

 

[Azikin]

They should ban banning videos. :angry1:

 

[ruga]

It's strange that the videos are being removed from YouTube. Even videos from Worlds dont go out so fast. And that the ones at 1tv are geoblocked. You could find junior skates easily but now one has to search for senior ones everywhere.

 

[colormyworld240]

Anna seems to have a very good head on her shoulders. And very mature. Every interview she's given, this one and those on the JGPs, she gives very even-headed assessments on what she did well and her limitations. She's not afraid to compliment herself but also acknowledges her weaknesses and talks about the improvements, next steps, and goals that she's laid out. When she doesn't do well she doesn't seem to be so hard on herself, pinpointing the errors and committing to working on it more. She also seems genuinely happy for the process -the little steps, like saying she was happy to be at her first international competition last year, to looking forward to her first senior season this year- as opposed to just looking at worlds/olympics that is the be all end all for many skaters. Very mature for her age and seems to have the mindset of a champion, I hope that translates to results this season and the ones to come.

 

[LenaRadiFan]

Also has anyone noticed how both Sasha and Anya both have grown taller? I was almost a little shocked when I saw them [emoji23][emoji87]

 

[Edwin]

It's strange that the videos are being removed from YouTube. Even videos from Worlds dont go out so fast. And that the ones at 1tv are geoblocked. You could find junior skates easily but now one has to search for senior ones everywhere.

Movie soundtrack, those are the problem. And greedy US entertainment industry. YouTube is their slave.
If the skaters’ federations have paid the royalties needed for public performances?

Even ISU event streams get struck down the moment they’ve concluded and might never be reuploaded in whole again.

But that’s perhaps because the rink plays hits during breaks?

My plan from now on is to record every live stream live and keep them until my interest in the event has waned.

 

[flanker]

Anyone have bootleg videos of the test skates? One's I've seen uploaded are already blocked.

Here:
https://www.1tv.ru/sport/predsezonn...trolnye-prokaty-po-figurnomu-kataniyu-2019-20
But may require VPN.

 

[Grin]

Anna
https://ok.ru/video/1627860503215

Alena
https://ok.ru/video/1627860765359

Alina
https://ok.ru/video/1627859061423

Sasha
https://ok.ru/video/1627860961967

Evgenia
https://ok.ru/video/1627858864815

 

[Edwin]

I adore the costume to be honest.
But yeah, I think this theme needs some red vibe in the dress due to the character of the story and the movie poster.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/66/13/bc/6613bc3f527abc54bf7ce9ebd24c6a00.jpg

Anyway, if she skates clean (the slightest error will spoil it all, imo) and the audience get involved into the performance while not clapping too much, it may become feast for the soul.

Any non committed audience won’t even know what image Anna is portraying and will remain silent, grab some popcorn or pick up their smartphones. No clapping along.

Anna has watched the movie, listened to the music cut prepared for her, discussed it and agreed to it. She likes it and enjoys performing her routine. This clearly shows.

Aleksandra’s on the other hand, first part I found quite good in getting the spectators interest, however that second part is made for clapping along, but not for like two minutes and only as a concluding performance. So crowd reaction is not guaranteed. Applause dying away because the spectators get bored or their hand getting sore or tired sort of spoils the effect, IMO

Experts will appreciate Anna’s choreo over Aleksandra’s I think. I like them both, but I find I am turning into a Khrustalian ;-)

 

[nussnacker]

Just sharing this moment
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Hl1bxBe-J/

 

[neud]

the leg-grabbing (2-3 times shortly one after another) ruined a little bit the overall composition for me.

It's called "spirals". The second one, for example, is a Kerrigan spiral.

 

[Mathman]

Movie soundtrack, those are the problem. And greedy US entertainment industry. YouTube is their slave.

If the skaters’ federations have paid the royalties needed for public performances?

The solution is to skate to classical music that is in the public domain. :yes:

 

[el henry]

It's called "spirals". The second one, for example, is a Kerrigan spiral.

Nancy Kerrigan performing a Kerrigan spiral, held for at least seven full (possibly eight?) seconds, at the Albertville Olympics

https://youtu.be/HPI3RUcA9Rc?t=62

Holding your leg in the air for a fraction of that time is not a Kerrigan spiral. Skating one fourth to one half the rink holding your leg is a Kerrigan spiral.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Nancy Kerrigan performing a Kerrigan spiral, held for at least seven full (possibly eight?) seconds, at the Albertville Olympics

https://youtu.be/HPI3RUcA9Rc?t=62

Holding your leg in the air for a fraction of that time is not a Kerrigan spiral. Skating one fourth to one half the rink holding your leg is a Kerrigan spiral.

The good old days where everyone had to do them and hold them out for extended periods of time for better or for worse.

 

[lusterfan]

Finally had a chance to watch the test skates, and all I can say is that I can't wait for this season to start!

People love to harp on how all of Eteri's skaters are identical and have no individuality, but 3A begs to differ.

Sasha was fierce and determined. She displayed so many difficult elements with ease and had a face full of tenacity and hunger to battle.

Alyona was regal and poised. Skating to the same program gives her the chance to perfect her already mastered art, with graceful flow throughout.

The pleasant surprise for me was Anna. Her SP last year was light, delicate, and pretty. Her program this year is the complete opposite with a cold and chilling atmosphere. She was absolutely alluring in her portrayal!

3A aside, I think everyone did their job in showing their progress thus far.

I loved this slower and more solemn program for Alina. Her recent programs have all been jammed packed with action -- this program displays her emotional subtlety better. Nice to see something different work well for her.

Evgenia's program just works for her. The emotional build up, the slow glides, the use of her facial expressions and arms to carry the portrayal. Match made in heaven for her!

Liza's triple axel looked so solid, but I can't help but feel unsatisfied from the program itself. As great as her facial expressions and hand choreography are, they do not mask the lacking program that she has.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

Yes. Her new short was supposed to be a Twilight program and her free was going to be No One Ever Called Me That from Third Person, but then they changed the free to Twilight and kept the old SP.

From what I remember it seemed like a lot of people were upset when this happened. Was that because they liked her new Free so much and didn’t want her to get rid of it, or they didn’t want the Twilight program to be the free program? Or did they did not want her to repeat the angel program?

It does seem like people think Alyona was outperformed by Anna and Sasha today even though all 3 were clean. I wonder if her keeping her old short has something to do with this.

 

[el henry]

The good old days where everyone had to do them and hold them out for extended periods of time for better or for worse.

I will admit that I am old enough to value the good old days. My opinion of spirals is in my current tagline, but this is not the appropriate thread.

Since one of the girls today was described as performing a Kerrigan spiral, I simply posted to offer the visual of the original Kerrigan spiral. That is all.

 

[qwerty1195]

The amount of musicality Anna Scherbakova has is insane.

 

[neud]

Nancy Kerrigan performing a Kerrigan spiral, held for at least seven full (possibly eight?) seconds, at the Albertville Olympics

Eight? Back then people could afford such a long vacations.

 

[lusterfan]

Eight? Back then people could afford such a long vacations.

Haha nowadays skaters like Alina could fit 10 ina bauers in that time.

Kidding, but oh how the times have changed!