2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Spirals for Miles]

Now that the junior ladies short is over...

I wonder if Samodelkina can do two more events to try and qualify? I know there was a pair team last year that did 3 and only the best 2 counted. With her 6th place, I'm not sure she'd make it even if she won her next event, and it'd be really important for her to make junior nationals since she's JGP eligible next season (although... it didn't affect Valieva or Kromykh...).

 

[Scott512]

There is nothing sad about it. Its called comepetition and sport. And I wish some of you would finally understand that at the end all the counts is the result and only that.

Nyet to that!

Not everyone roots for only medalists and some of us enjoy the process of seeing skaters and their process of going from Juniors to seniors whether they make it to the top or not.

 

[Giltedge]

I have a couple of simple questions, please.

How many judges usually sit in the panel for these domestic pre-junior competitions (thinking of today's 1st stage Russia cup in Syrzan)? Is it always a full-strength panel?
What does nS signify, against a spin which otherwise looks fine, receiving its bv with positive goe?

 

[Edwin]

Now that the junior ladies short is over...

I wonder if Samodelkina can do two more events to try and qualify? I know there was a pair team last year that did 3 and only the best 2 counted. With her 6th place, I'm not sure she'd make it even if she won her next event, and it'd be really important for her to make junior nationals since she's JGP eligible next season (although... it didn't affect Valieva or Kromykh...).

There are FFKKR rules and FFKKR exceptions to these rules and FFKKR orders to bypass any rules ;-) In the end, it probably comes down to who they think is most fit, qualified and ready to perform the task assigned. Those skaters that objectively met the criteria and get displaced 'by orders from HQ', one can understand the frustration of their trainers.

Would be interesting to see where young senior Kseniya Tsibinova ends up in the final score.

 

[Jontor]

Whole post

I get what you are saying, and believe me, I too have compassion for Sotskova and it breaks my heart to see her skating like this. She got her GP spot because of the world standings and that ranking is designed to keep "older" skaters in the mix so they don't quit if they have a couple of bad competitions. That's good. And it works if you are skating for any other federation, but Russia has too many talented skaters waiting in the wings so unfortunately this system does not work in their favour. These other skaters don't even get 'B' events so they don't even have a chance to make the Seasons Best List or the World Standings. There is perhaps at least 10-15 Russian girls that would have loved to go to Nepela Trophy and most of them would probably have ended up on the podium, but they didn't even get the chance.

I have loved seeing Leonova all these years, she has been a part of the GP circus for 11 years! There has always been a place for her, but the last couple of seasons the competition in Ladies in Russia are steeper than ever so this year Leonova is out. It's sad, yes, and I will miss Leonova, but me getting sentimental about it doesn't help the sport.

 

[Edwin]

I have a couple of simple questions, please.

How many judges usually sit in the panel for these domestic pre-junior competitions (thinking of today's 1st stage Russia cup in Syrzan)? Is it always a full-strength panel?
What does nS signify, against a spin which otherwise looks fine, receiving its bv with positive goe?

Here are the junior protocols that indicate 7 judges: https://fsrussia.ru/results/1920/1etap/opMC__Scores.pdf

nS Нет базовой позиции 'волчок' means no proper position in the sit spin, i.e. 'pistolet' with the free leg fully stretched.

Here is a useful dictionary with Russian FS terms: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Терминология_фигурного_катания

 

[Spirals for Miles]

I have a couple of simple questions, please.

How many judges usually sit in the panel for these domestic pre-junior competitions (thinking of today's 1st stage Russia cup in Syrzan)? Is it always a full-strength panel?
What does nS signify, against a spin which otherwise looks fine, receiving its bv with positive goe?

nS I think means "no sit" - just a warning that they have too many positions and so one wasn't counted, I think (could definitely be wrong though!)

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Wishing good luck to Anna Frolova and Daria Usacheva this week on the jgp (I hope they’re not subbed out last minute!) Both have a pretty good shot at the podium. Frolova was the girl who, at the test skates, made several errors and then in the kiss and cry, the camera focused on her disappointed face for far too long, right?

 

[Good Vibes Only]

Hello!! I have been a fan of Figure Skating for many years and I have been reading this forum for many years too, but I have just now gotten the courage to get an account lol. I am a huge fan of the russian ladies and this being the most, if not one of the most, competitive seasons for them was one of the main reasons I made this account. I love team Tutberidize, Evgenia, Liza T, and Sofia S!

 

[Edwin]

Wishing good luck to Anna Frolova and Daria Usacheva this week on the jgp (I hope they’re not subbed out last minute!) Both have a pretty good shot at the podium. Frolova was the girl who, at the test skates, made several errors and then in the kiss and cry, the camera focused on her disappointed face for far too long, right?

Yes, but Anna IMO did the right thing, standing up and turning her back to the camera for a quick re-composure. She walked away a little later with her head held high.
It is probably part of the culture in Russian FS never to show tears of disappointment in the K&C, but showing these emotions of disappointment only makes her human, there is nothing wrong there.

Good to see she has got her two starts and a fair chance at the medals. Wether her total scores will be enough to qualify to JGPF? We'll have to wait till the final qualifier concludes, I'd guess no.
The ranking list has been updated: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2019/jgpsladies.htm

Will the cutoff remain at 26 like last year?
Korea's Li and Park are still in contention together with Russia's Sinitsyna and Usachyova. Lee can 'suffer' a Bronze, the other three need Silver at least.
And we will have a very exciting JGPF with one American, three Russian and two Korean skaters, before any tie break rules are applied.

 

[ruga]

So I was offline for more than a day (and that day had to be Sasha's record breaking skate), but I finally found time to watch it. Quad jumps are exceptionally effortless considering how rare and difficult they are. I loved her dress, much better than the SP one. Interpretation and timing still needs work. But even with lower PCS she should be able to win over almost everyone.

 

[[email protected]]

I get what you are saying, and believe me, I too have compassion for Sotskova and it breaks my heart to see her skating like this. She got her GP spot because of the world standings and that ranking is designed to keep "older" skaters in the mix so they don't quit if they have a couple of bad competitions. That's good. And it works if you are skating for any other federation, but Russia has too many talented skaters waiting in the wings so unfortunately this system does not work in their favour. These other skaters don't even get 'B' events so they don't even have a chance to make the Seasons Best List or the World Standings. There is perhaps at least 10-15 Russian girls that would have loved to go to Nepela Trophy and most of them would probably have ended up on the podium, but they didn't even get the chance.

I have loved seeing Leonova all these years, she has been a part of the GP circus for 11 years! There has always been a place for her, but the last couple of seasons the competition in Ladies in Russia are steeper than ever so this year Leonova is out. It's sad, yes, and I will miss Leonova, but me getting sentimental about it doesn't help the sport.

I fully agree with this. If figure skating was about the best to compete it would be a different thing. But especially this season quotas mean missed opportunities for many eager and capable skaters. In such a situation watching Sotskova's and Konstantinova's failures makes me displeased. It's clear that they earned their spots last season. It's clear that they will earn nothing this season. Moreover, getting 150-160 scores in the current field makes them both the laughing stock and the object of irritation in Russia. And I think they understand it and I expect resignation at some point this year. I guess that it will happen before the nationals for Maria. Stasya's situation depends on her GP stages. 2 more outings like Nepela and no one will ever take her seriously. Even with her Kolyada's like grit with regard to failures this might be too much to keep going on. If she somehow changes the skates or whatever she has to change and deliver 200+ scores during GP series she might hang around for a while.

Skipping GP is another thing: the organizers are not obliged to replace a Russian skater with another Russian skater. Then it means no sense not to go.

 

[SkateSkates]

Now that the junior ladies short is over...

I wonder if Samodelkina can do two more events to try and qualify? I know there was a pair team last year that did 3 and only the best 2 counted. With her 6th place, I'm not sure she'd make it even if she won her next event, and it'd be really important for her to make junior nationals since she's JGP eligible next season (although... it didn't affect Valieva or Kromykh...).

If she wins her 2nd event she still has a good chance to qualify for nationals! Skaters qualified last year with 3+4, so 6+1 would make it in if things shake out similarly. Only 7 spots were taken by JGP skaters this season (Valieva, Khromikh, Tarakanova, Usacheva, Sinitsina, Vasilieva, Frolova) so there are still 11 spots left to qualify for.

Also, the Cup Final and Elder Age nationals seem just as important as Jr Nationals for getting on the national team and making test skates, so she will have a chance at those events too.

 

[Giltedge]

Here are the junior protocols that indicate 7 judges: https://fsrussia.ru/results/1920/1etap/opMC__Scores.pdf

nS Нет базовой позиции 'волчок' means no proper position in the sit spin, i.e. 'pistolet' with the free leg fully stretched.

Here is a useful dictionary with Russian FS terms: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Терминология_фигурного_катания

nS I think means "no sit" - just a warning that they have too many positions and so one wasn't counted, I think (could definitely be wrong though!)

Thank you both

 

[Baron Vladimir]

What does nS signify, against a spin which otherwise looks fine, receiving its bv with positive goe?

It means that sit position (where buttocks are lower than the level of the skating knee) is not achieved for at least 3 revolutions.

 

[Jontor]

*UPDATED* Russian Ladies in the SB list after 9 (of 30) events

1 (new) - Alexandra Trusova 238.69 - CS Nepela Memorial
3 (2) - Kamila Valieva (J) 221.95 - JGP Chelyabinsk
4 (3) - Anna Shcherbakova 218.20 - CS Lombardia Trophy
5 (4) - Evgenia Medvedeva 217.43 - CS Autumn Classic
6 (5) - Elizaveta Tuktamysheva 214.38 - CS Lombardia Trophy
9 (7) - Ksenia Sinitsyna 204.25 - JGP Chelyabinsk
11 (9) - Viktoria Vasilieva 198.79 - JGP Chelyabinsk
13 (21) - Anastasia Tarakanova 194.74 - JGP Baltic Cup
15 (11) - Daria Usacheva (J) 194.40 - JGP Riga
18 (14) - Maiia Khromykh (J) 190.73 - JGP Riga
--------------------
26 (20) - Sofia Samodurova 179.65 - CS Lombardia Trophy
41 (new) - Stanislava Konstantinova 162.25 - CS Nepela Memorial
55 (new) - Maria Sotskova 155.25 - CS Nepela Memorial

Top 24 in the SB list, except (J), are guaranteed at least one spot at the senior GP next year
Last year, to be in the Top 24 in the Seasons Best List you had to score 196.34

Still to skate: Kanysheva, Frolova, Tarusina, Sakhanovich, Kostornaia, Zagitova
And those without GPs aka 'Gubanova's gang': Gubanova, Gulyakova, Nugumanova, Talalaykina and others...

 

[Payako]

Would be interesting to see where young senior Kseniya Tsibinova ends up in the final score.

Is she eligible for the challengers?

 

[lappo]

I get what you are saying, and believe me, I too have compassion for Sotskova and it breaks my heart to see her skating like this. She got her GP spot because of the world standings and that ranking is designed to keep "older" skaters in the mix so they don't quit if they have a couple of bad competitions. That's good. And it works if you are skating for any other federation, but Russia has too many talented skaters waiting in the wings so unfortunately this system does not work in their favour. These other skaters don't even get 'B' events so they don't even have a chance to make the Seasons Best List or the World Standings. There is perhaps at least 10-15 Russian girls that would have loved to go to Nepela Trophy and most of them would probably have ended up on the podium, but they didn't even get the chance.

I have loved seeing Leonova all these years, she has been a part of the GP circus for 11 years! There has always been a place for her, but the last couple of seasons the competition in Ladies in Russia are steeper than ever so this year Leonova is out. It's sad, yes, and I will miss Leonova, but me getting sentimental about it doesn't help the sport.

But then, the Russian Federation could have sent two of them to ACI (along with Medvedeva), three at Nebelhorn (no Russian ladies there yet) and three at the International US this week (again, no Russian ladies there) and still be able to send Maria and Stasya at Nepala. I don't know why, but it seems to me that they prefer to assess the "less competitive" (less competive in the sense that they are no Sasha Trusova) at their own events such as Russian cup.

 

[MalAssada]

I think RusFed's motivation to keep the less talented skaters in Russia has a lot to do with the money required to send skaters abroad. I am unsure how much the fed actually pays (flights, accomodation, etc) but it is bound to get expensive when it comes to travelling overseas. So I understand why no Russian women were sent to International US, and only Medvedeva went to ACI. Gotta admit I'm scratching my head regarding no entries at Nebelhorn, though, it is reasonably close to Russia.

 

[Jontor]

Skipping GP is another thing: the organizers are not obliged to replace a Russian skater with another Russian skater. Then it means no sense not to go.

In case of a WD, do they not follow the SB list? In that case, next in line are Sakhanovich, Tarusina and Gubanova...