2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Scott512]

My dream is to see 2020 World Champion: Alena Kostornaia. Given the other ladies' technical scores, this will most likely not happen - but I can dream

Honest to God the ISU needs to break up figure skating the way gymnastics has with rhythmic gymnastics and gymnastics. With Sasha scoring 250 this season and Alina 240 and Rika 230 with regularity it will make other outstanding figure skaters secondary pieces. And I think of Kostornaia most of all because her combination of skating skills interpretation artistry and musicality is better than every ladies figure skater out there. But sadly it won't matter because she won't be able to score in the 230s and above unless she adds a triple axel at some point. But that won't be this season.

It's pretty clear at this point Sasha and Alina are the top two Russians. The battle for the third spot this year will be epic. I am hoping Alena K can pull that off because she will be a nice complement to Sasha and Alina at Europeans and worlds. But I expect Zhenya and Liza to give Alena a real battle for the third spot.

Sadly I don't have much hope for the Russian ladies beyond the top six this season. Lovely Sofia had a breakthrough season last year weather amazing consistency. But it'll be hard to see her in the top five of the Russians this year. The competition is so deep and so good. Major respect to these ladies.

 

[Elucidus]

After seeing the protocols and full performance Sasha's TES makes more sense. 3 quads were quite shaky today and the loop was underrotated. GOE for 3 lutz could have been higher but that's pretty much it.

Could you please provide the link to protocols?

 

[SkateSkates]

Could you please provide the link to protocols?

https://vk.com/wall-97272391_192229

 

[flanker]

Let me note this. Alina came to Eteri at the age of 13. Now we see girls who at the age of 12/13 are training quads (Sasha, Kamila and Anna from 12), 3A (Sofia from 11) etc. But when Alina came to Eteri, her strongest elements were just 2A and 3S. Within just two years till OG she managed to master the hardest layout any lady skated till that time and now, one and half year later, in just her 17, she stands there as Kleopatra, delivering clean programs one after the other, for now (we will see later) with lower BV than those girls who started to train ultra-c elemets but still executed on so high level (regularly) that she stays among the best unquestionably, as a highest standard of technique and art. Her jumps are so high and so secure that my only concern is whether we will see her doing quads sooner or later

 

[readernick]

I watched, and Alina really skated well. 154 is a score that she could have gotten at any other competition with a generous judging panel. I feel that the other skaters' score is a bigger problem. Especially Rika, which was way too low. But let's hope this is not an indicative on how the ISU competitions will be scored. Still well done to the girls.

I think the scores were fine, too. Trusova was amazing but also messy. Alina's FS is not to my taste( love her SP) but she did well and was very clean. A 154 is generous but she is Olympic champion. . of course the judge are generous

Due to her injury Rika took out both of her lutzes which means she jumped one less triple than her layout last year and two less than her planned content this year. ( also no 4S due to said injury) . Even so, that score should have been at least 5-10 points higher. Her performance here was much better than at ACI.

 

[YuBluByMe]

Yeah, I thought the scores were fine. Even pleasantly surprised. Although I don’t like Alina’s free skate (love her dress, though), the difficulty of her programs are underestimated. She doesn’t have a quad or 3A, but a 3Lz+3Lo can outscore both. Her transitions are also second to none. I hope to see good things from her this year.

 

[dunffvanstorn]

Guys, both Alina and Sasha were amazing today. Alina for her interpretation and for having fun and enjoying herself during her program (I must say she looked SO beautiful, I’m impressed. I guess her face got thinner with age, I don’t know, but she looked amazing. Loved the costume too). Alina’s scores were as usual, I don’t see the point in complaining about her PCS compared to Sasha’s, who doesn’t have (opposite to what some posters were saying) the same skating skills and musicality as Alina.

Sasha was amazing for having landed those 4 quads. I was like “WOW” when I saw that, clean or not, it was amazing. Now, her TES could be a little bit higher, I agree, but her performance wasn’t the best, even with the quads. I guess it was kinda fair.

Let’s stop playing favorites here. If Sasha is your favorite, you should be happy because she won and because she landed 4 quads. 4 QUADS.

If Alina is your favorite, you should be happy for seeing her the happiest she’s ever been, looking gorgeous with that costume, and for having had an amazing program, no matter if she won or not.

 

[madison]

Let me note this. Alina came to Eteri at the age of 13. Now we see girls who at the age of 12/13 are training quads (Sasha, Kamila and Anna from 12), 3A (Sofia from 11) etc. But when Alina came to Eteri, her strongest elements were just 2A and 3S. Within just two years till OG she managed to master the hardest layout any lady skated till that time and now, one and half year later, in just her 17, she stands there as Kleopatra, delivering clean programs one after the other, for now (we will see later) with lower than those girls who started to train ultra-c elemets but still executed on so high level (regularly) that she stays among the best unquestionably, as a jighest standard of technique and art. Her jumps are so high and so secure that my only concern is whether we will see her doing quads sooner or later

No doubt that it is amazing what Alina is doing, her progress since 13, and staying in the field after she luckily won the Olympic Gold Medal, but still she should be scored accordingly with what she is doing on the ice. Does she really deserve 10s, I would say for sure no. Of course I understand that this was more a fun competition, where she was supposed to win (for publicity of the show and her sponsors), but still it was officially judged.

 

[zytolda]

No doubt that it is amazing what Alina is doing, her progress since 13, and staying in the field after she luckily won the Olympic Gold Medal, but still she should be scored accordingly with what she is doing on the ice. Does she really deserve 10s, I would say for sure no. Of course I understand that this was more a fun competition, where she was supposed to win (for publicity of the show and her sponsors), but still it was officially judged.

"Luckily won"?? She won fair. Luckily win for me is whwn skater from 5 place goes into 1 because 1-4 falls all the time

 

[Edwin]

Wow both Alina and Sasha were amazing today! I loved seeing both of their smiles at the end of their programs!! Did anyone else see Javi's reaction to that massive quad salchow in the background of the replay?! I wanted to see Nathan's reaction Both girls did amazing, regardless of the scores. Team Tutberidize is fighting for all of those world spots and as of right now, I would give them all three if I were the russian fed.

Well, to be honest, the girls overclassed the boys by a considerable margin. Haven't Alina and Aleksandra been in the best of shape and really going for it, Team Europe would have been last.

 

[Edwin]

No doubt that it is amazing what Alina is doing, her progress since 13, and staying in the field after she luckily won the Olympic Gold Medal, but still she should be scored accordingly with what she is doing on the ice. Does she really deserve 10s, I would say for sure no. Of course I understand that this was more a fun competition, where she was supposed to win (for publicity of the show and her sponsors), but still it was officially judged.

How did the judging of Japan Open compare to China Open? Both fun competitions with a lot of prize money to be won ...

 

[icybear]

The look of shock on Deniss's face when Sasha score came up. The score was 10 pts higher than his own pb.

 

[madison]

How did the judging of Japan Open compare to China Open? Both fun competitions with a lot of prize money to be won ...

Actually I didnt follow Shanghai Trophy as it was during the week days so I was busy, but I promise I will catch up with it.

 

[ruga]

How did the judging of Japan Open compare to China Open? Both fun competitions with a lot of prize money to be won ...

I'd say that Shanghai was a bit stricter, at least for ladies. But JO was a much higher level event. None of the girls at Shanghai Trophy got 60+ TES for free skate (Eunsoo Lim, who won the free skate, would have placed 6th at JO) and made many more mistakes, so it's difficult to compare. PCS wise both events were pretty normal, something you'd expect at an average competition.

 

[Edwin]

Would it be interesting if Aleksandra keeps this layout and tries to solidify/stabilise it to the best she and #TeamTutberidzeForProgress can do. She didn't fall, she didn't fail, she tried to keep herself together till the very end as best as she could. Of course, stamina, fatigue and concentration are required, and no matter how we think Aleksandra is sort of super human, she is not. She is an ordinary 15 year old enjoying her sport, hard working, but not infallible. With a quad quads layout she'll nigh be unbeatable, but the PCS will continue to suffer most likely, and it will only feed her h@ters in their crusade against athleticism in ladies figure skating or fuel their feuds against #TeamTutberidzeForProgress.

So what is Aleksandra to do, what should be decided for her, with her, over her?

 

[1111bm]

I don’t think that StSq has a requirement on ice coverage from what I rmb! That’s only for Choreo sequence.

https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/rules/sandp-handbooks-faq/17594-tp-handbook-singles-2018-19/file

page 3

General rules:
Step Sequences must fully utilize the ice surface.

Free skating rules:
A well balanced Free Skating program must contain one Step Sequence fully utilizing the ice surface.

 

[Edwin]

I'd say that Shanghai was a bit stricter, at least for ladies. But JO was a much higher level event. None of the girls at Shanghai Trophy got 60+ TES for free skate (Eunsoo Lim, who won the free skate, would have placed 6th at JO) and made many more mistakes, so it's difficult to compare. PCS wise both events were pretty normal, something you'd expect at an average competition.

So TES was objectively and accurately measured? Any judging panel that's worth its salt will certainly try to be as accurate as possible, not wanting to discredit itself. PCS are subjective without reason and without regard of the ISU rules.

Well, no use to cry over water flown under the bridge. Price money has been earned and that's probably the most important result of participating in these fun tournaments. Both competitions were very well attended, which proves there definitely is a market.

Off to Egna now, and hopefully next weekend some good coverage from Finland and Almaty are waiting for us.

 

[Tolstoj]

How did the judging of Japan Open compare to China Open? Both fun competitions with a lot of prize money to be won ...

I believe tho Shanghai Trophy is now an official ISU challenger event, while Japan Open isn't, though i don't doubt prizes were higher in Japan, they used to be big for both that and World Team Trophy.

I'd say that Shanghai was a bit stricter, at least for ladies. But JO was a much higher level event. None of the girls at Shanghai Trophy got 60+ TES for free skate (Eunsoo Lim, who won the free skate, would have placed 6th at JO) and made many more mistakes, so it's difficult to compare. PCS wise both events were pretty normal, something you'd expect at an average competition.

Yeah jet lag + early season event was a mix that brought a lot of mistakes from the ladies.

 

[Edwin]

Yeah jet lag + early season event was a mix that brought a lot of mistakes from the ladies.

Both Medvyedeva and Tursynbayeva weren't 100% healthy, Trusova and Zagitova were. Jet lag shouldn't be that much of a problem to experienced skaters like Medvyedeva. Competing 'unadapted' to the time difference in her case was more difficult, but she still managed quite well during actual competition. She'd best keep it easy in pre- and post-competition obligations other than training, because then it will hit you. But she's been in these kind of situations before and knows how to handle them.

 

[skatenewbie]

I believe tho Shanghai Trophy is now an official ISU challenger event, while Japan Open isn't, though i don't doubt prizes were higher in Japan, they used to be big for both that and World Team Trophy.



Yeah jet lag + early season event was a mix that brought a lot of mistakes from the ladies.

Shanghai Trophy is not a challenger