2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Yuna Luna]

She was already great, but did anyone else think that Aliona’s musicality and performance has improved? I thought it was amazing today. She’s always been a very beautiful skater, but I’ve never seen her as expressive as that! Or so attentive to the music! It’s clear how much she loves this program.

 

[Supernovaimplosion]

Sasha knows about it though, she’s told all the time, she just loves her jumps. And to the very least Sasha rarely loses levels on her spins and stsq, and has a lot of cool transitions, her cantilever is one of the many amazing things she does.
I think Sasha’s SS are quite decent actually, she’s just a little more muscular and moves differently imo. Aliona’s are really good, I’d say exceptional for her age, and thus a lot of skaters might look pale in comparison, but I often feel like people harp on Alexandra on PCS where in fact she delivers quite a lot in her programs aside from her jumps.
She’ll work on those things more as she will grow, I’m sure.

I actually think Sasha's problem is GOE. I agree she has decent presentation and skills but the judges seem unwilling to give her a lot of GOE for her jumps. I'm not sure what can be done to rectify that though.

 

[katymay]

This is so sad to read. I know Serafima is just being real, and it is reality that their ladies field is just too damn deep. Still kinda sad to read this "sense of pointlessness" for some of these young skaters, who may never get to go to Worlds at all in their career.

It is very sad. If she were in another country she would be one of the top skaters.

 

[moriel]

I actually think Sasha's problem is GOE. I agree she has decent presentation and skills but the judges seem unwilling to give her a lot of GOE for her jumps. I'm not sure what can be done to rectify that though.

Considering that most of her jumps deserve good GOE, i suppose just keep jumping well with difficult transitions in and out.

 

[Seruleane]

She was already great, but did anyone else think that Aliona’s musicality and performance has improved? I thought it was amazing today. She’s always been a very beautiful skater, but I’ve never seen her as expressive as that! Or so attentive to the music! It’s clear how much she loves this program.

I do agree with this. I had previously criticized her for skating to the same type of lyrical programs such that it didn't matter what music you played in the background. However, I love seeing this new side to her, and she definitely sells the program well. I still think Anna is the most expressive and musical of the Eteri ladies though.

 

[Globetrotter]

Sasha knows about it though, she’s told all the time, she just loves her jumps. And to the very least Sasha rarely loses levels on her spins and stsq, and has a lot of cool transitions, her cantilever is one of the many amazing things she does.
I think Sasha’s SS are quite decent actually, she’s just a little more muscular and moves differently imo. Aliona’s are really good, I’d say exceptional for her age, and thus a lot of skaters might look pale in comparison, but I often feel like people harp on Alexandra on PCS where in fact she delivers quite a lot in her programs aside from her jumps.
She’ll work on those things more as she will grow, I’m sure.

Actually, Sasha and Liza Tuks have different components to focus. Sasha has decent SS and like all Eteri girls, more than good TR. Where she needs to work on is emoting and interpreting the choreography she is given. She is not a natural performer like Zhenya or Anna and lacks Alyona’s refinement but give her time. After all, Yuna and Caro were both awkward and clunky in their younger versions. Liza Tuks has no prob with performance and interpretive skills but alas, her basic SS is..... still mediocre. That’s where she needs to work on.

 

[Scott512]

LOL, that's a Rodina video, so there will very probably be some veiled insults or whatever in her later live stream, which is already posted on her channel. She has her own audience and only desperate skaters approach her, those with more sense most likely stay well away from her ....

I know Kostornia used to like or follow Rodina but I hope that is changed and certainly hope Alyiona never does an interview with this woman who will just try to get her to say something she doesn't want to say.

I've figured out. Still, I can't avoid comparison with e.g. Alina-Sasha interraction at JO with this. I know there is difference being from one team and from one team Europe on one side and not being one team on the other, yet some more respect towards the winner would suit the older competitors.

What you wish for from the older competitors would be nice but it's not human nature.

This is so sad to read. I know Serafima is just being real, and it is reality that their ladies field is just too damn deep. Still kinda sad to read this "sense of pointlessness" for some of these young skaters, who may never get to go to Worlds at all in their career.

Very sad to read that. But she wasn't at Russian Nationals last year and it sounds like SS doesn't even want to be there this year and she's not the greatest competitor let's be honest. Her good friend Evgenia would be very disappointed in Serafimas words


Russian Nationals is one of the biggest events of the years for the ladies. It's now a major event.

 

[Globetrotter]

I actually think Sasha's problem is GOE. I agree she has decent presentation and skills but the judges seem unwilling to give her a lot of GOE for her jumps. I'm not sure what can be done to rectify that though.

Work on the toe pick technique I guess. It can be done. As others have described, Sasha is not naturally as musical as Anna and Alyona, so she jumps as she has been told by her choreo but without the finesse of her team mates. Judges and spectators can intuitively notice such things, so it adds up. She will get better with maturity. Even Mao Asada as a young girl skated through her music until she came back older, wiser and more artistic with maturity.

 

[cell]

And yet they seem totally fine here

https://youtu.be/t6UbMqLiI-M

 

[colormyworld240]

I think from what we've seen so far, Sasha, Alena (if she puts the 3A in her SP), Anna, and Liza are likely to make the ladies' GPF.

Alina has a more difficult road ahead now that Alena has 3As, just as high GOEs, and her PCS is almost almost there. She goes against Alena twice and Rika once, so it depends on how close it gets. Evgenia has a similar road but if Sasha makes mistakes, she can beat her as Sasha doesn't have the PCS unlike Alena. Anna and Liza are set to go 1-2 at both their GPS, which would be enough for the final.

 

[Seruleane]

I think from what we've seen so far, Sasha, Alena (if she puts the 3A in her SP), Anna, and Liza are likely to make the ladies' GPF.

Alina has a more difficult road ahead now that Alena has 3As, just as high GOEs, and her PCS is almost almost there. She goes against Alena twice and Rika once, so it depends on how close it gets. Evgenia has a similar road but if Sasha makes mistakes, she can beat her as Sasha doesn't have the PCS unlike Alena. Anna and Liza are set to go 1-2 at both their GPS, which would be enough for the final.

I think your assessment is correct. Could Alina still get into GPF with 2 second places? I guess it depends on how the other ladies do.

 

[composer]

I think your assessment is correct. Could Alina still get into GPF with 2 second places? I guess it depends on how the other ladies do.

I think the only way it doesn’t happen is if the skaters other than her go 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-3 (with her taking the 2-2). Also possible if the skaters go 1-1, 1-1, 1-3, 1-3, 2-2, 2-2 with the 2-2 being decided on tiebreakers.

In other words Alina will most likely make the GPF especially given her current PCS cushion and possible quad to come.

I think the quad is possible given that we now know Team Tutberidze doesn’t publicize every technical leap made by their skaters. Also Alina’s current layout doesn’t backload her combos when we know she can handle the backloading, so clearly something is up there.

 

[skatergurl7]

I think the only way it doesn’t happen is if the skaters other than her go 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-3 (with her taking the 2-2). Also possible if the skaters go 1-1, 1-1, 1-3, 1-3, 2-2, 2-2 with the 2-2 being decided on tiebreakers.

In other words Alina will most likely make the GPF especially given her current PCS cushion and possible quad to come.

I think the quad is possible given that we now know Team Tutberidze doesn’t publicize every technical leap made by their skaters. Also Alina’s current layout doesn’t backload her combos when we know she can handle the backloading, so clearly something is up there.

I hope so! Alina’s free this year seems suspiciously empty and technically easier than usual... wouldn’t be surprised if she adds something in this season. Just a matter of when.

 

[Orlov]

I have the right to place a link to highlights from award ceremony.

 

[Mathman]

I have the right to place a link to highlights from award ceremony.

This thread is so childish and ridiculous. Do we have any skating-related topics to talk about?

 

[Orlov]

This thread is so childish and ridiculous. Do we have any skating-related topics to talk about?

Do you consider sports ethics as a "childish" theme?

 

[ec00834]

This thread is so childish and ridiculous. Do we have any skating-related topics to talk about?

The person being childish is Liza. Being unhappy with her scores/the judges isn't going to fix the obvious problems she needs to work on if she wants to win.

 

[colormyworld240]

I think your assessment is correct. Could Alina still get into GPF with 2 second places? I guess it depends on how the other ladies do.

Likely. It means that in NHK she'd have to beat one of Alena or Rika. I think if she only gets bronze, then it's hard to get into GPF with a silver and bronze, depending on how everyone else does. Of course this only accounts for the biggest competitors based on the performances we've seen so far this season. There are tons of dark horses in ladies and I'm sure we'll be surprised by some outcomes by many ladies that I didn't even discuss.

 

[Orlov]

Guys, btw, we have to say a big thanks to Dasha Pavliuchenko (Pavliuchenko/Khodykin pair) who is a close friend of Alyona

link

"Q: After the test skates, you said that you were not sure that you would work with a triple axel. What was the turning point?

A: On the day off after test skates, I decided that something needs to be changed. I decided to try the quad salchow. Dasha Pavliuchenko, who walked [around me] and said “You can, you can,” helped me a lot. I was upset because I had bad skate of my program in training. I sat at her house listless, she came up to me and said that I need to change something, that I will succeed. The next day I came to training, and Sergei Alexandrovich Rozanov suggested trying the axel again."

Historical moment

It is very interesting to know such nuances, to see that they are real people too - with doubts, who need the support of friends, etc.

Thanks, my dear Dasha! (I'm a fan of their pair with Denis, btw)

 

[readernick]

The person being childish is Liza. Being unhappy with her scores/the judges isn't going to fix the obvious problems she needs to work on if she wants to win.

Liza is upset about jump GOE. She is human and adults don't judge others ( especially those they don't know personally) based on one reaction when they are upset. The judges who gave her low GOE on the best 3Lz in the ladies field should be called out. Adults don't expect perfection from others.