2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Fluture]

I wouldn‘t worry too much about Alina. And I certainly wouldn‘t listen to the comments writing her off already. Look where Zhenya was after the SP at Skate Canada and where she is now! Everyone can have an off day and better Alina has it now than at the GPF or Nationals. Talking about the National team right now is pointless because what matters is Nationals and no one knows how anybody will skate there. Alina will come back tomorrow. There‘s really no one who can challenge her for the Bronze and she will be in the final regardless. Then we will see. Besides, she didn‘t get any edge calls today, so her score will be very good for a clean FS. Don‘t panic!

 

[Fluture]

They should add Tsibinova. Or Gubanova but that doesn't seem likely.

I wish Zhenya would go. She could need a competition since she’s not going to GPF. But it’s not likely. I don‘t know Tsibinova so I‘m hoping for Gubanova. But idk how likely that is either.

 

[flanker]

The others:
Aliona - world record, what to say. She believes in herself and is coming to competitions intending to win, in combination with her skills she is exquisite.
Rika - good skate, only significant flaw was her two footed rittberger. It still can be a fight in free if she puts 4S into her program.
Sofia - yes, I'm sad for her. Admitting her low jumps she deserved to be among the first six skaters.

 

[nussnacker]

She needs her "killer instincts" back

She said she was too relaxed and didn’t have enough adrenaline going in it’s ok, I mean, her 2nd “worst” performance is the one where she had 1 pop. Alina’s standards are just too high. It’s a costly mistake, but only 1 mistake in a long time.

 

[Mishaminion]

Alyona might be doing 3A-3T in the FS? She has been doing them in practice?

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Alyona might be doing 3A-3T in the FS? She has been doing them in practice?

Doing a 3A+3T at the beginning would lower her BV. She is backloading both 3-3 combos which gives her more points, same with Rika.

 

[pororocheburashka]

I wish Zhenya would go. She could need a competition since she’s not going to GPF. But it’s not likely. I don‘t know Tsibinova so I‘m hoping for Gubanova. But idk how likely that is either.

Tsibinova is among the entries for the junior competition in Zagreb (same days, location as senior competition).

 

[Thrashergurl]

I’m seeing some posters really overreacting. Zagitova will be fine. The judges could have placed her lower but chose to save her with the PCS. No way should she have gotten that PCS. Alena is the one to watch. That said, wait for the long program before you start freaking out. Who knows if the top 2 will skate clean. I love Karen Chen, but expect her placement will drop. From all reports she is not all skating focused and is attending College. She has more going on outside of skating. I also love Rika- but she’s inconsistent. Alina is struggling more than some will admit, but I am sure she’ll make the podium unless she falls twice. And if Alena falls in the long the it’ll really shake it up. Can’t wait to see what happens

 

[Lunalovesskating]

I’m seeing some posters really overreacting. Zagitova will be fine. The judges could have placed her lower but chose to save her with the PCS. No way should she have gotten that PCS. Alena is the one to watch. That said, wait for the long program before you start freaking out. Who knows if the top 2 will skate clean. I love Karen Chen, but expect her placement will drop. From all reports she is not all skating focused and is attending College. She has more going on outside of skating. I also love Rika- but she’s inconsistent. Alina is struggling more than some will admit, but I am sure she’ll make the podium unless she falls twice. And if Alena falls in the long the it’ll really shake it up. Can’t wait to see what happens

Rika has been consistent this season.
Also Rika was never really "inconsistent". The only jump issue she had last season was her 3A, all her other jumps last season were always on point. If you take that as inconsistent then Sasha would also be inconsistent.

 

[flanker]

Alina's comment after SP:
https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1080459916.html

She said she was not affected by Aliona's perfect result (record), probably just lacked the adrenalie. She admits she had similar bad skates druing previous GP seasons as well.

That's what I'm thinking, she needs to be fierce again, not too easy with the things, that works on galas or competitions like JO, but at serious competitions she needs to use all of her strength. The other thing is during previous seasons even with mistakes (mostly in SP) it wasn't too complicated for her to win GP competition, because she was too much above most of her competitors, this season she needs every point. I hope tomorrow it will be different, something like in Helsinki, where Alina's SP wasn't very good (in fact very similar to what happened today), but in the free program she delivered well.

 

[DenissVFan]

I wish Zhenya would go. She could need a competition since she’s not going to GPF. But it’s not likely. I don‘t know Tsibinova so I‘m hoping for Gubanova. But idk how likely that is either.

I'd guess they'd already asked Zhenya before they picked Sofia and Stasya.

 

[dunffvanstorn]

I think the lutz edge calls from France made her more insecure, and probably knowing she was against Aliona and Rika might not be the easiest thing. Now, I’ll say something I’ll get lots of hate for, but whatever. I think Alina should move to Rafael A. He’s Russian, he’s a tough coach, and there she would be able to feel a little more loose with people like Adam and Mariah. Imagine an Alina program by Adam. The thing is, I think what binds her to Sambo70 is her relationship with Daniil, I feel like he’s a big brother to these girls, and his relationship with Alina seems even more special. Eteri probably doesn’t care as much about Alina now that she has 3A, Sofia, Kamila, Veronika. Now, you can go on and try to kill me in the comments below [emoji81]

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Is there a video of Alena's skate yet?

 

[fabienne1996]

Is there a video of Alena's skate yet?

Yes, on you tube on the isu channel

 

[Thrashergurl]

Rika has been consistent this season.
Also Rika was never really "inconsistent". The only jump issue she had last season was her 3A, all her other jumps last season were always on point. If you take that as inconsistent then Sasha would also be inconsistent.

As I said, I really like Rika and thought she’d be World Champion last year, but she did not skate clean. Not sure what your issue is. She has not been consistent with her 3A which makes her inconsistent. Yes. Same with Sasha. She’s not consistent but hits many quads per program which saves her

 

[Fluture]

I think the lutz edge calls from France made her more insecure, and probably knowing she was against Aliona and Rika might not be the easiest thing. Now, I’ll say something I’ll get lots of hate for, but whatever. I think Alina should move to Rafael A. He’s Russian, he’s a tough coach, and there she would be able to feel a little more loose with people like Adam and Mariah. Imagine an Alina program by Adam. The thing is, I think what binds her to Sambo70 is her relationship with Daniil, I feel like he’s a big brother to these girls, and his relationship with Alina seems even more special. Eteri probably doesn’t care as much about Alina now that she has 3A, Sofia, Kamila, Veronika. Now, you can go on and try to kill me in the comments below [emoji81]

You’re going to be murdered.

As for the general idea... not gonna lie, I‘d love to see an Adam program for Alina and the opportunity for her to work with different choreographers and branch out a bit. Besides, Mariah and her are friends so that would be quite nice! But that’s just my wish as a fan and ultimately, Alina will be the one to decide. And if she’s happy with Eteri, she should absolutely stay!

I also personally do not think that she’s going to leave. I might be killed for that too but after what happened to Evgenia when she left, I would be very careful if I was Alina. And it’s only two seasons until the Olympics, adjusting takes time. Moving from Russia to Canada was a drastic move for Zhenya and she struggled quite a bit. I believe it would be the same with moving to the US and Alina generally seems like a more introverted person. So a change like that would be huge and I’m not sure it would be worth it with all the backlash she’d get. Unless she really wants it of course! But that’s the thing.. I don’t think it’s what she wants. She’s still only 17 and I think her parents said after the OG Alina would never leave Eteri? Besides, she seemed happy at test skates, JO and even GP france. That’s why I don‘t think it‘s going to happen. And I also don‘t think one bad performance is enough to warrant thinking of such a change. I believe she‘ll stay. She just has to get used to everything.

 

[nussnacker]

You’re going to be murdered.

As for the general idea... not gonna lie, I‘d love to see an Adam program for Alina and the opportunity for her to work with different choreographers and branch out a bit. Besides, Mariah and her are friends so that would be quite nice! But that’s just my wish as a fan and ultimately, Alina will be the one to decide. And if she’s happy with Eteri, she should absolutely stay!

I also personally do not think that she’s going to leave. I might be killed for that too but after what happened to Evgenia when she left, I would be very careful if I was Alina. And it’s only two seasons until the Olympics, adjusting takes time. Moving from Russia to Canada was a drastic move for Zhenya and she struggled quite a bit. I believe it would be the same with moving to the US and Alina generally seems like a more introverted person. So a change like that would be huge and I’m not sure it would be worth it with all the backlash she’d get. Unless she really wants it of course! But that’s the thing.. I don’t think it’s necessarily what she wants. She’s still only 17 and I think her parents said after the OG Alina would never leave Eteri? That’s why I don‘t think it‘s going to happen. And I also don‘t think one bad performance is enough to warrant thinking of such a change. I believe she‘ll stay. She just has to get used to everything.

Evgenia did not get backlash for leaving, she got backlash for not doing it properly.
And Alina is not there because she’s afraid to leave, she’s there, because she has a loving a caring team, that supports her through highs and lows and helps her to achieve all her goals.

 

[Edwin]

Alina switching to another coaching team is definitely an interesting thought.

But what will a new team be able to actually achieve with Alina technically?

She is physically at her peak, her mind is still pliable, but I doubt different coaches will really be able to reshape Alina to their ideas and images. Does she have any obvious weaknesses that require immediate attention?

What are the actual ideas and images of #TeamRAF and #TeamBOrser? And are they really deamed so much more suitable to female skaters?

Does she need rebuilding and reshaping other than to satisfy some people’s personal distaste over the programs staged for Alina by Gleikhengauz?

#TeamTutberidzeForProgress is a complete team, being able to offer ‘the complete package’ in developing a skater. Alina still can learn much alongside her younger rink mates.
No commercial rink overseas has the same depth and quality and total dedication to their pupils like Khrustalniy.

No, I don’t see any benefits for Alina in switching rinks until she wants it herself.

Many Russian experts are critical over the actual achievements of BOrser with Medvyedeva, and one can be sure Alina’s trainers know about this too.

What if perhaps Alina’s would like to train in Japan?

 

[Fluture]

Evgenia did not get backlash for leaving, she got backlash for not doing it properly.
And Alina is not there because she’s afraid to leave, she’s there, because she has a loving a caring team, that supports her through highs and lows and helps her to achieve all her goals.

I knew I was taking a risk with that post, so it‘s okay.

First, I‘m not going to comment further on the Evgenia aspect, I think we‘ve clarified that everyone has different interpretations on that.

As for the second: I might have to explain that I did not mean that Alina is staying with Eteri because she‘s afraid to leave. I‘m saying she‘s staying because I think that this is what she wants. She could have left earlier, she didn‘t. Additionally I named some factors on why I believe leaving could be difficult for her. And actually, being 17, not being fluent in the second language and seeing that someone who left before (no matter how she did it) received huge criticism, are quite a few factors that might make leaving harder and not worth it. It‘s hard to leave for a country you don‘t know well, let alone one Alina‘s never even been in as far as I‘m aware. Why would she want that? I was saying that - while I would personally like seeing Alina with a different choreographer for example - I found the thought unrealistic and that I did not believe that this is what Alina wants. There‘s nothing wrong with that. Maybe my point didn‘t come across as clearly as I wanted to but to summarize:

I do not think Alina will change coaches because a) it doesn‘t seem like this is what she wants and judging from one problematic performance is irrational and b) there are quite a lot of factors that would make leaving harder and unappealing to her.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Stanislava Konstantinova is not going to Zagreb (ISU CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 2019, 52nd edition, oldest international regular figure skating competition in the world) in early December. For now no substitute from Russia. Any changes possible? Currently among entries: Samodurova and Tuktamysheva only.

Maybe Liza N or Serafina? Or Nastya Gubanova (I have to confess I don't remember any of her programs, but she seems popular on this thread). Is Nastya T old enough to do senior competitions? It'd be cool to see her there.