2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Happy Skates]

I forgot, are Gubanova and Tarakanova going to Russian senior nationals? Both have a loyal fan base and both are “held down” by the judges and the federation.

Also, is Kamila Valieva really injured or is that just a rumor?

Both Nastyas will be going to Nationals (thank goodness we get to see them at at least one big competition, Russian Nationals will be such a treat).

As for your second question, I'm curious about this too. There have been some rumors, but as far as I know, these have just been because she hasn't competed like the other two in the 2006 trio. If anyone has heard anything on the Russian speaking forums, please tell .

 

[Azikin]

Konstantinova is also on the WS list and could stay there, and RusFed will do everything to make sure she keeps GPs (if she's on the WS list she'll probably get her guaruanteed one and then be selected for Rostelecom or something). They would never prioritize someone like Vasilieva and Tarakanova over their favorite.

Is she still a favourite? I wouldn't be so sure..

 

[Edwin]

Sof'ya Akat'yeva beaming and gleaming in her new short program dress: https://vk.com/video-97272391_456243898

Notice her strong shoulders, for jumping high and far with up to quadruple rotations

 

[lusterfan]

Sofia will 100% get at least 1 of the remaining 4 spots - she's securely in the Top 24 WS and could get herself into Top 24 SB too (latter less likely).

Stasya will probably get 1 spot too, as she's currently 15th in WS (17th after Anna and Alyona move up). She has a good buffer, so she's unlikely to drop below Top 24, especially if she squeezes in another competition.

That leaves 2 spots for Sofia/Stasya/Tarakanova/Vasilieva.

I hope Tarakanova/Vasilieva each get one spot (to give them a chance and because Sofia/Stasya are in no threat of medalling honestly), but ugh who knows what RusFed will do.

Vasilieva is 18th in SB and will probably be able to hold on to Top 24. JGPF and possibly YOG will give her more opportunities to improve her SB ... whether that gets her a GP spot is a (?)

I'd love for Tarakanova to get a senior GP, but it doesn't seem so likely And considering how stingy RusFed is with handing out Challengers to non-top 6/non-Mishin skaters, I wonder if we will see Tarakanova at all at the senior level next season, aside from a random Senior B ...

Her current 21st spot in the SB is precarious, with Japanese and Korean junior ladies below her having the potential to move up after Junior Worlds/YOG ... but not many others below her will skate again this season so it might hold! Even with a top 24 SB though, RusFed might just snub her spot anyway. If she beats Vasilieva at Nationals, she might get more favoring and also the YOG spot (along with Sinitsyna). With YOG, she will have an opportunity to improve her SB hopefully! Please hang in there Nastya

 

[Jontor]

I fear that both Vasilieva and Tarakanova will be snubbed of GP spots next year. Maybe RusFed will keep them in Juniors yet another season?
If Konstantinova manage to remain in the WS list will be crucial for both of them.

 

[Edwin]

Lots of clips from todays broadcast of Averbukh's "15 years of success" show: https://www.1tv.ru/-/mjyhf (Russia VPN required)
Complete show live, with lots of stars both current and past: https://www.1tv.ru/sport/figurnoe-katanie-na-pervom/ledovye-shou

Old show I think?

 

[Jontor]

Does anyone know if there has been any official statement about who is going to Russian Nationals?

I've been checking Wikipedia, but that might not be 100% definite.

 

[Jontor]

What do you guys think of this new girl, Valeria Shulskaya, who seems to have qualified to Russian Nationals?

Here is her short and long program from Rus Cup Stage 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJqSvhW98dM

I can't find any junior info about her. Has she just popped out from thin air?

 

[Jontor]

The seasons best 24 list this year seems quite solid for now. But there might be some minor changes.

But what about last year? Who is missing this year?

SB24 last year that is absent from this year top SB24:


5. Elisabet Tursynbaeva, Kaz - 224.76 (this year injured)
12. Sofia Samodurova, Rus - 213.84 (this year #28 187.16)
13. Mai Mihara, Jpn - 209.22 (this year health issues)
16. Loena Hendrickx, - Bel 204.16 (this year injured)
17. Mako Yamashita, Jpn - 203.06 (this year #26 189.25)
18. Serafima Sakhanovich, Rus - 202.62 (this year #42 178.27)
19. Ting Cui, USA - 199.79 (this year #46 177.47, now injured)
20. Anna Tarusina, Rus - 198.76 (this year no senior assignments, then injured and retired)
21. Anastasia Gubanova, Rus - 198.65 (this year no international assignments)
22. Alena Kanysheva, Rus - 198.14 (this year injured)
23. Stanislava Konstantinova, Rus - 197.57 (this year #68 162.25)
24. Yelim Kim, Kor - 196.34 (this year #31 186.27)

 

[Jontor]

And as there is 12 ladies absent from this year's SB24 there is 12 new ladies

New girls in the SB list this year:

6. Kamila Valieva, Rus (JGP) - 221.95 (new)
7. Young You, Kor - 217.49 (last year #34 - 183.98 JGP)
10. Ksenia Sinitsyna, Rus (JGP) - 215.58 (last year #31 - 188.84 JGP)
14. Alysa Liu, USA (JGP) - 208.10 (new)
15. Haein Lee, Kor (JGP) - 203.40 (last year #40 - 180.48 JGP)
17. Ekaterina Kurakova, Pol - 201.47 (new, had to sit out last year due to change of citizenship)
18. Viktoria Vasilieva, Rus (JGP) - 198.79 (last year #35 - 182.87 JGP)
20. Daria Usacheva, Rus (JGP) - 197.19 (new)
21. Anastasia Tarakanova, Rus (JGP) - 194.74 (last year #29 - 190.69 JGP)
22. Rino Matsuike, Jpn (JGP) - 193.03 (new)
23. Yuhana Yokoi, Jpn - 191.90 (last year #33 - 184.09 JGP)
24. Seoyeong Wi, Kor (JGP) - 191.07 (last year #48 - 176.50 JGP)

 

[Happy Skates]

I just noticed that Ksenia and Viktoria last year were the poor souls that got 3rd at their first JGP assignments and didn't get second ones, and this year both have made the final. Don't give up Maia!

 

[Alex65]

Beautiful announce: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iT5RII2l9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again

 

[pororocheburashka]

The seasons best 24 list this year seems quite solid for now. But there might be some minor changes.

But what about last year? Who is missing this year?

SB24 last year that is absent from this year top SB24:


5. Elisabet Tursynbaeva, Kaz - 224.76 (this year injured)
12. Sofia Samodurova, Rus - 213.84 (this year #28 187.16)
13. Mai Mihara, Jpn - 209.22 (this year health issues)
16. Loena Hendrickx, - Bel 204.16 (this year injured)
17. Mako Yamashita, Jpn - 203.06 (this year #26 189.25)
18. Serafima Sakhanovich, Rus - 202.62 (this year #42 178.27)
19. Ting Cui, USA - 199.79 (this year #46 177.47, now injured)
20. Anna Tarusina, Rus - 198.76 (this year no senior assignments, then injured and retired)
21. Anastasia Gubanova, Rus - 198.65 (this year no international assignments)
22. Alena Kanysheva, Rus - 198.14 (this year injured)
23. Stanislava Konstantinova, Rus - 197.57 (this year #68 162.25)
24. Yelim Kim, Kor - 196.34 (this year #31 186.27)

I would like to see Anastasia Gubanova compete this season at least at one challenger. But it's not going to happen even if there is an available (not used) spot for Russia in Zagreb this week
Anastasia Gubanova deserves way more but competition in Russia is so fierce and harsh!

 

[halulupu]

I would like to see Anastasia Gubanova compete this season at least at one challenger. But it's not going to happen even if there is an available (not used) spot for Russia in Zagreb this week
Anastasia Gubanova deserves way more but competition in Russia is so fierce and harsh!

Well RusFed is not know for being forgiving. Guess they let her suffer a least one more year before she gets an international assignment again.

 

[Scott512]

Well RusFed is not know for being forgiving. Guess they let her suffer a least one more year before she gets an international assignment again.

Forgiven for what? Federation needs to be forgiven by Anastasia for all the screw jobs they've given her over the years! But I'm sure the Federation sent Nastya a birthday card today.

I certainly don't want to see her career go the way of Polinas and end at 17. But it's on that path unless puberty eases up and she can impress at Nationals. But the pressure on Anastasia at rusnats will be monumental because it's her only real event of the season. Yet others keep getting chance after chance.....

 

[Scott512]

Is she still a favourite? I wouldn't be so sure..

Not at all. Stasya as much as I like her and she is a beautiful person and skater has frittered away too many opportunities over the last couple years that she was given by the Russian Federation. the competition coming behind her is just too strong to keep giving her international events. You can't bomb both Grand Prix events and then expect to get another one or 2 next year. Not with the Russian ladies anyway.

 

[vesperalvioletta]

Not at all. Stasya as much as I like her and she is a beautiful person and skater has frittered away too many opportunities over the last couple years that she was given by the Russian Federation. the competition coming behind her is just too strong to keep giving her international events. You can't bomb both Grand Prix events and then expect to get another one or 2 next year. Not with the Russian ladies anyway.

Stasya was already controversial before when she was able to put together at least one clean program per competition. It would be truly unfair to now hold back more consistent competitors by giving her assignments anyway, despite her results. It's not like she has any titles behind her name either.

 

[Scott512]

Stasya was already controversial before when she was able to put together at least one clean program per competition. It would be truly unfair to now hold back more consistent competitors by giving her assignments anyway, despite her results. It's not like she has any titles behind her name either.

I just want her to be happy and healthy and smiling because I think the stress of being an elite figure skater does some damage to her. Stasya has never been able to overcome that and it's a shame because when she's on she's a beautiful skater. Now Stasya has inexplicably withdrawn from a challenger which she really needed before Nationals. .

 

[SkateSkates]

I just wrote this in another thread but I wanted to bring it here because it’s been bothering me the past few days.

I wish so called “fans” of Aliona would stop using her as a pawn to promote whatever their agenda is (against Sasha/Anna or Alina/Zhenya). Real fans can speak about her strengths and advantages without insulting other skaters. She seems to be used to drive a wedge between the Eteri skaters, and people speak of her as if she has succeeded in spite of her training environment instead of because of her training environment. As a fan of hers, it’s very sad to see this behavior against other skaters and is turning a lot of fans against Aliona herself, which she doesn’t deserve

 

[Edwin]

The whole broadcast from yesterday with last year's Averbukh show is now online for all to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u68160xyo4M

Navka's older shows are here: https://www.1tv.ru/-/ohaoe and https://www.1tv.ru/-/fviun in professional production, from what appears a sold out Megasport Arena. Wonderful staging, costumes, props, pyrotechnics, skating, a real visual delight on screen.

Plus a 2018 show "Pride of the Nation" with the Olympians (with both Zagitova and Medvyedeva ("Kukushka" EX with Polina Gagarina singing live) plus Tuktamysheva, Sotskova, Sotnikova and lots more skaters): https://www.1tv.ru/-/zhezd , but you need a Russia VPN

Hopefully, this year's shows (Navka's, Averbukh's and Plyushchenko's ?) will be recorded for broadcast later next year.