2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[bouncy]

I think they already said they were keeping Kamila's FS. Also, I really really don't think there is any chance of them keeping Aliona's FS especially after Plushy's comments about Daniil's choreography..In fact, I think Aliona is already back to her old programs at least for exhibition reasons..

Just to add to your point, I also think Daniil's ego as a choreographer won't let it happen. However, if skating to cookie cutter programs does save her step levels and whatever is hurting her scores this season... well, I don't like the idea but I'm not against it. You can't really have everything. That's what I learned from following the ladies.

 

[bouncy]

No, Aliona is not seeded next year. The seeded skaters are Anna, Sasha, and Liza. Which means Aliona, Kamila and Daria will have to be paired up with them.
Kamila will definitely be paired up with the weakest seeded skater, which would be Liza. Aliona is going to be paired up with either Sasha or Anna.

That's also possible. What about Maiia though? Whom would you like to pair her with?

 

[chasingneverland]

That's also possible. What about Maiia though? Whom would you like to pair her with?

Probably Anna. Or they'll pair Daria and Anna.

 

[Novalis]

Probably Anna. Or they'll pair Daria and Anna.

I'm hoping for Dasha and Sasha. Because it rhymes

 

[chasingneverland]

I'm hoping for Dasha and Sasha. Because it rhymes

Maybe this time they'll have different music...

 

[Vandevska]

If you'll read my posts, I also said that she probably thought she HAD to do 5 to even have a chance at top 5 much less a medal.

However, actually you're wrong. She IS cleaner when she doesn't do the 4S and 4F - neither of which were clean here. Mainly because it doesn't backload as many jumps when she's tired. She's also only landed the 4S once this year and never landed the 4F.

Yes, I have read your other posts. She never landed the 4F this year because she never attempted it. The 4S is beautiful but I don't think it makes sense to include it because it's highly inconsistent for her. That said, I don't think it's necessarily the types of quads she does, it's the number of quads. I'm pretty sure it would be very difficult for her even if she was only doing two 4Lz and two 4T (obviously some in combination).

 

[Skatesocs]

Did icymathstats quit the website

 

[Novalis]

Did icymathstats quit the website

Maybe. Or maybe not. How could we know if it's likely. We need icymathstats to tell us the probabilties

 

[nussnacker]

Whaat? This season (from the little we saw her) Aliona also had unclear edge or even flutz.

Yeah, her edge got worse under Plushenko, just like with Sasha’s F. Hope they can correct it by next season. I think Sasha did an inside edge flip at Mishin’s show, so looks like it is getting fixed, probably nerves got to her at Worlds, and she went on an outside edge.

 

[colormyworld240]

Anna is not always super composed, here's her fangirling over Nathan and Yuzu:

https://twitter.com/_mariaaaa18/status/1375879532964634625

 

[flanker]

Anna is not always super composed, here's her fangirling over Nathan and Yuzu:

https://twitter.com/_mariaaaa18/status/1375879532964634625

The cutest fangirl

 

[[email protected]]

But back on topic, I am really worried for the Tutberidze girls next season. Not because of their tech or whatever, but because of the programs! Again Danny G can be a good choreographer with some genius ideas (Alina's Olympic SP) but with so many programs to do I'm not the most optimistic about it.

As for me, the quality of choreo is not the top factor to be worried about. Yes, there were programs that stood out, that will be with some fans for many years like SL by Yulia and DQ by Alina. But I see this just as a final chord to the overall package. Zhenya had outstanding programs like "hear - not hear". Her last minute Anna Kareninina IMO was not of that caliber. But she almost won the OGM with that. Many Japanese skaters for years did boring routines to the same classical stuff like Racmaninov, Toska, etc. They still do it although some of them finally started to bring creativity. I would say Rika is the best here followed by Kaori.

TT arsenal of different transitions is amazing - Daniil's programs are so packed with them. The only non-Russian skater who can show something similar to that is Bradie. With such an arsenal I don't see a big issue of devising a dozen different programs now that he has at least half a year. Just combine those different transitions in different order.

But my point is that the choreo is overrated. TES + SS + interpretation - you get 99+% of the total score. So that I am not worried at all and I don't see the need to urgently bring outside choreographers to TT.

 

[Samoyed]

But my point is that the choreo is overrated. TES + SS + interpretation - you get 99+% of the total score. So that I am not worried at all and I don't see the need to urgently bring outside choreographers to TT.

Yes, you are right - they have perfect formula for winning and Russian ladies are very well prepared to perform those trannsition-packed programs. I do not believe that they would and should have any reason to change it.

Although, I have to say that I simply wish that they would try with different choreographer at some point (maybe not for Olympic season, maybe just for exhibition in the future). Because I watched mostly Russian competitions this year, I started to feel tired - I basically saw the same program for I think 6 top ladies x2, plus I already watched similar choreos last year (also for 4-6 ladies, if juniors included). I have a feeling lika Kamila's Bolero is something different, though for me it is not good (from choreo and composition point of view, Kamila's performance got better and better this season). I think it's nice from Tutberidze team to give each lady set of movements that belongs mostly to them (Daria's Ina Bauer, Anya's spirals) but because they do not change them, I feel like every skater gets a repetition what they already had in the past seasons.

 

[silveruskate]

I think Liza and Kamila's confirmed. The rest depends on who has which jumps, but they won't risk Aliona vs. Anna on PCS.

Most important for them is Russia winning and Sasha is most inconsistent. So both Daria and Aliona with Sasha will ensure the win. Anna and Maiia with a resurgent Evgenia would be good too. And Kamila is unlikely to lose to anyone.

 

[readernick]

I haven't seen the performances yet, but just going by the protocols, I have to wonder -- where is this sport headed. Alexandra Trusova wins the free program by staying upright on 60% of her big elements while getting mediocre GOEs and program components. But she threw so much at the wall that something was bound to stick, plus everyone else left a lot on the table, too.

Half of a lot beats two-thirds of nothing, I guess.
[/QUOTE

Three very underwhelming skates that ended up being enough to win this terrible event. It was disheartening and I like Trusova.

This is why ladies is the least exciting discipline right now. But, men's skating was this way 10 years ago and it's wonderful now. So, I think it is just going to take a few years waiting for the skaters to develop maturity ( I do think some ladies will be able to jump quads and 3As into their 20s) individuality and find the balance between technical elements and artistry. Mostly, I just want the choreography to become more creative. Some of the SPs in this event were pretty interesting, but in the LP the only truly interesting choreography came from skaters without the technical elements to compete. New choreography please.

 

[[email protected]]

I think it's nice from Tutberidze team to give each lady set of movements that belongs mostly to them (Daria's Ina Bauer, Anya's spirals) but because they do not change them, I feel like every skater gets a repetition what they already had in the past seasons.

An interesting observation and, I guess, you are right. There is a famous "Zhenya's move" - a half turn with the straight leg up. She dropped it with Borser but then brought it back. There is Alina's 2A charlotte entry, Sasha has her cantilever that she keeps with Plushy, etc.

For me it makes sense as one of the popular criticism to diminish what Eteri has been doing is saying that all her skaters are "look alike robots". And I think that nothing is far from the reality than this as she tries to find ways to make all of them different and to play to their individual strengths. I think that she has been doing a terrific job there.

But saying that I see the challenge for her to not only keep them all standing out in their own way but also to bring serious changes to their programs every year. This seems to be an extremely big challenge that can be best overcome by upgrading their jump content and changing the jumps entries. But once again, I don't see it as a big issue. People here went mad when Zhenya brought a 911 program. The first outcry was about the topic and the voices but the second one was about her doing the same routine as in "hear - not hear". I won't comment on the first one but as for the second one, although there were basically the same elements in the same order I had no problem with that. The mood was different - her interpretaion was different, there were variations in the steps. For me there were 2 different programs by a genius skater.

OK, I will sum up my point. I see a number of challenges in the months to come. Anna who is a champ and a clear leader now, Kamila who is a superstar and beat Anna at TV1 event, Maia with quads who might get stronger, Alyona who returned "home" who was supposedly "the best skater in the world" last season, the last but not least Darya who is for me the best skater in Russia without ultra-C jumps and who has become very stable. That's 5 already. Then you have Zhenya and Alina with the unclear motivation to go on or not. That's 7. The biggest challenge is to manage them to avoid conflicts and psychological meltdowns, to prepare them to their best possible shape when it will matter most. The second biggest challenge is to guide them through puberty - I think there will be tough decisions to make. The third challenge is to keep working on the tech content: stabilize the quads for quadsters, bring back 3A to Alyona and learn 3A for Anna who needs it in the SP, learn quads for Darya, etc.

These are the key challenges TT is facing. Choreo? A very distant priority.

 

[starlight97]

Regarding next seasons prospects:
It's clear the Russian Fed does not want to see Liza at big international events, and especially not at the Olympics. They only send her when all their other options falter.
And with Darya, Kamila & Maya coming up, and Alena still trying, they have 4 better and preferred choices. Even if Darya and Alena don't get an Ultra-C, the Fed (and the mayority of fans and spectators) will prefer to look at a beautiful program with triples, vs two 3A in an empty program, of slow almost stand still skating, and a few arm movements.
As much as I loved for Liza to get a silver here and finish off her long fight of a career in such a triumphant way, it was impossible to ignore just how much her skating lacks in the most basic ways.

If I had to make a bet today, Kamila is a given, unless she manages to break both of her legs. Anna will be held up at all cost even with only one quad shall that be the case. And if Sasha can finally get a grip, the third will be hers. If she can't, it will be a battle between Darya&Alena of who can perform their already stunning 3s and PCS even more stunningly, and who gets 1 Ultra-C done.

 

[nussnacker]

As an off season begins shortly, I’m looking forward to new jump videos to be posted from TeamTut Kamila’s rumored 4Lz? 3A from Maia, Dasha, Aliona or Anna?

 

[readernick]

As an off season begins shortly, I’m looking forward to new jump videos to be posted from TeamTut Kamila’s rumored 4Lz? 3A from Maia, Dasha, Aliona or Anna?

Hope Aliona, Sasha and Dasha get 3As because I love their skating and I am biased

 

[Shayuki]

I'm looking forward to seeing what coaching changes might take place after the season. And yeah, jump clips in general. Usually those are in April or May.