2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[plushyfan]

Kostornaya withdrew from FS she will not participate tomorrow. Her program is not ready yet. The choreographer is North-American. My bet he will be Sandhu, Plushenko's friend. We mentione his name some months ago in Trusova's case.

 

[flanker]

a few thoughts as i'm reading through this article posted earlier about Aliona's transfer https://m.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/russiateam/2829756.html

i really see and understand now what Sasha meant by needing more individualized attention and Zhenya meant by having more freedom. no wonder Aliona and Sasha left if they are putting kids on the ice with elite skaters and would not do anything about it, and it sounds like Aliona is ready to have more of a say in her programs and training like Zhenya was.

this part is also very telling of Aliona's mature character, vs Eteri's child-like lashing out:

I called Sergei Alexandrovich (Rozanov is a coach in Plushenko's group - Sports.ru): is this a situation, is there a possibility? He: wait a couple of days, let's think, this is your decision, it is unexpected, you have been working in Eteri Georgievna's team for so many years, you have achieved results. I am actually very grateful to the previous headquarters.

it's also interesting that she actually did like her Billie Eilish program, when Plushenko said she hated it.

it sounds like things need to change at Sambo to prioritize their elite skaters, and they should be top priority. i hope Eteri at least learned from her 3 big students recent departures, as i'm 100% sure she would not want Kamila or Anna (or anyone else) to leave. Eteri needs to swallow her pride.

And that is probably one of the reasons why I am a supporter of that team, because I truly despise separating people on "elite and the rest" in any way esp. in such body like sporting team. I understand prioritizing at some special circumstances, like before the olympics, but not at normal day. And I don't think any thing is more persuading than the success of the team. Unless this would change, I don't think anything else will change.

 

[Fluture]

Rewatching again, something stood out to me that didn‘t at first: Aliona‘s program feels like two in one. I liked the two parts separately but the transition in between is awkward. I think it would have worked better if they‘d either made this a FS (more time for sensible music cuts) or only used the first song as a SP. It‘s very quiet and slow but it has a dark intensity and some louder and more dramatic parts where you could fit a nice spiral, a jump combination or a long Ina Bauer. :think:

- - - Updated - - -

Kostornaya withdrew from FS she will not participate tomorrow. Her program is not ready yet. The choreographer is North-American. My bet he will be Sandhu, Plushenko's friend. We mentione his name some months ago is Trusova's case.

Well, it‘s not surprising, she had barely a few weeks. But interesting that she‘s got a foreign choreographer, definitely looking forward to it!

 

[Shayuki]

Elena Ilinykh was at the boards with her, if that's who you're referring to.

Really, she's changed quite a bit hasn't she...

I wonder why it is that she was there instead of Rozanov, or just a coincidence? Interesting.

it sounds like things need to change at Sambo to prioritize their elite skaters, and they should be top priority. i hope Eteri at least learned from her 3 big students recent departures, as i'm 100% sure she would not want Kamila or Anna (or anyone else) to leave. Eteri needs to swallow her pride.

Well, maybe the elite skaters are elite skaters because of this approach instead of favoring their most experienced skaters too much. To me this is pretty self-centered no matter how you're trying to paint it.

As always, systems are great whenever you're the one benefiting. Then when it's for the time for someone else to benefit, you complain.

 

[vesperalvioletta]

And that is probably one of the reasons why I am a supporter of that team, because I truly despise separating people on "elite and the rest" in any way esp. in such body like sporting team. I understand prioritizing at some special circumstances, like before the olympics, but not at normal day. And I don't think any thing is more persuading than the success of the team. Unless this would change, I don't think anything else will change.

I don't think what was meant in that quote is that Aliona thought there should be some discrimination between skaters based on who has competed at elite, international competitions and who hasn't. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense for 10 year olds who are just starting to gain their more difficult skills to be training on the same ice as skaters training for the World Championships.

 

[Vandevska]

That's probably something that can't be proven by the arguments the way it would persuade you, at least not by me. I think Anna pays attention to the music, is able to show emotions, can have the face expressions showing the "mood" according to the theme, her moves are synchronized and she follows the speed of the music. She skates light and despite she had to skate with the minors on one ice she kept those qualities for the upcoming season

I actually agree with everything else you said, but you had to go and be petty like Eteri

 

[Amei]

Especially her hands. They are reflecting every music note in the most sublime, intricate way.

Yes, Shcherbakova reminds me of Sasha Cohen with her ability to accentuate her performance with her hands.

 

[katymay]

And that is probably one of the reasons why I am a supporter of that team, because I truly despise separating people on "elite and the rest" in any way esp. in such body like sporting team. I understand prioritizing at some special circumstances, like before the olympics, but not at normal day. And I don't think any thing is more persuading than the success of the team. Unless this would change, I don't think anything else will change.

Kostornaia skates at breakneck speed. It would be very difficult for her to have to dodge the minis throughout the session.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Kostornaya withdrew from FS she will not participate tomorrow. Her program is not ready yet. The choreographer is North-American. My bet he will be Sandhu, Plushenko's friend. We mentione his name some months ago in Trusova's case.

Is there an article?

 

[flanker]

I don't think what was meant in that quote is that Aliona thought there should be some discrimination between skaters based on who has competed at elite, international competitions and who hasn't. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense for 10 year olds who are just starting to gain their more difficult skills to be training on the same ice as skaters training for the World Championships.

But that's not unusual (and I donť think in other teams as well), definitely it didn't happen for the first time, when I recall shots from the past, there always were skaters from different age categories on the ice. Even from Aliona's words it sounds that she is aware she experienced that when she was younger. Also, colormyworld pointed like me before that it could be affected by objective reason, time on the iceand time for the skaters is limited, they simply didn't may have any other option in the moment. It was probably just after the khrustalny reopened, the staff could have been limited and all. And as I said, considering the level of even the novice skaters, somehow I don't think 10 y. o. skaters "don't know what to do".

But that's not the point, following the bold quote, elite skater is made through training, at least that's the team's philosophy, and everyone could develop into one if gets a chance. Also it seems that Eteri's team is putting more impact on preparation of the younger skaters now, they widened the number of coaches for the novices and all.

BTW remember the storm on Eteri when it was said Anna precisely in that age had to train outside of the team because there wasn't time to take care of her? Now it seems to me that once again some people her for the exact opposite

 

[plushyfan]

Is there an article?

Not yet. It is from Russian chats. They were at the Arena.

 

[Tolstoj]

I am curious as to why Sergei was only at the boards with Alena and not Sasha. It's not like they skated back to back, he had plenty of time to talk to Alena after her skate and then come back out for Sasha.

Just a random observation

Yeah Elena did the opposite, she was with Sasha but only watching from behind with Alena.

 

[Amei]

it sounds like things need to change at Sambo to prioritize their elite skaters, and they should be top priority. i hope Eteri at least learned from her 3 big students recent departures, as i'm 100% sure she would not want Kamila or Anna (or anyone else) to leave. Eteri needs to swallow her pride.

I think that until she loses more skaters, the Fed steps in or her skaters start to lose that she won't change her ways. Anyone who dislikes Eteri has to at least give her credit that she has built a system that has won an unbelievable amount of medals since Sochi, so it's understandable where she might be unwilling to change it and risk ruining it. While yes perhaps it's not in the absolute best interest for the senior elite skater to skate next to the 10 year olds it probably immensely helps the 10 year olds to be on the ice with the elite skater. This is where there's a deviation between individuals, no fault of either party to have a difference of opinions on how training should happen, Eteri should have kept her statements a bit more diplomatic than what she did.

 

[Tolstoj]

Who was the lady who was there for Trusova, anyway?

Elena Ilinykh, one of my all-time favourite ice dancer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDZC1vSs-ps

 

[nussnacker]

i guess i'm not sure, but clearly what they are doing right now isn't working and TT shouldn't blame them for wanting to go elsewhere with better training conditions.

But that’s the part that puzzles me... judging by the videos from her new rink, she skates with way more than 8 people now, and with little skaters too (since Plushenko has a lot of very young skaters).
Sasha also was seen training with 7yo Sasha Plushenko, with Sofia Titova and Zhilina sisters.

So I’m not sure if a lot has changed in this regard by now for Aliona. I think she really acted on an impulse, she was probably unhappy that they didn’t budge and listen to her, and thought that those relationship‘s are irredeemable.
I hope everything will turn out well for her nevertheless.

 

[flanker]

Oh, now, well, err, what to say... (breath deeply before you look )
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFCrXySJ0CU/

 

[Fried]

BTW remember the storm on Eteri when it was said Anna precisely in that age had to train outside of the team because there wasn't time to take care of her? Now it seems to me that once again some people her for the exact opposite

You are a real rabulist.

 

[nussnacker]

Is it just me, or does Evgenia look skinnier? She seems to have lost quite a bit of weight...

 

[flanker]

You are a real rabulist.

Is that term taken from this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabulist_riots
If yes, I can take it, even though I consider myself rather conservative

 

[moonkat]

But that’s the part that puzzles me... judging by the videos from her new rink, she skates with way more than 8 people now, and with little skaters too (since Plushenko has a lot of very young skaters).
Sasha also was seen training with 7yo Sasha Plushenko, with Sofia Titova and Zhilina sisters.

So I’m not sure if a lot has changed in this regard by now for Aliona. I think she really acted on an impulse, she was probably unhappy that they didn’t budge and listen to her, and thought that those relationship‘s are irredeemable.
I hope everything will turn out well for her nevertheless.

Was Aliona seen training with them though?