2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[brakes]

Photo of the year for me.

 

[Jontor]

Photo of the year for me.

Fantastic photo. It's almost like you don't know which one is the original.

 

[FelineFairy]

And I have always hated students who cheat on exams. Still do. Maybe that is why I hate pre-rotation so much. It is not OK to have bad technique and at the same time to feel worthy of a gold medal. Poor skatings skills is also a big no no no.
To me... If you think you are a skater who is worthy of a gold medal - then show it through jumps with amazing technique, small pre-rotation, great skating skills. Otherwise... leave the sport to the really talented skaters with the necessary qualities.
People like Alexia Paganini deserve so much more. She has flip and lutz with minimal pre-rotation(so rare!), she is elegant, artistic.
Alyona probably has the best ladies skating skills of all time and her jump technique is very good.
Yuna Kim - simply the best ladies skater of all time.
It should be about all that and not about excessively pre-rotated flips and lutzes (with flat edges), right?

This is the first and last time I am answering an "edge post". Sorry, nothing against you personally, but 1)neither you nor KK or any other wise analyst of edges is a specialist; 2)having learned how to stop the video and how to look at the blade and boot does not equal a judge's skills; 3) judging is not about reading a manual and finding one item there which you personally deem to be important: it is about understanding the whole system of connected details, and judges are educated to do that.
More important still, liking and supporting an athlete is commendable, while dragging his/her rivals through dirt is repulsive and pathetic. Criticizing has nothing in common with what such "critics" are doing. If you have cheating students, you must be connected to education. Please imagine what your students in a class would say if you start attacking one of them with exactly the words you are finding for Anna? You would have rightful complaints sent to the school management at a drop of a hat.
We as fans can say what we like or dislike; you are perfectly entitled to say that you prefer this or that jumping technique, you can also express your surprise when the score is different from what you expect; but specialists know many more details and can make decisions better. An educated specialist (even if he/she is not among the best ones) can at least see the whole picture and find the right balance, while a fan, even meaning well, will not be able to do that.
And if the fan is not well-meaning, if he/she were allowed to judge, it would be not only a disaster, but also incredibly ridiculous. Ski jumpers are also judged and get scores for execution style + landing technique; but imagine that the winner is the one with the highest score from the judges REGARDLESS of the jump distance???
I am writing all this not trying to convince you, as I believe it is impossible. But I needed to say that, sorry, if I was too emotional.

 

[macy]

This is the first and last time I am answering an "edge post". Sorry, nothing against you personally, but 1)neither you nor KK or any other wise analyst of edges is a specialist; 2)having learned how to stop the video and how to look at the blade and boot does not equal a judge's skills; 3) judging is not about reading a manual and finding one item there which you personally deem to be important: it is about understanding the whole system of connected details, and judges are educated to do that.
More important still, liking and supporting an athlete is commendable, while dragging his/her rivals through dirt is repulsive and pathetic. Criticizing has nothing in common with what such "critics" are doing. If you have cheating students, you must be connected to education. Please imagine what your students in a class would say if you start attacking one of them with exactly the words you are finding for Anna? You would have rightful complaints sent to the school management at a drop of a hat.
We as fans can say what we like or dislike; you are perfectly entitled to say that you prefer this or that jumping technique, you can also express your surprise when the score is different from what you expect; but specialists know many more details and can make decisions better. An educated specialist (even if he/she is not among the best ones) can at least see the whole picture and find the right balance, while a fan, even meaning well, will not be able to do that.
And if the fan is not well-meaning, if he/she were allowed to judge, it would be not only a disaster, but also incredibly ridiculous. Ski jumpers are also judged and get scores for execution style + landing technique; but imagine that the winner is the one with the highest score from the judges REGARDLESS of the jump distance???
I am writing all this not trying to convince you, as I believe it is impossible. But I needed to say that, sorry, if I was too emotional.

don't even waste your breath, many of us here have tried. just ignore her.

 

[rollerblade]

I don't like the forced green room thing. Half the time, the skaters just look bored sitting there browsing their phones.

I remember CBS showing a clip of a "closed door" at Nagano Olympics, where Kwan was sobbing behind those doors after Lipinski's scores was announced. I know broadcasters (and haters lol) love a juxtaposition "at the moment" reaction shot, but geez, let them have their privacy to make any disappointment faces and ugly crying without photographers taking a million footage for the world to scrutinize. After all, she knew she still had to compose herself enough for the medal ceremony, with puffy red eyes and all.

 

[dhjh811]

Definitely something to build on for kamila.
And yes she has to learn how to react when the camera is on her. I noticed that too that the camera went to her after Anna finished her skate. Kamila was probably not expecting that.

there was a lapse in time between us seeing the skaters on the screen and them actually realizing they're being filmed, which is why many skaters had that look for a few seconds before showing a smile. They just see their faces pop up later than we do, and it's pretty normal to not be too happy that one of your rivals is probably going to outscore you. Or, maybe that's just their serious resting faces

 

[Fried]

I think the Judges were partly were overwhelmed by the way Anna and skated in her free skate so fantastically. Actually considering her struggles with her health in the SP.

You are a rascal, my dear!

 

[NadezhdaNadya]

This is the first and last time I am answering an "edge post". Sorry, nothing against you personally, but 1)neither you nor KK or any other wise analyst of edges is a specialist; 2)having learned how to stop the video and how to look at the blade and boot does not equal a judge's skills; 3) judging is not about reading a manual and finding one item there which you personally deem to be important: it is about understanding the whole system of connected details, and judges are educated to do that.
More important still, liking and supporting an athlete is commendable, while dragging his/her rivals through dirt is repulsive and pathetic. Criticizing has nothing in common with what such "critics" are doing. If you have cheating students, you must be connected to education. Please imagine what your students in a class would say if you start attacking one of them with exactly the words you are finding for Anna? You would have rightful complaints sent to the school management at a drop of a hat.
We as fans can say what we like or dislike; you are perfectly entitled to say that you prefer this or that jumping technique, you can also express your surprise when the score is different from what you expect; but specialists know many more details and can make decisions better. An educated specialist (even if he/she is not among the best ones) can at least see the whole picture and find the right balance, while a fan, even meaning well, will not be able to do that.
And if the fan is not well-meaning, if he/she were allowed to judge, it would be not only a disaster, but also incredibly ridiculous. Ski jumpers are also judged and get scores for execution style + landing technique; but imagine that the winner is the one with the highest score from the judges REGARDLESS of the jump distance???
I am writing all this not trying to convince you, as I believe it is impossible. But I needed to say that, sorry, if I was too emotional.

By students I mean some of my former junior high school classmates, my former high school classmates and my former colleages at university. They cheated on exams. Still can not get over it.
Anyway... Figure skating is extremely corrupted sport. Let's not pretend that is not. It is just laughable

 

[nussnacker]

Skaters always smile once they realize the camera is on them as the next skaters is awaiting their score. I wouldn't say it lookef fake I would say it looked awkward because she forget the world will be watching them sitting there waiting for the next skaters scores to be made public.

From my knowledge, in Russia it would be generally considered pretty weird if someone is smiling all the time non-stop. So not smiling is a pretty normal face expression, and somewhere else it might look a little off-putting. I generally don’t like when people judge someone by a milliseconds of their face expressions. Kamila had a frown when looking at her fall at the last stage of russian Cup, but some were quick to antagonize her for that. It was literally a split second of a reaction, but everyone was quick to make screenshots to show her „inappropriate“ reaction.

Though, I have to say... I always find it fun when whatever the score is Bukin is beaming with happiness and excitement, like a kid who got ice cream, and Stepanova is looking like „hm, could’ve been better -_-“. The juxtaposition is their reactions is always funny

 

[silveruskate]

What did everyone think of Kamila's 4T at the gala? I didn't think she could have axis issues with the new rippon technique but there were signs of it. It could be like Osmond where the jump's still consistent as her success rate is definitely improved.

 

[kolyadafan2002]

I would put Usacheva behind both Kondratiuk and Ignatov (because of her technical content, mind you, not because of her components), but apart from that, I am fine with the qualitative order of this list. (Qualitative, because the absolute gap in points between Anna and Misha is too large, IMO).

Kolyada should never be behind Anna. Significantly better technique on jumps, two triple Axel's and two quads, even better components.

 

[NadezhdaNadya]

Kolyada should never be behind Anna. Significantly better technique on jumps, two triple Axel's and two quads, even better components.

This is exactly what I am trying to say. Just a few people understand me.
Why someone with bad technique is breaking records?

 

[trkvy]

Kolyada should never be behind Anna.

Kolyada is not a Russian Lady afaik

 

[Fried]

Kolyada should never be behind Anna. Significantly better technique on jumps, two triple Axel's and two quads, even better components.

Oh oh. I can already hear the "Anna hater" calls. One could even equate such statements with a lowered thumb, a PARTICULAR lowered thumb.

 

[NadezhdaNadya]

Kolyada is not a Russian Lady afaik

Many Russian ladies have better technique than Anna.

 

[[email protected]]

Guys, there were at least 2 ladies like Evgenia and Liza, who actually tested positive for COVID quite recently, experienced symptoms (in Evgenia’s case quite complicated ones) , and they went on to compete and perform here, hug and interact with everyone around them. That’s just the ladies, not talking about men, ice dancers and pairs. Gulyakova withdrew from 5th stage along with Kolyada because of the cold.
Tarasova was down with lung inflammation before 5th stage. Those are the cases that happened a lot later than Anna’s sickness.
But the whole fuss here is only about the one who didn’t test positive.
I don’t want to cut any of them slack, but making Anna the centerpiece of irresponsibility is a bit much. She’s likely going to experience some post-effects of pneumonia for quite some time, it’s not something that would be gone in a month.
None of the people I mentioned should’ve come here, I’m in agreement with critics on that one. I just feel like there’s something not right in this massive reaction and singling out Anna in particular.

It's not about Anna - it's about her coach. Should she change one - I am sure she will immediately find a lot of unexpected supporters who will quickly find a lot of "improvements".

 

[Fried]

It's not about Anna - it's about her coach. Should she change one - I am sure she will immediately find a lot of unexpected supporters who will quickly find a lot of "improvements".

Well-known tactics. Slip your own behavior on the "opponent".

 

[lariko]

From my knowledge, in Russia it would be generally considered pretty weird if someone is smiling all the time non-stop. So not smiling is a pretty normal face expression, and somewhere else it might look a little off-putting.

I don’t want to get in the rest of the discussion, but my mom made me watch Ice Age Kids show from Russian TV, and the Russian panel of specialists absolutely recommends and judges the young figure skaters by the same standard as outside Russia in terms of facial expressions.

The aspiring athletes (including Tutberidze’s students) are taught to look at the audience, the farthest rows, and both the coaches and judge panels (Tarasova, Mushin, Navka and Averbukh) specifically note kids who smile, give feedback on facial expression to the ones who do not to smile when they skate to upbeat music, and Navka even comments at some point of a girl she picked, “I don’t have to remind her to smile all the time, she always has the smile on her face”.

So, it is a myth that Russian skaters are not drilled from day one to smile when performing.

 

[Scott512]

From my knowledge, in Russia it would be generally considered pretty weird if someone is smiling all the time non-stop. So not smiling is a pretty normal face expression, and somewhere else it might look a little off-putting. I generally don’t like when people judge someone by a milliseconds of their face expressions. Kamila had a frown when looking at her fall at the last stage of russian Cup, but some were quick to antagonize her for that. It was literally a split second of a reaction, but everyone was quick to make screenshots to show her „inappropriate“ reaction.

Though, I have to say... I always find it fun when whatever the score is Bukin is beaming with happiness and excitement, like a kid who got ice cream, and Stepanova is looking like „hm, could’ve been better -_-“. The juxtaposition is their reactions is always funny

I totally agree And Kamila a is kind of low key and just learning the ropes of being a senior and competing against the top ladies

 

[FelineFairy]

I don’t want to get in the rest of the discussion, but my mom made me watch Ice Age Kids show from Russian TV, and the Russian panel of specialists absolutely recommends and judges the young figure skaters by the same standard as outside Russia in terms of facial expressions.

The aspiring athletes (including Tutberidze’s students) are taught to look at the audience, the farthest rows, and both the coaches and judge panels (Tarasova, Mushin, Navka and Averbukh) specifically note kids who smile, give feedback on facial expression to the ones who do not to smile when they skate to upbeat music, and Navka even comments at some point of a girl she picked, “I don’t have to remind her to smile all the time, she always has the smile on her face”.

So, it is a myth that Russian skaters are not drilled from day one to smile when performing.

Drilled is the word. It is true, they have to be taught it, just because the normal everyday way is to be serious unless you are very happy.