2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[voolfee]

i could say the same about you with Alina because this is not the first time you've gotten your panties in a bunch for someone saying another skater is better than Alina.

You're wrong, I reply only to frankly offensive comments about Alina. I don't have enough time and energy to reply to any criticism said here about Alina, and there are many of it. And I ask you not to use strange expressions about my panties, please.

 

[flanker]

no actually they don't, and i could say the same about you with Alina because this is not the first time you've gotten your panties in a bunch for someone saying another skater is better than Alina.

everyone is entitled to their own opinion and it's not offensive to think another skater is better than Alina.

Sorry but sometimes people act like it is offensive to say that Alina has some qualities at all. As I've said many times, I doubt there was another skater (apart from Sotnikova, probably), who would face as many negative evaluations as Alina did. And when I have to read once again such chatter about how Alina has "hunched posture, weak skating skills, and poor speed and ice coverage", then I say it has nothing to do with unbiased or "not offensive" evaluation.

Why just not praising Aliona without this endless BS about Alina.

 

[macy]

You're wrong, I reply only to frankly offensive comments about Alina. I don't have enough time and energy to reply to any criticism said here about Alina, and there are many of it. And I ask you not to use strange expressions about my panties, please.

this is false, i have never once said anything offensive against Alina and you have come at me before. i am careful to only give constructive criticism and try to support all skaters including Alina, as i like her too. but i am sorry to say that her fans are some of the most intolerant ones out there.

anyway, i like Alina, i like Aliona. do i like one better than the other? sure, but someone not liking my favorite isn't offensive to me. we can agree to disagree.

 

[nussnacker]

When Alina starts step sequence of her Carmen, I see authentic passion, smile and enthiusiasm. She may not be as skilled and graceful as Aliona, but she's definitely more authentic than her. To me, Aliona skating is perfect, beautiful and... soulless.

I personally see a lot of expression and soul in Aliona's performances. There are times when she's less focused on interpretation, but I don't project that onto my whole experience of watching her.
For example her Vampire program. She clearly enjoys it, especially the StSq, it's so fun!
She's excited, and then there's that fire in her eyes.

I really liked Alina's Me Voy more than Carmen last year. Although last year's Carmen stands in a special place, it was a program when she showed herself as a fighter to overcome all the difficulties. Me Voy marked a new chapter in Alina's performance for me

 

[macy]

Sorry but sometimes people act like it is offensive to say that Alina has some qualities at all. As I've said many times, I doubt there was another skater (apart from Sotnikova, probably), who would face as many negative evaluations as Alina did. And when I have to read once again such chatter about how Alina has "hunched posture, weak skating skills, and poor speed and ice coverage", then I say it has nothing to do with unbiased or "not offensive" evaluation.

Why just not praising Aliona without this endless BS about Alina.

i agree! i have said this before here too recently, but the post was deleted for some reason. i don't support bringing one skater down to praise the other, but it's ok to give respectful constructive criticism.

 

[flanker]

i agree! i have said this before here too recently, but the post was deleted for some reason. i don't support bringing one skater down to praise the other, but it's ok to give respectful constructive criticism.

Yes, but "respectful constructive criticism" is something like Lt. Colombo's wife here. Everyone talks about it, nobody actually have seen it

 

[Jontor]

Well, Yagudin opened his mouth again, but this time he said something that actually makes sense (must have read your post)

Well, when you think about it, with no JGP and GP series there is no other way to qualify to Russian Nationals then via the Russian Cup. So if they want to have a Russian Nationals, this is the logical way to go. It could be fun with all skaters at the Russian Cup.

RusFed could also spread out through the season some Russian "Challengers" where skaters have the opportunity to compete if they feel they need to. Skaters usually compete about 4 times (5-6 times if you are Tuktamysheva) before RusNats, so there might be the need for more competitions than just the Russian Cup.

I think the RusFed can make this into a very exciting Russian season.

 

[macy]

Yes, but "respectful constructive criticism" is something like Lt. Colombo's wife here. Everyone talks about it, nobody actually have seen it

well, i do think that there are some fans who could see the most respectful and good intentioned criticism and still interpret it as an insult, because it is still criticism against their favorite skater who has no weaknesses in their eyes. people see what they want to see and have an opinion before reading someone else's. their minds are already made up.

anyway, i try to see the good in skaters because they are all working just as hard. all of them have weaknesses that i'm sure they are well aware of.

so, have we heard if there will for a fact be internal Russian competitions? i don't know what i'm gonna do if i can't watch these ladies until december

 

[dunffvanstorn]

I can tell you, but then I would have to kill you

Once during the last season they said they are not dating (confirming what Arbitrary has said), but in every picture and video (here for instance) where they are together they look so tender to each other that I have problems to believe it. Well, but I am very romantic person :luv17:

Yes, they looked so cute together and Gleb’s Instagram is full of photos with Diana. But I’m not sure if this conversation is allowed in this forum, because I’ve had a comment deleted by moderators when I asked about relationships [emoji28]

 

[lesnar001]

Yes, but "respectful constructive criticism" is something like Lt. Colombo's wife here. Everyone talks about it, nobody actually have seen it

There was actually a TV show called "Mrs Columbo". But it lasted less than 1 season, so you may still be correct about nobody ever seeing her!

 

[Scott512]

I don't understand what is wrong with Alina's posture. And It is very controversial that Aliona is better than Alina in skating skills.:
1. Balance (Alina), rhythmic knee action and precision of foot placement (Aliona)
2. Flow and effortless glide (Aliona)
3. Cleanness and sureness of deep edges (Aliona), steps (Alina), turns (Alina)
4. Power/energy (Alina) and acceleration (Aliona)
5. Mastery of multi-directional skating (Alina)
6. Mastery of one-foot skating (Alina)

Alina has a much more adult presentation, her movements are more conscious. Aliona's movements and facial expressions are still more juniorish and has lack life in them.

Advantage Aliona! While there's no doubt of Alinas greatness accomplishments and GOATness Alena has the best skating skills in the sport and it's really not debatable. Unless you bring Valieva into the mix. Uh oh. I forgot about Kamila! She's on Alenas skating skill level too. The only one.

Saying this does not take away from Alina or anyone else. I trust you understand Voolfee.

 

[Skatesocs]

I forgot about Kamila! She's on Alenas skating skill level too.

Really?

 

[flanker]

OK, this is RLT. From zero to quarrel in a second, better acceleration than a new ferrari model

 

[Skatesocs]

OK, this is RLT. From zero to quarrel in a second, better acceleration than a new ferrari model

 

[Skatesocs]

Oh and I agree with the Zagi fan that said she can look quite natural when she tries. Not musically speaking, no, but she really knows how to turn on the sincerity factor when she can.

 

[dunffvanstorn]

dunffvanstorn, this thread moves too quickly for me to keep up with it, but really, you might want to take your accusations of people being too personal about their favourite to your own heart if you really said that. If this is why the Kostornaia brigade is coming into the thread, I have no interest in discussing further. I can't possibly think of people quoting me in good faith, although it makes some of the replies clearer.

Aliona is not even my favorite skater, but you’ve been constantly posting about her lack of musicality and artistry. I see now that I was unfair and that you and voolfee indeed didn’t start it and weren’t the most offensive. The soulless comment was worse.

For me, lack of musicality and interpretation can be seen in Rika Kihira and Sasha, for example. The problem I see in Aliona’s “lack of musicality/artistry” has more to do with the material she’s given than with her own ability to emote. Until this point, she has interpreted well the material she was given (in my opinion), but she hasn’t had a huge variety of themes to show a different range of emotions so that people can understand her interpretation.

Now, with Billie Eilish, I wonder if her face expression won’t be a bigger problem, considering Billie’s interpretation of her own songs is always “resting bitch face”. I really hope her short program can help her showcase her interpretation better.

The other thing I noticed is that her interpretation at Europeans (the competition everybody uses as example as her lack of interpretation) started to fade after her fall, but until then it was ok to me. I also noticed if I watch her videos in high quality I can see her face expressions better than with regular quality on Youtube (as her eyes and moth are “smaller”, the image quality is a big deal to check her interpretation.

Although I should say Alina Zagitova does have more obvious facial expressions when she interprets. Not necessarily in her first junior season, but this last season specially. But I’m not talking about musicality here.

To voolfee: All the things I’ve said about Alina have to do with more objective criteria than musicality. Skating skills is not subjective in my opinion, it can be very well determined. About her break, I’ve already explained what happened.

Who doesn’t see skating skills as objective probably doesn’t understand skating skills. Although I have to say Aliona has been losing her once superb speed on ice and on spins, and I wonder if it has to do with the fact that she’s more muscular now.

 

[voolfee]

Advantage Aliona! While there's no doubt of Alinas greatness accomplishments and GOATness Alena has the best skating skills in the sport and it's really not debatable. Unless you bring Valieva into the mix. Uh oh. I forgot about Kamila! She's on Alenas skating skill level too. The only one.

Saying this does not take away from Alina or anyone else. I trust you understand Voolfee.

I accept that you think Aliona has the best skating skills. But I think it's very vague, there are many criteria and there is no one lady who is better than everyone else. There are some of the best in skating skills that include Aliona and Alina.

 

[Skatesocs]

No Zagi doesn't have better or equal skating skills than Kostornaia, come on.

 

[nussnacker]

? Why can't I differ on her Skating without being a hater? Or anyone else?

I mean.. didn't you post that "Aliona's face is so blank, she should consider poker" kind of comment?
That seemed like a comment just for the sake of being mean, at least to me. Maybe I'm just not that appreciative of that specific sense of humor.

 

[Skatesocs]

I mean.. didn't you post that "Aliona's face is so blank, she should consider poker" kind of comment?
That seemed like a comment just for the sake of being mean, at least to me. Maybe I'm just not that appreciative of that specific sense of humor.

I did, because I don't appreciate being told that the only reason someone didn't like one of her programs was because they'd like to see "flirty" expressions in a program about loss. Sorry, if people can dish it out, they can take it right back. It was mean, but not to Kostornaia.

Kostornaia's face was entirely dead in that program. I would have been nicer if that certain fan could take an opinion without calling everyone haters.