2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[colormyworld240]

attending school full time is not unheard of for elite athletes. American skaters Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou and Karen Chen are ones that come to the top of my head who currently do both. it requires a lot of time management.

All 3 under the American university system. I wonder if this is possible in Russia, as it probably requires a flexible university schedule.

But also for the Russian ladies, I would say it's impossible to be competitive and attend university, or even public school. I believe these girls have private tutors and their lives revolve around their training schedules. Some of the top Russian ladies have outlined what their day looks like.

I can't imagine that training any less than everyone else would result in anything other than falling behind, unfortunately. Many are falling behind even with their current training load.

 

[Fried]

I just read this in the thread "Russina Men's FS":

(...)But I hear that Novogorsk has been covid compromised. The hockey team left poste haste. Not sure if they were at the rink or not, or if they tested positive but never left their rooms

If that is true (which would not surprise me - in practice, regulations are never 100% observed), we shouldn't count too much on the test skates in September.
Does anyone know anything about the current status in Novogorsk?

 

[Fried]

https://bestsport.news/spartak-has-...ore-receiving-positive-test-results-covid-19/

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1096462/hc-spartak-suspend-training-virus

The formulations sound very vague. It is only said that the players have been "tested before" and have not yet started training. But they seem to have already been on the base. This were not written like this, but it can be assumed, otherwise they would have emphasized that the infected people had not yet entered the base.
Let us hope that those affected have strictly followed their quarantine and that there have been no further infections.

 

[el henry]

All 3 under the American university system. I wonder if this is possible in Russia, as it probably requires a flexible university schedule.

But also for the Russian ladies, I would say it's impossible to be competitive and attend university, or even public school. I believe these girls have private tutors and their lives revolve around their training schedules. Some of the top Russian ladies have outlined what their day looks like.

I can't imagine that training any less than everyone else would result in anything other than falling behind, unfortunately. Many are falling behind even with their current training load.

Just a quick word about Nathan, Vincent and Karen, without diverting the thread too much.

The Ivies do not allow part-time students, or at least I know Yale does not, and I would be surprised if Brown or Cornell do. This is why Vincent Zhou chose only to go one semester to secure his place at the University, and then take a leave of absence for full time training. They also do not allow, when times are normal, distance learning.

I am far from a Nathan Chen super fan. But what he has been able to accomplish, attending a university like Yale full-time, is just amazeballs. I also happen to think his skating has improved as a result.

But many skaters, I would venture to say, go part-time, use distance learning, or whatever else they need to do to finish their studies and compete at the same time. And they are to be commended for it. Congrats to Liza

 

[zounger]

All 3 under the American university system. I wonder if this is possible in Russia, as it probably requires a flexible university schedule.

I guess like almost everywhere in the world it depends on which school/department you are. Some low-end departments like Physical education etc, some art schools , finance/management etc. will not require your presence all the time. As far as you give the term exams. But high-end departments with high competition and some serious level of program will require your presence. Engineering schools (laboratories), Medical school (laboratories). I cannot imagine these schools to let you do distance laboratories or lessons (regularly).

Most of the top-level athletes in Russia and in other countries are just in low-end departments with minimal involvement in studies. Here the USA might be in a better position due to its college/scholarship programs, plus the distribution of well know universities across the country (especially for athletes who are not at the top of their sport).

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Some of Samodelkina's new choreo
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDGHxQDIWl-/?igshid=31m6mct7f2ex

Is that her old FS she is practicing? Music sounds familiar

 

[flanker]

Most of the top-level athletes in Russia and in other countries are just in low-end departments with minimal involvement in studies. Here the USA might be in a better position due to its college/scholarship programs, plus the distribution of well know universities across the country (especially for athletes who are not at the top of their sport).

You mean like Forrest Gump? "College ran by real fast, 'cause I played so much football."

 

[plushyfan]

This is a really interesting intervew with costume designer Natalia Bolshakova -in english
https://fs-gossips.com/a-girl-comes...iew-with-costume-designer-natalia-bolshakova/

“А girl comes – the idol of millions – and she’s sure that she’s fat and has a bad figure.”
...

 

[flanker]

Must I enthusiastically agree with everything she said to be accepted as a member of the human society or am I allowed to say I have very mixed feelings about that interview?

 

[Shayuki]

This is a really interesting intervew with costume designer Natalia Bolshakova -in english
https://fs-gossips.com/a-girl-comes...iew-with-costume-designer-natalia-bolshakova/

“А girl comes – the idol of millions – and she’s sure that she’s fat and has a bad figure.”
...

What's with the reply to the question about Anna's dress? She's asked what she thinks of a dress transformation, then she starts talking about how Anna wasn't the first to do it blah blah(someone did it in the 1980s) and then begins talking about how she didn't deserve to win, not even answering the question. Seems like a hater.

 

[Scott512]

Must I enthusiastically agree with everything she said to be accepted as a member of the human society or am I allowed to say I have very mixed feelings about that interview?

Um no.

I'm going to bite my tongue on this article and this womans comments. It was very much an anti you know who article.

Although the comment at the very end of the comments was how Sasha's parents should have said we left Eteri because we got more dough. Lol! When money talks people walk.

 

[Scott512]

What's with the reply to the question about Anna's dress? She's asked what she thinks of a dress transformation, then she starts talking about how Anna wasn't the first to do it blah blah(someone did it in the 1980s) and then begins talking about how she didn't deserve to win, not even answering the question. Seems like a hater.

Is this Natalia related to Bestie? Maybe we in America can send this woman back to Russia.

That was nasty what she said about Anna and the dress. I'm reading it and I'm like let It go woman. So a dance girl did it in the 1980s. What does that have to do with Anna ballerina pulling it off perfectly this past season? She didn't even compliment Anna. She was talking about some American dance couple or something. She couldn't hide her feelings. You would never have top American or Canadian designer dumping on their own compatriots like happens in Russia.

 

[flanker]

Um no.

I'm going to bite my tongue on this article and this womans comments. It was very much an anti you know who article.

Although the comment at the very end of the comments was how Sasha's parents should have said we left Eteri because we got more dough. Lol! When money talks people walk.

It's like Kiira's sequel. "I've never met Tutberidze but..." The thing Shayuki has mentioned about her reply to the question on Anna's dress is just top of the iceberg. I've noticed as well she didn't answer the question.

Umm, her comparisons. Well, she probably didn't notice but some of the most serious cases of mental health issues/eating disorders came precisely from the side she says there is everything excellent. As for the attitude towards skaters, the most succesful coach in the United States is currently Raf and precisely his attitude is very different from what she says. As he said, "there is a custom to always praise in America but why should I lie when someone just does bad." I understand the issues against too harsh coaches and I didn't like the comment she mentioned about physical punishing of skaters as well, but the things can't turn the opposite extreme, like allowing everything or praising even obviously unhealthy habits - and I would like to mention that excessive body weight is much more spread problem of the modern society and all those "I love my (big) weight" is no less dangerous.

About her mentioning synchronized swimming - well, just recently I've seen some documents about the preparation of the swimmers in that centre and Ischenko/Romashina duet. Like the training style there or not, with the deep focus you can't say the conditions there would be somehow different than in e.g. Eteri's team. In this case it is obvious that she speaks from the position "they are valuable customers I would speak nicely about them, Eteri is not my customer, so I can give an answer as if Anna's costume was some abomination, Eteri is a dictator and her results come from the point she works with kids" (I wonder then how is it possible that other coaches work with the skaters of the same age without those results - but she made it as the main and only important aspect...).

All in all, it's 90 % BS, 10 % more or less valuable info to me. I don't know adequate english proverb, but we say "whose bread you eat, his song you sing." That's her.

 

[Mathman]

What's with the reply to the question about Anna's dress? She's asked what she thinks of a dress transformation, then she starts talking about how Anna wasn't the first to do it blah blah(someone did it in the 1980s) and then begins talking about how she didn't deserve to win, not even answering the question.

I thought that her answer was perfectly clear (although the reply is not pleasing to everyone).

To me, Natalia Bolshakova was saying that the praise for Anna's costume was misplaced. Most of the attention that it received was because of the novelty of the costume change -- but that in itself was not novel at all, just reflective of fans' poor memories. She went on the say that Chock and Bates' costumes were at a "high level from an artistic point of view," that they were "associative and stylish," and that there was "real design work."

Of course she would not be so unkind as to say that Anna Shcherbakova's dress was ordinary, lacking a high level or artistry, unstylish, etc., and that furthermore even the concept was recycled. But it is pretty clear that this was her opinion, without saying the ubkind words straight out. (Others are free to disagree with her opinion, of course).

 

[Scott512]

It's like Kiira's sequel. "I've never met Tutberidze but..." The thing Shayuki has mentioned about her reply to the question on Anna's dress is just top of the iceberg. I've noticed as well she didn't answer the question.

Umm, her comparisons. Well, she probably didn't notice but some of the most serious cases of mental health issues/eating disorders came precisely from the side she says there is everything excellent. As for the attitude towards skaters, the most succesful coach in the United States is currently Raf and precisely his attitude is very different from what she says. As he said, "there is a custom to always praise in America but why should I lie when someone just does bad." I understand the issues against too harsh coaches and I didn't like the comment she mentioned about physical punishing of skaters as well, but the things can't turn the opposite extreme, like allowing everything or praising even obviously unhealthy habits - and I would like to mention that excessive body weight is much more spread problem of the modern society and all those "I love my (big) weight" is no less dangerous.

About her mentioning synchronized swimming - well, just recently I've seen some docuiments about the preparation of the swimmers in that centre and Ischenko/Romashina duet. Like the training style there or not, with the deep focus you can't say the conditions there would be somehow different than in e.g. Eteri's team. In this case it is obvious that she speaks from the position "they are valuable customers I would speak nicely about them, Eteri is not my customer, so I can give an answer as if Anna's costume was some abomination, Eteri is a dictator and her results come from the point she works with kids" (I wonder then how is it possible that other coaches work with the skaters of the same age without those results - but she made it as the main and only important aspect...).

all in all, it's 90 % BS, 10 % more or less valuable info to me. I don't know adequate english proverb, but we say "whose bread you eat, his song you sing." That's her.

85% of 15% for me. You are a tougher cookie.

 

[Scott512]

This is a really interesting intervew with costume designer Natalia Bolshakova -in english
https://fs-gossips.com/a-girl-comes...iew-with-costume-designer-natalia-bolshakova/

“А girl comes – the idol of millions – and she’s sure that she’s fat and has a bad figure.”
...

The most interesting thing is that women who are thin often think of themselves as being fat and it's not just in sports that goes with models and actresses too. Whatever sport or feel these people are involved in I wish there were some kind of counseling for them other than from an agent or a coach or a parent.

 

[Mathman]

Is this Natalie Bolshakova's work?

https://images.nbcolympics.com/www....usatsi_9485300.jpg?impolicy=960x540_rectangle

One thing that she didn't mention was the problem that in a sport like synchronized swimming, all the athletes must look exactly the same. If the athletes come in different sizes and shapes, the costume designer is out of luck.

This was a big problem at one time for ballet companies in the U.S. A black or dark-skinned ballerina was never hired for a major company, the excuse being that they would stand out rather than blend in when they all stood in a line. Only little by little did audiences, dance critics, etc., begin to prize the "everyone's different, but we're all the same" look.

 

[Mathman]

I don't know adequate english proverb, but we say "whose bread you eat, his song you sing." That's her.

"He who pays the piper calls the tune."

At least she was honest: Give me $1000 and I'll throw something together. Give me $1500 and I'll out some effort into it.

 

[flanker]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune."

Thank you :agree:

 

[JazzUp]

It's like Kiira's sequel. "I've never met Tutberidze but..." The thing Shayuki has mentioned about her reply to the question on Anna's dress is just top of the iceberg. I've noticed as well she didn't answer the question.

She's similar to Korpi in the sense that she has never been to a single training session in Sambo-70 and never-ever talked to the skaters from TeamTut; difference is that Korpi never wanted to be the dress designer for Sambo-70 skaters but failed to get a single order.