2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[colormyworld240]

What a season it's been so far for Sasha. Last season she got a lot of negativity in comparison to more elegant skaters like Alena, Anna, and even Kamila and Daria, and she was always came third to Alena and Anna. So far, in her first 2 competitions, she's managed to beat Daria, Kamila, and Alena. It'll be very interesting at the final to see if she can beat Anna (and keep her lead above the others), but she's definitely improved relative to her main competitors. Some people think she's all jumps but it's clearly working for her, and it's really nice to see because she had such a tough season last year. That 4S was gorgeous.

Plushenko is in the same boat as Eteri was with Evgenia and Alina during the Olympic season. His face when Alena's SP scores came up said it all. It's always difficult to have 2 skaters fighting for the same titles and I'm sure he has his favourite, everyone does and it's human, but as long as he gives them equal opportunities for them, that's all that really matters.

 

[Arbitrary]

It's obvious to today, clean Sasha eats every one else alive. Two clean programs like those of last days will bring so massive BV+GOE just enough to fight any pack of 10th of PCS.
Also no Board would award less TSS for a multiple quads program vs no-quads one.

TAT made some analysis of Sasha's FP and recommended rearranging jumps and combos in the way to have some rest before going for the third quad.

 

[anonymoose_au]

TAT made some analysis of Sasha's FP and recommended rearranging jumps and combos in the way to have some rest before going for the third quad.

As someone who's no longer a coach and was apparently the one who had the bright idea that Zhenya Med do a Beillmann, Tatiana Tarasova can kindly go jump in a lake.

She's the last person any skater or team should take advice from.

 

[MaHa75]

It’s her first competition for ages. Don’t expect for her to be at her top shape. It’s risky to land a 3A if you are not ready and it’s the first time she perform her new free program. She still needs time to polish it.

I did mention 3A...the choreo is week and the speed is not the same.

 

[renebaebae]

Trusova my girl won with a glorious margin just like I thought she would. Landed the best 4S she ever has and is on her way to 4 quad clean program after she repeats 3Lz and 3T instead of that loop.

Ready for her to dominate rostelecom soon

 

[Magill]

Oh, Sashyula, Sashyula! Two competitions, two golds, and the winner of the whole Russian Cup series, as I don't think anyone can surpass her in the Fifth Stage, no one can get two golds anymore while her total score is higher than Anya's. Not bad beginning of the season after the coaching change. You really deserve that royal break in the presidential suite in Kazan.

 

[McBibus]

I imagine people were expecting a crowning moment instead what they got were 2 lacklustre forgettable perfomances. The disappointment from her fans is quite palpable.

"Aliona" and "forgettable" can't share the same page ever

 

[iamchrislao]

It's sad to think that this year would have been Alena's chance to become world champion. Her performance today wasn't that bad, but the program is not good enough in my opinion. Hopefully they keep all the good ideas for the olympic season.

Sasha's program is also a bit generic, but she saves it with energy, power and quads (that 4S ). Although it's very early in the season, I think it's going to be between Sasha and Anna.

i actually LOVED aleona’s program!

 

[FayD]

I imagine people were expecting a crowning moment instead what they got were 2 lacklustre forgettable perfomances. The disappointment from her fans is quite palpable.

???....It's Cup of Russia, not the Olympics. Why does she need to deliver a "crowning moment" here and why would anyone expect her to? I'd be more worried if they started peaking here.

 

[eterialskating]

Lots of skaters have had difficulties this offseason, she's touted out as being a top artistic skater in the world and rightfully so, earlier this year she was 1 of 3 favorites for winning Worlds, but she performed pretty forgettable performances at this competition. I've said before that criticizing the programs on the first competition outing is being hasty; but it's a bit concerning because how much will she really be able to work on them considering she's got a busy month of November with competitions, next week is GP Russia then like 2 weeks later is the Russian Cup Final

Well she certainly needs to bring her A+ game. Next year Usacheva and Valieva will be senior and if they bring 3A's and quads it will be very difficult for her. Honestly with the way this is going, of the original 3A sensations the most likely to go to Olympics will be Trusova. Her quads just look so secure and she has actually improve upon them and adding a triple axel. She is still a poor performer skating wise. If she could even get a fifth of her coach's performance ability then it would be game over and she'd lock that spot already. My guess Valieva, Trusova and some other girl( I hope it's Anna).

 

[Novalis]

Lots of skaters have had difficulties this offseason, she's touted out as being a top artistic skater in the world and rightfully so, earlier this year she was 1 of 3 favorites for winning Worlds, but she performed pretty forgettable performances at this competition. I've said before that criticizing the programs on the first competition outing is being hasty; but it's a bit concerning because how much will she really be able to work on them considering she's got a busy month of November with competitions, next week is GP Russia then like 2 weeks later is the Russian Cup Final

In two weeks time she has GP Russia, 2 weeks after that Russian Cup stage 5 (I don't think one should call it a "final") and three weeks from that Russian Nationals. There really is very little time to reach top form.

The good news is that she will still probably reach top 3 of Russian (actual) seniors at RusNats (though off podium), and qualify to potential (/unlikely) Euros and Worlds.

 

[Novalis]

The current power rankings of Russian ladies at the moment, as I see it:

1. Sasha
2. Anya
3. Kamila
4. Dasha
5. Alyona
6. Liza
7. Maya
8. Anna F

So, if Stockholm Worlds will ever take place, the only threat to Alyona's spot seems to be Liza T. Four of my top eight are still 2nd year juniors in international scene and so not age eligible. Of course, the recovering Zhenya and Ksenia are question marks, if they can possibly make the RusNats.

Edit: By the way, I'm quite sure that Russian judges prefer to send Alyona over Liza to Sweden.

 

[JazzUp]

"...it looked very insecure, very unfinished, like a crude programme..." - only a hater would say something like this about Alyona's performance! Oh, wait - that was Alyona.

Another "highlight" from her interview - "Why should I be grateful to Team Tut?" Charming, just charming.

 

[Paulipau]

I think that Evgenia and Ksenia could also threathen Alyona, luckily they are both out of competition (?).


Following yesterday, I didn't like Alyonas choreo, I don't like the directions they are going with making this "sophisticated" programs but I ain't buying.
I think she would be much better with some classical piano concert. As for short I think she sold it and I didnt like this at the test skates, but that was long time ago so she had enough time to learn it.

Same with Samodurova, her both programs are blah to me, I think they should make her into a fun and entertaining skater ehich she surely is and not giving her some weird music with weird costumes. She is not able to sell it whatsoever.

I like both Trusovas programs and she has made a huge improvement in artistry.I wasn't her fan last season but It no longer feels like she is just a child having her hands around with no sense and jumping all the time.
She still jumps a lot tho xd and falls a lot. But the salchov and flip were top class for me.
It seems like Plushy really favorizes her, maybe he turn his head to Alyona once in a while? She certainly needs him more than Sasha does right now.

I'm a huge fan of Konstantinova, I like her style, elegance on the ice and music choices.
I'm very sad that things are not working out for her anymore.

Don't you think that Nugumanova should try ice dancing? Her jumps are a mess but love her artistry, also she is certainly an eye candy.

 

[Anni234]

Well it looks like the world is ending. Last year during the test skates nobody predicted wins for Alena and yet she won almost everything. It was her first competition after a long off-season AND an unexpected coaching change AND getting two entirely new programs merely months ago. I don't find it surprising that everything was not 100%. The 3A is not yet secure, but there's time, she only really needs it by RusNats. I think she's still a big favourite.

 

[FayD]

Well it looks like the world is ending. Last year during the test skates nobody predicted wins for Alena and yet she won almost everything. It was her first competition after a long off-season AND an unexpected coaching change AND getting two entirely new programs merely months ago. I don't find it surprising that everything was not 100%. The 3A is not yet secure, but there's time, she only really needs it by RusNats. I think she's still a big favourite.

If I didn't watch her performances and just read the comments, I'd assume she bombed all over the place with 3 falls and 4 pops The pressure on those girls to be perfect every time is so ridiculous to the point even when they skate clean they are still "done", "regressing", "falling behind" or whatever. It's so toxic.

 

[JazzUp]

Maya showing Alyona what sportsmanship is:

 

[Philippa8187]

Maya showing Alyona what sportsmanship is:

I did not come that conclusion. Both girls might have been unsure of the protocol given COVID-19, and apart from that, I thought Alena looked preoccupied, that’s all.

 

[Greengemmonster]

Wow go Trusova!

I really enjoyed her performance here and I feel like the intense music allows her to commit to her choreography. Really liked the step sequence which is not usually something I would associate with her but I felt like that was a very intense step sequence. She was really into it! One of my issues with her skating in the past was that she tended to zone off after a zillion quads so her team has done really well to keep her on track.

 

[surimi]

I did not come that conclusion. Both girls might have been unsure of the protocol given COVID-19, and apart from that, I thought Alena looked preoccupied, that’s all.

This sounds quite plausible to me. Do we really have to assume the worst, i.e. that Kostornaya didn't hug Trusova on purpose? Sometimes one can get so distracted one forgets even an ingrained habit.

Anyhow, I am not sold on Kostornaya's programs this season, especially the SP is not my cup of tea, but if she picked it and likes it, then whatever. I didn't agree with the scoring she got for the mistakes in her SP, but I don't think she's regressing. From what I've read she's had very little time to prepare, and had health issues at the same time. Her jumps seem as big to me as always. Let's see what she's capable of when she's had more time to grow into her programs.