2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Scott512]

Did i write her name with an error?

I prefer to call Russian ladies by their last names. Because, how many Anna, Sofia, Alena/Alina, Anastasiia, Elizaveta, Daria, etc. exist in Russian FS world?

There aren't many Maiia though.

No I was just being sarcastic with my American sense of humor. I can spell her first name but would have a hell of a time spelling her last name. So you did a great job.

 

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Is it only me that Valieva reminds me a little bit of the vibe of Lipnitskayas story? She is already been pushed for the Olympics, she is supposed to be the favorite and she is quite consistent, as competitions go on! For example, Zagitova was already better than Medvedeva in her first junior year, but there was no such hype... Now, for Kamila, despite Trusova and Scherbakova being also favorite, she is also considered top! What are your opinions? I am really afraid for Kamila having the same route as Lipnitsakaya...

I also have Lipnitskaya's vibes. But tech wise Kamilla is a different generation.

 

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She always is.



Aliona is the reigning GPF and Euros Champion, that‘s two international titles. Surely, that‘s at least on par with two RusNats Golds... I‘d even argue it‘s ahead. Anyway, it‘s not like it matters all that much - Aliona‘s far off from her usual best this season and thus unlikely to beat Anna.

Also, although Zhenya‘s unlikely to compete this season (would still very much hope to see her at least once, though), she‘s the reigning Olympic Silver Medalist and World Bronze medalist (not to mention that she, too, won RusNats twice in the past) Status wise, she is ahead of Anna without a shadow of a doubt. Anna‘s still Eteri‘s second strongest skater in terms of scoring potential, though. (Only beaten by Kamila) No real competition there.



What about Maiia? She‘s not exactly consistent but neither was Daria a year ago. And neither was Alina back in 2016-17, for that matter. (she bombed that one JGP event pretty badly) And yet she won everything a year later. So, who knows - the Olympics aren‘t until next season. At this point, Maiia looks to be the weakest but I wouldn‘t count her out.

Maja so far is way too behind if we are speaking about the Olympic team.

 

[Novalis]

I don't think Mayjya is going to quite make it either

 

[Ophelia]

Valieva is exquisite. For the first time, Russia has a ladies skater that imbues the country's ballet traditions - she looks like a Mariinsky ballerina transported onto the ice.

I thought Kostornaia was as good as they come, but Valieva might be something else.

 

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The federation is definitely pushing Kamila as the best Russian skater, and she is certainly amazing. The more I’ve seen, the more I appreciate her talents. That said, Olympic judges tend to surprise us. It’s never really a given or predictable. Also, while the Russian “teams” are battling, it seems the Japanese ladies are working hard with no drama. There is no guarantee we will see a Russian at the top of the Olympic podium. That’s what makes skating so exciting.

With all due respect and with the appreciation of comments about "the breath of fresh air " no one at NHK including Kaori was close to Kamilla. And we have no knowledge about Rika's competitive shape.

 

[Mawwerg]

Meanwhile Angels have presented a triple cantilever.

 

[NAOTMAA]

Valieva is exquisite. For the first time, Russia has a ladies skater that imbues the country's ballet traditions - she looks like a Mariinsky ballerina transported onto the ice.

I thought Kostornaia was as good as they come, but Valieva might be something else.

Dick Button would have said exactly what you did.

I remember a rant he went on years ago during one of Irina Slutskaya's performances. It was something like "how can a country with such a culture and history of ballet and the arts struggle to produce ladies with better lines, posture and extension? Why are they not better at it?"

I love a lot of the Russian ladies but I've always wondered the same as well. I think Adlina Sotnikova almost had it but Kamila is the first to really show it

 

[sclloyd]

Choking on an 86.2. Love Kamila, but jfc, these judges.

 

[RatedPG]

Choking on an 86.2. Love Kamila, but jfc, these judges.

Well, if you remove the three point bonus rule she earned from her spins, the score is really 83.2. I don’t think it is that unreasonable. Alina got over 80 without a triple axel.

 

[flanker]

The federation is definitely pushing Kamila as the best Russian skater, and she is certainly amazing. The more I’ve seen, the more I appreciate her talents. That said, Olympic judges tend to surprise us. It’s never really a given or predictable. Also, while the Russian “teams” are battling, it seems the Japanese ladies are working hard with no drama. There is no guarantee we will see a Russian at the top of the Olympic podium. That’s what makes skating so exciting.

While Kaori did well, she would have never received the score she received at NHK internationally for that skate. People talk about underscoring in Japan and overscoring in Russia, but I would say it is just different philosophy. In Russia, even if we can admit that the sores are somehow higher than they would be on the international competition, they are, I dare to say, equally higher, from the first to last skater. In Japan, it was obvious that they separated Kaori (and they would add Rika and Satoko probably if they would have participated) from the rest.

So while Anna, Sasha, Aliona, currently Kamila and maybe some others (Daria, Sofia in the future, possibly also Liza, though she is often losing points for some reasons discussed here from time to time) should score highly over 220 as a basic limit if they won't bomb (which if of course possible) and over 230 and even 240 if clean, I would say that for Kaori the score around 225-230 internationally is possible, but it requires an exceptional skate. So, Kaori can overscore russian skaters, but it requires many things to happen.

There is of course Rika, who could be considered a threat, in fact probably the only threat that doesn't require those "many things to happen", but I need to see her to skate to judge her chances. Satoko is, I'm sorry, out of the game and the rest of the japan ladies, plus Young You, who seemed to be another big competitor as Rika, are too inconsistent and with not many reserves in their bags that would allow them to make mistakes.

 

[CharLutzSpiral]

Dick Button would have said exactly what you did.

I remember a rant he went on years ago during one of Irina Slutskaya's performances. It was something like "how can a country with such a culture and history of ballet and the arts struggle to produce ladies with better lines, posture and extension? Why are they not better at it?"

I love a lot of the Russian ladies but I've always wondered the same as well. I think Adlina Sotnikova almost had it but Kamila is the first to really show it

Yep and then his commentary during Sasha Cohen's programs was somethin' else. He adored all these aspects in her skating (didn't we all?) and more. Stumbled upon one of her TAT-coaching era programs the other day and had forgotten how adorably excited he would get during her spiral sequences and well, just about anything.

Anyway, yes to Kamila truly imbuing this at last, (and by at last I mean for these qualities in Russian ladies' singles skating, it looks like Kamila's had them in spades at least since her 9yo Dying Swan program) she's something very special. Although I wouldn't complain if they nixed a few of those extraneous leg kicks, she really doesn't need 'em

 

[kirauza343]

Well, if you remove the three point bonus rule she earned from her spins, the score is really 83.2. I don’t think it is that unreasonable. Alina got over 80 without a triple axel.

83.2 is still higher than all but one of Rika’s clean short programs earned the past two seasons and is only about two points lower than both of Aliona’s best two international shorts. And that’s with a step out on her triple axel and a very tiny Flip.

It’s not an unexpected score given the absurd scoring at the Russian Cups but there’s nothing reasonable about it.

 

[yume]

That new Russian lady Kaorina Sakamotova is interesting.

 

[colormyworld240]

What about Maiia? She‘s not exactly consistent but neither was Daria a year ago. And neither was Alina back in 2016-17, for that matter. (she bombed that one JGP event pretty badly) And yet she won everything a year later. So, who knows - the Olympics aren‘t until next season. At this point, Maiia looks to be the weakest but I wouldn‘t count her out.

They are both far behind in terms of consistency. Of Eteri's previous skaters up until Anna/Sasha/Alena, Alina as a junior was probably the most inconsistent with 2 bad comps (one JGP and EYOF) and a no quad/3A layout. But even then, she had multiple clean competitions including JGPF, JW, and senior nationals.

AFAIK Daria has never skated a clean international competition and Maiia has never skated a clean international or national competition (even if you don't count the quad), and they're both on their second junior season, while doing the standard layouts.

Although Kamila is very far ahead for her age, I think as a whole this group of juniors is probably Eteri's weakest in terms of consistency. Maiia and Daria just don't seem to carry the same confidence as their previous skaters in their first junior season, and especially in their second.

 

[colormyworld240]

Is it only me that Valieva reminds me a little bit of the vibe of Lipnitskayas story? She is already been pushed for the Olympics, she is supposed to be the favorite and she is quite consistent, as competitions go on! For example, Zagitova was already better than Medvedeva in her first junior year, but there was no such hype... Now, for Kamila, despite Trusova and Scherbakova being also favorite, she is also considered top! What are your opinions? I am really afraid for Kamila having the same route as Lipnitsakaya...

She's a very well rounded skater. Most skaters have at least 1 clear weakness but Kamila has a bit of everything - spins, flexibility, musicality, jumps, skating skills, speed etc. She's not just okay or good at everything either, she has the most flexibility and best lines, the best spins, speed, twizzles, and her jumping layout is only second to Sasha. Her 4T looks like the biggest ladies' jump, and the 3A is getting more hype as only she and Sasha are trying a 3A and quad. While many skaters default to the strength in juniors - spinner (Yulia, Alina), jumper (Sasha, Alina), artist (Anna), Kamila doesn't because she's strong in all areas while still remaining relatively consistent.

Kamila's biggest issue her the lack of flow between her combos (she doesn't change edges but she definitely slides her blade and reloads her body). But even then, she has very good solo jumps, and now also a 4T and 3A and has correct 3Lz and 3F edges and seems to be the (only?) top Russian lady with that now. So even with the combo issue, jumping is her strength.

Personally I like other skaters more than Kamila (Anna and Alina) but it's very easy to see how Kamila's hype is more than theirs especially at her age, and I think she deserves it.

 

[Skatesocs]

That new Russian lady Kaorina Sakamotova is interesting.

Karina Sakhmatova

 

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While Kaori did well, she would have never receive the score she received at NHK internationally for that skate. People talk about underscoring in Japan and overscoring in Russia, but I would say it is just different philosophy. In Russia, even if we can admit that the sores are somehow higher than they would be on the international competition, they are, I dare to say, equally higher, from the first to last skater. In Japan, it was obvious that they separated Kaori (and they would add Rika and Satoko probably if they would have participated) from the rest.

So while Anna, Sasha, Aliona, currently Kamila and maybe some others (Daria, Sofia in the future, possibly also Liza, though she is often losing points for some reasons discussed here from time to time) should score highly over 220 as a basic limit if they won't bomb (which if of course possible) and over 230 and even 240 if clean, I would say that for Kaori the score around 225-230 internationally is possible, but it requires an exceptional skate. So, Kaori can overscore russian skaters, but it requires many things to happen.

There is of course Rika, who could be considered a thread, in fact probably the only thread that doesn't require those "many things to happen", but I need to see her to skate to judge her chances. Satoko is, I'm sorry, out of the game and the rest of the japan ladies, plus Young You, who seemed to be another big competitor as Rika, are too inconsistent and with not many reserves in their bags that would allow them to make mistakes.

I fully agree with what you said and I understand that you meant "threat"

 

[nussnacker]

That new Russian lady Kaorina Sakamotova is interesting.

We have Maria Kolokolchikova (Bell), Semen Odintsov (Uno) already, now Karina Sakamotova joins them

 

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83.2 is still higher than all but one of Rika’s clean short programs earned the past two seasons and is only about two points lower than both of Aliona’s best two international shorts. And that’s with a step out on her triple axel and a very tiny Flip.

It’s not an unexpected score given the absurd scoring at the Russian Cups but there’s nothing reasonable about it.

Well, forgive me if you don't agree but I think that overall Kamilla is a better skater than Rika. So that if they both are clean with the planned content I would vote for her with no hesitation and it has little to do with the national bias. I just adore her skating.