2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[silveruskate]

I was! And thank you, I did have lots of fun. There were quite many people, too, which was pretty surprising. Normally, no one here cares about figure skating and last time I went to the JGP (in 2018), I had almost the whole arena to myself. Maybe people were bored because of COVID.

About Kostornaia: I‘m less worried about the judges, really, than the prospect of her jumps (especially the 3A). She‘s always had kind of a leg wrap but it‘s become a lot more aggravated lately and imo, it‘s why she keeps URing the 3A (and sometimes the 3T in combination) She‘s also my favorite, so I hope she gets it under control asap.

Happy you had a good time!

The thing is the 3T is her most tightly wrapped jump. I don't think her main problem is something as localised as leg-wrap.

 

[LiamForeman]

Happy you had a good time!

The thing is the 3T is her most tightly wrapped jump. I don't think her main problem is something as localised as leg-wrap.

I've noticed this too. The 4toe is probably her best bet for a quad. But yeah, her open position and leg wrap just aren't going to work for Ultra jumps.

 

[Amei]

I've noticed this too. The 4toe is probably her best bet for a quad. But yeah, her open position and leg wrap just aren't going to work for Ultra jumps.

Per Kostornaia, quads aren't in the equation at this point. Now whether she means right now until she gets her triple axel restabilized (which makes sense) or not this season, I do not know.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CU0Y3iPoKPb/

- In training, all forces are put on the triple axel - or are you looking closely at the quadruples too?
- No, now I'm not going to teach quads, I want to concentrate all my efforts on honing the programs and elements that are in my programs.

 

[chasingneverland]

I’m a little disappointed Aliona held back on the 3A because I think she could have squeezed out a lead, but I guess I can’t understand the logic of her coaches telling her to hold back since I’m not there with them.

We actually don't know if Aliona or her coaches made that decision. In the past - Anna at World's for example where in the middle of her skate she decided to only go for one quad - the skater has been the one to decide independently to slightly water-down their skate. We also know Aliona doesn't like doing elements that she isn't 100% comfortable with.

 

[nussnacker]

I've noticed this too. The 4toe is probably her best bet for a quad. But yeah, her open position and leg wrap just aren't going to work for Ultra jumps.

Her 3T is also very high, despite being a second jump, she often has additional airtime on it. 4T would be very possible and likely coaches want her to go for quads. Probably Aliona is just very nervous going for a quad right now. I think until she’s not 100% perfect with 3A, she won’t try quads. She should give it a try though, who knows, maybe quads will be easier for her, than 3A?

 

[flanker]

She has

Anastasia Zinina

Anastasia Zinina was born on 16th February 2007 in Rostov-On-Don. She represents Russia and is currently coached by Alexei Vasilevsky at the Army of Figure Skaters. Nastya began skating in 2011 and her previous coach was Svetlana Panova of Snow Leopards. During the 2021-2022 season she was...

www.goldenskate.com

Oh yes. She is not in the Women's Fan Fest Index, so I didn't search for it.

 

[silveruskate]

Aliona won't do quads. I want her to try so bad but it's clear her coaches have lots of faith in her ability yet she does not want to. As far as I can tell, Aliona's very worried about being injured. She even said with the 3A that every time she's afraid. Overcoming this type of fear is hard and it's completely understandable - not everybody can yeet themselves into jumps.

RI: You think if you were not working with them you wouldn't think about the 3A?
AK: I was told my many people to land the 3A, as if I was pushed to do it. I was told my 2A is high and good enough for another rotation. They didn't understand why I haven't rushed into it. So no, my 3A is not about watching Anna and Sasha landing the quads.
Yes, I was annoyed they can do the ultra C and I can't. Yet it was hard for me to push myself to learn the new elements. What changed my mind was the talks in the test skates in September. All the talks were like `If she was doing the 3A - they all do the ultra C and you don't...'
I was hurt. How come they can and I can't? So it got me mad in a good way. I decided this is it, the next competition am doing the 3A. Nevermind if I don't land it, but there will be a 3A in my content. After that learning the jump became easier.

RI: When was the first time you landed the 3A in the practice?
AK: If you mean this season it was when Anna was in the Challenger in Italy. If you mean the very first time it was after my first junior season - after the Worlds. I was attempting a 4T and a 4S on a harness. Later Rozanov offered me to try the 3A with the harness. I didn't really want to and started with the excuses. I tried a couple of times during the practice and by the evening he told me to try without the harness. I was surprised but decided to give it a try. The first attempt was lame, I fell. The coach told me to try to put more power into the jump and then it will work. And indeed I landed my second attempt. The next day we shot the video.

RI: If the element was ready why didn't you try it at the competition?
AK: I learned the 3A before the vacation, and it took me a while to get the jumps back after. I was only back to shape by the middle of the season. I didn't have time to learn a new jump : you don't do that during the competitive season.

RI: In one of the interviews you admitted being afraid of the 3A. What made you overcome the fear?
AK: I'm still afraid. Every time I attempt the 3A I have no idea what will happen. I try to control everything, but the first attempts are very hard. I don't know how my body will behave.
The only thing that helps is counting. But even that does not always help and a slightest wrong move will ruin it. The fall might be severe. Hence in the practices I'm quite careful with the first attempts and only later do it with the full power. After the current break I can't even imagine who will I get the jumps back.

RI: You'll have to start from the scratch?
AK: Unfortunately, yes.

RI: Is it possible you'll set yourself for working on the quad like you did the 3A?
AK: It's quite the same. I attempted the 4S. I landed it once, being about 1/4 underotated. I.e. it's possible to work on it. I only attempted the quad about 5-6 times. It's nothing.

RI: You said you wanted to be careful when working on the quad. What do you mean?
AK: I will not kill myself with the quad in every practice. You have to work without insanity. 3-4 attempts a practice are fine.

 

[macy]

I am 99% sure this dress is not Alionas competition dress. Hers likely isn't done yet. I'm sure it will be by the GP.

 

[sclloyd]

We actually don't know if Aliona or her coaches made that decision. In the past - Anna at World's for example where in the middle of her skate she decided to only go for one quad - the skater has been the one to decide independently to slightly water-down their skate. We also know Aliona doesn't like doing elements that she isn't 100% comfortable with.

Aliona said in an interview after the skate she was told by her coaches to perform the 2A not the 3A and that she wanted to argue she could perform the 3A but said that in the past she would have argued and learned her lesson, and would respect their advise and coaching from now on. Could be they took the fall publicly for her but I doubt it.

 

[Fluture]

We actually don't know if Aliona or her coaches made that decision. In the past - Anna at World's for example where in the middle of her skate she decided to only go for one quad - the skater has been the one to decide independently to slightly water-down their skate. We also know Aliona doesn't like doing elements that she isn't 100% comfortable with.

We do, actually. She said so in her post-skate interview. The coaches made the decision before the morning training session.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CU0NMWfKQTO/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

[Jontor]

Y'all complained about Kamila's SP dress, so now she has a new one that's much worse

And what has that to do with anything?

 

[sclloyd]

Aliona won't do quads. I want her to try so bad but it's clear her coaches have lots of faith in her ability yet she does not want to. As far as I can tell, Aliona's very worried about being injured. She even said with the 3A that every time she's afraid. Overcoming this type of fear is hard and it's completely understandable - not everybody can yeet themselves into jumps.

She said right after this performance too that she wouldn’t work on quads until this season’s currently planned content was absolutely perfect. I can see why as she knows she can win without them, but more and more that strategy hinges on others making mistakes, which are fewer and fewer… maybe if Kamila wins imperfectly tomorrow she will change her mind? But that seems like a stretch. If she gets to Grand Prix Final 2019 form maybe we can see some quads before Euros/Nats if she’s more scared she might not secure an Olympic spot without them than she is she will get hurt trying?

 

[silveruskate]

She said right after this performance too that she wouldn’t work on quads until this season’s currently planned content was absolutely perfect. I can see why as she knows she can win without them, but more and more that strategy hinges on others making mistakes, which are fewer and fewer… maybe if Kamila wins imperfectly tomorrow she will change her mind? But that seems like a stretch. If she gets to Grand Prix Final 2019 form maybe we can see some quads before Euros/Nats if she’s more scared she might not secure an Olympic spot without them than she is she will get hurt trying?

The interview I linked was April 2020 by the way. My main idea is that if she believes new elements shouldn't be learned during the season and she would literally make excuses not to in general, then I can't see her doing it during the Olympics season.

 

[Amei]

The interview I linked was April 2020 by the way. My main idea is that if she believes new elements shouldn't be learned during the season and she would literally make excuses not to in general, then I can't see her doing it during the Olympics season.

Well her opinion might change depending on her fellow Russian ladies, a couple of triple axels might not be enough to make it on the Olympic team. Question is - would it be too late to add a new element and stabilize it to actually be an effective addition to her FS layout.

 

[silveruskate]

Well her opinion might change depending on her fellow Russian ladies, a couple of triple axels might not be enough to make it on the Olympic team. Question is - would it be too late to add a new element and stabilize it to actually be an effective addition to her FS layout.

And debut brand new 4S at RusNats....

 

[chasingneverland]

We do, actually. She said so in her post-skate interview. The coaches made the decision before the morning training session.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CU0NMWfKQTO/?utm_medium=copy_link

That's fair.

I'd still be surprised if Aliona (and her own success rate with the element itself) didn't play a role in that.

Regardless, I don't see what the concern is about. Aliona always does better when she's confident and a clean skate is better for her. She hasn't had an international competition in almost two years. Also her PCS aren't going to be affected (that much) by merely going for a 2A. (They already know Anna scores well with a 2A.) And unlike Kamila, Aliona has been having problems with stabilizing her triples.

I for one am just glad she had a clean skate and is starting to get her "spark" back. The 3A will come. Maybe even tomorrow

 

[irriya]

I love Aliona's skating and I'm so rooting for her. But I had to mute the sound halfway thru her program. If she didnt lose any PCS points for that music, she should have.

yeah... that music makes me somehow okay with Tuktamysheva's PCS. the latter felt so much better in comparison...

​

 

[Paulipau]

Congratulations to the Empress for a great showing, she is getting better and better.

I know you guys say that Liza did not deserve the PCS she got, and I agree.

But, cmon PCS is hardly ever "fair" and reflecting reality. I already got used to it.
*Liza put a great clean program there
*She is from the biggest strongest Fed there is.
*She is fresh off World's silver medallist.

Are you really surprised? Cause I'm not at all.

Also the Kamila’s program works for me, it is not Storm but she does sell it pretty well.

Alyona's program does not work for me, it is empty and there are a lot of crossovers. All the moves are generic and she does not shine in it at all.

 

[hanca]

I am sad seeing Kamila do a 4S-Eu-wobble-3T instead of turning her 4S-Eu-wobble-2T into a 4S-Eu-2T.

Whyyyyyyy is Dudakov letting her and Sofia jump like that I think Adelia also is picking up the bad habit. Ugh. It’s just not correct, and it looks so bad

I don’t think it is about picking up bad habits. I think it is about learning to save the jump when things go wrong. When you are in competition, you don’t suddenly discover the ability to fight for the jumps when things go wrong if you didn’t do that during your practice. Of course it is better to have a clean jump rather than not clean, but when one makes a mistake and the jump is just not going to be clean, one has to fight for it to get as much out of it as possible.

 

[flanker]