2024-25 Russian Grand Prix - Stage 4 - Moscow

[KhinSuShein]

I think the French can be competitive on a good day. They just don't seem to have many good days.

Exactly! sometimes they are good sometimes they aren't - depending on weather.

 

[LadyB]

Great competition - congrats to the podium, especially Grisha Fyodorov.

 

[lariko]

Maybe, but we'll never know. A really serious competition can do funny things to skaters and performances... If Russian men are having a real chance to claim medals and make an impact, it is now.

I'm not begrudging Malinin his extraordinary skills, but the Russian lads are miles more sympathetic than him - at least for me. Sorry.

I love them as well, particularly Mozalev, but internationally extroverts that people understand easily (normally) get higher scores. Unfortunately, I doubt any of these theories will be put to the test, but if they would be it would be super interesting.

 

[EdgeCall]

I had hoped for a clean second group but overall great event!

 

[AlexBreeze]

Semenenko squeaks by with the win. This is why, children, the SP is important. Skate of the evening belongs to the Fyodorov

Fedorov couldn't do more in the SP, though. He just lacking general skills. Like steps.

 

[katymay]

One thing to consider is that Russians had been skating on 6-7 arenas in Russia for the past 3 years, so their results will also be down once they start shipping all over the world on different ice, size and time differences, particularly for men with multiple quads. (If and when they do, and it's a big if)

The size in particular will affect Matvey-he is so fast he runs out of real estate, even on the largest ice surfaces. It is hard to adjust your speed, when your speed is a natural thing. Like a a marathon runner trying to slow their mile pace.

 

[katymay]

Great competition - congrats to the podium, especially Grisha Fyodorov.

Roman's program is actually my favorite. Mark's FS my least favorite. (I like his SP, just not a fan of the FS) Mark had no speed today which makes his jumps wonky. Matvey has too much speed which makes his wipe outs scary.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Grisha with a can of beer in the mixed zone.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Calls:
Fedorov -
Semenenko -
Kondratiuk 4Fe 3A+3A< 4Sq+3Tq

Seems a bit selectional. Zhenya had two qs, Grisha deserves ! on both lutzes and flips and seemed to have qs as well. The calls wouldn't change the result though.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Now I'm starting hoping for Varvara and Timur's bronze.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Redemption for Liza and Dario!

 

[thatdarncat]

Lovely program from Sophia and Matvey, they have lovely flow over the ice

 

[thatdarncat]

Hmm.. not sure about the music for Stepanova and Bukin, so good moves though. David and Irina

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Yay so pleased for StepBuks! It’s not my favourite program of theirs but I like that they’ve tried something different and they deserved to be 5 marks higher than K/Z!

 

[AlexBreeze]

Now I'm starting hoping for Varvara and Timur's bronze.

Unfortunately 4th place for the second year in a row. Probably next time.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Men's awarding ceremony.

 

[lariko]

Ye gods, they didn't release Cirizano to pair him up with this woman? Whose daughter is she? Or is this some kind of cruel and unusual punishment?

 

[lariko]

Finally, they loaded men's free skate and I was so glad to see that Rukhin brought the shovel to dig himself out. StSq1, but great jumping sequence. He looks healthier too. Hope the kid will be okay. -- I am watching it withiut looking at the results, though obviously I saw that Semeneko, Fedorov and Kondratyk podiumed

 

[lariko]

And a beautiful skate by Danielian. He and Spanish music are basically

 

[lariko]

Okay, not to detract from Vetlugin and Zonov, who had wonderful performances, but Savosin is a treasure. Bonus for Sherbakova and Kolyada dancing in commentators' chairs