Alena Kostornaia

[Lechat]

I like her new SP which fits her the most (she’s very elegant in her new black suit) but I prefer vivaldi for the free. Anyway, she’s fighting. What she needs is confidence and to land a clean 3A.

 

[McBibus]

Candies? LOL! Thats a perfect comment from you on Halloween!

There is a realistic chance Russia will get all 6 spots for GPF. Yet only get 3 for olympics and worlds, LOL its a joke but the joke is on us. Figure skating is a niche sport that needs new leadership. We dont need to any country to have like 6 spots for olympics or worlds. But an extra spot or 2 should happen if you dominate a discipline like has never happened before.

Changing the programs worked for Aliona. Now she needs to make the GPF and do something special there where the judges cant hold her down while propping others up. Can she do 2 3As in her free skate by GPF? I expect her to get better as the season go on. But if she doesnt get a PCS score h deserve it will be hard to overcome Liza. Forget about Kami for now. Anna and Sasha have issues. Its all up in the air and up for grabs except for the #1 Russian laady.

Don't go so far as the olympic my friend.
Why not 12 spots (2 groups) for the GP final?
Is ISU scared to have a second date where all the best skaters can be togheter?
If Russia lock everybody else out of the final it would be a tremendous display of dominance but a poor outcome for ISU.

I know: there are the juniors needing space and time to compete evfen if nobody cares (extremization) in that context .
We would be too smart to have a big final for the senior and another final for the junior where the spotlight is on them like they deserve instead of being a side event.

 

[nussnacker]

She badly needs a stable 3A.
That would begin a positive chain reaction: TES > Confidence > Boldness > Shining on the ice.

A thing that worries me since last year: she never get SS4 anymore. What is missing?

What do you think of the new FS?

I think it’s the new program mostly. She got a level 3 in the free, which is what she would get even in 19-20 season sometimes.

 

[nussnacker]

Don't go so far as the olympic my friend.
Why not 12 spots (2 groups) for the GP final?
Is ISU scared to have a second date where all the best skaters can be togheter?
If Russia lock everybody else out of the final it would be a tremendous display of dominance but a poor outcome for ISU.

I know: there are the juniors needing space and time to compete.
Nobody cares (extremization) but whe woud be too smart to have a big final for the senior and another final for the junior where the spotlight is on them like they deserve instead of being a side event.

Part of me thinks they don’t want all Eteri GPF and are trying to avoid that at all costs. For that they need to either get rid of Daria or Aliona or Maiia. How that is being achieved is another question of course…
I love Daria‘s skating, but Daria is not going to Olympics this year. Aliona still has a fighting chance, she needs GPF. It got smaller after this competition, but I’m trying not to lose hope.

 

[Remilia]

Are we making too much of the Olympic team for the Russian ladies when in reality no one is going to catch Killa Kamila this season?
Well I guess Liza could catch her. Naah. Maybe only Sasha if she hits like four quads and KV falls ones.

So are we stressing out too much whether the most beautiful skater in the world makes the Russian Olympic team or not?

We are definitely not stressing out too much. It's true that Kamila is essentially unbeatable right now, but it would still be amazing for Aliona to make the Olympic team and medal there. Not to mention it's basically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her and the other Russian ladies due to the sheer amount of talent in Russia.

 

[McBibus]

Are we making too much of the Olympic team for the Russian ladies when in reality no one is going to catch Killa Kamila this season?
Well I guess Liza could catch her. Naah.

even 80 in PCS would not be enough

Maybe only Sasha if she hits like four quads and KV falls ones.

a 5 quad Sasha is her only competitor (everybody else need Kami to bomb it to have a chance right now), but the first enemy of a big favorite is in his/her own mind.

So are we stressing out too much whether the most beautiful skater in the world makes the Russian Olympic team or not?

I think we are.
We should just support her to be her better self first and later, if still possible, think about the olympics.

 

[irriya]

Why what happened?

When I went to sleep last night I didn't see any results so I thought the ladies were skating on Sunday. The fans must have been very spoiled having the men's free program and ladies free program yesterday.

I've only seen one other post today in aleona's fan thread and I saw that she got bronze. I hope she wasn't robbed of silver. But I think this is something to build on and her triple axle is getting better and by the end of the Grand Prix season she will be ready to fight for an Olympic spot. But even more importantly she's going to be the most beautiful skater in the world again that much is evident.

I hope AK sees the bronze as something to build on I hope she's getting confident again and has full confidence in her coach is boach to lead her back to the top.

Happy Halloween by the way.

the problem is I don't know if she would have enough time and opportunities to win back judges' heart now. She will always be fans' favorite but it's those judges. They broke everyone's hearts...

 

[Vemvane]

Pictures from the medal ceremony.




And more FP photos.

 

[Vemvane]

Further SP photos - I really like this little black dress, it's very appealing and playful.

 

[Lzbee]

She needed a silver for a secure chance. In France she doesn’t really have anyone to lose to, even if she doesn’t do better than now. So it’s bronze and (likely) silver.

Chances are, it’s either Young or Daria which will take silver and bronze at NHK. If Daria takes silver, Aliona will be compared to Liza for 6th spot, and will have to best her by the sum of scores. Liza won’t be marked down in Russia, even with a bronze. If Kaori skates clean and medals ahead of both You and Daria, while You takes bronze, this will ensure Aliona’s path into GPF.
If Daria takes bronze and You silver, it’s Daria vs Aliona vs You vs Liza by best sum of scores for the last 2 spots. Currently both Daria and You have better scores than Aliona.

If Anna somehow loses to Aliona in France, then Aliona will certainly be at GPF. However, even Anna with a neck problem was still scoring more than Aliona here.

Chances are looking slim at the moment, everything depends on how Aliona does in France and how NHK stacks up. It is now or never for her. Next 3 weeks will decide her fate. If she doesn’t make GPF, she’s got 0 chance, regardless of how she does at Nationals.

Ah you're right, she'll have to outscore one of Daria, Maiia or Liza. It's physically impossible for both Liza and Maiia to have 2/2 but we've seen Maiia beat Anna already so it could end up as 1/3 for Maiia.

In fact, best case scenario for Aliona is if Alysa takes silver at NHK and shakes up the whole thing. Daria is Aliona's best bet for a score tie breaker as she only got 217 at skate America. Don't think Aliona can beat Liza in a score off unless Liza bombs or Aliona starts scoring at 19/20 levels at France.

Kamila: 1/1
Sasha: 1/1
Anna: 1/1
Liza: 2/2
Daria: 2/2?
Maiia: 3/2
Aliona: 3/2
Kseniia: 5/3

 

[Scott512]

Part of me thinks they don’t want all Eteri GPF and are trying to avoid that at all costs. For that they need to either get rid of Daria or Aliona or Maiia. How that is being achieved is another question of course…
I love Daria‘s skating, but Daria is not going to Olympics this year. Aliona still has a fighting chance, she needs GPF. It got smaller after this competition, but I’m trying not to lose hope.

With the crazy judging we've seen this year anything is possible. What I don't understand is why would the Russian federation want the end of the TT dynasty. That is super perplexing

I think YY could get the 6th spot. She may be the only non Russian to get to the grand prix final.

Russian federation did AK no favors putting her in with the Olympic favorite KV and yesterday and the judges favorite Liza knowing they would puff her up this year.

I also think since nationals is like 3 weeks later than it normally is this year that that helps alyona sasha and Anna find their best form before nationals. It's possible that none of 3A will make the Olympic the Olympic team and that was unfathomable a year Agon 5 minimum bowl a year ago. Unlock the pens on what Maya does. Aleona just needs to focus on herself and getting better because I think everyone would agree she was considerably better in skate Canada than she was in Finlandia.

 

[Scott512]

the problem is I don't know if she would have enough time and opportunities to win back judges' heart now. She will always be fans' favorite but it's those judges. They broke everyone's hearts...

Is the only way for the judges to stop breaking our hearts and to stop being obviously unfais this the unfair is to call them out and people in figure skating have to do that. The scoring has been crazy this year the judging has been crazy the pcs scores have been crazy. This this should not be happening in an Olympic season. Maybe it's not happening with the men or the dance or the pairs but it is with the ladies.

I will stand with Aliona whether she makes the Olympic team or not whether she makes Grand Prix final or not. But it doesn't look like she has anyone on her side so far this season. Is other than maybe Her coach who let her change the programs.

I also think whichever Russian girl wins the gold medal in the Olympics she gets to go to worlds but the other 2 spots should be replaced by people who did not go to the Olympics.

 

[Jeanie19]

I love Aliona's free program and short program dress. Changing programs was the right decision.

 

[Lechat]

Are we making too much of the Olympic team for the Russian ladies when in reality no one is going to catch Killa Kamila this season?
Well I guess Liza could catch her. Naah. Maybe only Sasha if she hits like four quads and KV falls ones.

So are we stressing out too much whether the most beautiful skater in the world makes the Russian Olympic team or not?

Alena’s biggest challenge is to restore her 3A and to skate confidently like two years ago. Her biggest rival is herself, she has to overcome her fear. She keeps improving and I’m sure her bronze medal will give her motivation.

The olympic team will be decided after the nationals. There’s still time to improve.

 

[McBibus]

It's possible that none of 3A will make the Olympic the Olympic team and that was unfathomable a year Agon 5 minimum bowl a year ago. Unlock the pens on what Maya does. Aleona just needs to focus on herself and getting better because I think everyone would agree she was considerably better in skate Canada than she was in Finlandia.

Kami is the star (as was supposed to be since she was 14)
Anna and Sasha are supposed to be the co stars.
Anna for stability, Sasha for potential.

Actually having Aliona missing last season and starting as an underdog simplified the line up.
With a leveled playfield like in 2019 (Sasha did not delivered but we are looking for potential medals here) would have been much more stressfull for everyone with a battle to the last spin not to chase a dream but to chase away the nightmare of being the one that missed the final cut.

A quadless Anna mixed the cards again because without quad is hunting season for her spot, and there is hope for the underdogs.
If it it solely due to the neck injury I see no problem for her (being the reigning WC), but one summer has passed and her body could have changed just enough (i do really hate how this can have such a massive impact on skaters)

If Anna is out then the narrative is set in my opinion unless Maya starts hitting quads like a swiss clock or Aliona is back to '19.
If they can't blow the empress out of the ice and one place is left vacant i think it will be hers (and not without merits on her side I would say).

 

[Scott512]

even 80 in PCS would not be enough

a 5 quad Sasha is her only competitor (everybody else need Kami to bomb it to have a chance right now), but the first enemy of a big favorite is in his/her own mind.


I think we are.
We should just support her to be her better self first and later, if still possible, think about the olympics.

I agree with your assessments and we just need to support aleona and root for her as she gets better and stronger during the season. Whether it will be enough to make the Olympic team I have no idea. If sasha gets healthy and Anna gets her quad's back it's going to be hard to keep them off the Olympic team let's be honest and we know who is the number one on the Olympic team right now.

AK has already come a long way since finlandia since finlandio let's see if she can master these 2 new programs and put up a real fight in the Grand Prix final. I think she has a real chance to make the Grand Prix final unless unless the judges are out to get her.

 

[Scott512]

Kami is the star (as was supposed to be since she was 14)
Anna and Sasha are supposed to be the co stars.
Anna for stability, Sasha for potential.

Actually having Aliona missing last season and starting as an underdog simplified the line up.
With a leveled playfield like in 2019 (Sasha did not delivered but we are looking for potential medals here) would have been much more stressfull for everyone with a battle to the last spin not to chase a dream but to chase away the nightmare of being the one that missed the final cut.

A quadless Anna mixed the cards again because without quad is hunting season for her spot, and there is hope for the underdogs.
If it it solely due to the neck injury I see no problem for her (being the reigning WC), but one summer has passed and her body could have changed just enough (i do really hate how this can have such a massive impact on skaters)

If Anna is out then the narrative is set in my opinion unless Maya starts hitting quads like a swiss clock or Aliona is back to '19.
If they can't blow the empress out of the ice and one place is left vacant i think it will be hers (and not without merits on her side I would say).

Anna is still a contender for the Olympic team because of her consistency and clutchiness and if she gets her quad's back as I expect by nationals she will be the 2nd person on the team. If sasha gets healthy and can do 3 or 4 quads in a free skate she certainly the 3rd pick. That would mean tough luck for aliona and everybody else.

If there are so many unknowns and we don't know how much better aliona will get I think it could be another 20% better.

 

[Scott512]

Alena’s biggest challenge is to restore her 3A and to skate confidently like two years ago. Her biggest rival is herself, she has to overcome her fear. She keeps improving and I’m sure her bronze medal will give her motivation.

The olympic team will be decided after the nationals. There’s still time to improve.

Interesting post about it's about alyona's biggest rival being herself. I think so too. It also helps her that nationals is about 3 weeks later this season.

She is pretty close with having a great triple axle again and if that comes it's game on. Especially if she can somehow do 2 in the free skate.

 

[Azikin]

Alena’s biggest challenge is to restore her 3A and to skate confidently like two years ago. Her biggest rival is herself, she has to overcome her fear. She keeps improving and I’m sure her bronze medal will give her motivation.

The olympic team will be decided after the nationals. There’s still time to improve.

That's almost exactly what I wanted to say. Go Alenka, you will only improve from now on and nothing's impossible!

 

[Azikin]

But... I just wish she had a free program worthy of the Olympic season...