Alena Kostornaia

[Scott512]

I don't know guys.
I just so sad.
I hope it some king of tactics to show the new program only when ready and bin the old one instead of showing it once again.
If she still have consequences from the disease (a part for being late on the programmed training schedule that is somehow expected) it's too bad to even think about it.

I will miss her edges
I will miss her arms gracefully weawing
I will miss her superb crossovers
I will miss gravity and friction loosening theyr rules because of her skating
I will miss her smile and her eyes

You will see her and all her skills in the Russian Cup final in a few weeks. She won't have her 3A but she will be in her best form of the season.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

You will see her and all her skills in the Russian Cup final in a few weeks. She won't have her 3A but she will be in her best form of the season.

I still hope she will have her 3A back, though she will have had less than 3 months since her last long interruption (while for instance, at test skates in September, other skaters had already had 3½ months recovery since the end of confinement).

 

[Scott512]

I still hope she will have her 3A back, though she will have had less than 3 months since her last long interruption (while for instance, at test skates in September, other skaters had already had 3½ months recovery since the end of confinement).

It's been a rough season for alyona and now she has to save her season and she can by doing well in the Russian cup final in making the world's team. Even if she doesn't have her triple axel I think she can still score in the 230 point range if she's clean.

 

[Batsuchan]

It's been a rough season for alyona and now she has to save her season and she can by doing well in the Russian cup final in making the world's team. Even if she doesn't have her triple axel I think she can still score in the 230 point range if she's clean.

Yes, I may be reading too much into things, but I think the fact that Lakernik came to observe Aliona's practice and helped work on her free program means that the Russian Fed still very much supports her (despite all the drama). So I also think that if she skates cleanly, that she will be judged generously.
(Which may upset fans of other skaters, but oh well, Aliona already gets so much negative attention that I doubt it makes a difference at this point... )

It would be great if she could get the 3A back in time for the Russian Cup Final, but at this point I'm just hoping for her to be completely healthy and skate clean!

 

[bouncy]

It's been a rough season for alyona and now she has to save her season and she can by doing well in the Russian cup final in making the world's team. Even if she doesn't have her triple axel I think she can still score in the 230 point range if she's clean.

I hope her coaches fix her triples before the cup final. I'm afraid the judges won't give her a pass if she under-rotates like she did in CoR.
I would be devastated if she's not on Worlds team.

 

[Scott512]

I hope her coaches fix her triples before the cup final. I'm afraid the judges won't give her a pass if she under-rotates like she did in CoR.
I would be devastated if she's not on Worlds team.

Absolutely clean up the triples. That should be very doable. I believe Aliona has lost confidence and that's only natural. I think she has time to fix some things and find some good form before the cup final. She needs to or there won't be a world's. The 3rd spot is totally up for grabs between alyona and Liza.

 

[macy]

I hope her coaches fix her triples before the cup final. I'm afraid the judges won't give her a pass if she under-rotates like she did in CoR.
I would be devastated if she's not on Worlds team.

It's not a matter of cleaning up her triples but getting into competitive shape and getting the program trained. she doesnt UR in practice. when you get tired you UR.

 

[Batsuchan]

I hope her coaches fix her triples before the cup final. I'm afraid the judges won't give her a pass if she under-rotates like she did in CoR.
I would be devastated if she's not on Worlds team.

I agree with macy that Aliona needs to get into competitive shape, and that should help with her UR issues.

However, ultimately I think the only thing that matters is what the Russian Fed wants. If they want her to be on the Worlds team, then the judges will overlook any potential UR or level issues and give her generous PCS and GOEs. If they don't want her to be on the Worlds team, the tech panel will find UR and edge issues and dock the levels on her spins/steps, and the judges will be stingy with GOEs and PCS.

Yes, this kind of "judging" is totally unfair, but this is absolutely how I expect the Russian Fed to operate...

All that Aliona can do is skate her best (hopefully perfectly clean) and hope for the best!

**

On a totally unrelated (and much happier) note -- this new Japanese Edea poster totally made me
There are a bunch of Japanese skaters...and Aliona:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK5qTvgpocg/

Along the same lines, I was super amused to see that many of the Japanese news articles about the upcoming 2021 GPF in Osaka chose to feature a photo of Aliona:

フィギュア２１年ＧＰファイナルは大阪で北京五輪“前哨戦”　テスト大会は１０月/デイリースポーツ online

国際スケート連盟は２９日、オンラインで開催した２８日の理事会での承認事項を報告し、２２年北京五輪シーズンのグランプリ（ＧＰ）ファイナルは、１２月９～１２日に大阪で開催すると発表した。　ＧＰファイナルはＧＰシリーズ６戦の上位６人（組）しか出場...

www.daily.co.jp

大阪でフィギュアＧＰファイナル　１２月に、北京冬季五輪の前哨戦　

　国際スケート連盟は２９日、フィギュアで北京冬季五輪シーズンとなる来季のグランプリ（ＧＰ）シリーズの...

www.kochinews.co.jp

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Yes, I may be reading too much into things, but I think the fact that Lakernik came to observe Aliona's practice and helped work on her free program means that the Russian Fed still very much supports her (despite all the drama). So I also think that if she skates cleanly, that she will be judged generously.
(Which may upset fans of other skaters, but oh well, Aliona already gets so much negative attention that I doubt it makes a difference at this point... )

It would be great if she could get the 3A back in time for the Russian Cup Final, but at this point I'm just hoping for her to be completely healthy and skate clean!

I had read that as making somehow amends because it is likely that she caught CoViD at Rostelecom Cup, without wanting to admit it officially. But if she were considered wholly unimportant to RusFed, I guess he wouldn't have. I really wonder what she thinks of her new program and of his advice, though, and she will have to take them anyway. I hope she stays positive!

 

[Skatefan15]

Kind of off topic, but I really missed Aliona today. I actually really like her short program and think she sells it really well. After hearing Liza skate to Billie Eilish (which I did enjoy) made me miss Aliona even more—inspired me to watch her short from Rostelecom.

I hope Aliona’s doing well and if she’s ready, competes at the Russian cup final. I admire that her and her team are putting her health first though!

 

[Lunalovesskating]

I agree with macy that Aliona needs to get into competitive shape, and that should help with her UR issues.

However, ultimately I think the only thing that matters is what the Russian Fed wants. If they want her to be on the Worlds team, then the judges will overlook any potential UR or level issues and give her generous PCS and GOEs. If they don't want her to be on the Worlds team, the tech panel will find UR and edge issues and dock the levels on her spins/steps, and the judges will be stingy with GOEs and PCS.

Yes, this kind of "judging" is totally unfair, but this is absolutely how I expect the Russian Fed to operate...

All that Aliona can do is skate her best (hopefully perfectly clean) and hope for the best!

**

On a totally unrelated (and much happier) note -- this new Japanese Edea poster totally made me
There are a bunch of Japanese skaters...and Aliona:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK5qTvgpocg/

Along the same lines, I was super amused to see that many of the Japanese news articles about the upcoming 2021 GPF in Osaka chose to feature a photo of Aliona:

フィギュア２１年ＧＰファイナルは大阪で北京五輪“前哨戦”　テスト大会は１０月/デイリースポーツ online

国際スケート連盟は２９日、オンラインで開催した２８日の理事会での承認事項を報告し、２２年北京五輪シーズンのグランプリ（ＧＰ）ファイナルは、１２月９～１２日に大阪で開催すると発表した。　ＧＰファイナルはＧＰシリーズ６戦の上位６人（組）しか出場...

www.daily.co.jp

大阪でフィギュアＧＰファイナル　１２月に、北京冬季五輪の前哨戦　

　国際スケート連盟は２９日、フィギュアで北京冬季五輪シーズンとなる来季のグランプリ（ＧＰ）シリーズの...

www.kochinews.co.jp

Well Aliona is the reigning GPF Champion. So not surprising that they use her face to advertise the '21 GPF

 

[macy]

Kind of off topic, but I really missed Aliona today. I actually really like her short program and think she sells it really well. After hearing Liza skate to Billie Eilish (which I did enjoy) made me miss Aliona even more—inspired me to watch her short from Rostelecom.

I hope Aliona’s doing well and if she’s ready, competes at the Russian cup final. I admire that her and her team are putting her health first though!

me too! i was actually pretty sad Aliona didn't skate to Lovely this season, it would have been perfect for her.

 

[bouncy]

If they want her to be on the Worlds team, then the judges will overlook any potential UR or level issues and give her generous PCS and GOEs. If they don't want her to be on the Worlds team, the tech panel will find UR and edge issues and dock the levels on her spins/steps, and the judges will be stingy with GOEs and PCS.

Exactly. Judges at channel one cup confirmed this.

 

[elbkup]

I miss Aliona at these festivities too but no one is taking masks seriously... Plushy included, again wearing his below his nose. So, for this reason I am super super happy she is not there (and so are her parents,I bet!!) Watching the jump event, Aliona may be ther only one in her competitive field who will still be able to walk at age 45!! I want Sasha to to perform but a big part of me wants her to take things easy..

 

[Scott512]

They're not setting a good example by not wearing masks especially for the pair's teams that were flooded with coronavirus this season.

Aliona is missed of course because she's such a beautiful skater. Now Maya is getting more experience and she's working on two quads in her free skate. Scary. Dasha may get a 3A. Aliona has to get her 3A back for the Olympic season. There are no ifs ands or buts about it.

Speaking of scary your comment about aliona being able to walk at age 45 is interesting and scary after watching the team competition. People forget that Plushenko has a hardware store in his back from numerous surheries. The sport is beautiful physically and emotionally but it's also brutal physically and emotionally.

 

[Batsuchan]

Medvedeva at the press conference after the team event:

Медведева: «С Косторной турнир был бы максимально уравновешенным»

Серебряный призер олимпийских игр Евгения Медведева после завершения Кубка Первого канала по фигурному катанию рассказала о перевесе одной из команд в женском одиночном катании и пожелала здоровья Алене Косторной.

www.sport-express.ru

GoogleTranslate:

“There were three really strong girls, the very top of the world. And girls who are a little lower in rank, - said Medvedeva. - The boys had people like Dima Aliev and Misha Kolyada. In pairs, Zhenya and Vova (Tarasova / Morozov) and Sasha and Dima (Boykova / Kozlovsky) are the top of the world. In women's single skating, the strength outweighed. No matter how the draw went, in some of the teams the girls' strong side outweighed. I wish great health to Alena Kostornaya. I think with her, if she was in good shape, the tournament would be as balanced as possible. "

I'm not sure I agree -- even if Aliona were in top shape with a 3A, I'm not entirely sure how the judges would score her now. BUT, I thought it was interesting that Medvedeva mentioned her. Isn't Medvedeva supposed to be Team Tutberidze all the way now??

 

[McBibus]

Medvedeva at the press conference after the team event:

Медведева: «С Косторной турнир был бы максимально уравновешенным»

Серебряный призер олимпийских игр Евгения Медведева после завершения Кубка Первого канала по фигурному катанию рассказала о перевесе одной из команд в женском одиночном катании и пожелала здоровья Алене Косторной.

www.sport-express.ru

GoogleTranslate:


I'm not sure I agree -- even if Aliona were in top shape with a 3A, I'm not entirely sure how the judges would score her now. BUT, I thought it was interesting that Medvedeva mentioned her. Isn't Medvedeva supposed to be Team Tutberidze all the way now??

I think Zenya is TT because of the pandemic.
Anyway she proved already to have a head of is own.

The "suspect" you have is just one more reason to finally see Aliona in top shape (3A or not) and force them to show their card.
It may turn out that they where just preying on a skater in a difficult moment (not beautiful) applying extra punishment.
I do think they have been hard on Aliona start of the season but "Why" and "How she could change that" are open question, probably more important than the score looking forward.

I'm always conflicted on judges.
I don't trust them but this sport without them will just die or become a stupid xsport without poetry so we need them.
It's not just the good faith: before that there is the question "What the judges like to see and what not?"

 

[elbkup]

They're not setting a good example by not wearing masks especially for the pair's teams that were flooded with coronavirus this season.

Aliona is missed of course because she's such a beautiful skater. Now Maya is getting more experience and she's working on two quads in her free skate. Scary. Dasha may get a 3A. Aliona has to get her 3A back for the Olympic season. There are no ifs ands or buts about it.

Speaking of scary your comment about aliona being able to walk at age 45 is interesting and scary after watching the team competition. People forget that Plushenko has a hardware store in his back from numerous surheries. The sport is beautiful physically and emotionally but it's also brutal physically and emotionally.

Appreciate your comments. I did not say this to upset anyone... it is just that I worry. When youngsters are trained from very young age, what else are they to do so my comment is moot. My sister is a lady in her 7th decade and rides horses; not long after double hip replacements, she was back in the saddle again as soon as possible. Her surgeon said: “You (horse) people are crazy!!” It all depends on lifelong conditioning I suppose...

 

[Magill]

I just rewatched my favourite skates of her from last season. I miss her. She was so exquisite. Fab. Still, whatever... Just sending her good thoughts for whatever the future might bring. Whatever it is, I hope it will make her happy.

 

[Philippa8187]

A clip has been posted of Aliona practising some of the moves in her program (not jumps). Great to see her on the ice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLDHE_UKwuv/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet