Alena Kostornaia

[patee]

 

[patee]

"On twitter they launched the hashtags #believeinkosto #веримвАлену to show support for Aliona before the SP tomorrow!! Let’s all join and support our strong girl"

 

[Batsuchan]

Yes, Aliona's practices at competitions are usually not a good indication of how she'll perform, and her mental toughness in this regard is really impressive. But back in 2019-20, even if her practices on competitive ice were rough, I knew that she was training fine at home at Crystal. Now I think her practices at Crystal aren't great either, and yet she somehow manages to skate mostly clean in competitions!! She doesn't even try a 3A in the warm-up and yet she nearly lands them. It's really mind-boggling.

But it was kind of telling that the 1tv clips didn't show a single clean 3A, just the set-ups. I'm guessing that she hasn't been landing it at practice at home either, unfortunately.

According to Twitter reports, she was crying at the end of practice -- again, nothing we haven't seen before. But apparently she also looked mad at Daniil--and that, I think, is useful.


I had a book on Mao Asada that covered her 2006-07 season (in Japanese), and one thing that really struck me was the anecdote about 2007 Worlds. Mao popped her combo in the SP and was feeling very sorry for herself, so her mom purposefully scolded her because she knew that wallowing in self-pity wouldn't help; she had to make Mao mad to get her to regain her fighting spirit.

So yes, Aliona, get mad! Use that anger to land those 3As beautifully and show Daniil who's boss!

Trick of a fans mind I did dream of Aliona tonight.

Nice dream McBibus!

I think your comment about Aliona being the center of attention (even in a dream!) is totally right -- and that's why I hope she'll be able to remain in the public eye even if/when she retires from skating.

 

[Batsuchan]

So of course I'm hoping that Aliona will skate well and make it to the GPF, but what I'm also hoping for is that we get some more adorable Anna + Aliona moments, like here:




Is it too much to ask for another TikTok dance?

 

[RatedPG]

Aliona needs to be on the podium with at least a bronze medal with a score of 206.04 or higher, to be higher than You. That should put her in a good position to make it to the Grand Prix Finals. Wishing her good luck for tomorrow.

 

[McBibus]

Is it too much to ask for another TikTok dance?

I hope for a podium dance

 

[Remilia]

Her short program practice session seemed to have gone much better than the one earlier, and she also seemed to be in a better place mentally, so that's a big relief! But she is still struggling with the 3A, so I can't help but worry, especially when Wakaba is landing multiple clean ones still, I will just cross my fingers and believe in her.

Luckily, I will be asleep during the short, so I don't have to deal with the nerves of watching her live. Hopefully I'll wake up to some good news!

 

[McBibus]

According to Twitter reports, she was crying at the end of practice -- again, nothing we haven't seen before. But apparently she also looked mad at Daniil--and that, I think, is useful.

Yep: that's interesting.
I also agree that while we were accustomed to desparing session before the big events we knew she had a stable 3A in her and she knew how to find it when it was needed, now the situation is different.

From our place we can only believe and let her feel supported and loved.

GO ALIONA!
Let's make the world remember who you are

 

[Batsuchan]

Our girl in practice today:



I'm glad she has a furry friend to give her some comfort!


No matter what happens, we love and support you, Aliona!!!

GO ALIONA GOOO!!!!

 

[Vemvane]

Gosh, her jumps are just so big.




The way she just sails out on landing that lutz, free leg never once coming back to the ice, is so impressive, and just adds to the feeling of security and stability.

Video snippets from her SP run-through:




Good luck to her!

 

[patee]

 

[Batsuchan]

I think it was a smart move to go for the 2A instead of the 3A in the SP today. Aliona looked like the confident, charismatic Aliona I wanted to see, and she was 100% selling the program to the audience!

I think she could've been scored a bit higher, but oh well... she scored almost the same as she did at IDF 2 years ago in the SP!

 

[Vemvane]

I think it was a smart move to go for the 2A instead of the 3A in the SP today. Aliona looked like the confident, charismatic Aliona I wanted to see, and she was 100% selling the program to the audience!

I think she could've been scored a bit higher, but oh well... she scored almost the same as she did at IDF 2 years ago in the SP!

Agreed all round.

I need to rewatch the step sequence to see where she lost a level, because I admit to being sufficiently charmed by the way she was performing it to stop watching her feet. She was having so much fun out there!

 

[LiamV426]

That was the most fun I've had watching Aliona compete in ages! She was really selling the program today and delivered on the choreo, which I'd rather see than a 3A at this point tbh, as awesome as that would've been.

She actually looked happy skating. I'm so proud.

 

[Vemvane]

I love this part of her New York, New York SP.




And I love the jump she does after the 3F-3T.

 

[Vemvane]

Aliona on the choice to jump 2A today:




Google translate:

Alena Kostornaya commented on her performance in the short program:

“Right before the start, at the moment when I was called, I talked to the coaches. And Eteri Georgievna said: "Jump double axel." I thought that maybe I would go to the triple, but when I started the program, I decided that I would not argue with the coach. And she jumped double.

I am satisfied with my performance today in almost everything except the track. There is much to strive for, there is something to improve. From this content, I squeezed out almost the maximum that I could. This is good news ”

Eteri keeping an eye on the other skaters' programmes, I guess, and seeing there was no need to go for the big guns today.

Edit: And more from Aliona, on the SP and the dress.




Google translate:

Alena Kostornaya shared her opinion on her new short program, which she first showed at the Grand Prix stage in Italy, and now in Grenoble.

“I liked the previous program, but the new one seems more incendiary, fun. It's easier for me to understand it, in the sense that I know what I'm skating.

As for the costumes, Olga Ryabenko did all of them, as always, but I worked with another specialist on the dress for the show. Perhaps next year, or perhaps this year, we will cooperate with her again, if both the coaches and the public like the outfit, ”Kostornaya said during an online conversation with reporters.

 

[Remilia]

So happy to see she skated cleanly and got all of her levels! (except for the step sequence ) A little disappointed there was no 3A, but it might've been for the best looking at how everyone else did.

 

[nussnacker]

I thought it would be necessary to risk every time to prove she’s trying 3A. But it wasn’t going well on practices here, so seeing how almost all scored below 70, there was no need to risk right now. Having an advantage in the SP is a big moral boost going into FS.

I do certainly see more power and attack from Aliona, jumps looked super clean and big, and good GOEs followed. She lost a little bit to Anna with StSq and spins, but the difference is only marginal in TES. The PCS rising is a good sign, I think if she keeps skating like today it can go back up. Judges love consistency and clean programs, she needs to skate like today time and time again.

I also liked that she attempted jumps more often in practices here. At least it seemed like she’s slowly overcoming her mental block. She fell, she cried, but she still kept trying. 3-3 are already looking good, she’s not afraid of them. Now 3A is what is needed, and I really wish for something to just click in her head like in 2019.

Same, she always competes better than she practices. I used to be the same way when I competed in Irish dancing lol, very different from skating but something I can relate to.

That actually also happens in tests in studying. I saw people who did practice GMATs and couldn’t hit 700 even once, and on the day of the test, when adrenaline kicks in, they go to 760. I think for an athlete it’s an incredible quality to have.

 

[Scott512]

Are they coaching AK up or down? How can she make the olympic team without her 3A in the sp? maybe the fed wants Anna in first after the SP? Its the 3A that set alionas sp apart from others in the past and put pressure on all thioe girls behind her. She will also need to be top 3 at GPF. Without her 3A is that doable/ Probably not.

Good luck in the free.

 

[Imagine]

Alena Kostornaya shared her opinion on her new short program, which she first showed at the Grand Prix stage in Italy, and now in Grenoble.

“I liked the previous program, but the new one seems more incendiary, fun. It's easier for me to understand it, in the sense that I know what I'm skating.

As for the costumes, Olga Ryabenko did all of them, as always, but I worked with another specialist on the dress for the show. Perhaps next year, or perhaps this year, we will cooperate with her again, if both the coaches and the public like the outfit, ”Kostornaya said during an online conversation with reporters.

?! Wait, does she mean she's going to continue skating after 2022, or does she literally mean next year as in after January?