Alina Zagitova

[Amef]

The juniors are strong, yes. But will they be strong in seniors, too? Don‘t get me wrong, I like them all and wish them only the best but it has yet to be seen whether they‘ll transition into seniors smoothly. We have often seen promising juniors falling short in senior due to problems of every kind. The only ones who have a more difficult content in their programs than Alina for now are Sasha Trusova (who is admittedly... unreal) and Anna Shcherbakova. If Trusova continues to land her quads like this, Alina will lose to her. Anna has yet to land a quad in competition and however much I like her, she is very fragile and doesn‘t jump too high. Alena Kostornaya is a joy to watch when she‘s on and is expected to jump a 3A but for now she hasn‘t so we have to see how she develops. About the others? None of them in their current state could potentially threaten Alina if she skates like she did at the OG. So, I‘d say, let‘s not write her off already. She has what these promising young talents don‘t have at the moment: Experience in seniors. Two seasons are a long time. A lot can happen. I don‘t say Alina is entirely safe or will never be threatened by the Quad monsters because that‘s not true and I think she knows it very well. But I agree, better grab that World Title now than have a more difficult time later. It‘s yet to be seen what Zhenya brings because she‘s her strongest rival but for now she has a pretty good shot at winning this year. But imo, that‘s too far away anyway. Let‘s focus on the test skates first, then at GP, hopefully GPF and so on. One step at a time.

Anna did land 2 quads in FS world Jrs this year.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Anna did land 2 quads in FS world Jrs this year.

OT but that was Alexandra. Anna hasn't competed internationally yet.

 

[lesnar001]

You are wrong. I've sang praises of Zagitova in this thread before and was pushing for her to win OGM, but I'm going to call a spade a spade when I see it. A fanfest is also not a worship altar. It's intellectual weakness to call people who don't LOVE EVERYTHING about a skater as "haterz", and "hasty judgement" is just a poor excuse for not taking the time to do your due diligence. Checking a poster's history takes <1 min.

As for the SP, first order of business is to find a better cut of music (a freelancer off Soundcloud could do a better job), and second order of business is to choreograph it in a way that lets Zagitova holds her position. She has wonderful lines, extensions, movement, and I see only glimpses of them in this program.

I'm sorry that I misjudged you and jumped to conclusions. Thank you for clarifying.

I checked your posting history and all I saw were a few recent posts, and then it said "no more results".

I should have checked further before flying off the handle. In any event, I shouldn't have "mouthed off" to begin with.

I agree with you totally on the choreography not showcasing her enough.

 

[Elucidus]

Does somebody know - did Alina return to Russia yet or not? If not - what she is doing in Japan now? Can't wait for her reunion with Masaru

 

[bewitched]

For some reason the comments on Alina's first competitive performance of Black Swan at Lombardia Trophy remind me of the comments about POTO...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSnSHhe_y4

I decided to copy almost all English comments there and paste them here, it's kinda hilarious, given that this short program is the world record setting, Olympic gold winning SP...

What is the purpose of this program's music arrangement?
It's really unpolished and rushed right now but I think by the end of the season it'll be one of my favorites!
That back charlotte into the 2A looks amazing, it's well placed in the programme & i really hope Alina masters it. But isn't this choreo too busy? Can't Daniil consider removing at least one jump to the 1st half?
Too many elements. She needs a simple program
Nothing is held out and every movement looks rushed. My hunch would be she fizzles out early.
this is a mess....and its an Olympic season...
This program is not bad for first senior year debut but to compete for the Olympic gold I feel she needs something better.
ETERI AND HER GIRLS NEED NEW CHOREOGRAPHERS.

Let's just wait and see what happens after a few months.

 

[flanker]

Her performing abilities have improved even a lot, she's very graceful and expressing her emotions more openly. I have been one of those criticizing her artistry a lot, but I see a huge improvement and she deserves credit for that because she's definitely been working hard on this. It's fascinating that a month at the training camp led to such progress. Also, there's no more fear on her face when stepping on the ice and I pretty much enjoy seeing her like that. She has gained a lot of experience in the last season and it shows that she's more comfortable with her "job" now.

For me the best thing about her new program...was Alina herself. She did well given the choreo, I don't think that any other skater would have been better..even the opposite. That's why I am still very confused about that SP.. It has some interesting moments but it's kind of too much (currently). And this is not a rant against Daniil..he obviously had some problems with the programs for the juniors as well, but just like the skaters, their coaches and choreographers have ups and downs, too. I suspect that they showed her SP so early in the pre-season time for two reasons - Alina has the chance to try it out before competitions and they want to see how people find it. So, I think it's important to express opinions on this topic. They definitely will look up what people think and would do some corrections, in my opinion.

I like this comment. If only everyone who has objections to this program (or Alyona's etc.) could express it this way. I higly respect that :agree:

 

[madison]

Does somebody know - did Alina return to Russia yet or not? If not - what she is doing in Japan now? Can't wait for her reunion with Masaru [emoji3]

I thought that Masaru doesn't live with Alina anymore, at least from the last live.
If she is still in Japan, i guess she works for Shiseido campaign. I imagine she should film a clip or something as brand ambassador....

 

[madison]

For some reason the comments on Alina's first competitive performance of Black Swan at Lombardia Trophy remind me of the comments about POTO...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSnSHhe_y4

I decided to copy almost all English comments there and paste them here, it's kinda hilarious, given that this short program is the world record setting, Olympic gold winning SP...



Let's just wait and see what happens after a few months.

I recall that when i first watched the short program, last season, i liked the concept - although i found that the steps were a little bit rough around the edges- totally normal for the very beginning of the season, but i disliked the costume [emoji16].
Now, while i find the short interesting in its dissonant way, in its juxtaposition of more images and realities, i think it is a little bit too much.

 

[flanker]

What I posted in the GPF predictions thread about her program:

To me, the glass shattering and the fist convey a sense of "breaking free" similar to how Christine breaks free of Erik and his entrapments. It also provides drama and brings back interest -- perhaps Daniil knows how much people are bored by POTO and lull off into familiar music -- until they hear such an unconventional noise as glass breaking. I think the program isn't even about POTO itself but of the idea of being fierce, of being yourself. It's about Alina finding herself and her style of skating. But the beauty to me is that they leave it up for interpretation and someone else can have a totally different idea of what it's about. To me, that makes figure skating more accessible and it makes her skating more accessible to different groups of skating fans, both her fans and her... non-fans. The program also plays with the idea of maturing, and again parallels with POTO without being overtly similar -- Christine matures from a young, unknown singer into a strong, empowered woman to spend the rest of her life with Raoul, and Alina is maturing from the "jumping bean" that many dismiss her as (whether that's true or not is another argument (note for us: this guy I'm defending her to is notorious for calling Alina that. I don't think she's a jumping bean by far. She's mature, wonderful, and most importantly, herself) into an artist of her own right without being over the top and showing everyone that "I am an artist!". Alina seems to be very introverted and quiet, and has mentioned Masaru as a true friend for her, especially as she had to leave her home city and friends and family behind. She is not an overly showy person or naturally extroverted, and such a program would not fit her. This is why a subtle but classy program such as this works for her, at least in my opinion.

I completely agree it is not about POTO. Why I like this program. For me it is a fight between tho moods (or maybe personalities?) in one mind. Struggling between some duty or imagination of somebody else what should be good for you (it's nice paralell to what some people are expecting from her) and what the person really wants. She is stuck in that so there are parts where she finds herself, but thanks to uncertainty she retursn back to previous person and than tries again to free herself. This way it gives complete sense to me and therefore I can't see it as too much changes. Of course it is just my impression, buts why I see it as full, not overfull program.

Also it came to my mind if the glass breaking effect isn't involved mainly for skater, like aid to synchronize with change of music.

 

[flanker]

For some reason the comments on Alina's first competitive performance of Black Swan at Lombardia Trophy remind me of the comments about POTO...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSnSHhe_y4

I decided to copy almost all English comments there and paste them here, it's kinda hilarious, given that this short program is the world record setting, Olympic gold winning SP...

Let's just wait and see what happens after a few months.

Exactly what I'm saying whole time. Always good to remind people that history repeats :agree:

 

[atsumiri]

I thought that Masaru doesn't live with Alina anymore, at least from the last live.
If she is still in Japan, i guess she works for Shiseido campaign. I imagine she should film a clip or something as brand ambassador.....

I read that she come back right after the last show in Japan. Masaru lives with Alina but while Alina and her grandmother were in Japan one person from Akita-Inu association in Moscow helped them to take care of Masaru while they were out.

 

[lusk8]

Just a few thoughts on the latest batch of posts on this FF, not focusing on one in particular just the general gist of things.

I don't know the one thing that made me like Alina, as sometimes happens when you really like a person and connect with how they do what they do, you can't quite name that "one element" that brought it all together for you. Alina single-handedly got me back into female figure skating, and through liking her and watching her competitions waiting to see her performances I discovered several other skaters I really enjoy watching alongside her performances (Canadian ones, Japanese ones, One other Russian one, one Italian one, Ice Dancer ones, Pairs Skaters ones, Male Skaters ones, though on the male skating field I was more current and had followed two skaters in particular in recent years).

But there is no one, not a single one, that I enjoy watching more than her. Why? I don't quite know, to me she has the combination of great charisma, athletic abilities and performance capacity that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I really like her personality too. Can't say all those things on the same phrase about any other skater, and that's what makes Alina so special to me. Others may have more of this or more of that but she has it all in the doses that I need and like the most. Do I expect all others to agree with me and see it like I call it? No, I don't see it like some people call it either and that doesn't make their opinions less valuable, it just means that I don't see it like they see it.

I'm a positive person, meaning I try to look at the bright side of everything (I have to be skeptical enough and realistic enough in my offline life, I enjoy making my online presence more of a feel good experience for me). So with this in mind I will never bash another skater to "raise Alina above them", and I think that people can have different opinions and that's just fine. I enjoy reading critiques, specially well thought out ones, because I see them as a teaching tool, I learn from reading what other's see as problematic when they inform their views with their reasoning.

I take to heart that this is a FanFest, a place to gush about and cheer for the one you like, and I enjoy all the other posters that make this thread come alive, find new info and stuff on Alina, share it and share their reviews of what she has done.

I root for her unreservedly, she is my only number 1, and I hope she gets many, many, many chances to give me reasons to get goosebumps watching her skate and leave me breathless with her combination of technical skill and performance charisma. To me she is peerless in her combination of those two things.

I want to see how she evolves with her new programs and I think she is well positioned to make the most of it, like others have noted the program we have seen so far (POTO her SP) is a work in progress with plenty of room for polish. But she has shown me all the signs and development in her skating skills that I have expected from her. She is growing not just in size but in abilities that I value and like to watch, which is exactly what she should be doing to ensure she has a long lasting career in the path she chose for herself (and she really loves skating because, with all the super hard work and relentless pace of practice it requires you have to love it hard to be in it).

I wish her the great season she deserves and she will always be the only one to watch for me, although I'm thankful that I have found others I enjoy watching too to make watching whole competitions worth my while (otherwise I would just watch clips of her and be done with it, right?).

Sorry for the long, long, post. But I just wanted to put all of the above out there.

 

[Finley]

Every single thing you just said x one million!

 

[mark737]

i see some Koala behaviour, it's obvious there are those who want to see someone else to shine and brag about, and are in a hurry but for now there's only one numero uno, the prettiest and best lady who won... wishing that to go away doesn't change a thing, but don't fret because other girls are very good as well and that without Eteri and her Soviet approach is also something to be proud of

 

[EdRoz]

Lusk8

I'm glad that we are on the same side .. you are my hero

 

[EdRoz]

i see some Koala behaviour, it's obvious there are those who want to see someone else to shine and brag about, and are in a hurry but for now there's only one numero uno, the prettiest and best lady who won... wishing that to go away doesn't change a thing, but don't fret because other girls are very good as well and that without Eteri and her Soviet approach is also something to be proud of

There is no "Soviet" approach, it's a myth .. there is a coach's job and the athlete's desire to achieve results and be the best

 

[NataFoxxy]

I think that the problem here is the expectations that we had, last year she has beautiful programs, well constructed, the cuts were meh but it was ok. This year she starts as the Olympic champion. I remember 4 years ago when Hanyu won we all wanted to see what could he do to defend his title (remember the whole Patrick drama) to prove that yes he deserve it. He brought POTO too, but oh what a master piece, it was really good, amazing even, people were "another POTO??" but he deliver it like no one, and shout mouths left and right.

Alina is amazing, but is this a gold medalist program? no. Trusova is having better programs than her, which sucks cause Alina deserves better, Alina can deliver more

This POTO looks unprofessional, unfinished, again 5 pieces in 2 minutes and a half...this is not hate against Alina, just cause you criticized her program doesnt mean you hate her, ESPECIALLY when people point out that the problem IS THE PROGRAM not the skater.

the problem is the cuts, theres no cohesion between one piece and the other. ALINA IS AMAZING AS ALWAYS

I think music is good, here is the link , someone removed all noise https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_iW8SUBU-0A
I think problem is with the quality of videos from show, here we cannot really hear music.
let's wait for the beginning of the season. As one person said here, somewhere, last year we ha the same situation, many negative comment about her SP where she skated two characters - White swan and Black one. Idea of that program was not clear for some in a beginning of the season. But she got the highest score for that at the end of season.

 

[Fluture]

So, I come back to this thread, read all the comments and it‘s like... what is happening here? :shocked: The only thing I want to say to this is: read lusk8‘s post please. All of you. It‘s accurate description of what this whole being a fan, loving a certain skater and fanfest business is about.

I mean, I have to admit I wasn‘t always a fan of Alina‘s. She grew on me over the course of the Olympics and the months after. At the Olympics I was rooting strongly for Evgenia to win. Does this make me a bad person or even a hater? Should I leave Alina‘s fanfest now because at some point I wasn‘t seeing in her what I now see? You know what, opinions change all the time. So, all these people who wrote things like “oh, the program‘s too rushed“ etc. etc about Black Swan and in the end loved it, aren‘t hypocrites for writing this. Because, guess what? They might have genuinely felt this way? The only criticism I‘d have here is that they could have stated it more politely. Since we‘re in Alina‘s fanfest here, could we please just follow her own words?

“I think everyone can state their opinion. But perhaps not (so) rudely.“

So, yep. Alina‘s a clever person and I‘m sure she’s open to criticism. Just not in the way her DQ program was torn apart last season by various people because that was just unnecessary rudeness, taking away from the giant accomplishments this girl has made at the age of 15! But if we’re staying FRIENDLY and CLASSY and CONSTRUCTIVE in our critique (like Alina is ) I think we can express what we feel about her program. But I agree that it does get kind of repetitive to hear the same things over and over again. But it‘s the off-season and there‘s not much else to discuss, so I kind of get it. It‘s still making me feel anxious because that‘s a whole lot of tension a program of a few minutes can cause. Impressive, Daniil, impressive. He knows how to get and hold the attention of people with his programs. The program might be everything but you clearly can’t tell me it’s forgettable. I‘d say that is a strength?

So many words for trivial statements like "Volga flows into the Caspian sea"?

Well, if it were such a trivial statement then you wouldn‘t have laughed about a user who just dared to express their opinion about Alina‘s SP and her skating style without having knowledge about Daniil.

 

[EdRoz]

So, I come back to this thread, read all the comments and it‘s like... what is happening here? :shocked:

Democracy, freedom of speech (in contrast to the Z thread)

 

[Fluture]

Democracy, freedom of speech (in contrast to the Z thread)

Yeah, freedom of speech but it’s kinda... tense of an atmosphere here opposed to what I’m used to from this place.

And... What Z thread? I feel like I‘m supposed to get this but am not... could you please clear me up cause I feel slightly dumb right now.