Elena Radionova

[Manitou]

WOWZA!!! My jaw totally dropped when I saw this photo!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMWMotNhLdN/
Stunning!! A real princess!!

I'm slightly shocked (concerned?) that Lena went to the Tatler debutante ball right before the competition, but hey, even if she doesn't win the competition, she is CLEARLY winning at life.

The Tatler ball seems super exclusive... I guess she got an invite through Alena Akhmadullina?

This is a much larger version of that photo:
https://instagram.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/14717659_202738070166826_4106333328792092672_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM3NTM0MjMxMDA5MDY1MTQ2OQ%3D%3D.2

 

[umeko_yur1tasukee]

This is a much larger version of that photo:
https://instagram.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/14717659_202738070166826_4106333328792092672_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM3NTM0MjMxMDA5MDY1MTQ2OQ%3D%3D.2

-------------------------

I'll be asleep during the competition... sending good lucks to all our faves specially Lenokh :luv17:

 

[Tyranid]

WHOA! :eeking:

A tigress in her natural habitat, setting sight upon her prey!

edit: she never stops impressing me. It is so rare to see human beings with such a range of expression.

 

[Batsuchan]

Lovely photo from today's practice:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMYuejcFgQP/

And a short video clip:
https://twitter.com/sport_fm/status/794488297804402692

GO LENA!!

 

[nox1]

So excited for the competition today!! Go Lena!!!

 

[sneakers]

skid on the axel, but she was on !!!! so much charisma

 

[Batsuchan]

Aside from the axel, that was awesome!! :agree: She sold the heck out of that program!! And her jumps looked quite solid.

Excited for the long program!! Gooo Lena!!!

 

[sneakers]

Lena's SP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RIMw1iFMUw

 

[MiaMalina]

Great Lena, well done!!! Dress is cute but this accessories on the dress is adding her kilos.

Can someone who anderstand russian tell me what Tarasova says about Zhenya when is slow motion on Lena's SP and Zhenya is laughing with someone during her skate?

 

[Pracygr]

Can someone who anderstand russian tell me what Tarasova says about Zhenya when is slow motion on Lena's SP and Zhenya is laughing with someone during her skate?

Zhenya was with her coaches, Seigei Dudakov to her right and Daniil Gleikhengauz to her left. Tarasova was just commenting on Zhenya's surgical mask, that it's a good idea to wear it to avoid catching cold (although AFAIK she wears it to avoid giving cold to somebody rather than catching it).

 

[MiaMalina]

Zhenya was with her coaches, Seigei Dudakov to her right and Daniil Gleikhengauz to her left. Tarasova was just commenting on Zhenya's surgical mask, that it's a good idea to wear it to avoid catching cold (although AFAIK she wears it to avoid giving cold to somebody rather than catching it).

Ah ok. Thank you

 

[turquoiseblue]

I'm happy that Elena did well

Her facial expressions while skating are the best I also love the choreography, especially the steps!!

 

[volk]

Did she go through a growth spurt this year?

 

[umeko_yur1tasukee]

wow!!! Personal Best Keep it up!!! Good luck on the FS

 

[MiaMalina]

Did she go through a growth spurt this year?

Looks like. I think she put weight a bit over the summer, and she had to loose again a bit befor Rostelecom. But she also grew few cm. Well its not anymore the stick thin little Lenka with legs like spaghetti.

 

[Batsuchan]

Did she go through a growth spurt this year?

I was about to say "No, Lena hasn't really grown taller this year, she only has filled out a bit..." But then I saw this photo!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMZshA_BwYL/
She definitely looks taller than Anna now (though perhaps it was her shoes)!! :eeking:

**
Ok, I had a chance to watch Lena's SP again, on a fan video, and I have really mixed feelings about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcSgdejRtZM

Earlier I was super relieved and happy that Lena skated okay, but now I have some more critical observations:
1) Lena has like zero ice coverage in this SP--she spends almost all of the time in the center, and maybe makes only 2 circles around the ice. She also skates quite slowly. That second spin was also very slow.
2) I am not a huge fan of the costume. I absolutely *adore* *adore* the evening gowns that Alena Akhmadullina has made for Lena, but I'm mehhh about the costume. :sarcasm: It's not as bad as her Worlds LP one, but it's only okay for me.
3) I'm still not sure I like this program. The step sequence is a standout and Lena does a great job of flirting with the judges , but the music is screechy, and there's not too much she does before the step sequence.

Of course, this was Lena's first competition of the season so it's not surprising that it was a bit rough, but to me, it seems there is plenty to work on. :yes:

On the plus side, I felt that Lena had much better control of her arms. :agree: Or maybe jazz is just closer to her natural style (her arms didn't bother me at all in her "Worth It" EX, for example).

Still, I'm super excited to see what Lena's Princess Turandot looks like! I think this costume is by a different designer, so I hope it'll be awesome.
Although I'm slightly nervous because apparently Lena's doing a 3Lz-1Lo-3S in the second half, instead of her customary 3Lo-1Lo-3S. (See here: http://m.rsport.ru/figure_skating/20161103/1111733272.html) I guess her layout might look like this:

3Lz+3T
3F
3Lo

3Lz-1Lo-3S
2A
3Lo+2T
2A

I guess we'll see. GOOO LENA!!!

 

[Seruleane]

Hi Batsuchan,

Yeah, I didn't really pay attention to ice coverage but her spins did seem a bit slower. I don't think she is in quite as good shape as she was last year, but I know she is dealing with growth spurts and all that. She also seems to have an active social life which is completely understandable at her age. I'm glad she has a life apart from skating, but yeah, a selfish part of me would also love to just see her train rigorously so she can really improve everything. The main thing is I did not think her jumps looked worse than last year...they are still iffy, but she hangs on. The judges seem to still love her, but this is Russia after all. I completely agree about the costume though. I preferred what she wore to test skates actually. The dark color around her shoulder makes her neck look shorter and her shoulders more hunched. Lena is pretty savvy about her costumes, so hopefully she will change this in the future!

Wishing her the best of luck tomorrow! I can't wait to see Princess Turandot!

 

[Alexz]

WOWZA!!! My jaw totally dropped when I saw this photo!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMWMotNhLdN/
Stunning!! A real princess!!

I'm slightly shocked (concerned?) that Lena went to the Tatler debutante ball right before the competition, but hey, even if she doesn't win the competition, she is CLEARLY winning at life.

The Tatler ball seems super exclusive... I guess she got an invite through Alena Akhmadullina?

Yup. Taller ball is pretty cool. They usually invite many young girls debuting at Tatler every year in Russia. They are mostly young athletes, just talented teenagers which won some international tournaments (not just in sports, but chess, programming, Maths, poetry, Wordld Skills and similar) in the recent year. So it's seems Lena got invited too.. I remember seeing bunch of rhythmic and artistic gymnasts, Rita Mamun def was there, some brainiac-looking nerds and a lot of older Russian celebs and the mix. It was rather interestingly atmospheric and vibe of that usually one can imagine how those Russian aristocrats used to roll during Empire time back in the days. Lol. The only thing missing was some white wigs, I guess.

 

[Sam L]

Beautiful skate. I really like her SP, the choreography and the music. That was fun. I feel like her jumps are already a lot better this season and she just seems more confident already early in the season.

Am I the only one thought that SP dress made her look fat? But somehow, it kinda suited the performance? lol

 

[Batsuchan]

Am I the only one thought that SP dress made her look fat? But somehow, it kinda suited the performance? lol

I definitely didn't think it was flattering... hwell:

Hi Batsuchan,

Yeah, I didn't really pay attention to ice coverage but her spins did seem a bit slower. I don't think she is in quite as good shape as she was last year, but I know she is dealing with growth spurts and all that. She also seems to have an active social life which is completely understandable at her age. I'm glad she has a life apart from skating, but yeah, a selfish part of me would also love to just see her train rigorously so she can really improve everything. The main thing is I did not think her jumps looked worse than last year...they are still iffy, but she hangs on. The judges seem to still love her, but this is Russia after all. I completely agree about the costume though. I preferred what she wore to test skates actually. The dark color around her shoulder makes her neck look shorter and her shoulders more hunched. Lena is pretty savvy about her costumes, so hopefully she will change this in the future!

Seruleane, I agree with so much of what you said! :yes:
I actually thought her jumps looked BETTER in this SP (other than the axel) than we saw all last year. Early last season she was having a lot of problems with that first lutz--she often landed with her blade collapsing to the outside edge, so she couldn't do the toe loop, or would have to really work to crank it out. This time her landings looked much more fluid, to me. But if she's going super slow in order to have that level of control, I don't think that's a good thing. But we'll see how the FS looks. I can kind of imagine Lena flying around the rink to the climax of "Nessun Dorma."

As for the judges loving her--well, how can you not? I think the one area where Lena surpasses all the others is natural charisma, and she showed loads of it in this program. I think it would be tough not to respond to that (and give Lena good scores). :yes:

I totally agree about the costume though--I much prefer seeing Lena in sleeveless V-neck tops. I actually was hoping Akhmadullina designed Lena's FS dress, because she has some really cool prints that I think would really suit the vaguely-Asian "Turandot." But Inna Goncharenko's interview seemed to suggest that they have a few costume choices, so maybe we'll see a different one at CoC...

I remember seeing bunch of rhythmic and artistic gymnasts, Rita Mamun def was there, some brainiac-looking nerds and a lot of older Russian celebs and the mix.

Yep, I saw pics of Rita Mamun, Tatiana Navka, and Plushy's son!