Well, I'm far behind again and won't catch up again. This board doesn't actually take me to the first unread post, and after going back several pages, I still wasn't at RusNats convos yet, and I fell behind here a few days before then. Oh, well. I'll add my thoughts to RusNats and some of what I saw mentioned on previous pages as I was skimming along trying to find where I had left off before.
I LOVE Tosca! I think she can sell the Orange-Colored Sky program because of Parole Parole EX and the way she skated OCS at test skates, but it seems to have become a PTSD program for her at this point, and it's too much to relearn her technique while executing new combos and step out of the box at the same time by presenting a sassy, flirtatious persona while under extreme pressure, so I both understand and fully endorse the changes they made, both in switching programs and in swapping out elements. It's a shame that she invalidated the combo on it, but I think it will be a magnificent program for her, and it was wonderful to see her sell it despite the mistakes instead of having a meltdown. The relentless roar of the crowd was outstanding and hopefully showed her what Russia REALLY thinks of her, a few loud and hateful jerks on forums and social media notwithstanding. They were drowned out, buried beneath an avalanche of love. :luv17:
The tango presentation was amazing! She looks like she's back; this is the Zhenya I fell in love with, the girl who made me want to follow figure skating. Even with a fall, that program was outstanding! She showed an entire palette of emotion during the skate, at turns being fiesty, passionate, coy, sensual, and fierce. I loved it, and the new dresses are amazing! I hope she keeps one of the programs for next season. I vote for Tosca, but either would do, and it would give her a head start on the year.
I saw some discussion about leaving Eteri because of the training regimen, and like another poster, I doubt if that's the full reason. I think she must feel deeply hurt for some reason in order to leave the way she did. She is too polite and tactful in the rest of her public interactions to not bring flowers simply because she is a (fill in whatever filthy name you want, she's been called all of them over this incident). If either her or Eteri wanted us to know what went down between them though, we would have known by now, so let it be buried in secrets and in time, hopefully healed so that neither woman remains resentful towards the other. The rest of the reason is probably training regimen. Otherwise, she would have sought out a coach with a similar approach. Ooh, that rhymed! :thumbsup:
My favorite dresses are:
River Flows in You
Leftovers
Nocturne
Tosca
New Libertango dress
