State of Russian Ladies in skating: 2014-15 Season

[MalAssada]

They are good enough, IMO. Not HD unless you pay for it, though. My antivirus hasn't detected any malicious software there (it did detect one in the day.to website). The Russian commentarist annoys me, but I'm in no position to complain.

 

[sabinfire]

The Russian commentarist annoys me, but I'm in no position to complain.

I do not enjoy it, either... which is why I typically avoid these streams if possible.

Thanks for the info.

 

[kwanatic]

I think it depends on how everyone does at Nationals. I think it would be unfair for Adelina to be sent if everyone skates well. But if Yulia and Anna both bomb Nationals... I say, let Adelina go to Europeans.

This is how I feel about it. The only two who absolutely deserve to go to both Europeans and worlds are Liza T and Elena. From top to bottom they have been strong this year and are clearly the best bet for Russia to hang onto three spots.

The way Julia, Anna and Alena skated this season has not inspired much confidence. I would agree with giving Adelina the opportunity to compete at Euros. If she were to skate there and deliver two strong performances under that "one shot to win it" kind of pressure, then I do think she would deserve a spot at worlds over the other three. The rest of them have had the entire season to build their case to be included in the big events and they haven't...

You snooze, you lose...especially in Russia.

 

[stryke]

Adelina has the highest scoring potential not only among the Russian women, but of any active skater.

It's no longer the Olympic season so thinking you're going to see those magic numbers we all saw in Sochi is deluding yourself. Radionova and Tuktamysheva, this season, have both beaten Adelinas overall scores outside of the boosted Olympic event and with much higher consistency.

I don't think he was trying to held down Yulia, TBH. He's simply saying that the individual OGM is more important that an OGM in team, and that's true. Adelina is the ladies Olympic Champion, and they have their own rules.
I see nothing wrong with sending her, if she is ready.

I agree it is different. But I feel he is completely disregarding her contribution to the victory of the team. She was not carried through the team event. She earned the OGM and the title that goes along with it.

 

[stryke]

The rest of them have had the entire season to build their case to be included in the big events and they haven't....

And Adelina has? Is beating Serafima at a russian cup enough for Euros? I'm guessing you agree with the Feds answer to this in giving Adelina a closed test skate and they decide from there if she goes to Euros? You and I won't know the results of that skate btw.

 

[MK's Winter]

It's no longer the Olympic season so thinking you're going to see those magic numbers we all saw in Sochi is deluding yourself. Radionova and Tuktamysheva, this season, have both beaten Adelinas overall scores outside of the boosted Olympic event and with much higher consistency. I agree it is different. But I feel he is completely disregarding her contribution to the victory of the team. She was not carried through the team event. She earned the OGM and the title that goes along with it.

If healthy I think Adelina is up there technically. She won't get the Sochi marks but she is a great jumper. She jumps almost as big as Liza, I like her programs this year as well. She is the more mature skater of the bunch. I think she is very talented. I just hope her injury receives proper healing time. Ligament injuries are nothing to mess with.

 

[StitchMonkey]

So, according to this the top two at nationals will go onto Euros and the third could be decided by discretion.

http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767406

So I have been thinking about this.

Does this mean

The two people who get first and second are guaranteed a spot (assuming they are eligible)?
or does it mean.

The the top two placements by Russian ladies who are senior eligible punch their tickets. So for instance we could see a Gold and Bronze medalist guaranteed to go to move on, but with a silver medalist that is a up and coming junior not age eligible.

Or does it mean

The top to ladies competing as seniors get to got. I.e regardless of if Serafima and Evgenia go one and two the top two seniors get to go.
Or does it mean if those two are top two no one is guaranteed.


This could all mean very different stuff.

 

[Alba]

So I have been thinking about this.

Does this mean

The two people who get first and second are guaranteed a spot (assuming they are eligible)?
or does it mean.

The the top two placements by Russian ladies who are senior eligible punch their tickets. So for instance we could see a Gold and Bronze medalist guaranteed to go to move on, but with a silver medalist that is a up and coming junior not age eligible.

Or does it mean

The top to ladies competing as seniors get to got. I.e regardless of if Serafima and Evgenia go one and two the top two seniors get to go.
Or does it mean if those two are top two no one is guaranteed.


This could all mean very different stuff.

Good question. I think they will decide and probably send those with better results in GPF, which means Radionova, Tuk and the third still to be seen. :think:

 

[MariaRafael]

I'm guessing you agree with the Feds answer to this in giving Adelina a closed test skate and they decide from there if she goes to Euros? You and I won't know the results of that skate btw.

There will be no closed test, accordig to the representtive of the Russian Figure Skating Federation. They will talk to Sotnikova and her coach to find out whether dear Adelina would like to participate in the Eurppean Championships, and if dear Adelia kindly stoops to European inferiors then the third place on the team will be gifted to her. It's not a joke, it's yesterday's interview of Alexander Lakerik, the Vice-President of RFSF and simltaneously the Chairman of ISU Technical Committee.

 

[MariaRafael]

A clean Leonova will not beat a clean Wagner or Gold while a clean Pogorilaya will be about tied and a clean Yuila would be ahead. Medal wise, there is zero point in sending her to either Euros or Worlds.

Any clean junior will be ahead of Wagner with lmost all her jumps underotated and her spins inferior to the majority of othet skaters.

 

[hanca]

Any clean junior will be ahead of Wagner with lmost all her jumps underotated and her spins inferior to the majority of othet skaters.

Well, that's the point. If any junior can beat Wagner and Lipnitskaya and Pogorilaya did not manage it at GPF, isn't that enough proof that they don't deserve the chance to go to Europeans? So why are you so angry that Sotnikova may get the chance?

 

[MariaRafael]

Is there a way to watch the Russians Nationals, I don't live in Russia. I've been watching the season on Ice Network but they don't cover Russian Nationals, which is a shame because the Russian skaters are the best.

Right now the Russian Nationals are promised to be shown on the Russia-2 TV channel (all the free programs and ladies' short program). Don't knpw whether this channel is availabl outside Russia, and on sportbox.ru (all the programs available live, and stored for a week for replays). I am pretty sure that sportbox is not available outside Russia.

 

[MariaRafael]

She did skate relatively well there, doing a 3/3 and not falling in either program.

She skipped half of her jumps and did her steps sliding on both feet.

 

[MariaRafael]

She sounds very convinced of the fact that she'll be able to go to Europeans if she is physically ready in time.
To me this gives the impression that the fed implied to her and her coach that she'll get one of the tickets one way or another, if she "wants" to have it.
Or does the real choice of words sound differently and is lost in translation?

Yes, that's what she said. THe translation is accurate/ Several hours laterher aiminable statement was confirmed by the Russian Figure Skating Federation/

 

[MariaRafael]

Machiavellian rationale? What has Wagner won? Two bronze medals in Grand Prix finals? What has Linitskaya won? Silver Grad Prix final medal, gold Europen champuon's medal, gold Olympic medal, silver World's medal. She beat Wagner ll the time except one unfortunate time.

I am pretty sure that everbody should get his/her spot on the team theough competition rather than politics and connections.

 

[[email protected]]

I am pretty sure that sportbox is not available outside Russia.

People have a good track record watching sportbox using hola.

 

[concorde]

I'm curious if people think that the falling Russian economy will have an impact on their ice skaters. My impression is that the "State" is funding most of the top level skaters.

 

[uhh]

I'm curious if people think that the falling Russian economy will have an impact on their ice skaters. My impression is that the "State" is funding most of the top level skaters.

Most of them train in Russia & the "infrastructure" of what they need is already in place, with the rinks, gyms, dance studios and so on - maybe there would be a bit more consolidation to get the best skaters in one place so the fed isn't supporting multiple training centres, but we've actually already been seeing that for several years with so many skaters moving from St Petersburg to Moscow. The real problem might come for the lower ranked skaters who don't get GP assignments but need to travel for senior B events, or for the few skaters who train abroad, although I think currently it's only Mozer's group who go to NJ for the summer and S/K with Marina. With the ruble crashing against the dollar, the cost of them working with her has effectively doubled for the federation since the spring.

 

[[email protected]]

Yes, the only immediate effect is the need to save on international costs. Inside Russia nothing is falling yet but the ruble.

 

[Naya]

I'm curious if people think that the falling Russian economy will have an impact on their ice skaters. My impression is that the "State" is funding most of the top level skaters.

I'm more worried about skaters as ordinary citzens. With exception of a few top athletes, I suppose the marjority of skaters are middle-class and have an important role on supporting their families financially.