Top Prospects of Russian ladies

[puremagic]

A few stsq of yonger and elder ladies:

Younger

Elizaveta Kuleshova (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOu_EhOkOr0
Anastasia Zinina (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-F0M-J_O74
Sofia Shmeleva (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm5yZ9uUcSU
Polina Popova (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3_4BmaED08
Adelia Petrosyan (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbdVNf7jBLw
Maria Zakharova (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxL6dLFag00
Victoria Sinyavina (2008: )https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-1Z-bPOKU4

Elder

Alena Kanysheva (2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlrsU7QjI2s
Daria Usacheva (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pFVKjx-LV4
Sofia Muravyova (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEovoActNSo
Anastasia Shabotova (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFL-rigXVqc
Ksenia Chistyakova (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpyO0xlGR8I

 

[puremagic]

But baby Sabina gets to go on to the SP??
Oh! Elements are done and Sabina is now in 15th after placing 10th in the SP!

There are really interesting results after the short program. Two girls with 49 and 44 points. For example, Zakirova could be in the final group at Moscow competition, in the top 4.

Also, I forgot about bonuses, and how pity that those (bad word) didn't make a result page for Moscow event. I guess both Samodelkina and Berestovskaya got +2 bonuses for their spins. So we should deduct or -1 or -2 from their scores to see a correct result. But still that's pretty high.

 

[Shayuki]

There are really interesting results after the short program. Two girls with 49 and 44 points. For example, Zakirova could be in the final group at Moscow competition, in the top 4.

Also, I forgot about bonuses, and how pity that those (bad word) didn't make a result page for Moscow event. I guess both Samodelkina and Berestovskaya got +2 bonuses for their spins. So we should deduct or -1 or -2 from their scores to see a correct result. But still that's pretty high.

Protocol for day 1. Samodelkina actually did get 55.43 points with no bonuses, and also lacking that third spin in comparison to junior programs.

To be honest, I think she's going to be a force in Russia Cup and Russian jr. nationals next season already.

 

[puremagic]

Protocol for day 1. Samodelkina actually did get 55.43 points with no bonuses, and also lacking that third spin in comparison to junior programs.

To be honest, I think she's going to be a force in Russia Cup and Russian jr. nationals next season already.

Yeah, and also with 3+3 + a bit higher PCS because of juniors category, she can easy have 65 points already, if not more. I hope in the next season she will develop more her skating skills as well as jumps. That is a very good word a 'force', very suitable description for her.

 

[puremagic]

Hey Shayuki, I also wanted to ask you, why nobody of current ladies didn't get lvl 4 at stsq? Is that so difficult? Same thing with lvl 2 stsq's. I mean, is that was planned? Or it's just because of girls' mistakes? I mean, ladies like Kanysheva or Usacheva, I enjoyed their stsq's, they seemed pretty flow and nice, but why nobody of them didn't receive lvl 4? And nobody of 24 girls didn't as well? [emoji848]
Btw, Usacheva got the highest GOE on the combination spin! Well-deserved!
Sharovs published his videos of a few ladies, from this angle Kanysheva's stsq at the beginning is just sensational, so flow and fast...

 

[Shayuki]

Lvl 4 steps are really difficult to get as a whole, at least at this level(It feels like at the top level with politicked skaters they get lvl 4s almost handed to them). There was some graph about US nationals or something that I saw some months ago where it was something like 60% of the skaters got lvl 3 steps but only 0.5% or so got lvl 4.

This is off US singles handbook for this season so it should be in date:

Level features
1. Minimum variety (Level 1), simple variety (Level 2), variety (Level 3), complexity (Level 4) of
difficult turns and steps throughout (compulsory)
2. Rotations in either direction (left and right) with full body rotation covering at least 1/3 of the
pattern in total for each rotational direction
3. Use of body movements for at least 1/3 of the pattern
4. Two different combinations of 3 difficult turns on different feet executed with a clear rhythm
within the sequence. Only the first combination attempted on each foot can be counted.

Usually I only bother looking for the first one because that one's pretty easy to see. "Use of body movements for at least 1/3 of the pattern" I wouldn't even bother with, but obviously that can be a reason for a skater not getting lvl 4 steps. The rotations in either direction-thing is also pretty difficult to determine how much exactly is 1/3 but easier than "use of body movements". #4, The two combinations of 3 difficult turns on different feet with the first combination attempted on each foot counting, however, is something I should also start looking for in addition to #1. It's pretty easy to identify also.



So on #1 or the one I always look for:

"Must include at least 11 difficult turns and steps. None of the types of turns and
steps can be counted more than twice.
5 types of turns and steps must be executed in both directions."

This is the base requirement for lvl 4 steps.

And then of course all 3 other features need to be met. The body movement and rotation is pretty self-explanatory but pain to actually quantify.

The two combinations of 3 difficult turns on different feet:

Difficult turns are rockers, counters, brackets, twizzles, loops.
In the combinations
• Three turns, change of edge, a jump/hop, changes of feet are not allowed;
• At least one turn in the combination must be of a different type than the
others.
• The exit edge of a turn is the entry edge of the next turn.
• The combination must be executed with a clear rhythm within the sequence.
Only the first combination attempted on each foot can be counted.
There is no maximum number of turns but there must be three (3) consecutive
difficult turns successfully performed to count.

I guess it theoretically is possible to determine whether the "body movements" and "rotations" were good enough but it's always tougher than looking at steps in slow-mo and seeing if they're performed correctly.

Take a look, it's a good read: https://www.usfigureskating.org/content/Technical Panel Handbook_Singles Skating.pdf
Explains many interesting things.

 

[puremagic]

Thanks to atsumiri, she also found some requirements for elements' competition. Interesting map. I can't understand anything there, tho! But still I guess it might be useful. [emoji848]

 

[Spirals for Miles]

hey puremagic, thanks for uploading Kamilla Kogay's skate! She's only a year younger than the power trio and not nearly as advanced as them but she definitely has a bright future. That one spin was absolutely gorgeous! And even her double lutz had huge airtime. I nearly thought it was a triple!

 

[puremagic]

I guess it's time to switch suns of 2008' girls to the stars. I'd also notice Sinyavina, she is of 2008 year as well, and has some triples. I tried to find Kogay at sportvokrug and fskate, but nothing. I mean, I can see her name in many competitions, but not a full date of birth, so after or before 1st July in her case will be unknown. I added her in the 'after 1st July' category, just in case. Same story with Marasonova. Here's a more less full list of 2008' skaters:

2008 (before 1st July)
Polina Plakhotnaya
Victoria Sinyavina
Sofia Vazhnova
Polina Yusuf
Veronica Zhilina
Alina Mikheyenkova
Taisia Proskuryakova
Nadezhda Suchevan
Alexandra Makieva
Sofia Vokulova
Polina Abolymova
Anastasia Chernyshova


2008 (after 1st July)
Kamilla Kogay
Sofia Viskova
Anna Okuneva
Eva Lavshuk

So, what's your thoughts? How many stars each of them deserves? Sad we didn't see Zhilina, Vazhnova, Yusuf, Plakhotnaya and Okuneva there.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Kogay definitely deserves all three stars you've given her!!!! LOVE HER!!

 

[tars]

A little quiz what Melkumova coach is thinking?
- "Look people, I'm tougher than Eteri!"
- "No pain, no gain, kid!"
- "You'll wipe the ice until you learn to jump!"

Also, your two CSKA stars can't touch supernova Akatieva. Girl is in another galactic.

 

[Shayuki]

A little quiz what Melkumova coach is thinking?
- "Look people, I'm tougher than Eteri!"
- "No pain, no gain, kid!"
- "You'll wipe the ice until you learn to jump!"

I honestly have difficulty deciphering what he's thinking. The program's way too difficult for her! In so many more ways than one. How does it make any sense to have such entries for jumps she's never even landed cleanly? And they've even made it more difficult during this season. Maybe it's so that she would improve but seriously, she had such bad falls in this competition's FS also that I'm afraid she's going to get injured before nailing those jumps.

And look at this reaction. What do you make of that?

 

[puremagic]

And look at this reaction. What do you make of that?

"Well, didn't work"

 

[puremagic]

Just found out a protocol of the younger girls' elements. Six ladies received level 3 on their stsq, including top 3. Not bad!

And how pity we couldn't watch stsq's of Berestovskaya, Akatieva and full stsq of Samodelkina.

 

[tars]

"Well, didn't work"

Nah, for me it was more like "just look at this peasant unable to follow my royal plan."

 

[tars]

Just found out a protocol of the younger girls' elements. Six ladies received level 3 on their stsq, including top 3. Not bad!

And how pity we couldn't watch stsq's of Berestovskaya, Akatieva and full stsq of Samodelkina.

I'd also like to see Valieva's LP.
What do you guys think about Shabotova? Looks like girl with potential. :think:

 

[puremagic]

I'd also like to see Valieva's LP.
What do you guys think about Shabotova? Looks like girl with potential. :think:

They all have it. The main question is who can help them to properly develop it.

 

[Shayuki]

I really enjoyed Ksenia Melkumova FS Step Sequence and I think it was easily her best of the competition and also easily the best step sequence she's had for the free skate(of the ones that have been recorded. So here's my analysis on the difficult steps, best I can do with the limited camera angles:

RBO Rocker
LBI Rocker
LFI Counter(Cheated)
LBI Counter
LFI Choctaw
LBO Choctaw(Cheated?)
LFO Rocker(Cheated)
LBO Counter
LFO Twizzle 3.5(ccw)
RFI Bracket
LFO Choctaw
RBI Rocker
RFI Counter
RBO Counter(cheated)
RFO Choctaw
LFO Rocker
LFI Choctaw
LBO Choctaw
RFI Choctaw
LBI Counter
LFI Bracket
LBO Counter(cheated?)
LFO Loop
RBI Loop(Cheated)

2/2 Rocker
2/2 Counter
2/2 Choctaw
2/2 Bracket
1/2 Loop
1/1 Twizzle

That would make it lvl 3 steps(still requiring at least 2 other features for that, obviously). And that same Loop at the very end of her step sequence - backwards on the right foot - she's performed poorly just about every time.

You know, something I noticed a while ago. Perhaps she's left-footed? She seems to do a lot more stuff with it and seems more comfortable and consistent on her left food. And that'd explain her struggles with the jump height, because she still jumps as if she was naturally right-footed. In Russia they don't really have skaters jumping clockwise even if it would be more natural for them.


There were those two little choctaws I didn't even notice were choctaws while just watching it through, and she lowers the free foot to the ice very soon after. But I believe they still actually are very good choctaws. 1 and 2.

 

[puremagic]

I really enjoyed Ksenia Melkumova FS Step Sequence and I think it was easily her best of the competition and also easily the best step sequence she's had for the free skate(of the ones that have been recorded. So here's my analysis on the difficult steps, best I can do with the limited camera angles:

RBO Rocker
LBI Rocker
LFI Counter(Cheated)
LBI Counter
LFI Choctaw
LBO Choctaw(Cheated?)
LFO Rocker(Cheated)
LBO Counter
LFO Twizzle 3.5(ccw)
RFI Bracket
LFO Choctaw
RBI Rocker
RFI Counter
RBO Counter(cheated)
RFO Choctaw
LFO Rocker
LFI Choctaw
LBO Choctaw
RFI Choctaw
LBI Counter
LFI Bracket
LBO Counter(cheated?)
LFO Loop
RBI Loop(Cheated)

2/2 Rocker
2/2 Counter
2/2 Choctaw
2/2 Bracket
1/2 Loop
1/1 Twizzle

That would make it lvl 3 steps(still requiring at least 2 other features for that, obviously). And that same Loop at the very end of her step sequence - backwards on the right foot - she's performed poorly just about every time.

You know, something I noticed a while ago. Perhaps she's left-footed? She seems to do a lot more stuff with it and seems more comfortable and consistent on her left food. And that'd explain her struggles with the jump height, because she still jumps as if she was naturally right-footed. In Russia they don't really have skaters jumping clockwise even if it would be more natural for them.


There were those two little choctaws I didn't even notice were choctaws while just watching it through, and she lowers the free foot to the ice very soon after. But I believe they still actually are very good choctaws. 1 and 2.

Teach us further, Shayuki! Share more your wisdom and knowledge!

 

[puremagic]

Highlights from today's competition:

Anastasia Shabotova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj61yphyiEM (agree with tars, she has something)
Sofia Muravyova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3o0ZG4sDTk
Ksenia Chistyakova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptZXgaVm6hE
Alena Kanysheva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WlfTHH8B9I
Anna Frolova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edb7-KgQsbQ

Off topic, hey Shayuki, what do you think about these boys? [emoji848]

These two boys of 2009 year are the future of Russian men' skating. Nikolay already has 3-3 combo, and Arseny's skating skills are amazing for a such age.

Nikolay Kolesnikov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Ih7bboLeQ
Arseny Fedotov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SdIm5i1kjE