Vayana Hristova

[CaroLiza_fan]

Bosphorus Cup Junior Ladies SP: Results; Protocols

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Vayana finished 38th out of 49 in the SP, with a score of 31.62.

Here is what I wrote about her in the competition thread during the Warm-Up:

Because I have not seen Vayana yet this season, and didn't know what her dress looked like, I was worried that I would not be able to spot her. And as it turned out I was right to worry. Because I ended up following the wrong skater around the rink!

Consequently, I have had to re-write this post.

Vayana started out by doing a lap of the rink, and then came into the middle and did a whole pile of spins in a circle. She then set off again, doing some mini-jumps, and went out of camera shot.

When she came back into shot, she went down to the far end of the rink and attempted a jump, but popped it. She then circled around and had another go, and it worked this time.

She then circled around and did a third jump, but I don't think she got the full number of rotations, because she landed facing where she came from.

After a while of just skating around the rink, she went down and did a fourth jump at the same place. And this one was lovely.

With about 2 minutes to go, the camera zoomed in on each of the judges. And when they zoomed out, we saw Vayana go over to Andrei Lutay and have a chat with him. She then set off, and did a fifth jump at the same spot. This one went well. She then went back to him.

With a minute to go, she went into the centre of the rink and did a lovely spin, and went back to the boards. She then came out looking like to do something else, but another skater got in her way, so she just did some small spins.

And that was it.

Looking forward to seeing what her programmes are like.

CaroLiza_fan

Here is what I wrote when she was being introduced:

Here is the first of my four kids in this competition.

ALL THE BEST VAYANA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

And here is what I wrote about her programme:

It's hard to describe the colour of her dress. It's sort of a pale brown, with a black pattern.

Skating to “Ne Me Quitte Pas”.

Fall on the first jump.

Not actually sure if the second element was an individual jump or a combination! If it was the latter, the second jump was VERY small. Which is what made me think it was maybe choreography rather than a read jump.

The next combination jump was good. And so was the spin immediately after it.

Lovely sit spin towards the end.

Not sure about this finishing the programme lying down on the ice.

Andrei sitting with her.

She goes into 6th position.

I know that she is new to Juniors this season, but I was expecting a higher score than this. It's not like she had a bad skate. She was actually quite good!

WELL DONE VAYANA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

Vayana is currently 0.14 points behind 37th position, Derya TAYGAN (TUR), and 0.46 points ahead of 39th position, Esma ÖKTEM (TUR).

I usually define groups by gaps of 2 points or more. But, if I were to do that in this case, all three of them would be part of a group of 40 skaters covered by 21.58 points, stretching from Michaela MÁLKOVÁ (CZE) in 9th position, 13.14 points ahead of Vayana, down to Buse SEZERER (TUR) in 48th position, 8.44 points behind Vayana.

In a group as massive as this, which covers three quarters of the field, absolutely anything could happen. Vayana could move significantly up the order, or significantly down the order.

So let's hope she has a good Free Skate, and moves up!

WELL DONE VAYANA!!!

---

The Junior Ladies FS is due to start today at 15:00:00 TRT (12:00:00 GMT / 14:00:00 EET). So 6 hours from now.

Vayana will be the 12th skater to start. So, second skater to go in Group 3.

The Group 3 Warm-Up is due to start at 16:24:40 TRT (13:24:40 GMT / 15:24:40 EET). So 7h 24m from now.

Vayana is due to start at 16:24:40 TRT (13:38:20 GMT / 15:38:20 EET). So 7h 38m from now.

But, those times may change if somebody that is due on before her withdraws.

More information in the event thread:
https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/98575

Hope this helps

ALL THE BEST VAYANA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Bosphorus Cup Junior Ladies FS: Results; Protocols
Bosphorus Cup Junior Ladies: Results

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Vayana finished 41st out of 49 in the FS, with a score of 51.81. This meant that she dropped to 40th position overall, with a score of 83.43.

Here is what I wrote about her in the competition thread during the Warm-Up:

Same problem as yesterday - everybody in this group has dark hair. So, I had to be careful. But, because I now know that Vayana has grown her hair out since last season, it made her easy to spot amongst the other girls.

Vayana went past the camera warly on in the Warm-Up, and went down to her favourite spot and did a lovely jump.

Then, with about a minute and a half to go, she went to her usual area again and did another lovely jump.

In the last minute, she started practicing spins in the centre of the rink. Then she came over towards the camera, and then straight across the ice, presummably to get ready to leave.

She doesn't have long to wait. Just one skater between now and her programme.

CaroLiza_fan

Here is what I wrote when she was being introduced:

Right, here's hoping that my first kid of the day can show us what made me want to adopt her in the first place.

ALL THE BEST VAYANA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

And here is what I wrote about her programme:

Beautiful deep red dress.

Can't really judge this music because of the echos. I'll have to reserve judgement until I hear it in an arena with better accoustics.

Fall on first jump.

And second.

The sequence of jumps went better,

OK, she had a stomp on the music.

Missed the next jump because the picture froze as she took off.

But the next spin was good.

And so was the combination spin.

Lovely combination jump.

The Sit Spin was good, but personally I don't like the way she slides out of it.

Next jump good too.

What's she doing rolling about on the ice for?!

Not sure if that was a slide or a fall at the very end.

Honestly, I know it's her first season in Juniors, but I think searching for a Pairs partner has been too much of a distraction. The quality of her Singles skating is suffering.

She can do better than this.

She goes into 6th in the FS, and 4th overall.

WELL DONE VAYANA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

I actually had company watching Vayana's FS. So, here is what our bastion of positivity, @Jeanie19, had to say about her:

Vayana. Really pretty dress. Good program. A few mistakes, but she never gave up.

Vayana finished the Free Skate 0.06 points behind 40th position, Anastassiya ENGELGARDT (KAZ), and 0.14 points ahead of 42nd position, Dorina SZIGETI (HUN). All three of them are part of a group of 13 skaters covered by 6.37 points, stretching from Esma ÖKTEM (TUR) in 37th position, 2.04 points ahead of Vayana, down to Nil ÖZEK (TUR) in 49th position, 4.33 points behind Vayana.

Overall, Vayana finished 0.66 points behind 39th position, Szigeti, and 0.37 points ahead of 40th position, Derya TAYGAN (TUR). All three of them are part of a group of 8 skaters covered by 3.70 points, stretching from Engelhardt in 37th position, 2.58 points ahead of Vayana, down to Beyza BAĞIR (TUR) in 42nd position, 1.12 points behind Vayana.

I'm getting concerned. Vayana is a very good skater. I was so impressed with her over the past couple of seasons. But, she has now competed in two events this season, and at both of them she has not skated the way we know she can.

As I alluded to in the competition thread, I really do believe that searching for a Pairs partner is holding her back in her Singles skating. I don't know if this is the case, but I am getting the impression that she is seeing competing in Singles as just a stop-gap until she gets a partner, and isn't puting all her effort into it. But, we all know how difficult getting a partner can be. Especially for somebody that is completely new to Pairs. It could take years. And if she keeps on this downward spiral in her Singles Skating, she will become a less attractive option for prospective Pairs partners.

So, Vayana needs to knuckle down and put everything into keeping sharp in her Singles skating. Because if she doesn't, she could find herself on the shelf completely. And for a skater who is as good as we know she can be, that would be an absolute travesty.

Sorry to end this on such a pessimistic note. But I really like this girl, and I want to see her performing to her full potential.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Finally! Vayana has found a Pairs partner.



[Cue Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"]

As revealed by @DemTuppesSeine over in the Splits & Partner Changes thread, she will be partnering Axel AHMED (FRA), who is also coming straight from Singles Skating (he did not compete this season due to injury).

At the French Championships in the 2023-24 Season, Axel finished 3rd out of 12 in Junior Men, and 11th out of 12 in Senior Men. (The reason he was so far down in Seniors is that he finished last in the SP after falling on his first 2 elements. The FS went a LOT better, but the damage had already been done). As far as I have been able to find out, that was his only competition at Senior level.

On the international circuit, his biggest achievement is winning Advanced Novice Men at the 2019 Santa Claus Cup. That was his last competition at Advanced Novice level, so what a way to sign off!

There was a bit of confusion in the thread over which country they would be representing. But going by the number of photos of Paris that Vayana has been posting on Instagram in the past couple of months, it looks to me that it is more likely that they will be representing France. Or, at least, that they are training in that country.

Here is Axel's announcement of the partnership:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKXoRemIpIB/

And here is his announcement that French Ice Dancer Louis Thauron is choreograhing their FS:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKZ-GEdIYHR/

I always find it encouraging to see an Ice Dancer involved.

I am delighted to hear that Vayana has finally found a Pairs partner. It has been a very long year for those of us that are fans of her.

After being so impressed with her when she was competing in Singles at Novice level, it was so sad seeing her really struggle in Juniors in the season that is just finishing. For somebody who was used to fighting for the top positions in Novices, it must have been so demoralising for her to be near the bottom of the field in her debut season in Juniors.

It was obvious that competing in Singles at the same time as searching for a Pairs partner wasn't working. But now she can focus.

Looking forward to seeing her and Axel in action.

CaroLiza_fan