Will Zagitova return?

[Scott512]

All of team Tutbertize has been relatively quiet with posting training things since they got back on ice, but Zagitova is the only 1 that paused her career last year, then last year Eteri made the comment that oh she already misses competitions, but now all of sudden its still up in the air that she's going to compete this season at all. I don't think anyone is saying its wrong for fans to be sharing those media things or that she's doing them, but those in conjunction with the recent news that a decision will be made on her participating in competitions after test skates it looks like she's more interested in her media career vs. her skating career to some people.


The only thing about this situation that bothers me is that she's on the main National team and gets funding as such and it appears she's not wanting to compete this year (see my post from a few days ago, if she really wanted to compete this "decision" after test skates wouldn't exist); meanwhile there's a skater on the reserve team that could be on the main team and getting funding as a main team member and someone not on the main team or reserve team that could be getting funding. Nothing against her but if she's going to forego competing at the Russian cup events, which are the qualifiers for Nationals, then at minimum the Fed should bump her to the reserve team or adjust her funding and allocate that money from her to another skater who is committed to competing.

As per usual you mate a variety of good points. Actually about the funding.

Kogan said she will be there for financial reasons. She will not skate.

Whaaaat? She's going to test skates but isn't going to skate? What is this she's going for financial reasons? You mean to be funded for this year whatever the season is so she has to go to test skates to get the funding? It's hard to believe the reigning and defending well you know the drill would have to show up the test skates to get her funding from the Fed.

 

[Scott512]

I had actually only read the article as an expression of opinion from a blogger, which has no more or less weight than any other forum, fan or critic. I only found the perception very interesting because I sometimes feel the same way. Even if you look at the FF. It feels like 99% of all posts are about advertising events of any kind and Alinas appearance. Basically, sport no longer occurs. I didn't read that as an attack on Alina, frankly. Maybe that's because I never read the comments?

I think the female Alina fans enjoy the marketing and advertising campaigns more than the male Alina fans do. I don't know what guys post in their regularly anymore I think it's just flanker. I pop in there once in awhile but I was more active in her Fan Fest when she was competing. I don't know what happened to Edwin or Edroz but I believe the marketing and promotions Alina is doing for her major sponsors interest her female fans a lot more than her male fans. Alina sponsors two major International products. She hasnt competed in figure skating since last fall so that's why the FanFest is the way it is. I have worn Puma for many years even when Nike became so popular I stuck with Puma and I'm very glad Alina is a puma sponsor making millions from them. I sure hope she competes again and if she isn't at the very top of the Russian ladies that's okay. I'm hoping she skates well at test skates and a slip her into a couple Russian cup of events and then things are back to normal. Chances of that happening are like 50-50 at best at this point.

 

[lopsilceci]

Of course Alina will go to test skates to skate... Otherwise what's the point of her being there? as a judge? Moral support?

 

[Scott512]

Of course Alina will go to test skates to skate... Otherwise what's the point of her being there? as a judge? Moral support?

It's a little more mysterious to sime than you make it sound lopsi. mainly because Alina has not committed to any Russian Cup series events.. it makes some people go hmmmm.

I expect her to be there and skate well with two really nice new programs.

 

[Scott512]

I read somewhere that Alina will be hosting Ice Age kids. If so I think that's going to be an interruption to her competiting this season.

 

[lesnar001]

Will Zagitova return?

1) Not this season
2) Hopefully next season, but not looking likely (at this time). Stranger things have happened, though.

 

[Scott512]

Will Zagitova return?

1) Not this season
2) Hopefully next season, but not looking likely (at this time). Stranger things have happened, though.

I think number two is the Clear Choice here. But I don't know what's going to happen because everything in life and sports is so uncertain because of covid-19. Alina may skate really well at test skates and may actually go to a Russian cup event. I don't see why she can't host Ice Age kids for a week or two of shows then go training for a couple weeks and do one of the Russian cup events. What we don't know is the Ice Age schedule will they do six months of shows in 3 weeks when will it be more drawn out where Alina could not train properly?

 

[Lechat]

All of team Tutbertize has been relatively quiet with posting training things since they got back on ice, but Zagitova is the only 1 that paused her career last year, then last year Eteri made the comment that oh she already misses competitions, but now all of sudden its still up in the air that she's going to compete this season at all. I don't think anyone is saying its wrong for fans to be sharing those media things or that she's doing them, but those in conjunction with the recent news that a decision will be made on her participating in competitions after test skates it looks like she's more interested in her media career vs. her skating career to some people.


The only thing about this situation that bothers me is that she's on the main National team and gets funding as such and it appears she's not wanting to compete this year (see my post from a few days ago, if she really wanted to compete this "decision" after test skates wouldn't exist); meanwhile there's a skater on the reserve team that could be on the main team and getting funding as a main team member and someone not on the main team or reserve team that could be getting funding. Nothing against her but if she's going to forego competing at the Russian cup events, which are the qualifiers for Nationals, then at minimum the Fed should bump her to the reserve team or adjust her funding and allocate that money from her to another skater who is committed to competing.

The funding depends on the precedent saison not the current one. Alina medaled and was selected for the GPF, so it’s alright since she’s still training and didn’t retire.

 

[Amei]

The funding depends on the precedent saison not the current one. Alina medaled and was selected for the GPF, so it’s alright since she’s still training and didn’t retire.

Yes funding in part is decided based on the previous season's results however I don't think there is an intention of providing funding to a skater who is potentially going to walk away from competing for the season funding especially when there is a field as deep as the Russian ladies. She took a 'break' from her competitive career at the GPF last season, how many other skaters have taken breaks that quietly turned into retirement without an official signed document that they were done competing?

As of right now it's looking more and more like Zagitova's not really interested or to continue competing at least this season - the director the Fed was the person that made the statement that she would decide after test skates if she's going to compete at the Russian Cup events which are the qualifiers for Nationals this year, this wasn't some made up rumor by some tabloid journalist. And now about a week before test skates it's announced that she's signed on to participate in a TV show which sounds like it's done during what will be the domestic season for figure skating. Look if she competes at the Russian Cup events to go to Nationals I've got no issue with her funding, but if she decides to forego competing this season I don't think she should be getting full funding, this isn't some slam to Zagitova I would be making this same comment for any skater on the main team that decided to just skip the competition season. It was said on this board that Shcherbakova's mother did an interview and said once Shcherbakova was on the national team everything training-wise was paid for and that's an amazing gift to get in an expensive sport and that money is getting taken by a skater that's potentially not going to compete this year and it's not a given that she's gonna come back the following season.

 

[TallyT]

Can I just humbly say it appears from waaaaay over here that our two singles OGMs simply have a bet on to see which can drive their devoted fans to distraction fastest and furthest...

 

[zounger]

Can I just humbly say it appears from waaaaay over here that our two singles OGMs simply have a bet on to see which can drive their devoted fans to distraction fastest and furthest...

At least Yuzuru is more direct and clear with Alina it is a lot of suspense, and we found out about her plans from third parties

 

[Scott512]

At least Yuzuru is more direct and clear with Alina it is a lot of suspense, and we found out about her plans from third parties

Suspense from Alina will disappear when she does her media training at college. Then she won't need third parties as you point out.

 

[Lechat]

Yes funding in part is decided based on the previous season's results however I don't think there is an intention of providing funding to a skater who is potentially going to walk away from competing for the season funding especially when there is a field as deep as the Russian ladies. She took a 'break' from her competitive career at the GPF last season, how many other skaters have taken breaks that quietly turned into retirement without an official signed document that they were done competing?

As of right now it's looking more and more like Zagitova's not really interested or to continue competing at least this season - the director the Fed was the person that made the statement that she would decide after test skates if she's going to compete at the Russian Cup events which are the qualifiers for Nationals this year, this wasn't some made up rumor by some tabloid journalist. And now about a week before test skates it's announced that she's signed on to participate in a TV show which sounds like it's done during what will be the domestic season for figure skating. Look if she competes at the Russian Cup events to go to Nationals I've got no issue with her funding, but if she decides to forego competing this season I don't think she should be getting full funding, this isn't some slam to Zagitova I would be making this same comment for any skater on the main team that decided to just skip the competition season. It was said on this board that Shcherbakova's mother did an interview and said once Shcherbakova was on the national team everything training-wise was paid for and that's an amazing gift to get in an expensive sport and that money is getting taken by a skater that's potentially not going to compete this year and it's not a given that she's gonna come back the following season.

And so what ? She’s on the mean national team now and she didn’t retire yet. She has to give 30% of all her prize money so she paid a huge amount for the funding.

 

[zounger]

Yes funding in part is decided based on the previous season's results however I don't think there is an intention of providing funding to a skater who is potentially going to walk away from competing for the season funding especially when there is a field as deep as the Russian ladies. She took a 'break' from her competitive career at the GPF last season, how many other skaters have taken breaks that quietly turned into retirement without an official signed document that they were done competing?

As of right now it's looking more and more like Zagitova's not really interested or to continue competing at least this season - the director the Fed was the person that made the statement that she would decide after test skates if she's going to compete at the Russian Cup events which are the qualifiers for Nationals this year, this wasn't some made up rumor by some tabloid journalist. And now about a week before test skates it's announced that she's signed on to participate in a TV show which sounds like it's done during what will be the domestic season for figure skating. Look if she competes at the Russian Cup events to go to Nationals I've got no issue with her funding, but if she decides to forego competing this season I don't think she should be getting full funding, this isn't some slam to Zagitova I would be making this same comment for any skater on the main team that decided to just skip the competition season. It was said on this board that Shcherbakova's mother did an interview and said once Shcherbakova was on the national team everything training-wise was paid for and that's an amazing gift to get in an expensive sport and that money is getting taken by a skater that's potentially not going to compete this year and it's not a given that she's gonna come back the following season.

I don't get your point. Do you want to say that Zagitova should refuse the founding? The RusFed should stop it for her? or something else. Who is the addressee for your criticism?

 

[halulupu]

She is basically retired now. Rest is just marketing

 

[vesperalvioletta]

I don't get your point. Do you want to say that Zagitova should refuse the founding? The RusFed should stop it for her? or something else. Who is the addressee for your criticism?

I don't want to put words in Amei's mouth, so this is my opinion rather than me trying to speak to their point. I think the gracious thing to do if she already has no intention of competing this season would be for Zagitova to decline Federation funding, or take a percentage cut. I'd assume that with her sponsorships and other professional opportunities, she's quite financially secure, so to me it seems a bit unfair that she'd accept funding from the Fed with no intention of actually using that funding towards training to compete. I realize she's hardly the first Russian skater to all but officially retire but remain funded, but the concept of it overall rubs me the wrong way. To take the opportunity to have training and related expenses paid for from another skater who actually intends to compete doesn't seem right. Ultimately, it's the Federation's decision to grant her that funding, and I imagine that they may even continue to keep her on the national team until she officially retires, but I can't say that I agree with that.

 

[zounger]

I don't get that, she missed last RN and she will be removed from funding? I think this conversation is premature, let's wait the season outcome and then either RusFed will remove her, either she will retire and not get it, either they will keep her in the team beacuse it's more profitable for them, either she refuse to get it... But to refuse the funding upfront when there is no spesific information that she will miss all the starts isn't weird? Even if she wants to refuse it, they may want to keep her beacuse they can make more money out of her in this case. So the question should be addressed to RusFed and not to Alina, I think. She is not the one to decide it. Or maybe Alina fooled them, like her sponsors and said that she will compete and she doesn't? If she fooled them, then they shouldn't use her in posters for test skates to sell tickets.

 

[TallyT]

Suspense from Alina will disappear when she does her media training at college. Then she won't need third parties as you point out.

Or she'll take another leaf from Yuzuru and fans won't even know which country she is in half the time, let alone what she's doing... :hopelessness: which I grant would be hard with the Russian fed and fans but you would have thought was almost impossible with the Japanese fed, fans and media, so let's not tempt fate.

If she fooled them, then they shouldn't use her in posters for test skates to sell tickets.

It's in their interests to assume and hope she will keep competing. I imagine that they know rather more about her plans than the public, so if they think their funding is well spent, then...

 

[Amei]

I don't get your point. Do you want to say that Zagitova should refuse the founding? The RusFed should stop it for her? or something else. Who is the addressee for your criticism?

The Fed funding her - take the skater's name out of it. In my opinion Federation funding should be reserved for competing athletes and to an extent someone that was on team but got injured. Barring an injury if a skater decides to step away from competition then Fed funding should stop and those funds be diverted to an athlete that plans to compete that season. Any 'break' from competitions should be treated as a retirement until the skater competes again because there have been many skaters that taken a break from competing for whatever reason and then they never really compete again but they also don't really ever officially retire.

 

[TallyT]

The Fed funding her - take the skater's name out of it. In my opinion Federation funding should be reserved for competing athletes and to an extent someone that was on team but got injured. Barring an injury if a skater decides to step away from competition then Fed funding should stop and those funds be diverted to an athlete that plans to compete that season. Any 'break' from competitions should be treated as a retirement until the skater competes again because there have been many skaters that taken a break from competing for whatever reason and then they never really compete again but they also don't really ever officially retire.

So by your reasoning if any skater agrees with Yuzuru that the risk this year at the GPs is too great, they still have to either suck it up and maybe endanger their health or lose their funding? I mean, Yuzu can afford this, but such a stark choice is hardly fair on pretty much every other skater who is probably under immense pressure to take the risk whether they want to or not.