Yulia Lipnitskaya

[sjid]

I hope not. Seriously. The programs are still quite empty, which is probably a reflection of the fact that she's working on other things besides choreography, and that shows in her spins and overall skating. It's not like Medvedeva that has the entire set of jumps and can rack up them like it's nothing, I can't see Yulia with a complex program now. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be able to do it - and it's what happened with some of her programs in the last seasons, she bit more than she could chew, and sometimes she was literally going through the motions without feeling anything at all.

And it's not like rehabilitating her jumps is going to take half a season. They are better than they were at the start of the year, she's lighter on the ice and didn't lose her drive in the middle of the programs. Personally, that feels more like a win than anything else.

I wanted to see her skate a clean program with seven triples, but not this time. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

Your thoughtful comment is most plausible. Yulia's nemesis has been the FS. Unlike the short program (which she has managed pretty well the last two seasons), choreography for the Kill Bill is in-house, officially a collaboration of Yulia and Alexei. This arrangement allows for maximum flexibility, an open-ended atmosphere where the choreography and training can be tweaked freely to fit Yulia's evolving needs. This reverse choreography is necessarily coach-oriented. Yulia has praised the organization of her training sessions, she says they plan each day in detail, always focusing on something specific and no wasted time. She says if something doesn't work, Alexei suggests other ways until they find what works for her. In other words, the structure of Kill Bill will be shaped according to her progress. Recently fans have expressed concern to Yulia about the upcoming competitions, she has replied 'do not be concerned.' Which is to say that this customized approach is working really well. Shortly after Alexei became her coach he told an interviewer that he knew what Yulia needs and she is willing to do the work (anyone who doubts her work ethic just take a look at her, she is literally working her butt off). It seems he really does understand Yulia the skater and Yulia the person, and has the skill to coach her effectively. He says their communication is sometimes psychic. We can count on him to do what is best for her. And always remember the four year program. A slow methodical approach makes much sense when we remind ourselves that her ultimate prize is the Olympics. Please consider what she has been through, the stifling environment with Eteri, her inexplicable decline, the lack of support from those whom she trusted and relied upon with no one else to turn to. Her Kill Bill test skate is a great triumph, nothing less. I am really happy for Yulia and grateful to Alexei.

It is amusing that her programs for this year of rehabilitation are Kill Bill and Les feuilles mortes (Dead Leaves). The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen.

 

[bosskil]

Well, let's say I have seen better choreo in Julia's long programs...
Regarding jumps - they weren't that bad, but what about her stamina? I wonder, what if she skated LP yesterday? Do you think, she would have nailed the jumps? (just theoretic question) :think:
She looked tired today imo.

 

[sjid]

I hope she doesn't keep the unitard, I loathe those things and the back looks like its open showing her sports bra...though if she does go the unitard route, hopefully they add some lines down the side of her legs to really accentuate her lines and length her legs.

It won't happen.

 

[sjid]

Well, let's say I have seen better choreo in Julia's long programs...
Regarding jumps - they weren't that bad, but what about her stamina? I wonder, what if she skated LP yesterday? Do you think, she would have nailed the jumps? (just theoretic question) :think:
She looked tired today imo.

In a recent interview she attributed tiredness to nerves.

 

[bosskil]

http://tinyurl.com/zj4rx7x

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Don't have time to read everyone's comments and only saw snippets of the program. I think the programs this year are designed to calm her down a bit in order to get a better feel of her jumping passes. Next year will be more complicated programs while this year will be just making some noise on the scene. I think from what I've seen so far she'll improve steadily as the season goes on and well be able to enjoy the progress she makes. The potential of her skating is growing IMO

 

[sjid]

Yulia has really matured. Her spins are looking even prettier now

My reaction also. We saw a polished professional for the first time.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Well, let's say I have seen better choreo in Julia's long programs...
Regarding jumps - they weren't that bad, but what about her stamina? I wonder, what if she skated LP yesterday? Do you think, she would have nailed the jumps? (just theoretic question) :think:
She looked tired today imo.

Well, they did have a pretty tiring week, with closed and open skates, and she wasn't the only one lacking a bit in the last day. However, you can see she's still taking her time with the program, although, she skated it until the end, and that's good. Urmanov said she's at 75%, so we have to wait for better things at her next outing.

 

[ElenaClaire]

Hello again guys!
Just watched Yulia's free and hey it's not bad at all. She skipped a jump (salchow combo?) and doubled a few but other than that, very nice effort. Seems to me like she's still trying to be more comfortable with the program as a whole, which is fine. There could be better in between steps or transitions. There's potential in it. The theme is interesting too. I think when all is there it can showcase the other side of Yulia we haven't really seen before. I believe she can deliver and let's hope she will as time goes by! :agree:

The music cuts may sound a bit jarring but it doesn't really distract me tbh. I'm also curious on her outfit.

 

[moviebuff]

New HQ vids from different camera angle:

Le Feuilles Mortes SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NzeIJgh7w8
Short Program warmup: One, Two and Three

Kill Bill FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q11aiNDGDe8
Free Skate warmup: One and Two


EDIT:

Also, (not sure if it confirmed by Team Yulia yet) but Yulia is currently listed as a participant for Ondrej Nepela Trophy (29/09 - 01/10)

Finally a new instagram selfie: Rebel With A Cause

 

[Snow63]

Nepela Trophy: http://nepela.kraso.sk/?page_id=12

 

[solani]

I think her FS has a lot of potential and I like the music selection. And I really hope she'll go for the yellow/black bodysuit, more yellow than black this time, I didn't like the bodysuit she used for the EX. The question is: bedaubed with blood or not?

 

[geiger]

A piece of a future interview by Vaitz - she will release the whole of it shortly:

"Stephen is a separate story altogether. The music starts - and he just flies away. He loves music and ice so much that just watching his improvisations is a joy. But in practice it looked like this: Stephen turns on the music, starts doing some steps really, really quickly, and I am standing there with Alexei Evgenievich, both of us watching him with our mouths agape. Afterwards, when I come to my senses because I could not understand at all how he did all that, I ask him to repeat, and he does, but does it in a different way. Asking him just what he did right then and there is useless, Stephen does not bother to remember that. So I learned to visually capture pieces out of his step sequences and then repeat them. I was just skating after him, staring at his feet. He really does twist his legs all the time in some unthinkable ways..."

She also said Yulia did some cooking for Steph

 

[moviebuff]

A piece of a future interview by Vaitz - she will release the whole of it shortly:



She also said Yulia did some cooking for Steph

I'm sorry, when I read that....I envisioned THIS.
I wonder what she cooked...

 

[magdalena]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKQe43XjPpt/

 

[sjid]

New HQ vids from different camera angle:

Le Feuilles Mortes SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NzeIJgh7w8

thank you for this excellent video, it's nice to really see. Yulia has not lost her mirabile touch, she is more expressive than ever. Jazz is all about improvisation, as opposed to classical music's insistence on structure and formality (example: contrast Les feuilles mortes with Leningrad). Yulia's performance is rich with the ephemeral clarity of emotion, aka soul. We have some notion of the discipline and determination that are behind this program. Yet it is spontaneous, natural, sincere. Again she shows us her feelings, Yulia we can so admire.

 

[sjid]

I think her FS has a lot of potential and I like the music selection. And I really hope she'll go for the yellow/black bodysuit, more yellow than black this time, I didn't like the bodysuit she used for the EX. The question is: bedaubed with blood or not?

Now that I can watch a decent video thanks to moviebuff, I completely agree. Because she and Alexei are choreographing as they go, it will get very interesting and very personal. Yulia will have the freedom to create images according to her own impressions, slowly and thoughtfully she can peel the layers of meaning from the music just as every artist does. For example, the transition into the requiem Bang Bang where she lowers her arms representing death is stunning, 5 seconds of pure genius (1:53 to 1:58 in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q11aiNDGDe8 . Ilya came late to Schindler's List, much of that program was hers. She is wise to turn to her greatest resource, her intuition. Alexei will assure the proper environment for this. There is huge promise here. Bang Bang is a great composition.

Alexei said her FS will be immediately obvious to everyone from the music and her costume. It sounds like you will get your wish.

Definitely not bedaubed with blood. She is looking really good. Go back one year ago, this is a miracle of self-respect and sweat. I hope Eteri remembers she suggested to Yulia that she quit each time she watches Yulia do her thing.

 

[sjid]

A piece of a future interview by Vaitz - she will release the whole of it shortly:

"Stephen is a separate story altogether. The music starts - and he just flies away. He loves music and ice so much that just watching his improvisations is a joy. But in practice it looked like this: Stephen turns on the music, starts doing some steps really, really quickly, and I am standing there with Alexei Evgenievich, both of us watching him with our mouths agape. Afterwards, when I come to my senses because I could not understand at all how he did all that, I ask him to repeat, and he does, but does it in a different way. Asking him just what he did right then and there is useless, Stephen does not bother to remember that. So I learned to visually capture pieces out of his step sequences and then repeat them. I was just skating after him, staring at his feet. He really does twist his legs all the time in some unthinkable ways..."


She also said Yulia did some cooking for Steph

The perfect collaborator for Yulia. She thrives on subjectivity. This reminds me of Mozart the teacher. We are told that when his students came for lessons, he sat at the piano and played for them. The lesson mostly consisted of listening to the master.

 

[Sorrento]

I loved Yulia's new programs and the way she matured and started to skate with lots of grace and confidence. I hope she has a great season ahead, I really want her to succed. She is in fantastic shape, OMG, great job!:2thumbs:
I have a question about her SP music- the title reads as "Les Fuilles Mortes" by Koala Liu (I don't know why it is different on Yulia's Wikipedia page). Is there any source I can listen to the song? I've tried to search Youtube but got nothing, maybe someone could help?

 

[sjid]

I'm sorry, when I read that....I envisioned THIS.
I wonder what she cooked...

She says she likes to cook Russian dishes. A cultural exchange.