Aliona Savchenko and Tatiana Volosozhar - Would they have been successful as singles?

[l'etoile]

I've sometimes wondered, looking at their performances as pairs skaters, what if they were competing as singles skaters?

They both are much more consistent, less prone to make mistakes, and often praised to have better edges/skating skills than their male partners. Actually, their skating skills are something to be admired even in all disciplines.

What do you guys think? Would they have been also successful as singles skaters?

[briancoogaert]

It depends on the jumps they could have landed !
With only 3T and 3S, they couldn't have been successful.

[Kasey]

While Savchenko I think is much better in terms of skating skills and consistency than Szolkowy, I think Volosozhar and Trankov are pretty evenly matched. And no, with only a two jump arsenal, they wouldn't have been successful.

[RFOS]

(double post)

[RFOS]

Their basic skating skills are excellent and while they might not be able to do (or do consistently) the more difficult triples, if they had more training time to put into working on those as opposed to on pairs skills then maybe they could. Their technique is certainly good on the jumps they do, and they clearly are strong since they can land throw jumps that have much more power than any individual jump ever would. I don't know at what age they took up pairs or how they had done in singles at the time, but I'm guessing they weren't as successful as they wanted to be at that time which is why they took up pairs. It obviously was a good decision for them, but they probably could have developed the jumps to succeed in singles also. This is total speculation though. But depending on your definition of success, they probably could be successful nationally (if Tatiana had continued skated for Ukraine) with what they're actually capable of, since Germany and Ukraine don't have any top ladies contenders at the moment.

[gkelly]

But depending on your definition of success, they probably could be successful nationally (if Tatiana had continued skated for Ukraine) with what they're actually capable of, since Germany and Ukraine don't have any top ladies contenders at the moment.

Aliona also skated for Ukraine, through 2002.

[zilam98]

this question reminded me of one commentator's query about katia gordeeva being successful as a singles skater at the peak of her career with sergei. i think this was after the 94 olys. and how that remark closely preceded sergei's death and katia's eventual transition to singles skating (although only in pro shows).

[judgejudy27]

Definitely not. Neither has enough jump difficulty or consistency.

[Zemgirl]

I don't know at what age they took up pairs or how they had done in singles at the time, but I'm guessing they weren't as successful as they wanted to be at that time which is why they took up pairs.

I know that's the case in the US, but I don't think it's true everywhere that people who go into pairs are unsuccessful single skaters.

Otherwise, what everyone else said - unless they could have gotten the harder triples, they would have maybe been successful at the national level and gone to international events, but they wouldn't have done particularly well in them.

[l'etoile]

I think with their skating skills, it wouldn't have been that difficult for them to obtain lutz and flip and to consistently land them.

[briancoogaert]

I think with their skating skills, it wouldn't have been that difficult for them to obtain lutz and flip and to consistently land them.

?
Rotating a 3Lutz is not just a question of skating skill.
I guess they started Pair skating because they couldn't improve their jumps as a junior.
Katia Gordeeva has probably one of the best skating skills ever, I doubt she could land 3Loop or more.

[Marco]

On the flip side, they might have spent less time working on skating skills and positions if they had to spend much more time training jumps.

And knowing the Soviet practice, they probably were picked for pairs at a young age once it was evident that they had potential ot become good. The Soviets love their pairs and didn't pay as much attention to their singles ladies until this quad.

[antmanb]

Why do people assume that pairs skater = failed singles skater?

[l'etoile]

?
Rotating a 3Lutz is not just a question of skating skill.
I guess they started Pair skating because they couldn't improve their jumps as a junior.
Katia Gordeeva has probably one of the best skating skills ever, I doubt she could land 3Loop or more.

I see. I was overseeing that jumps ability are not always in the same equation with skating skills.

Then, to all: who comes to your minds when we think of someone with excellent skating skills but not so great jumps?

[gkelly]

The first names that come to mind are men: Mark Mitchell, Paul Wylie, John Curry.

They could do the jumps that most of the guys were doing at the time, but not as big or as consistently as many of their competitors who were not as strong at basic skating and presentation.

[julieann]

Why do people assume that pairs skater = failed singles skater?

Thank you! I was just going to say that. Some skaters do just love skating with a partner or love the lifts, throws and twist. Some may find it far more challenging then singles, especially getting two people in unison.

Aliona and Tatiana would have been amazing single skaters. Both started doing pairs around 13 or 14 so they didn't give singles much of a chance, you really can't if you want to be good in one discipline. But that doesn't mean they failed. What they wearn't learning in pair skills they would have made up for with single skills.

[aftershocks]

They probably both aspired for pairs because they enjoyed pairs, although sometimes skaters who don't have a full arsenal of the necessary jumps for singles do try pairs or dance if they wish to continue competing. I like seeing both Tatiana and Aliona as pairs skaters (and they are lucky to have found their successful match in partners) so the question is moot, IMO.

[SmallFairy]

I see. I was overseeing that jumps ability are not always in the same equation with skating skills.

Then, to all: who comes to your minds when we think of someone with excellent skating skills but not so great jumps?

David Liu from Taiwan! Anyone remember him? He couldn't jump to save his life, but I remember his straight line steps, on one foot, he had great skating skills. I believe it was Nagano Olympics.

[aftershocks]

^^ I think Lucinda Ruh had good jumps, but excelled more at other elements, particularly spins. Jumps were not her strong suit. Also, Stephanie Rosenthal had excellent dance, musicality and interpretation skills, but did not have all the triple jumps in her arsenal, so I doubt her goal was to make it to the Olympics. Her goal was probably achieved in creating two rockin' programs and making it to Nationals in 2006, which she accomplished with great style. Skating truly is not all about the jumps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnkku5aJzZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMwXYdkSK4g

[SmallFairy]

I see. I was overseeing that jumps ability are not always in the same equation with skating skills.

Then, to all: who comes to your minds when we think of someone with excellent skating skills but not so great jumps?

David Liu from Taiwan! Anyone remember him? He couldn't jump to save his life, but I remember his straight line steps, on one foot, he had great skating skills. I believe it was Nagano Olympics.