Alena Leonova wins Russian competition ( possible 3rd Worlds spot decider )

[sk8ingcoach]

Alena Leonova just won cup of russia which most likely means she will receive the 3rd spot at Worlds.

She beat main competitor Nicole Gosviani who was almost awarded the spot

http://fsrussia.ru/upl/results/1213/crfinal/SEG014.HTM

[sk8ingcoach]

Here is the video of her FS http://youtu.be/m3cyOeTIbdQ

She competed with last seasons long program

[Skater91]

Yay! Although with the current field of ladies I really dont see any 3rd Russian Lady breaking top ten unless she skates both programs clean!

This is my prediction with Leonova.....

1. Yuna Kim
2. Mao Asada
3. Carolina Kostner
4. Akiko Suzuki
5. Elizaveta Tuktamisheva
6. Ashley Wagner
7. Kanako Murakami
8. Adelina Sotnikova
9. Kiira Korpi
10. Valentina Marchei
11. Gracie Gold
12. Alena Leonova
13. Zijun Li
14. Kaetlyn Osmond

[love_skate2011]

I guess its almost certain she gets the last spot ?
Gosviani bombed and she would get lower pcs than Alena

Leonova skated her best FS this season I guess.

[SLIVER]

Yay! Although with the current field of ladies I really dont see any 3rd Russian Lady breaking top ten unless she skates both programs clean!

This is my prediction with Leonova.....

1. Yuna Kim
2. Mao Asada
3. Carolina Kostner
4. Akiko Suzuki
5. Elizaveta Tuktamisheva
6. Ashley Wagner
7. Kanako Murakami
8. Adelina Sotnikova
9. Kiira Korpi
10. Valentina Marchei
11. Gracie Gold
12. Alena Leonova
13. Zijun Li
14. Kaetlyn Osmond

Marchei above Gold, Leonova and Osmond lol??

[Frau Muller]

Did you see Marchei's two programs at recent Euros? She is extraordinarily great and consistent, compared to those three.

[caseyedwards]

It's important that Leonova beat gosviani on tes. Agafanova got higher Tes then both of them (of eligibles).

[SLIVER]

Did you see Marchei's two programs at recent Euros? She is extraordinarily great and consistent, compared to those three.

Oh please, Ive know Valentina longer than most on this board but its taken her almost 10years to put programmes like that together. Inconsistent, she definitely is not. Osmond won the first GP she ever entered, Leonova is the world silver medal winner and Gold's free at US nationals was the best jumping display I have ever seen bar Harding (and that includes Ito and kim).

[Kelvster]

i just watched gosviani's programme (haven't watched leonova's yet) - not as bad as i thought. She just singled the axel and opened up on the double toe loop at the end of the triple toe-double toe combo. I'm so sad for gosviani but wish Leonova the best in Canada

[aims]

Oh please, Ive know Valentina longer than most on this board but its taken her almost 10years to put programmes like that together. Inconsistent, she definitely is not. Osmond won the first GP she ever entered, Leonova is the world silver medal winner and Gold's free at US nationals was the best jumping display I have ever seen bar Harding (and that includes Ito and kim).

Hey, let's take it easy. Someone else's predictions might or might not agree with your own, but that's life

[Sasha'sSpins]

Alena Leonova just won cup of russia which most likely means she will receive the 3rd spot at Worlds.

She beat main competitor Nicole Gosviani who was almost awarded the spot

http://fsrussia.ru/upl/results/1213/crfinal/SEG014.HTM

Congrats to Alena. I thought she was almost out of it due to her sixth place finish in the SP-but she came roaring back!

I'm curious about Nicole Gosviani's heritage. Her name doesn't sound very Russian.

[ioana]

Thanks for the update...are protocols available anywhere? I didn't see any linked on the event page. http://fsrussia.ru/upl/results/1213/crfinal/index.htm

[aftershocks]

Yay! Although with the current field of ladies I really dont see any 3rd Russian Lady breaking top ten unless she skates both programs clean!

This is my prediction with Leonova.....

1. Yuna Kim
2. Mao Asada
3. Carolina Kostner
4. Akiko Suzuki
5. Elizaveta Tuktamisheva
6. Ashley Wagner
7. Kanako Murakami
8. Adelina Sotnikova
9. Kiira Korpi
10. Valentina Marchei
11. Gracie Gold
12. Alena Leonova
13. Zijun Li
14. Kaetlyn Osmond

I think Leonova has the ability to place a bit better than 12th place if she skates well, and I guess they switched to her previous season's lp because she wasn't having any success with this season's.

Also, remember that Worlds is being held in Canada, and if Kaetlyn Osmond skates decently, she will certainly land much higher than 14th place.

As far as the U.S. ladies, I think Ashley definitely has the potential to beat Liza (she's already beaten her this season), and if any of the top four ladies falter, Ashley could possibly squeeze in to repeat at 4th and potentially could make the podium, skating lights out with no mistakes.

If Gracie brings it in both programs and doesn't falter under nerves, she could place 8th or 9th. She's certainly better overall than Korpi and Marchei.

The placements could be in any order, but on the basis of potential, of World setting dynamics, plus who has been competing all season:

Mao
Yu Na
Akiko
Kostner
Ashley
Liza
Murakami
Gold
Sotnikova
Osmond
Leonova
Korpi
Zijun
Marchei

[Seerek]

Compared to the others, I don't think Marchei has the base technical content to be assured of top 10 this year - as it is, her placement at 2013 Worlds may not matter as much if there isn't a 3rd Italian lady who can meet the minimum TES requirements...

[Skater91]

Marchei above Gold, Leonova and Osmond lol??

For me, after Kanako I think they could be in any order. They have all showed that they are inconsistent. However after Euros and 4CC and other performances this season, I think she is most likely to pull it together. My point was though that either way I don't see Leonova doing to well....

[smarts1]

I'm suprised at how high everyone is putting Akiko. She's skated okay all season, but hasn't exactly had an extraordinary free skate all season. She is one of my favorites though and I would love to see her do well.

But honestly, this is going to be some world championships... I don't think we've had nearly the same caliber of skaters since 2007 Worlds.

[SamuraiK]

Compared to the others, I don't think Marchei has the base technical content to be assured of top 10 this year - as it is, her placement at 2013 Worlds may not matter as much if there isn't a 3rd Italian lady who can meet the minimum TES requirements...

Roberta Rodeghiero has already met both World min TES scores.

[Ziggy]

I hope Leonova gets sent. If not, what was the point of holding the skate-off?

Oh please, Ive know Valentina longer than most on this board but its taken her almost 10years to put programmes like that together. Inconsistent, she definitely is not. Osmond won the first GP she ever entered, Leonova is the world silver medal winner and Gold's free at US nationals was the best jumping display I have ever seen bar Harding (and that includes Ito and kim).

That's the only strong program Gold has skated all season, though.

[Coco]

Akiko had a brilliant long program at 4cc. She seems to have broken out of her slump.

[AndyWarhol]

That peacock dress worries me.. im so superstitious...