From Russia With Love (No 32): Spring to Summer 2019

[RoseRed]

Thank you so much. I can see the fed having Tarusina do the JGP again along with Senior B's. I definitely do not want Kostornaia to not have a second GP - that would be a huge mistake for the Russian Fed, I think. Somehow I fear Gubanova will be left out of the GP again

It's a hard situation for the fed. I wouldn't be shocked if they do something like not submitting Maria (based on her form this season I can see how they would feel other ladies deserve it more) or Serafima (since she didn't manage to qualify for Nationals). Which would suck for either of them, obviously.

 

[Tinami Amori]

it will be reserve for Kostornaya then if shes healthy next season

She seems to be much better now... She never had any fractures, was able to walk and train in the gym, she just needed 4 weeks to take it easy, now she is starting to practice for Eteri's "Champions On Ice" show on April 20th.

In the meantime, speaking of Trusova and Shcherbakova, there is another important competition taking place in Russia for Juniors - "Russian Juniors Universade".

Scherb and Trus just finished their SP few hours ago, and are placed #1 and #2 respectively.
https://www.fsrussia.ru/results/1819/sparta2019/SEG003.HTM

Shcherbakova - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAkbDXBfTUM
Trusova (video may not work now, but might in a few hours)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unqAyyXoluA&t=0s&index=29&list=PLA_iriCOfhXzOC4KWqC6iUNAAVe6duLKI

Videos for today's event - dance and ladies SP
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFSRussia/videos

The whole event can be seen in this feed (for few more hours, then it usually dies out).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sUHwJudogQ

-- Another Novice and pre-Novice Russian National competition is taking place - Saniya Memorial Cup.
event in progress, can roll back - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6uPmj2Ur1M
Leading in SP - Veronika Zhilina on the video @ 2:28:00

 

[rfisher]

And people wonder why these young women are fierce competitors or we don't see the same skaters year after year. No other country has this many quality skaters. They have to compete against each other before they compete against the rest of the world.

 

[Darkverse]

Tarakanova would be wise to stay junior one more year.

She pretty much has to stay in Juniors as she is not getting senior GP spots. Which shouldn't prevent her from doing Senior Bs to earn a high enough SB for the season after next - this is the road all Russian ladies with no senior GP spots go once they become senior-eligible.

 

[Darkverse]

Mishina/Galliamov will close the gap only if they are as consistent as Boikova/Kozlovski has been this season, and if they significantly improve their basic skating/everything in between the elements. At the moment, Mishina/Galliamov have not been as consistent (good enough for juniors but not good enough for seniors). They also skate a bit heavy and small. They need to skate lighter and bigger. I don’t believe they will close the gap in the off season. They will be fighting with Pavliuschenko/Khodykin about who will be the fourth and who the fifth Russian senior pair.

To be consistent M/G just need to take out the 3S-1Eu-3S combo which literally two pairs in the world are even trying (I don't think they will though, they have had a good success rate on it, they'll keep stabilising it). B/K were way more inconsistent than M/G in their last junior season when they were trying harder jumps, they didn't even make it to Junior Worlds. M/G shouldn't have trouble beating P/K unless P/K improve and M/G don't. P/K are far more mistake-prone and they look more juniorish in spite of already being seniors.

 

[oleada]

To be consistent M/G just need to take out the 3S-1Eu-3S combo which literally two pairs in the world are even trying (I don't think they will though, they have had a good success rate on it, they'll keep stabilising it). B/K were way more inconsistent than M/G in their last junior season when they were trying harder jumps, they didn't even make it to Junior Worlds. M/G shouldn't have trouble beating P/K unless P/K improve and M/G don't. P/K are far more mistake-prone and they look more juniorish in spite of already being seniors.

I definitely think they should keep the 3S-1Eu-3S - they landed it a fair amount, and I think it's just the element they tend to make mistakes in when nervous. Hopefully, they will get better at that. Its a hugely valuable sequence as they'll get 2+ points more than a 3T+2T+2T, for example, the 3 jump combo most pairs are doing. At their major events:

JGP Bratislava: fall on the second 3S
JGP Canada: 3S+eu+3S<, but landed
CS Austria: clean, +GOE
JGP Final: clean, +GOE
Russian Nationals: fall on the first 3S from her
Russian Jr Nationals: hand down
Jr. Worlds: she fell on the second 3S

Their base value at CS Austria was 58.30, which was higher than any pair at Worlds. That's even with L3 death spiral and twist. In the future, they can work to up their twist to L4 and consistently get that death spiral to L4.

Obviously they will also need to work on their basic skating and presentation, but technically, they can work on those things.

 

[barbarafan]

I wish it would be Bourne

Me too. I am wondering if it might be Misha Ge though.

 

[kwanfan1818]

and SB and WR has something to do with it.

Top 24 SB and/or Top 24 WS are guaranteed one spot. Top 75 SB are eligible to be chosen, if they have the GP minimum, which in the past has been 3/5 of the WC's score for each discipline.

WTT scores also count as SB scores, and they're usually inflated. I'm assuming that Daleman will be sent, and she has a chance to bump Yelim Kim out of Top 24. I don't know which countries are in. In theory, if KOR is one, and they sent Kim, then she and Daleman could bump Konstantinova off the list. (I think she's safe, even if she's bumped down by Daleman.)

WS are recalculated at the end of the year. (WTT doesn't count towards WS.) They will include 2018-19 points + 2017-18 points *.7.

 

[muffinplus]

So Russian speakers here- does Bobrova hate Zhurankov (TV commentator)? I have a feeling she can barely tolerate being in the same room as him watching the commentary on Papadakis and Cizeron...

 

[Tinami Amori]

So Russian speakers here- does Bobrova hate Zhurankov (TV commentator)? I have a feeling she can barely tolerate being in the same room as him watching the commentary on Papadakis and Cizeron...

from what i read in the past, Zhurankov spoke very favorably about Bob/Sol in many articles. Bobrova and him were commentating together several times this past season, and (imo) i did not notice any negativity between them. Zhurankov has issues with Plushenko from 2014, but in the same Olympics praised Bob/Sol. it is possible something took place lately between Bobrova and him, but so far no info about it in the press... She is pregnant now, very pregnant.... maybe if there is something in her "mood" it's not about Zhurankov..

 

[muffinplus]

from what i read in the past, Zhurankove spoke very favorably about Bob/Sol in many articles. Bobrova and him were commentating together several times this past season, and (imo) i did not notice any negativity between them. Zhurankov has issues with Plushenko from 2014, but in the same Olympics praised Bob/Sol. it is possible something took place lately between Bobrova and him, but so far no info about it in the press... She is pregnant now, very pregnant.... maybe if there is something in her "mood" it's not about Zhurankov..

Well I remember she seemed to be irritated ( or at least it seemed that way to me) by his comments on Papadakis and Cizeron

 

[RoseRed]

Top 24 SB and/or Top 24 WS are guaranteed one spot. Top 75 SB are eligible to be chosen, if they have the GP minimum, which in the past has been 3/5 of the WC's score for each discipline.

WTT scores also count as SB scores, and they're usually inflated. I'm assuming that Daleman will be sent, and she has a chance to bump Yelim Kim out of Top 24. I don't know which countries are in. In theory, if KOR is one, and they sent Kim, then she and Daleman could bump Konstantinova off the list. (I think she's safe, even if she's bumped down by Daleman.)

WS are recalculated at the end of the year. (WTT doesn't count towards WS.) They will include 2018-19 points + 2017-18 points *.7.

I believe the rules say that for WTT, countries have to earn points in at least 3 disciplines, so Korea won't be there. And I think they would have the points to be top 6 among federations/countries anyways.

 

[Tinami Amori]

She pretty much has to stay in Juniors as she is not getting senior GP spots. Which shouldn't prevent her from doing Senior Bs to earn a high enough SB for the season after next - this is the road all Russian ladies with no senior GP spots go once they become senior-eligible.

I don't have a link, but remember that Tarakanova said recently she can't wait to get to Seniors.
She is working on her next years programmes with Plush, they are both adorable...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPEN9tBm5a/

and she is working on 3A (in expectations to compete with Japanese ladies and quad-queens).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu3P4D0Byx7/ (this was posted earlier).

and does not look like a Junior lately...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Burd4_vnpcM/

 

[Darkverse]

I definitely think they should keep the 3S-1Eu-3S - they landed it a fair amount, and I think it's just the element they tend to make mistakes in when nervous. Hopefully, they will get better at that. Its a hugely valuable sequence as they'll get 2+ points more than a 3T+2T+2T, for example, the 3 jump combo most pairs are doing. At their major events:

JGP Bratislava: fall on the second 3S
JGP Canada: 3S+eu+3S<, but landed
CS Austria: clean, +GOE
JGP Final: clean, +GOE
Russian Nationals: fall on the first 3S from her
Russian Jr Nationals: hand down
Jr. Worlds: she fell on the second 3S

Their base value at CS Austria was 58.30, which was higher than any pair at Worlds. That's even with L3 death spiral and twist. In the future, they can work to up their twist to L4 and consistently get that death spiral to L4.

Obviously they will also need to work on their basic skating and presentation, but technically, they can work on those things.

They didn't fall in Bratislava, just URed (she did). http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1819/jgpsvk2018/jgpsvk2018_JuniorPairs_FS_Scores.pdf They also did it successfully at three internal competitions in addition to those you listed.

Mishina makes Mistakes on it when she is not quite all there for whatever reason because it is a hard element for her, Galliamov on the other hand is a good jumper and for him jump mistakes are nerves.

 

[Bigbird]

from what i read in the past, Zhurankove spoke very favorably about Bob/Sol in many articles. Bobrova and him were commentating together several times this past season, and (imo) i did not notice any negativity between them. Zhurankov has issues with Plushenko from 2014, but in the same Olympics praised Bob/Sol. it is possible something took place lately between Bobrova and him, but so far no info about it in the press... She is pregnant now, very pregnant.... maybe if there is something in her "mood" it's not about Zhurankov..

Maybe he made the dreaded error of asking her about the Ilinykh/Soloviev rumour? Or the woman is just very, very pregnant.

 

[oleada]

They didn't fall in Bratislava, just URed (she did). http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1819/jgpsvk2018/jgpsvk2018_JuniorPairs_FS_Scores.pdf They also did it successfully at two internal competitions in addition to those you listed.

Mishina makes Mistakes on it when she is not quite all there for whatever reason because it is a hard element for her, Galliamov on the other hand is a good jumper and for him jump mistakes are nerves.

You're right. I think I looked at the wrong protocol. I agree with your assessment too. It's the hardest element (for them) in their programs, and she tends to make an error on it whenever she's slightly off. But it's a very hard element for pairs and it will hopefully get more consistent. They are very consistent with the 3T, and she's very consistent on the throws. Aside from the 3S+eu+3S, they also upgraded the 3LoTh to a 3FTh this year so it's all part of the development process. I look forward to seeing them develop in seniors next year.

I would love to know if Kostiukovich/Yalin are moving up. I don't think it will necessarily hurt them to stay juniors another season - they are still quite inconsistent. I can see a case for moving up/staying juniors.

With Tarasova/Morozov, Zabijako/Enbert, Boikova/Kozlovski, Mishina/Galliamov, Efimova/Korovin and Pavlyuchenko/Khodykin all in the GP and all with likely 2 spots, plus maybe Kostiukovich/Yalin; the internal competition will be very interesting. Russian Nationals next year will be for some teams and us pairs fans.

 

[mjb52]

I don't have a link, but remember that Tarakanova said recently she can't wait to get to Seniors.
She is working on her next years programmes with Plush, they are both adorable...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPEN9tBm5a/

I looooove seeing Plush do this choreography!

 

[RoseRed]

You're right. I think I looked at the wrong protocol. I agree with your assessment too. It's the hardest element (for them) in their programs, and she tends to make an error on it whenever she's slightly off. But it's a very hard element for pairs and it will hopefully get more consistent. They are very consistent with the 3T, and she's very consistent on the throws. Aside from the 3S+eu+3S, they also upgraded the 3LoTh to a 3FTh this year so it's all part of the development process. I look forward to seeing them develop in seniors next year.

I would love to know if Kostiukovich/Yalin are moving up. I don't think it will necessarily hurt them to stay juniors another season - they are still quite inconsistent. I can see a case for moving up/staying juniors.

With Tarasova/Morozov, Zabijako/Enbert, Boikova/Kozlovski, Mishina/Galliamov, Efimova/Korovin and Pavlyuchenko/Khodykin all in the GP and all with likely 2 spots, plus maybe Kostiukovich/Yalin; the internal competition will be very interesting. Russian Nationals next year will be for some teams and us pairs fans.

I believe their coaches have already said they'll stay junior.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Or the woman is just very, very pregnant.

very, very... https://www.instagram.com/p/BvQxtZ7lU5k/

 

[lala]

I don't have a link, but remember that Tarakanova said recently she can't wait to get to Seniors.
She is working on her next years programmes with Plush, they are both adorable...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPEN9tBm5a/

and she is working on 3A (in expectations to compete with Japanese ladies and quad-queens).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu3P4D0Byx7/ (this was posted earlier).

and does not look like a Junior lately...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Burd4_vnpcM/

She will be 15 in April she is 1 year younger than the great 3A ( Anna,, Alexandra, Alena). I hope she is going to stay in juniors, and she is going to fight with Valieva and many more serious junior skaters....

 

[Mad for Skating]

Bobrova finally announces her pregnancy. Caption reads "As everyone already guessed..."

This makes me so happy

If Tuktik can dish it then she should be able to take it. Nobody has to like everything you do and they're entitled to respond. I saw nothing mean spirited in what Anna said, Tuk's response is a bit over the top. But apparently this is just normal conversation, right?

As much as I love Anna, it just seemed not her place to comment. Both of these women have the right to do what they want with their bodies. If Liza feels comfortable skating in a bra, that’s her choice. If Anna would rather not, that’s her choice. Anna’s comment was just unnecessary imo.

Well, there could be Stolbova/Novoselov, and maybe Ustimkina/Rogonov (I think they might stay doing shows, but you never know...)

I really like M/G but they are not "expected to crush" anyone, lol. Just let them progress like normal...they could work on the PCS side quite a bit, still.

If anyone’s going to crush anyone, it’s Stolbova/Novoselov. I’ll continue to believe in that woman until she gets her second chance at the Olympics. Am I delusional? Possibly. Do I care? Nope.

Susie is coming back! I believe!

I appreciate your faith! We will do this!

Only if the Russian Fed can secure his release.

I was going to start saving for college, but now I have better things to do with my money. Queen Ksu comes first!

They said it couldn't be done when Savchenko said yes. I believed then. I believe now. Of course, it cost the German fed 30K, but that goes to show, the French fed can be bought. I have faith.

TAT says the SP is amazing. I. Have. To. See. It.

OMG THERE IS A NEW SHORT PROGRAM??? HOW DID I NOT HEAR ABOUT THIS? GIVE ME DETAILS!

 

[hanca]

She will be 15 in April she is 1 year younger than the great 3A ( Anna,, Alexandra, Alena). I hope she is going to stay in juniors, and she is going to fight with Valieva and many more serious junior skaters....

Tarakanova is not a year younger, she is the same age as Anna, Alexandra and Alena.

 

[Amantide]

I'm thrilled for Zagitova. After such a difficult season, it couldn't ended better for her. Brava!

They said it couldn't be done when Savchenko said yes. I believed then. I believe now. Of course, it cost the German fed 30K, but that goes to show, the French fed can be bought. I have faith.

TAT says the SP is amazing. I. Have. To. See. It.

Wait a minute, who said what, how, where? Are we talking about DA QUEEN?

 

[lala]

Tarakanova is not a year younger, she is the same age as Anna, Alexandra and Alena.

I was wrong with Trusova and Sherbakova, sorry but Alena was born in 2003.

 

[hanca]

I was wrong with Trusova and Sherbakova, sorry but Alena was born in 2003.

Kostornaya is at the second half of 2003 and Trusova & Scherbakova & Tarakanova are first half of 2004. They might be a different calendar year, but they are within the same ISU skating season.

 

[her grace]

That would already make 15 [guaranteed] slots. After that the selection should go down the SB list and give slots to those who have one/none. If everything is done according to rules, the remaining 3 slots will go to Trusova, Scherbakova and Tuktamisheva (thus no second GP for Kostornaya).

There's no rule that second GP spots are given in order of the SB list, though. The feds are free to select anyone on the top 75 list, and could easily choose Kostornaia for a second spot over higher-ranked Russians if they wanted to.

 

[taz'smum]

There's no rule that second GP spots are given in order of the SB list, though. The feds are free to select anyone on the top 75 list, and could easily choose Kostornaia for a second spot over higher-ranked Russians if they wanted to.

Whilst that is true, each Fed will push to make sure it gets all their skaters into 2 GPs before thinking about inviting others.
The Seasons best list helps strengthen their case for doing this if their skaters are in the top 15 or so

 

[Deleted member 40371]

Awesome world championships for the team Russia; 5 medals in 3 discipline, even their men had a great skate today. Well done.

 

[rfisher]

I'm just grateful the men end up with 2 spots. I feared they'd drop to 1, but all three dug deep for the free. Kolyada is the most frustrating skater I've ever watched. I wouldn't know what to do with him if I were his coach. But, he finally, finally, skated Carmen to it's potential.

 

[Darkverse]

I'm just grateful the men end up with 2 spots. I feared they'd drop to 1, but all three dug deep for the free. Kolyada is the most frustrating skater I've ever watched. I wouldn't know what to do with him if I were his coach. But, he finally, finally, skated Carmen to it's potential.

It's pretty hard to drop down to one, considering that even the Canadian ladies kept two. Just one in the top 12 is enough. Or 13+15.