From Russia with Love [#33]: Summer 2019

[Amantide]

Same. I honestly can't find it within me to get excited about watching ladies' singles, the fan wars truly baffle me. But she is the one exception.

Watching ladies' singles is like watching Hunger Games.

 

[love_skate2011]

Scherbakova can compete for a spot but her landing the quad lutz is minimal like 20%,
she reminds me of Mao flexible, musical with good spirals but not so consistent with their trademark jumps.

 

[babayaga]

only Rika or Tuk can come close but even Tuk dont get such high GOEs even if she puts two 3Axels in LP as her plan layout for this season.

I couldn't understand Tuk's layout last year. I don't think she maximized the points with her jump choices outside of 3A, so at the end of the day it was not much higher than clean Zagitova. Hope they change it this year.

 

[muffinplus]

Scherbakova can compete for a spot but her landing the quad lutz is minimal like 20%,
she reminds me of Mao flexible, musical with good spirals but not so consistent with their trademark jumps.

Mao Asada is one of her idols

 

[love_skate2011]

I couldn't understand Tuk's layout last year. I don't think she maximized the points with her jump choices outside of 3A, so at the end of the day it was not much higher than clean Zagitova. Hope they change it this year.

She is upgrading to 3F-3T, and her 3Lz-3T which she just did almost end of last season, so she can be competitive this season technically but PCS wise, I don't expect any difference.

Really nobody expected Tuk to still be in the game, shes been around since 2011 in seniors while her other peers like Radionova, Lipnitskaya, Sotnikova, Pogorilaya, Sotskova are long retired. Shes the Russian Wagner but with better tech I guess ?

 

[Amantide]

Zahorski is like a cat. That twist on the lift was so quick.

 

[zebraswan]

Really nobody expected Tuk to still be in the game, shes been around since 2011 in seniors while her other peers like Radionova, Lipnitskaya, Sotnikova, Sotskova are long retired. Shes the Russian Wagner but with better tech I guess ?

Sotskova apparently didn't get the memo that she is retired, since she's skating at the Nepela Trophy in a couple weeks...

 

[muffinplus]

She is upgrading to 3F-3T, and her 3Lz-3T which she just did almost end of last season, so she can be competitive this season technically but PCS wise, I don't expect any difference.

Really nobody expected Tuk to still be in the game, shes been around since 2011 in seniors while her other peers like Radionova, Lipnitskaya, Sotnikova, Sotskova are long retired. Shes the Russian Wagner but with better tech I guess ?

Sotskova is not retired

 

[RoseRed]

Sotskova apparently didn't get the memo that she is retired, since she's skating at the Nepela Trophy in a couple weeks...

She's also younger than Med, so I'm not sure why she would be one of Liza's peers.

 

[Amantide]

Boykova/Kozlovsky - James Bond

 

[love_skate2011]

She's also younger than Med, so I'm not sure why she would be one of Liza's peers.

I've added Pogorilaya, fixed it for you

 

[Amantide]

By the way, where is Gubanova?

 

[DobrinFan]

By the way, where is Gubanova?

At home, in St. Petersburg training. Her season doesn't start until Oct per Rukavicin.

 

[Amantide]

At home, in St. Petersburg training. Her season doesn't start until Oct per Rukavicin.

Oh good. I was worried that she quit.

 

[love_skate2011]

I think finally Tarasova / Morozov can contend to be World Champions
very good vehicle programs for them this season, moving to Zueva was a good option

Евгения Тарасова - Владимир Морозов. Произвольная программа. Предсезонные контрольные прокаты

Действующие чемпионы России в соревнованиях спортивных пар Евгения Тарасова и Владимир Морозов исполнили новую произвольную программу в рамках контрольных пр...

www.youtube.com

 

[love_skate2011]

I finally found Zagitovas music, that's why its familiar
it was used by Barsukova in Sydney 2000 Olympics

Yulia Barsukova RUS ribbon OG Sydey 2000 AA final

Name: Yulia BarsukovaFederation: RussiaEvent: Olympic GamesApparatus: RibbonRank: 1st (gold)

www.youtube.com

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

I love Boikova & Kozloskiy, but they look like bambies compared to Stolbova & Novoselov. Their FS is fun, but they lack the maturity to bring it to life. Queen Stolbova, on the other hand.... So good to have her back. She clearly has a better personal dynamic with Novoselov. He seems to really care about her.

I am blown away by how much better T&M look. There is a fierceness to them I've never seen before. Morozov must keep his hair long. It gives him a different look. His "70s Ivy League kid" hair didn't exactly help with the overall stiffness.

Alina is looking fabulous, the jumps are great. If only someone gave her the choregraphy she deserves. I think she could be stunning. But Trusova is coming for all of them. Med made a brilliant move and is learning how to compete with the kids a la Kostner. She'd be retired by now otherwise.

 

[Amantide]

I finally found Zagitovas music, that's why its familiar
it was used by Barsukova in Sydney 2000 Olympics

Yulia Barsukova RUS ribbon OG Sydey 2000 AA final

Name: Yulia BarsukovaFederation: RussiaEvent: Olympic GamesApparatus: RibbonRank: 1st (gold)

www.youtube.com

It's "The Feeling Begins" by Peter Gabriel from "The Last Temptation of Christ" soundtrack.
And the best program I've seen with that music is Grishuk&Platov FD in 1997.

 

[Amantide]

I love Boikova & Kozloskiy, but they look like bambies compared to Stolbova & Novoselov. Their FS is fun, but they really lack the maturity to bring it to life. Queen Stolbova, on the other hand.... So good to have her back.

You know I'll die by my queen. But it's not fair to compare B&K with them.
They are young and sparkling. But they are very talented and gifted skaters. They are as they should be right now. Give them time and the maturity will come.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

You know I'll die by my queen. But it's not fair to compare B&K with them.
They are young and sparkling. But they are very talented and gifted skaters. They are as they should be right now. Give them time and the maturity will come.

I know, I know... It was just such a contrast, watching them back to back. And yes, they are totally sparkling and a breath of fresh air. The way Boikova looks on the ice is just stunning.

 

[Bigbird]

I cannot believe what I am about to say;
1. Yes, I actually liked S/K but come on Zhulin don't you have an original thought in your camp. If they weren't copying P/C it was acrobatic retreads of I/K. But up till the P/C lift nearing the end I was hooked. Don't judge me too harshly this is VERY hard for me.

2. The two young teams from Zhuk and Svinin really really grabbed me start to finish. They are original and they know how to dance. Gobsmacked!

3. What are K/A doing to their teams? Could they please never be given a senior team, ever?

4. I understand the love for Ksenia, she seems to have better skating skills than even the dancers, but when will she stop popping her jumps, when girl, this hurts.

5. I was denied the opportunity to see Tarasova and Morozov myself. Are there any unblocked links? Please and thanks.

 

[alchemy void]

2 spots should be secured last I'd choose between Alena, Anna and La Tuk

It took me a minute to realize you weren’t referring to Leonova and Pogorilaya.

 

[kalle]

Thoughts after ladies LP

Medvedeva struggled with her 2A's today but good height on the first Flip and both Lutzes. The 3S/3Loop as good as it gets and nice energy overall in this program. I liked the choreo with beautiful nuances and I think it will grow on me a lot over the season. Her spins looks much better so I hope it means she has no back problem for the moment.

Both Alena K and Zagitova had very promising programs and Alina really looks like a different skater in that sense that she looks so happy on the ice! She skated as the World champion she is and everything looked very on point in this program. Both she and Alena K has such powerful jumps (yes, no quads but I could watch their big airy triples all day long). Fantastic spinning from both of them but I would give the edge to Alena performance wise...she really is a natural performer and not as rushed as Alina (although Alina is giving me a much better impression in this LP comparing to her SP). Cannot wait to see these programs later in the season!

I have not watched Anna S or Trusova so cannot say anything about them but Liza's LP was another typical good mood Liza program. She must be in such a good shape to rip off these 3A's and everything she does is nice and clean. I know there are no transitions and a lot of arm movements but I am a sucker for this "simple" old classic figure skating too and is such a contrast to all the other's busy programs. I will always have a soft spot for Liza and hope she will have a good chance at one of the world spots should she skate clean.

 

[love_skate2011]

NON Geo-Block guys from Russia 1TV youtube channel
thank me later

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c4cmazhjrI
Trusova - she is the Hunger Games, shes coming for them all, let the games begin. She can compete with Kolyada because shes not scared.

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3d6_PpyD_s
Shcherbakova - imo, she will be the surprise of this season, incredible musicality and spins. the change dress looked like a magic trick !

3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL-kjJ9PAvU
Tuktamysheva -did Shae Lynn choreograph her LP too ? its very good LP for her (yes we know the lack of transitions ) but I see another milestone this season, with two 3Axels I hope she breaks her post season downturn curse.

4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NUZ9es8irc
Kostornaia - she really loved the music, its actually the opposite we expect her to skate only to lyrical but she herself prefers variations

5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnAV1Y4GQuw
Zagitova - shes back that Worlds title removed all her past burden, now with those solid jumps, stepsequences and spins, I just dont like this terribe cleopatra music, I got bored

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCH_ubQHGz8
Medvedeva - love the her makeover but she is still a work in progress I think this season will determine her ambition to continue. She needs work on those 2 axels. Why does Med get so many dislike ratio is it Korean stalkers or vapid russians ?

7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbNzwpqbTRQ
Samodurova - she is more quirky and seductive now, she was really into the interpretation.

8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2yyIodw394
Konstantinova - sorry, I didn't watch the nepotism girl yet.

 

[Bigbird]

NON Geo-Block guys from Russia 1TV youtube channel
thank me later

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c4cmazhjrI
Trusova - she is the Hunger Games, shes coming for them all, let the games begin. She can compete with Kolyada because shes not scared.

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3d6_PpyD_s
Shcherbakova - imo, she will be the surprise of this season, incredible musicality and spins. the change dress looked like a magic trick !

3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL-kjJ9PAvU
Tuktamysheva -did Shae Lynn choreograph her LP too ? its very good LP for her and I see another milestone this season, with two 3Axels I hope she breaks her post season downturn curse.

4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NUZ9es8irc
Kostornaia - she really loved the music, its actually the opposite we expect her to skate only to lyrical but she herself prefers variations

5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnAV1Y4GQuw
Zagitova - shes back that Worlds title removed all her past burden, now with those solid jumps, stepsequences and spins, I just dont like this terribe cleopatra music, I got bored

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCH_ubQHGz8
Medvedeva - love the her makeover but she is still a work in progress I think this season will determine her ambition to continue. She needs work on those 2 axels. Why does Med get so many dislike ratio is it Korean stalkers or vapid russians ?

7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbNzwpqbTRQ
Samodurova - she is more quirky and seductive now, she was really into the interpretation.

8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2yyIodw394
Konstantinova - sorry, I didn't watch the nepotism girl yet.

Thank you.

 

[Amantide]

4. I understand the love for Ksenia, she seems to have better skating skills than even the dancers, but when will she stop popping her jumps, when girl, this hurts.

Geezers, she just came back with a new partner, and it was a test skate. lol Were you really expecting them to be ready for podium now? Give them some slack, say till December, at the very least.

 

[Ladida]

I cannot believe what I am about to say;
1. Yes, I actually liked S/K but come on Zhulin don't you have an original thought in your camp. If they weren't copying P/C it was acrobatic retreads of I/K. But up till the P/C lift nearing the end I was hooked. Don't judge me too harshly this is VERY hard for me.

The evil me really had to laugh when they messed up the I/K lift from Swan Lake.
Nikita's strategy for the twizzles still seems to be "rotate as fast as you can and pray for the best" so I don't think P/C are in any danger

 

[barbarafan]

I cannot believe what I am about to say;
1. Yes, I actually liked S/K but come on Zhulin don't you have an original thought in your camp. If they weren't copying P/C it was acrobatic retreads of I/K. But up till the P/C lift nearing the end I was hooked. Don't judge me too harshly this is VERY hard for me.

2. The two young teams from Zhuk and Svinin really really grabbed me start to finish. They are original and they know how to dance. Gobsmacked!

3. What are K/A doing to their teams? Could they please never be given a senior team, ever?

4. I understand the love for Ksenia, she seems to have better skating skills than even the dancers, but when will she stop popping her jumps, when girl, this hurts.

5. I was denied the opportunity to see Tarasova and Morozov myself. Are there any unblocked links? Please and thanks.

Евгения Тарасова - Владимир Морозов. Произвольная программа. Предсезонные контрольные прокаты

Действующие чемпионы России в соревнованиях спортивных пар Евгения Тарасова и Владимир Морозов исполнили новую произвольную программу в рамках контрольных пр...

www.youtube.com

 

[firstflight]

Ok, is this just a generational thing and I didn't know until now that I'm a lot older than the average poster on the board? How do people not instantly recognize "The Feeling Begins?" It was like the warhorse of all warhorses back in the day and has had all these different iconic programs to it, including the aforementioned Grishuk/Platov FD and a two-season SP by a skater who shall not be named in this thread.

 

[Amantide]

Ok, is this just a generational thing and I didn't know until now that I'm a lot older than the average poster on the board? How do people not instantly recognize "The Feeling Begins?" It was like the warhorse of all warhorses back in the day and has had all these different iconic programs to it, including the aforementioned Grishuk/Platov OD and a two-season SP by a skater who shall not be named in this thread.

Yup. Kwan used it, Baiul as pro and others too that I can't remember rn. Who's the skater you're ref. to? lol