- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
Artistry. Unlike anything I've seen before.Alena fans out there - I want to know what makes you love Alena’s skating? Or what drew you in to her initially?
Artistry. Unlike anything I've seen before.Alena fans out there - I want to know what makes you love Alena’s skating? Or what drew you in to her initially?
Alena fans out there - I want to know what makes you love Alena’s skating? Or what drew you in to her initially?
For me it’s her combination of powerful jumps, fast spins with good positions, strong skating skills/edge work, and unique performance quality using her whole body in addition to her face and eyes, which are extremely expressive IMO. Basically, she is the full package for me. (Prior to Alena my favorite was Mao, and Sasha Cohen before that for context on what I value in skating)
There is some discussion going on in the Russian ladies thread about her performance/interpretation and I already posted my opinion in there, but it seems like every few months the same criticisms come out about Alena - mechanical, not musical, too perfect/rehearsed. Maybe it’s because I’ve watched all her performances multiple times as a super fan, but I notice slight differences in her delivery and performance at each competition. I’ve even seen some claims on twitter that people only like her skating because of her physical beauty, which I find incredibly insulting to her skills on the ice.
Also, I'd not be so sure about Aliona being held below Zagitova and Medvedeva. They haven't been very consistent last season and RusFed has shown that they care more about current situation than previous achievements.
Yep, but they didn't send her to Worlds based on her Nationals result or GP scores. After Konstantinova's failure to deliver at Euros there was a spare spot. It could have been taken by Tuktamysheva, but she didn't show her best performance, so Medvedeva was taken into consideration and had to participate in a domestic competition which she won (at least according to the judges - my opinion was a bit different).RusFed? Maybe that's why Medvedeva was sent to the Worlds instead of Tuktamysheva
Alena fans out there - I want to know what makes you love Alena’s skating? Or what drew you in to her initially?
For me it’s her combination of powerful jumps, fast spins with good positions, strong skating skills/edge work, and unique performance quality using her whole body in addition to her face and eyes, which are extremely expressive IMO. Basically, she is the full package for me. (Prior to Alena my favorite was Mao, and Sasha Cohen before that for context on what I value in skating)
There is some discussion going on in the Russian ladies thread about her performance/interpretation and I already posted my opinion in there, but it seems like every few months the same criticisms come out about Alena - mechanical, not musical, too perfect/rehearsed. Maybe it’s because I’ve watched all her performances multiple times as a super fan, but I notice slight differences in her delivery and performance at each competition. I’ve even seen some claims on twitter that people only like her skating because of her physical beauty, which I find incredibly insulting to her skills on the ice.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0a7HlGJ8HK/
Aliona‘s skating skills. Look at how easily she was able to generate speed! :luv17: The others were good too but she was the only one who clearly won her duel. I‘m happy for her that she got to take part in this show because it seems like a lot of fun.
In case you missed it, the full video of the Japanese variety show can be viewed here:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7enwc5
I totally loved watching this, and I can't wait for the next episode! It was so great to see the 4A's having fun together, and Aliona in particular seemed to be having a blast!
As for Aliona's artistry, let me translate what Junko Yaginuma said about the little routine she choreographed (around 9:55):
"This skater, Kostornaia--I thought this while watching her in competition too, but she is very good at listening to the music and embodying its image. She matches the timbre of the piano, and these small/fine movements that seem like she's carving out the notes--they're wonderful. Using the characteristics of the rhythm, she dances."
Yaginuma-san was probably being a little generous with her commentary because this was a variety show, not a real competition, but she sounded very impressed with Aliona! :agree:
And I agree with this--I can almost feel the music running through Aliona's body when she skates. :yes:
A few other tidbits from the video:
1) Around 6:55 when they're introducing Aliona, they say something like "Her skating, of course, as well as her beauty, have attracted a lot of attention." (But very true!)
2) Around 38:30 it says that the skater Aliona looks up to is Shoma Uno, and that whenever they meet, she pesters him for photos together. :luv17: But why did Aliona not post any from when they were at Novogorsk?!
3) After the 2x2 race with Anna, Aliona was very upset and wanted a do-over. She wasn't able to handle the curve (turn) well.
If there's anything else you want translated, let me know!
And someone pointed this out on Japanese Twitter. On the ISU Junior Grand Prix channel, there is a listing of the top 10 most popular videos from 2018:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuB703eaMDlLbNMQgpqCAJLZ3W14piFdX
Not only do Aliona's performances occupy the top 3 spots, but SIX of her videos are in the top 10 (i.e., all of her JGP performances)!!
Yep, our vampire angel is very popular!
So I realize now that this list is a bit skewed because a lot of Sasha's videos got blocked/deleted due to music copyright issues...
BUT, separately I did notice that Aliona's fan fest now has more views than any of the junior or soon-to-be senior ladies!! For a long time this fan fest has had the most posts, but not the most views (Anna's had more), and now it has flipped!
**
Channel 1 in Russia aired a short clip of the Team Tutberidze training camp in Novogorsk, and there's a short clip of Aliona practicing her loops (footwork, not the jump), among other clips: :agree:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0tie5eIEaG/
Aliona at the Figurist store! :luv17:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yG-2dIEFi/
I keep thinking that maybe she'll grow taller one of these days, but no, she looks as tiny as always!
Back to the store already? She's just gotten new boots and blades fitted? But perhaps this photo isn't recent or Kostorka is indeed in need of new boots or blades in time for competition season??
As a shop owner I'd be proud over such clientele too.
The last time we saw her getting new boots was 6 months ago in February so it may be time for a new pair! Also she might have been buying something else - new skate guards, gloves, gel pads, etc - we don’t know. Some skaters also will get a back up pair of skates and break them in just in case something happens to their main pair, so it’s possibly that? Either way, glad to see another pic of Aliona and hope her training is going well!
Oh our dear Kosotrnaya's fans, I have only 2 words for a now: 3A & pray.
We will get back to this discussion in a month. (Hopefully sooner, but only if Eteri or Danii chose to post it on IG)
Hi all! So a bit of an odd question, what is this beautiful spin called? https://pin.it/dib5wssse44vsq
Are there any other skaters that do this or should we just start calling it the Kostornaia?
I assumed it was some kind of upright variation when classifying it but I’m not sure if it has a name.
Alyona is the only person I've ever seen do this spin variation. I'd say its definitely her signature move. I remember reading somewhere that the spin was her idea, and she's been doing it since before moving to Eteri.