#I like her way *way* more than Zhilina

[gealach-edits]

Sofia Muravieva, “Young and beautiful” at the 2021 JGP Kosice

[sashas4t]

A Guide to Russian Novices: Ladies

With all the hype for the future of Russian ladies figure skating thanks to Akatieva, Zhilina, Samodelkina and co. I decided to make a guide to Russian novices for anyone who is interested. 

2006-2007

Okay, technically these young ladies are already juniors but there is no JGP this season so many of their names are probably still unfamiliar to you, in addition, I really like a few of them and I need others to join the hype!

Sofia Samodelkina - Placed fourth at Junior Russian Nationals last year and won the Junior Russian Cup Final. if you watched Junior Russian Test Skates you will probably know Sofia and why I was really looking forward to her entrance at the JGP. Sofia has a pretty consistent 3A in her resume, as well as planned 4S! But jumps aside, it is her skating that I really enjoy. Her step sequences are flowing, matched to the music and she makes sure to throw in good performances and expressions in between every element. 

FS - https://youtu.be/bFY9HLyPGRw (she manages to change character between the calm and elegant “Snowtorm” to the excited and dramatic “Masquerade” very fast and perform both roles well. I literally love this program so much despite the music cut).

Birthday: February 18, 2007

Coach: Sergei Davydov

Sofia Muravyeva - my second-favorite junior (behind Usacheva and just ahead of Valieva and Samodelkina). Her results aren’t as amazing as her peers but oh my god is she expressive! I actually started really liking her skating two years ago, mostly because I enjoyed her programs and appreciated her lovely skating skills and spins. Her recent move to Plushenko seems to have done much good for her though, as her program components and interpretation of the music have shot up to the top of the junior field. Also, her dresses are simply exquisite.

SP (this season) - https://youtu.be/0B90QyVDkUU (yes, choosing Ne Me Quitte Pas for a junior was probably a strange decision, but her skating! Her skating is beautiful! Her expression is beautiful! Her spins are beautiful!)

FS (this season) - https://youtu.be/QtoiWwebdVQ (ignore that one spin fail please)

“Primavera” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvXvAqDKaB0

Birthday: August 4, 2006

Coach: Evgeni Plushenko

Elizaveta Osokina - she gained a lot of attention (and deserves to gain more) because of her amazing performances at Russian Junior Test Skates. Liza’s SS are definitely some of the best in the junior ladies field, and her programs are choreographed excellently. In addition, she has great spin positions, lovely and dynamic jumps and good expressiveness. Definitely one to look out for:

Test Skates SP - https://youtu.be/XW3znd9pDyg?t=367

Test Skates FS - https://youtu.be/aKmczpiH2tI?t=341

Birthday: December 18, 2006

Coach: Elena Buyanova

Adelya Petrosyan - also a pretty well-known junior. Adelia won the third stage of the Junior Russian Cup this season, and placed sixth at Junior Russian Nationals last season. She has really great spins, amazing flexibility, fast skating, and wonderful attention to detail. I especially enjoy the fact that all her programs have been very different from one another and yet, she manages to perform them all well. Her short programs from the this season and last season are particularly enjoyable:

SP (this season) - https://youtu.be/3W9sQeDb1CA

SP (last season) - https://youtu.be/wHY6riHJMWI

Birthday: June 5, 2007

Coach: Eteri Tutberidze

2007-2008

Sofia Akatieva - most likely going to be the “star” of this generation. She recently won two stages on the Russian Cup Stage, and was the silver medalist at Junior Russian Nationals last year. Sofia will probably fight with Kamila Valieva and Sofia Samodelkina for the title of “junior champion”. She gained a lot of attention in the past few days for landing a 3A+3T in the short program and a 3A plus two ripponed 4Ts (one in combination with a +2T). Besides consistent quads and 3A, Sofia is considered to be a pretty “full package skater”.

SP (this season) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZoWpdvAFkc

FS (this season) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwKsV-BYufo (here’s the clip where she lands 2 4Ts with rippon and a 3A)

Birthday: July 7, 2007

Coach: Eteri Tutberidze

Elizaveta Berestovskaya - participated in the first season of Ice Age Kids and won first place. Liza is mostly kown for being very expressive and for having landed several 4T in practice and in competition.  I enjoy her dedication to performing a program even despite any mistakes and she is definitely a very charming skater. My favorite programs from her include:

FS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu-D65MMUU0 (she fell on the opening 4T, but the rest of the program is great!)

Ice Age Kids version of her FS: https://youtu.be/smedb7kmNjI?t=84

“Apres Toi” - https://youtu.be/MGnaJfkBaAM?t=89

Birthday: December 8, 2007

Coach: Sergei Davydov

Veronika Zhilina - recently just won silver at the fourth stage of the Russian Cup. She’s pretty well known for her wonderful jump technique, with a deep outside edge lutz and minimal peroration on all toe jumps. In addition, she has 3A, 4T and 4Lz in her arsenal. Her quad toe loop, in particular, is very impressive for the effortlessness of the entry and the height it gets. 

SP (this season) - https://youtu.be/07VUrNLUpdc

Birthday: May 15, 2008

Coach: Evgeni Plushenko

Alina Gorbacheva - recently just won third place at the fourth stage of the Russian Cup. She actually just came off of an injury apparently, but from watching her skating you could not tell. I especially enjoyed her short program last season, you can see her musicality shine through her skating.

SP (last season, notice how the beginning of the program is completely structured to the music) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r18tJDCt2GM

SP (this season, lovely skating, very lyrical and mature for her age) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLd9Lldq4KQ 

Birthday: July 23, 2007

Coach: Sofia Fedchenko

Elizaveta Kulikova - participated in the second season of Ice Age Kids and made it to the finals. Very mature for her age, and she has pretty good skating skills and spins. Honestly, I find some of her performances from Ice Age to be more captivating than those in competition, but I think it’s more the fault of choreography (I think her programs are ice age may have been choreographed, or at least bits of it were, by Averbukh). 

Just watch her rendition of Meditation at only 11 years of age, simply beautiful - https://youtu.be/uk5KaCwx3-M?t=79

And another charming skate to “Doctor Zhivago” - https://youtu.be/gaAGAiH_jBc?t=105

Birthday: February 2, 2008

Coach: Sergei Davydov

2008-2009

Sofia Titova - won first place at the Junior Championship of Russia last season. She’s moderately well known for her powerful jumps. Her skating is very fast, but I feel like work could be done to improve flow or emotional connection. Nonetheless, a talented individual with possible quads or 3As in the future to look out for in the future. 

SP - https://youtu.be/rVacchcirtQ?t=84

FS - https://youtu.be/jY-t0vtwHjg?t=4

Birthday: January 27, 2009

Coach: Evgeni Plushenko

Ksenia Melkumova - participated in the second season of Ice Age Kids and won third place. Ksenia is my favorite from the novices, because of how expressive she is and her amazing skating skills. She struggles with jumps still, but if one were to purely evaluate skating of Russian ladies, she’d be way up there. Here are some of my favorite performances from her:

“Crack of Doom” - https://youtu.be/u1xAftGyM88?t=60 (this is literally crack, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, but the pure amount of joy and expression she puts into it makes it amazing).

“Fire Dance” - https://youtu.be/G-jW9pAuJAw?t=78 or the competition version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSp_7gr3js&t=96s

“Comme Toi” - https://youtu.be/bZd5qFvTrug?t=46

To be honest, all her performances at Ice Age Kids were great, I just found these to be more interesting or captivating.

Birthday: May 1, 2009

Coach: Igor Lyutikov

Lyubov Rubtsova - participated in the second season of Ice Age Kids and won second place. She used to be coached by Sergei Davydov, but is now under Eteri Tutberidze. Also she landed 3A a couple of months ago. I’m not a huge fan of any of her programs, but here are her programs from last season.

SP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stedggF0akc

FS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeN7ECECj_o

This program from Ice Age Kids is pretty nice too - https://youtu.be/r2sp_kLPJz4?t=52

Birthday: February 2, 2009

Coach: Eteri Tutberidze

2009-2010

Sofia Dzepka - won third at the Junior Championship of Russia last season. I also really like Sofia’s skating and she’s probably my second favorite (behind Melkumova). Her skating skills are great and her jumps look to be pretty great too (I especially love the spread eagle - 2A - spread eagle). I really enjoyed her programs last season (though the step sequence is the same for some reason?):

SP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7xMzFVl9N4&t=3s (she did fall on the 3F, but this is the video with best quality sorry)

FS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6iFNR49GSQ

Birthday: August 7, 2009

Coach: Elena Buyanova

Sofia Shifrina - placed sixth at the Junior Championship of Russia last season. I haven’t be super impressed by her programs so far, looks like her basics are good though.

SP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA6m_N91dhM

FS 1 - https://youtu.be/wcVJGVsAQCg (gorgeous costume!)

FS 2 - https://youtu.be/Czv--DKj5Qg

Birthday: August 11, 2009

Coach: Svetlana Panova

Anastasia Marasanova - won second at the Junior Championship of Russia last season. Fun fact, I didn’t even know about her before taking on this project! However, I actually really enjoy her skating, it’s very fun and expressive. 

SP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7b_yXJxuZ8

FS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn3biVzeFPA

Birthday: October 27, 2009

Coach: Olga Efimova

2011-2012

Elena Kostyleva - a prodigy. She’s still very young, but so very talented! She has 3Lz+3Lo too. Jumps aside, I actually find just her skating very charming, though she does lose some stamina in the second half, she’s only 10, so that’s not an issue at all. 

FS - https://youtu.be/A0ErWmUPUkM?t=303

These are only the skaters who have gotten some of the best results, but I had to cut out introductions for a ton of other super talented skaters. Others that I think have great potential include:

Maria Paramonova

Maria Dmitrieva

Sofia Vazhonva

Maria Zakharova

Anyways, have fun discovering new novices to care about! I hope this project shows everyone that the future of Russian figure skating won’t be just a jump fest, but a strong competition with many skaters who have superb artistry and skating skills.