General Figure Skating Thread

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General Figure Skating Thread Dec 22, 2014 21:08:57 GMT

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Post by Admin on Dec 22, 2014 21:08:57 GMT

Much of the spectating public marvels at the artistic flair of figure skating. But if you check out the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro on Jan. 17-25, you can also marvel at the skaters' athleticism. Samantha Cesario, who will chase a podium finish in the senior women's division, visited Greensboro this week, making the rounds with media outlets. So, of course, I was curious about how much she implements running into her training to become one of the country's top figure skaters.

The answer: Some, with high intensity, although we're not likely to see her mimic tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and pursue a marathon. Here's what she had to say to staff writer Jeff Mills and me: "I was doing a lot of weight stuff, but that was harder on my body. So I worked with my physical therapist to do some different stuff. It depends on the time of the year. When I’m in-season, I tend to back off a bit with off-ice training. On-ice is where I get the most gains. And with the injuries I’ve had, I don’t push too much.

“I do interval training. I’m on a treadmill, just to keep my stamina up. And then, I do plyometrics. My trainer and I use a platform called the Off-Ice Edge, where you have your skates on and work certain muscles. Off-season, I run a lot more than I do now. Right now, we would do something at very high sprinter speed for one minute, then break for 30 seconds. Then two minutes, break for 30 seconds. The two minutes, two minutes, break for 30 seconds – something to simulate the long program.

“Nothing you can do off-ice is really similar to a free program. Even the sprinting is just not the same. We tried with the heart-rate monitor to get the heart-rate up close, but it still wasn’t the same. It shows how difficult it is. There’s nothing like it. I don’t know why. It could be the jumping, because you’re executing elements while sprinting. I don’t do anything I don’t have to do. (Running) is hard on my knees and ankles, so I try to limit it, especially during the season. I go all the way up on the (treadmill) incline. Yikes is right.”

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General Figure Skating Thread Dec 25, 2014 21:31:28 GMT

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Post by Admin on Dec 25, 2014 21:31:28 GMT

Today in Sochi the Russian Figure Skating Championships are beginning. Two participants in the European Championship in Stockholm in each of the four disciplines were determined according to the results. The tournament at the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi will go towards qualifying for the European Championships, which will be starting on January 26 in the capital of Sweden, while the post-Olympic season will crowned by the World Championships in Shanghai in late March.

Gold and silver medalists in each of the four types of national championship will receive tickets to Stockholm. As the head of Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FFKKR) Alexander Gorshkov said, the final squad for the European Championship will be decided in mid-January. And the third parties of Russia will be approved by the executive committee of the federation after discussing.

Even with Olympic champions Adelina Sotnikova and Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov out, there is still plenty of great competition to be had, especially in the always jam-packed ladies event. 2013 champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is on a hot streak. After placing a disastrous tenth last year, she is looking to regain her crown and fend off Julia Lipnitskaia, Elena Radionova, and Alena Leonova. Maxim Kovtun and Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov are looking to repeat in the men's and pairs' competitions.

2014-15 Russian Figure Skating Championships
Schedule (times Eastern and Moscow)

Thursday, December 25
Men's short - 6:00 a.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Moscow
Pairs' short - 9:45 a.m. Eastern / 5:45 p.m. Moscow
Short dance - 12:00 p.m. Eastern / 8:00 p.m. Moscow

Friday, December 26
Ladies' short - 6:00 a.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Moscow
Men's free - 8:45 a.m. Eastern / 4:45 p.m. Moscow
Free dance - 12:00 p.m. Eastern / 8:00 p.m. Moscow

Saturday, December 27
Pairs' free - 7:00 a.m. Eastern / 3:00 p.m. Moscow
Ladies' free - 9:15 a.m. Eastern / 5:15 p.m. Moscow

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General Figure Skating Thread Dec 26, 2014 21:36:20 GMT

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Post by Admin on Dec 26, 2014 21:36:20 GMT

Two-time champion of the World Figure Skating Championships Elena Radionova, who took the lead in the championship of Russia after the short program, said she was poisoned after his arrival from the final Grand Prix of Barcelona. Radionova cleanly performed a short program and gained 74.13 points. Skater competed in the final Grand Prix, which was held in Barcelona on 11-14 December and won the silver there.

"After the arrival at the Grand Prix Final, I was poisoned. It was sluggish, it was hard. It seems that the body is tired and gave itself to relax. But I gathered for the championship of Russia. And I continue to meet," - said Radionova to reporters.

She said she did not think about the responsibility of appearances in the championship of Russia. "I was fidgety, and calmed down, I'm on such things do not pay attention. Everything was as usual," - she said. Radionova called the arena "Iceberg" is happy for her. "I have good memories associated with it. I'm here twice successfully performed on adult championship of Russia and in the Finals of the Junior Grand Prix" - said the skater.

Second place after the short program at the Russian championship is Elizabeth Tuktamysheva, the third is Eugene Medvedeva. Olympic champion in the team Yulia Lipnitskaya ranked sixth.

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General Figure Skating Thread Dec 27, 2014 21:30:41 GMT

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Post by Admin on Dec 27, 2014 21:30:41 GMT

Ladies Medalists #RussianNationals14

Elena Radionova won the championship of Russia on figure skating in the very hard in terms of competition as a program - women's figure skating. Second place and a guaranteed ticket to the European Championships was won by Elizabeth Tuktamysheva.

Russian National champion Elena RADIONOVA

Elena Radionova did not flinch. Little "Miss Sunshine" of Russian figure skating has given the music of Rachmaninoff's a mixed of complex technical content and absolutely conscious of emotions that her eyes filled with tears.

A tiny blot on the road with one of the jumps looked at this more as a background crack at masterpieces of Japanese ceramics, which only emphasizes the subtle beauty of the subject. Arbitrators, apparently, decided to just put Radionova of 143 points for arbitrary and fantastic 217.45 on the sum of the two programs.

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General Figure Skating Thread Dec 28, 2014 21:22:09 GMT

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Post by Admin on Dec 28, 2014 21:22:09 GMT

Two-time junior world champion Elena Radionova won the championship of Russia in Sochi. After the speech in Sochi shared her impressions.

Very satisfied with my skating - Elena said Radionova. - All done. All jumps. These starts I get a successful, because I fulfilled its task. I wanted to skate two clean programs. Right.

Any program you skate to the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, as you manage to convey the idea of the program?

I am very serious about this program, and when I did ride, then invest his heart and soul. I want to show the audience the thrill of tenderness in the first part. Something that wants peace in the world. And at the end of this world is coming. I do not even know how to say. This program I want to convey to the audience that people want peace throughout the world. Very much I love this program.

We can say that this program is one hundred percent and you are ready to start on the major competitions?

I changed nothing in this program during this time. A program to roll can always make it better and better. There is no barrier to improvement.

It was felt that the competition in Sochi higher than on final stages of the Grand Prix?

I did not think about it. All launches are important in their own way, just the other contenders. I would not say that at the Grand Prix was easy. Also had a strong skater. But others. And here are all very strong. Can not be that the competition was easy.

Will complicate the program for the European Championships?

I have not thought about it.

With what attitude will go to Stockholm?

A win. Otherwise, why do I go there?

You have grown in recent years. Did you control your weight?

No. I just do not try to cram so that I was not bad. When it is necessary, in control of my food. Somewhere can be reduced. But a strict diet I have not. In general, no matter what diet do not sit. If you want something to eat, then eat.

Lena, you seems to be very calm. Perhaps you have not only a recipe of nutrition, but also as to restrain yourself before the start?

No, this is not. I go out and do. I can not explain how I feel inside. Like and have the experience, and at the same time there is inner peace.

Why this time you are not in the Japanese dress?

I decided to change costumes. Experiment. Well, there is such and such. I like them both.

What do you plan to do after the Russian championship?

I want to relax. Celebrate the New Year, because I am fatigued and felt the emotional devastation over the weekend. I want to get away from everything and then get to work with a clean slate.