2009 Euros FS Leonova

[aznhottie52]

that was a beautiful program but she does need to work on her spiral sequence and her layback was quite traveled and her jumps are beautiful but a triple triple would be amazing =)

it was nearly a clean program

[sflady007]

what is the name of this song?

[ScarlettBriggs]

la leyenda del beso by Raul Di Blasio

[sflady007]

Rochette has no style, who cares if she can junp she is plain. Lepisto has a nice dancing style. The artistry in the Canadians has never been there, yet, the US makes sure they get high scores, wondering if the judges were paid off or threaten, a style the US is well known for.

[jamarsano]

Well, you have your opinion. Rochette is thought to be elegant and lady-like by some.

I agree with you about Lepisto though - she's gorgeous.

I would just point out that if the US were paying off judges they wouldn't do it for Rochette. They have skaters of their own.

This is Leonova's performance, so I will comment on it - she is really cute. She reminds me of my favourite all-time skater Slutskaya - costumes, spunk and apple-cheeks - it's all there.

[outthehead]

definitely! i totally agree with you. I just see any QUALITY skating here.. i mean, she is all right, but is there more to it? i guess not..

[ifusuckilltellu]

She needs a loot more stretch and finishing in her simply skating elements that layback was not up to par and to be honest most laybacks today are just as bad that's why the women need to work on that element to stand out but it's about the whole package and she's not quite there sorry!

[Iwantvoids]

I love archair critics! :rolleyes:

The girl is a JUNIOR, ergo still developing. She has super speed and speed accross the ice. I like the layout of her program, gives her room to breath. She doesn't have any hideous habits like Zhang with her mule kicking. There is great potential here. Work on the spins, the stretch (although personally I can't stand the OTT flexibility)

[Iwantvoids]

When she learns to get down into the ice more, it will really catapult her up to the top echelons.

I hope she finds her way to Gromova, or Morozov....who are great at working on the basics.

[luckystar55512]

She is our hope... And she looks like Elena Sokolova with that haircut and with the smile on her face, isn't she?

[tubeviewerbalpha9217]

Love her. Hadn't heard of her before Euros but I think she has a great chance at being a big name in the future. The best thing about her is how much emotion she puts into it. I can't think of a single skater that comes close to displaying the joy she puts into her skating here. And I think that haircut is cute. Very Julie Andrews but maybe that's not so cool these days, I dunno.

[brotighan]

Yes, I really see the shades of Slutskaya and Sokolova in this girl now. Very strong and talented indeed.

[ifusuckilltellu]

Sokolova yes but nothing like or near Irina at all!

[Iwantvoids]

She is the exact same build, has the exact same air positions and feel for the music. I see it...

[mei0014]

I really enjoyed watching her skating, very emotional and energetic. And the music is fabulous. Beautiful!

[ivanka89]

I think this was the best programm of the evening!!

bravo!!

[embraceky]

Not bad!

[SunshineGirlUa]

She has a good fighting spirit! She is so emotional. Music suits perfectly. Want to see her against Asian girlswho are the same age- Kim and Asada

But they have to add to her style- especialy her haircut. Skating now is about beauty and self-presentation- just look at the Finnish girls and Asian, Gerboldt, Russian Pair skaters and Steuer pairs.

[outthehead]

well, i totally agree with you concerning the haircut. but the outter beauty has to be in line with the inner beauty: here, it's the execution, clean lines and grace, which this girl lacks to a certain extent... in particular, she s got very poor extentions.. even though her jumping ability is quite good.

[Iwantvoids]

WHilst a little stretch is nice, it's only the Americans who are obsessed with young girls putting their legs in ridiculous split positions. (They listen to DIck the Pervert Button too much). A spiral can be beautiful without have a 180 split. Having said that, Leonova needs more flexibility, particularly in her sit spin. PLEASE give her some new music and not Soldatova hand me downs. Good to see Russia with a new girl, & Gerboltd is promising too if she can work on her basic stroking. :)

[outthehead]

well, it's kind of myopic to call a good split position ridiculous ;) esp. considering that it's not that hard to achieve (it's nothing like required in rhythmic gymanstics), but a nice extension in figure skating certainly adds quality to the skating.

But like you said even if one doesn't have that much flexibility, one can strive for clean and graceful lines, not like in Leonova's case here..

[outthehead]

(2) And since spiral IS a required element, it should look nice, but here it just doesn't!

She is an athlete here, but there s no expression whatsoever..