The main intrigues of the test skates of the Russian figure skating team

Figure skating fans always look forward to the test skates of the Russian national team with special anticipation. Firstly, these are the first significant performances of the new season, and therefore a long-awaited date with their idols. Secondly, based on the results of the test skates, you can see who spent the summer how. Despite the fact that performances here are not publicly assessed, progress and regression, achievements and mistakes are clearly visible. Thirdly, the skates are important for the skaters themselves, because all the competitions are still ahead: adjustments can be made and even the music, performance elements, and costumes can be changed. Why, sometimes you even change the program altogether. What are the main intrigues of the upcoming test skates of the Russian national team?

Women

There are ten participants left in women's single skating: Veronika Yametova and Daria Sadkova withdrew from the skates due to health problems.

Of course, we should expect dominance from the students of Eteri Tutberidze’s coaching staff. Moreover, all four skaters from her group will present new programs. Black Panther by Kamila Valieva, “Masquerade” by Sofia Akatieva, dance to Michael Jackson by Adelia Petrosyan - this will certainly be a special spectacle.

The return of Maya Khromykh, who missed last season, is also of interest. The new program will also be shown by the prima of Alexei Mishin’s group Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. It will be interesting to watch young but promising figure skaters. Sofia Muravyova, who won her first senior Grand Prix medals last season, will try to gain a foothold at the new level. We also have the right to expect a new level of sports from Alina Gorbacheva and Veronika Zhilina.

Men

There will also be a lot of new things in men's skating. For example, European and Russian champion Dmitry Aliev will show two new programs at the screenings, including a Russian composition. Last season, he was only fourth in the Russian Championship and second in the Grand Prix final - it’s time to make up for lost time, just like Mark Kondratyuk, for whom the past year was also disrupted due to injury. Alexey Mishin’s students Evgeny Semenenko, Matvey Vetlugin and Gleb Lutfullin will also perform two new performances.

You should expect a surprise from the new short program of Pyotr Gumennik to the accompaniment of “Rammstein”. The results of collaboration with Tutberidze and Daniil Gleikhengauz, who helped prepare the free program, are also interesting.

Pair skating

Of course, the main highlight of the test skates is the transformation of Alena Kostornaya. Having left single skating, she teamed up with her husband Georgy Kunitsa. And if they have already skated the short program at the Moscow Championships, then they will demonstrate the free program for the first time.

Although it is unlikely that Kostornaya and Kunitsa will be the favorites of the coming season. The record leaders are world and European champions Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Gallyamov, who will show two new programs. They should also compete with Alexandra Boykova and Dmitry Kozlovsky, who won European gold. Behind them is the powerful coaching staff of Eteri Tutberidze, which includes pair skating specialists Maxim Trankov, Alexey Tikhonov and Pavel Slyusarenko.

Dancing on Ice

The headquarters of Alexander Zhulin are taking three couples to the test skates at once. Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin are back on the ice - can they shine? Will Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva and Yegor Bazin be rehabilitated after last season with a scattering of mistakes? Will references to Vrubel’s work help Elizaveta Shanaeva and Pavel Drozd? In short, there is plenty of intrigue.

It will be interesting to watch the performance of one of the most experienced couples, Ekaterina Mironova and Evgeniy Ustenko. This time they, who love to surprise audiences with unusual programs, will skate to music from the Oscar-winning film “The Shape of Water.”

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