Hungarian Skating News

[SockMonkey]

I've been told that Maksim Zavozin has moved to Russia to train with a coach there. He and Nora are still partners, but it's just that Max has left the US.

[sbanet]

I've been told that Maksim Zavozin has moved to Russia to train with a coach there. He and Nora are still partners, but it's just that Max has left the US.

...perhaps Max is back in Odintsovo (outside of Moscow) training with Alexei Gorshkov? He and Nóra were both training there for a good part of the past season.

[sashaisgreat]

Did Nora move too? How will this work?

[sbanet]

I personally don't have updated news regarding what H+Z will be doing for this season, or if Nóra is ready to start training yet... although for last season the two of them split their time between training in Hackensack with Morozov, Odintsovo with Gorshkov (who has been working with Morozov), and in Budapest with their Hungarian coach, Sándor Nagy.

[SockMonkey]

...perhaps Max is back in Odintsovo (outside of Moscow) training with Alexei Gorshkov? He and Nóra were both training there for a good part of the past season.

It was to Moscow or nearby, and although I forget the coach's name, it did begin with a G.

[igniculus]

Remember that Nóra's injury happened only a month ago, and she was advised not to take the ice during this time. Even after a month, she will need to wear some kind of safety gear to protect her head.

[sbanet]

It was to Moscow or nearby, and although I forget the coach's name, it did begin with a G.

Then I shall cross my fingers that Max is not only going to Odintsovo to train with Gorshkov, but that he and Nóra will have Sergei Petukhov :kickass: :smokin: make their choreographies (rather than Morozov)... ;)

[sbanet]

Remember that Nóra's injury happened only a month ago, and she was advised not to take the ice during this time. Even after a month, she will need to wear some kind of safety gear to protect her head.

For now, I'll take it as a good sign that Max is leaving the USA to train in Moscow. :)

Hopefully :glamor: Nóra (who has been at home in Hungary) will soon be there as well. I haven't come across any recent public news regarding the progress of her recovery, but I'm sure there will soon be plenty of pre-training tasks to tend to such as off-ice conditioning, team meetings regarding choreographies, etc.?

[kwanfan1818]

The irony of all of this is that if Matthews really did leave Zavozin because being coached by his mother was too much for her, hasn't his mother stopped coaching him since he teamed with Hoffmann?

I love Hoffman and really like the two of them together, but Matthews much be :wall:

[Cocomo]

The irony of all of this is that if Matthews really did leave Zavozin because being coached by his mother was too much for her, hasn't his mother stopped coaching him since he teamed with Hoffmann?

Maybe it took losing Matthews for Max to realize he needed to get away from his :EVILLE:Mommacoach, although I did hear Garanina was still involved, just not the main coach anymore.

[SockMonkey]

...I did hear Garanina was still involved, just not the main coach anymore.

Max was still working with his mother in NJ.

[igniculus]

I noticed two articles on Absolute Skating with interviews with Hungarian skaters. Check it out if you're interested. :)

Bianka Pádár: "I will do all I can to make it to the free skating"
http://www.absoluteskating.com/interviews/2009padar.htm

Nóra Hoffmann – haunted by bad luck
http://www.absoluteskating.com/interviews/2009hoffmann.html

[sbanet]

How is :glamor: Nóra doing these days?

[igniculus]

No info. :sekret:

But I do hope she feels tres better nowadays.

[igniculus]

Hi everyone, some spring news from the Federation's site. :cool:

Meeting report after the ending of a very complicated season. :cold:
http://www.moksz.hu/elnoksegi/Jelentes2009.pdf

Main points (as there are speed skating-related and synchro-skating related stuff in the report too):

- the Fed is overall in a hopeful mood because the speed skating (especially Short Track) teams had a highly successful season and have good chances for Olypic qualifications; also, they are having high hopes for the Oberstdorf olympic qualifications for our figure skaters.

- overall, the Fed is very satisfied with the coaching job done to prepare the athletes for the 2008/2009 season, as it was very important for the Olympic Games. However, after a series of crutial injuries, the top figure skaters couldn't fight for olympic spots at the WCH in LA. The replacement teams and skaters did their job well according to their estimated level. The achievements at the ECH weren't as expected either, as Julia Sebestyen finished 8th due to "negative judging contribution", Katherine Hadford finished 31st, and Tigran Vardanjan was 35th. The illness and withdrawal in ice dance was also very unfortunate.

- the synchro team recieved high praises after the 16th place in Zagreb at the WCH, both from the Fed and from international renowed coaches, such as Andrea Dohany.

- figure skaters and ice dancers had been nominated to the Aladar Gerevich scholarship (no names listed). They describe the state of ISU scholarship as "fortunate" too, I guess that means some skaters managed to win ISU scholarships too (5 athletes in the run for it).

- the number of athletes in the various divisions is remarkable, however, it's not growing as much as it would be needed to select the elite competitors from them. There is a great need for the development of skating schools and young athletes.

- the number of ice rinks is rising in the country, and there is valuable coaching work going on in many cities outside of Budapest too. The condition of these facilities is getting better and better, though there needs to be some more improvement to make them more suitable for elite competitors/competitions.

- there are more than 50 skating clubs around the country, thanks to the popularity of figure skating, synchronised skating and speed skating.

- the funds of the Fed are limited (especially with the current state of economics) so there are looking for alternative solutions/sponsors.

- prominent Hungarian experts won important positions in the ISU: Gyorgy Marton became a member of the ISU council, Krisztina Regoczy is a member of the ISU Technical Commettee of ice dancing, while Gyorgy Sallak is the development commission coordinator of the ISU. From 2009 Krisztina Regoczy is also a member of the governing council of the Hungarian Olympic Committee.

- Hungary is bidding for the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships in first place, for the World Short Track Championships 2012 in second place, the European Figure Skating Championships 2012 in third place, and for the European Short Track Championships 2012 as last. [hopefully, something from the four will work out....]

- Olympic "A" team members: Julia Sebestyen, Bianka Padar, Katherine Hadford, Viktoria Pavuk, Nora Hoffmann & Maxim Zavozin, Emese Laszlo & Mate Fejes, Tigran Vardanjan

- contributing coaches: Dr. Gurgen Vardanjan, Patricia Pavuk, Jeranjak Ipakjan

- Qualification goals: 1 entry in each discipline (1 lady, 1 man, 1 ice dance team)

- Olympic goals: making it to the freeskate/freedance, finishing in the middle field, skating decent.

- goals for the 2009/2010 season:
-- improving the conditions for the Olympic qualification contenders for their success at qualification competitions.
-- making plans and preparations for the next Olympic Games in Sochi, especially concerning the development of young athletes for the future of the sport
-- promoting the sport in the new skating facilities and clubs of the country (not only in the capital)
-- improvement of the medical conditions, injury prevention.