Muhortova/Trankov and Trankov's interviews translations

[Ziggy]

Nina Mozer sounds great indeed, based on what they said.

But Asli is right to point out the lack of experience. V/T are superb technical skaters already.

For now, they need to gel more.

Once they do, they will require a really expert coach to work on tiny little details. Give them the finishing touch.

I am not saying Mozer can't do that. We will have to wait and see.

If for any reason, it doesn't work out, I hope they go to Natalia Pavlova.

I also hope somebody else than Nikolai Morozov does their choreo in the future. :P

[Kasey]

I also hope somebody else than Nikolai Morozov does their choreo in the future. :P

I think we all wish this! ;)

[Pratfall]

Oh Yes, please ditch Nikolai..

Loopey , you made my evening :lol:

[kwanfan1818]

Loopey , you made my evening :lol:
Mine too!

[let`s talk]

There is a Jewish Oblast / province - Seems like it could be a joke about Siberia?
Yeah, probably. :lol: In fact it was some kind of Stalin's policy to give each nation a territory where they can practice their culture, like having national schools, for example, where things were taught in Yiddish. I don't need to say that it didn't work that way. The 16% of the population was Jews, nowdays- 1%.

The Jewish Autonomous Oblast is not a geographical region and not a societal group. It's one of 83 federal subjects of Russia with its budget, government, representatives in Duma, etc.

Neither Maxim, nor Tatyana, nor Stas are Jewish. They are all Russian ethinically and since recently, in case of Tatyana and Stas, juridically too (became Russian passport holders).
I guess maybe what Maksim was saying was that they could have chosen to represent any number of locales in Russia, even somewhere as far away as Birobidzhan, as long as it was somewhere in Russia.
It's a little more prosaic than that. The comment was about Tatyana's citizenship. She couldn't obtain the Russian citizenship as straighforward as Stas did (he was born in Russia, then-RSFSR, Tatyana wasn't). She had to apply for a special program of relocation of citizens in order to get a Russian passpot. Due to demographic reasons big cities and regions, like Moscow and St-Petersburg, are not included in this program. They had to choose the region that was on the list. That's why they joked "we could represent a Jewish oblast, for example." They chose Tver because Tver is the closest listed-in-the-program place to Moscow. Tatyana de jure is registered in Tver but de facto lives in Moscow, which is perfectly legal (Constitutional court ruling).

[rfisher]

Nina Mozer sounds great indeed, based on what they said.

But Asli is right to point out the lack of experience. V/T are superb technical skaters already.

For now, they need to gel more.

Once they do, they will require a really expert coach to work on tiny little details. Give them the finishing touch.

I am not saying Mozer can't do that. We will have to wait and see.

If for any reason, it doesn't work out, I hope they go to Natalia Pavlova.

I also hope somebody else than Nikolai Morozov does their choreo in the future. :P

If they medal at Worlds, they'll have their pick of the *expert coaches.* I think most were waiting to see how things worked out with Trankov. I don't think it would have mattered with her given her work ethic, but he apparently needed the freedom Mozer offered. Sometimes, it's more than technical expertise. The most expert coach may not bring out a skater's potential as well as someone else. Trankov was clearly unhappy with Vasiliev and the whole situation. He needed what Mozer was able to provide. Their eyes are all on Sochi. The Russian Fed's eyes are on Sochi. I have little doubt they'll have everything they need to make Russian pairs skate away with gold. In fact, given the depth of the Russian pairs, I'm certain they're already pondering the possibility of a sweep even if nobody is saying it aloud.

[loopey]

If they medal at Worlds, they'll have their pick of the *expert coaches.* I think most were waiting to see how things worked out with Trankov. I don't think it would have mattered with her given her work ethic, but he apparently needed the freedom Mozer offered. Sometimes, it's more than technical expertise. The most expert coach may not bring out a skater's potential as well as someone else. Trankov was clearly unhappy with Vasiliev and the whole situation. He needed what Mozer was able to provide. Their eyes are all on Sochi. The Russian Fed's eyes are on Sochi. I have little doubt they'll have everything they need to make Russian pairs skate away with gold. In fact, given the depth of the Russian pairs, I'm certain they're already pondering the possibility of a sweep even if nobody is saying it aloud.
Now that's the Russian Federation that I remember! All this talk about them selling out #2 and only hyping #1 had me confused. The Russian Federation I grew up watching wanted all medals all colors, they were not into politiking a pair or a skater off the podium. JMO.

[Tinami Amori]

Yeah, probably. :lol: In fact it was some kind of Stalin's policy to give each nation a territory where they can practice their culture, like having national schools, for example, where things were taught in Yiddish.

I don't need to say that it didn't work that way. The 16% of the population was Jews, nowdays- 1%.

:lol:Less than 1%.... all have gone to Israel. I worked next door in Khabarovsk for a while... You have to use a strong flash-light in bright sunlight in the middle of a summer day to find a real Jew in Biribidzhan.... Silly me... i went there once on a weeked to be with "my people"...:rofl:

You’re right about Stalin's stuff. Here is the rest of the story why Biribidzhan was created 1934.
http://www.archipelag.ru/ru_mir/rm-diaspor/hebrew/biribidzhan/

Stalin’s cabinet members had several agendas or reasons for creating Biribidzhan; to comply in the eyes of the world with Soviet claim that every nationality on the territory of USSR is equal and free to practice its culture and lifestyle; to prevent any growth spurs of Zionist movement; and to get Jews as far away as possible from Moscow and the Think Centres of Russia.

I think Trankov said “we could be stationed in Biribidzhan” to indicate how little it matters which region it is, as long as it’s the Russian territory even if it is as far as Chinese border on the other side of the country.

[easilydistracte]

I'm certain they're already pondering the possibility of a sweep even if nobody is saying it aloud.
Now that's the Russian Federation that I remember! All this talk about them selling out #2 and only hyping #1 had me confused. The Russian Federation I grew up watching wanted all medals all colors, they were not into politiking a pair or a skater off the podium. JMO.

I posted the following in the From Russia with love 2 thread back on 11-04-2010:
IF all the Russian teams continue to improve their skills and IF they all stay healthy, is it too much of a stretch to think that Russia could sweep the pairs podium in Sochi? Just wondering.
The consensus at the time was that the possibility of a Russian Pairs sweep at Sochi was fairly unlikely. Does the possibility seem more or less likely now after what happened at Russian Nationals? [Please move this to a more appropriate thread if need be. Don't want to derail this thread. Thanks.]

(Thanks for the info on the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, everyone.)

[rfisher]

I think a sweep is certainly within the realm of possibility. There is one young Chinese team (the older teams are finished) and they are really, young. Who knows what will happen with them over the next 3 years. Same with the young Japanese. S/S haven't said they wanted to stay in another 3 years, but they're not a lock as was clearly demonstrated in Vancouver. Only the Russian's have multiple teams. I'd bet they get at least 2 out of 3 medals if not all of them. The incentive to win at home will be strong. I think watching all the Russian teams progress over the next 3 years will be a lot of fun.

[easilydistracte]

. . . Same with the young Japanese. . .
Takahashi/Tran will not be able to go to Sochi anyway because of citizenship issues, correct? Haven't really seen/heard/read anything about Tran (who, if I'm not mistaken, is a Canadian citizen) trying to obtain Japanese citizenship, but, even if he were to apply, he wouldn't be able to become a Japanese citizen in time for Sochi, due to Japan's strict requirements for citizenship.

[flowerpower]

Tran (whom, if I'm not mistaken, is a Canadian citizen)

Right, Tran is from Saskatchewan.