Iliushechkina and Maisuradze

[lclevers]

Has anyone noticed how much potential last year's junior world champions, Lubov Iliushechkina and Nodari Maisuradze , have? I noticed them last year and I think that if they keep improving they could be future world medalists. Actually, there results from Skate Canada's sp speaks for itself...they are pretty damn good for a pair that doesn't have much experience competing at the senior level. For some reason they kind of remind me of Gordeeva and Grinkov (although they look nothing like them). I don't know it's something about their skating style, or maybe their size difference, she's very petite and he's very strong and very expressive. I think she's 18 but she looks so much younger than that. They are very good at both the artistic side as well as the technical. I like them a lot, they are lovely to watch. What do you guys think?

Here's a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9qiXyguZww

[oleada]

I love them! When they are on, they have everything. Lubov is an absolute star, but IMO, Nodari doesn't get enough credit. He's a rock! I can't remember the last time he missed an element.

Unfortunately, they're not on very often.

I hope she can land her jumps and throws more often this year. If they can manage a decent, mostly clean LP at Skate Canada this year (and win) that would be a huge confidence booster, I think. I really hope they can make the GPF.

[Autumn_girl]

Two Russian young pairs (I/M and B/L) look really good so far and also Gerboldt/Enbert are promising (and Stolbova/Klimov), Russian Nationals is going to be exciting! Too bad there's not enough spots for all of them, and with K/S, V/T and M/B it will be hard to make the team... So no matter who will go to Euros and Worlds, I will be really sad anyway, 'cause excellent teams will have to stay at home.
And yes, Lubov is a star, even Alena Savchenko said so few years ago, inconsistency is a huge problem, though. I hope this season they will skate clean more often!

[stjeaskategym]

Has anyone noticed how much potential last year's junior world champions, Lubov Iliushechkina and Nodari Maisuradze , have? I noticed them last year and I think that if they keep improving they could be future world medalists. Actually, there results from Skate Canada's sp speaks for itself...they are pretty damn good for a pair that doesn't have much experience competing at the senior level. For some reason they kind of remind me of Gordeeva and Grinkov (although they look nothing like them). I don't know it's something about their skating style, or maybe their size difference, she's very petite and he's very strong and very expressive. I think she's 18 but she looks so much younger than that. They are very good at both the artistic side as well as the technical. I like them a lot, they are lovely to watch. What do you guys think?

Here's a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9qiXyguZww

They struggled a bit last year, and even a couple months ago in one of the Russia threads, some people were harping on them for not making enough progress/her for not landing anything. As we saw today, patience is necessary with young pairs who show potential like this because when they are on, they can be quite good. All the younger pairs seem to go through growing pains. She's just about 19 and he's 22... plenty of time for them to develop and get more experience. There are much older teams in Russia who would be considered front-runners for the World team, so there's a good chance I/M won't get out of Nationals again, but I don't think there's any rush.

[mishieru07]

I think Russia deserves more spots in pairs for Worlds. They have SO many good teams!!! Nationals is going to be nail-biting.

Lubov is way too cute; her interview was just adorable! She's certainly one determined lady; Hopefully they'll skate well in the FS as well as for the rest of the season! I think they and B/L could make the GPF with good skates.

[Vash01]

She definitely has the star quality. I hope they will be consistent in landing the jumps and throws and challenge for a podium spot at worlds. I liked them last year and they look even better this year. Definitely a pair to watch.

[icewalker08]

I love them too. Sadly their lp isnt good as their sp but still they can win skate canada if they skate clean. In Russian test Lubov landed her triple sal but fell on triple toe . I hope she can land both of them at skate canada today.

[DORISPULASKI]

Is Nodari of Georgian ethnicity? His name sort of sounds like it? Perhaps they could skate for Georgia???

[Vash01]

Is Nodari of Georgian ethnicity? His name sort of sounds like it? Perhaps they could skate for Georgia???

His name sounds Georgian. However, skating for Georgia may not be that beneficial to them. In FS it matters politically what country you represent. Also, how many pairs spots Georgia has would matter too. There have been times when a country would not get a single spot in the Olympics (Russian ladies in 1992 or 94, I think). If they medal at the Russian nationals it will help their career a lot. Also injuries can happen to skaters who are ahead of them, which could open doors for them. It happened to Bechke & Petrov in 1989.

The other thing is, I&M, B&L are still young. If they don't make the 2014 Olympic team they will still have a shot in 2018. I don't think K&S will be around more than 2 years. V&T will retire after 2014. M&B- not sure how old they are, but if they don't make the Russian team in the next two seasons they may want to skate for France for the 2014 Olympics.

If I&M really develop into a consistently good pair, I am sure doors will open for them very fast in Russia.

[Vash01]

Has anyone noticed how much potential last year's junior world champions, Lubov Iliushechkina and Nodari Maisuradze , have? I noticed them last year and I think that if they keep improving they could be future world medalists.
Here's a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9qiXyguZww

I was a big fan of B&L, but after watching this program, I have to say I like I&M more. They need to develop unison in their spins and of course land everything consistently to move into medal contention at the world level. I think it could happen in 2012- may be even the Russian championship (depending on how V&T and other pairs do of course)

[Domshabfan]

Is Nodari of Georgian ethnicity? His name sort of sounds like it? Perhaps they could skate for Georgia???

Getting a re;ease to represent Georgia will be next to impossible. I can see all sorts of obstacles in their way and i can't see Natalia Pavolva supporting such a move either. Plus they will have to stay out of competition for more than one year after the release which for a very young team will kill their chances.

[julieann]

Everyone thinks every team is like G/G

I don't think Russia deserves more spots just because their teams are getting better, rules are rules. Maybe the rules needs to be changed as to how teams get to worlds, maybe based on a minimum scores.

But lets face it...there is no serious competiton for these teams at SC, in a way that's good; because some teams like I/M are going to win where they probably wouldn't have even got a medal before. But in some ways it's bad becuase they are not being pushed by the likes of K/S, P/T, D/D and S/S.

This is the weirdest GP season I can remember in a long time, if anyone would have told me at 2010 worlds that B/L or I/M or even would be fighting for a 2010-2011 GPF bronz medal I would be wondering who spiked the punch with cold medicine to take out the rest of the competition.

[Cherub721]

I don't think Russia deserves more spots just because their teams are getting better, rules are rules.

I agree and besides, the concept of their teams getting better is just hype at this point. V&T, M&B, and G&E have not skated in major competitions yet. Stolbova & Klimov are just juniors.

There's a lot of teams that potentially could skate very well, but it hasn't happened yet. Half of them will probably crash and burn at Nationals anyway, so it won't be that much of a hurdle to make the team. If B&L and I&M can continue to land their jumps, they'll be fine. And I think it's good that there is enough competition that they actually need to skate well in order to go to Worlds. I don't want to see a repeat of the Russian performances from Vancouver.

[victoriajh]

besides the fact I cannot pronounce their names I LOVE them! they are Russian pairs at their best- speed, elements- OOOHHH factor! love them!

[Fallcolor]

I didn't like this team so much when they debuted last year, but after watching their SP, i think i've changed my mind. Their SP is soo complex...and both are such wonderful performers!! They have the it factor, imo. I'd like to see this team make it to senior worlds asap, they can most certainly challenge B/L when they skate clean. Lubov's interview with CBC was

[dinakt]

And now they just have to keep it together a little bit with travel to China and back-to-back events... but if they do, they make the GPF ( keeping my fingers crossed)

[Fallcolor]

I don't think they should have a problem doing that...a silver is very likely next week.

[judgejudy27]

They should win atleast bronze this coming week. That would be enough to get them in barring something unlikely though. They could get silver of course but the young Chinese might be a threat to them.

The Russian World team is going to be tough this year with 4 strong teams vying for 3 spots.

[TracyF]

Who does their choreography? I didn't see their SP, but their LP was kind of a mess, to me. I couldn't decide if it was their lack of polish in the program or the choreo, but I felt the choreo had very little connection with the music and really didn't work for me. Apart from THAT, I think they have tons of potential. Lovely lines, inventive lifts, smooth.

[hanca]

They should win atleast bronze this coming week. That would be enough to get them in barring something unlikely though. They could get silver of course but the young Chinese might be a threat to them.

The Russian World team is going to be tough this year with 4 strong teams vying for 3 spots.

6 strong teams vying for 3 spots, not 4!