Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov

[Proustable]

I, too, prefer Bobrova/Soloviev to I/K. B/S have a better match, line and skate so beautifully together. I have yet to see what "it" is about I/K. I also loathed their junior FD on a pretty profound level, so they have a big obstacle to overcome there as well.

[Autumn_girl]

I found this segment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ms0h...ature=youtu.be

I/K are mentioned and Zhulin is also talking. Can someone tell us with few sentences what do they say? Thanks.

Okay, I'll try to do it

It was mentioned that I/K's results at Worlds weren't as good as expected, but specialists still think this couple has everything and not worse than the medalists.
Lakernik:"I/K have soft, effortless gliding and fans and specialists like them a lot. But they are very young and probably the expectations were too high. Yes, there were some mistakes, but it's normal and they just have to go through it"

Their coach, Zhulin, believes in his students. He thinks now they need to rest a little and then focus on their main goal, Sochi 2014.
"I understand that moving to seniors is hard for them, requirements have increased, in juniors they could make small mistakes and it didn't affect the result, now they need to do more and to work much harder. We have a goal and now we should forget about everything and just go to it"

[equatorial]

I, too, prefer Bobrova/Soloviev to I/K. B/S have a better match, line and skate so beautifully together. I have yet to see what "it" is about I/K. I also loathed their junior FD on a pretty profound level, so they have a big obstacle to overcome there as well.

This is like saying, "I prefer Anna Netrebko to Birgit Nilsson. Netrebko's voice is more powerful and she sings so beautifully. I have yet to see what "it" is about Nilsson. I also loathed her Salome on a pretty profound level, so she has a big obstacle to overcome there as well". You get my drift

[Proustable]

Oh, I totally agree. I'm fully willing to shoulder the blame for this one (with some being apportioned to the ridiculous amount of internet hype they got). Doesn't change my opinion though.

[oleada]

Moka-Ananas, I'm with you! They are my favorite team since I first saw them on JGP and the only reason why I still watch ice dance. But my biggest nightmare is to see them with Shpilband/Zueva. Can't even imagine Elena and Nikita skating to something cute, sweet and... boooooring! I think Zhulin is a perfect coach for them, he makes them different, they try new images and new styles with their every program, that's something teams like the Shibs can never do.
Thanks God all these coaching changes things seem to be just rumors

I agree 100%! Elena and Nikita are an incredible team, so emotional. I can't wait to see them develop. I think Zhulin is good for them - I hope they do not leave him.

[equatorial]

Oh, I totally agree. I'm fully willing to shoulder the blame for this one (with some being apportioned to the ridiculous amount of internet hype they got). Doesn't change my opinion though.

Where is that internet hype? Especially the ridiculous amount thereof?

[Proustable]

You didn't hear it? Seriously? Everywhere I went, there were people calling them locks to win in Sochi just after winning World Juniors. Not just from fans either, from fearmongers as well. It was wierd.

[Asli]

You didn't hear it? Seriously? Everywhere I went, there were people calling them locks to win in Sochi just after winning World Juniors. Not just from fans either, from fearmongers as well. It was wierd.

I think when they won the junior worlds last year, there was just one thread to celebrate their title and the thread ended after only about a hundred posts. Nothing to compare with the really hyped ice dancers for which fans have to continuously open new theads because they quickly exceed the thousand-post limit.

As a matter of opinion, I/K are the most talented junior age team I have seen in my 25+ years of ice-dance fandom. Many people agree. You may say this is hype, you may say that an insanely talented team has been discovered. The fact is, even when they don't perform well in a competition, even when they are Russia's number 2 or number 3 team, they are the talk of everyone.

I also like Bobrova/Soloviev and think they have potential if they can solve their posture problems and work with a different choreographer.

[blue_idealist]

I didn't like them at the beginning of this season (I didn't see them in juniors), but it seemed like they skated better at Worlds than during the rest of the season, and their FD really grew on me. I wasn't crazy about their SD, but that's partly because of the horrible music it was skated to. I'm interested to see what they come up with next. My favourite Russian team is actually Riazanova/Tkachenko though.

[equatorial]

I didn't like them at the beginning of this season (I didn't see them in juniors), but it seemed like they skated better at Worlds than during the rest of the season, and their FD really grew on me. I wasn't crazy about their SD, but that's partly because of the horrible music it was skated to. I'm interested to see what they come up with next. My favourite Russian team is actually Riazanova/Tkachenko though.

Why would you call Schnittke horrible?

[alilou]

As a matter of opinion, I/K are the most talented junior age team I have seen in my 25+ years of ice-dance fandom. Many people agree. You may say this is hype, you may say that an insanely talented team has been discovered. The fact is, even when they don't perform well in a competition, even when they are Russia's number 2 or number 3 team, they are the talk of everyone.

I think this is the hype that Proustable is referring to
IMO they are very talented but not more so than V&M at that age. And the talk of everyone? Who's everyone? Not me But that's Proustable's point isn't it "they are the talk of everyone". That's the hype. It goes on and on, but there are some of us who are not sold yet. As for me, I prefer Shibs Yes, as oleada says I&K are so emotional. But messy at this stage. Shibs are not emotional. That doesn't matter so much to me. They have gorgeous posture, lines, precision, flow, lightness and joy They make me smile with their mad skills and pure dancing and lack of OTT angst

[Asli]

Why would you call Schnittke horrible?

You and I are the only two people who like Schnittke here and there is nothing to do but to accept this fact.

alilou, fortunately there are different ice dance teams for different tastes.

As I said before, there aren't dozens of threads going on about I/K, just this one thread in the whole year. Unfortunately every time three posters in a row say something positive about I/K, another poster denigrates it as hype. I remember the endless swooning about many other ice dancers, or whole threads about obscure US singles and still those did not bother people as hype.

It's good though. Shows I/K are threatening.

[equatorial]

They make me smile with their mad skills and pure dancing and lack of OTT angst

I risk stirring some serious chit here, but I really don't see any mad skills there (and where is OTT angst in DQ? or anywhere else for that matter? ). The Shibs had one of the simplest FDs among the Top 10. Neatly done, yeah.

[Mayra]

I think this is the hype that Proustable is referring to
IMO they are very talented but not more so than V&M at that age. And the talk of everyone? Who's everyone? Not me

Well you're "talking" about them now.

Having said that, I/K are no more/less hyped than V/M, S/P were when they first came out. It is just as OTT and yes, just as deserved. IMO

Unfortunately they have a lot of expectations and as this season has proved, there is going to be a lot of , and regarding their programs, their training and their coach. I hope they hold strong and put their blinders on because I can see how all of the "talk" can go to their head.

[alilou]

I risk stirring some serious chit here, but I really don't see any mad skills there (and where is OTT angst in DQ? or anywhere else for that matter? ). The Shibs had one of the simplest FDs among the Top 10. Neatly done, yeah.

OTT angst wasn't necessarily referring to DQ, just snarking about posters who like the drama in dance, and seem to think that's the most important thing, or the only thing. Actually I like it too when it's well done and believable (eg Kerr's first Muse program), hate it when it's fake (eg everything Linichuck gave B&A - who tried so hard to do that style when it didn't suit them at all).

And since Shibs got 5 level 4's and 2 level 3's I guess it wasn't that simple

Well you're "talking" about them now.

Having said that, I/K are no more/less hyped than V/M, S/P were when they first came out. It is just as OTT and yes, just as deserved. IMO

Unfortunately they have a lot of expectations and as this season has proved, there is going to be a lot of , and regarding their programs, their training and their coach. I hope they hold strong and put their blinders on because I can see how all of the "talk" can go to their head.

You got me Yes I am talking about them. I must admit I don't dislike them at all, and could very well grow to love them. Just can't see why there's so much love at this stage. Wish I could but they've done nothing yet to really grab me.

[peibeck]

I risk stirring some serious chit here, but I really don't see any mad skills there (and where is OTT angst in DQ? or anywhere else for that matter? ). The Shibs had one of the simplest FDs among the Top 10. Neatly done, yeah.

Considering their respective ages, I think I/K and the Shibs both have amazing edge work and speed. The Shibs did have easier transitions in their FD, but for their required elements obviously they have the highest levels, so saying the dance was "easy" is a bit subjective.

Aside from which, I hardly think the Shibs expected to be top 3 in their first Worlds, and would not have been had P/B not taken a tumble. I/K, as beautifully expressive as they are, simply made too many technical baubles in their free dance.

While I think I/K should stay with Zhulin as a coach, I have to admit I would love to see Pasquale choreograph a program (or two) for them. His style is very story/character driven, which I think would suit them beautifully.

[Asli]

While I think I/K should stay with Zhulin as a coach, I have to admit I would love to see Pasquale choreograph a program (or two) for them. His style is very story/character driven, which I think would suit them beautifully.

I agree, I would love to see that too.

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

(eg everything Linichuck gave B&A - who tried so hard to do that style when it didn't suit them at all).

I agree that Tosca didn't suit them, but I thought Ave Maria suited them just fine and was reminiscent of B&A's earliest programs. I think too many fans just got used to the perk and forgot about programs like Alexandros.


Anyway, I hope the rumors about I&K leaving Zhulin are just that. As for choreo, Camerlengo would be a good idea. I also wouldn't mind them trying out some Roca or Klimova choreo.

[alilou]

I agree that Tosca didn't suit them, but I thought Ave Maria suited them just fine and was reminiscent of B&A's earliest programs. I think too many fans just got used to the perk and forgot about programs like Alexandros.

That may be true, but I don't remember the perk particularly, or Alexandros. I remember Shadritza (which I think suited them perfectly) and Chopin

(Hated Ave Maria - not a fan of religious stuff, didn't find it believable, and the costumes were awful and got worse as the season went on).

Sorry for OT.

[marbri]

You and I are the only two people who like Schnittke here and there is nothing to do but to accept this fact.

alilou, fortunately there are different ice dance teams for different tastes.

As I said before, there aren't dozens of threads going on about I/K, just this one thread in the whole year. Unfortunately every time three posters in a row say something positive about I/K, another poster denigrates it as hype. I remember the endless swooning about many other ice dancers, or whole threads about obscure US singles and still those did not bother people as hype.

It's good though. Shows I/K are threatening.

Come on. It is NOT possible to be a member of FSU for so long and actually believe that bolded part above.