From Russia With Love - 2012 Off Season

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

Is that what that was? Jesus. How out of touch can Zhulin BE? This makes me kind of glad P&B and I&K left him (not that Morozov is any better).

I'm not that impressed with Zhulin's choreo so far this season.

I hope his programs for his other teams is better than what B&S and Zenkova/Sinitsin have gotten.

[Jemestone]

Kovtun's Long program

[love_skate2011]

Stolbova-Klimov's Short program

love the ending, I want to see the triple twist they did 2 days ago
they need more height if they want a consistent triple twist

[Jemestone]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I really loved B&S FD, music and everything else. But I'm no dance expert so......

S&K SP was nice as well.

[Marco]

Thanks! Very nice expression and attack (almost too much, lol). Really pretty music. Love her upper body movement. Strange though, cause the beginning and end seem to be there, so maybe they cut from the middle (with most of the jumps??)... maybe this is an exhibition version.

You must be very glad, Cherub, coz this program is wonderful for her. There are some very nice choreographic moments in there.

[Miruna]

I think this is Victoria Sinitsina/Ruslan Zhiganshin FD but I am not sure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxQUJfD5NX4&feature=plcp

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

Love Stolbova & Klimov's program. They seemed to be going through the motions in a lot of places, but I imagine the performance aspect will get better in their GP competitions.

Sinitsina & Zhiganshin should probably think about leaving Kustarova eventually.

[alchemy void]

The good

Stolbova/Klimov: Definitely my favorite Russian pair team right now. Music sounded like Danny Elfman? Very gutsy to do the sbs 3toes 2:05 into the program as well.

Leonova: Masculine music works well for her. Of course I wanted something voidy but this definitely has potential to be fierce. Some interesting moments, much better element distribution than last year. Already looks like a semi-masterpiece compared to her last year's LP.

Makarova: Hard to tell with part of the program chopped off. Like an extended version of her SP from last year, which isn't a bad thing.

Shershak: Nice 3flip. Wasn't she doing a 3loop at the end of last season as well? I don't mind that she is recycling this program as it's a pleasant program with actual choregraphy and she owns it.

Menshov: Nice 3axel. Interesting, rough program. Slightly voidy but still accessible. Gotta root for the old guy to be competitive this year.

The bad

Kavaguti/Smirnov. Ehhhh, we've seen this before.

Korobeynikova. Swan Lake, again? Slow and tentative, like before. I realize it's just a test skate, but I have very low expectations for her. Head case, I'm afraid.

Biryukova. Love her skating, decent program, she attacks well, but the jumps are a hot mess. Hope she can pull it together for the fall, but she's a worse head case than Polina K.

The ugly

Bobrova/Soloviev. She looks hot. That's about all. Not getting the music cuts, and it's not even a good kind of Bring on R/T and I/K!

[Jemestone]

I think this is Victoria Sinitsina/Ruslan Zhiganshin FD but I am not sure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxQUJfD5NX4&feature=plcp

It is.

[Piper]

It is.

I don't understand why it lasts only 4.03...

I love them and I'm always mesmerized by their skating...but so many mistakes...((
I hope it will be better.

[love_skate2011]

I think this is Victoria Sinitsina/Ruslan Zhiganshin FD but I am not sure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxQUJfD5NX4&feature=plcp

they have better speed than B/S their emote to the dance and have better basics
but the music choice. I can see already Kustarova/Aleeva turning them into B/S route

I wish they would leave her now and go to Shipilband , I am so mad
You can see they have real talent , better than B/S or I/K , its just a matter of better coaching

FREE VICTORIA and RUSLAN !

[Marco]

Polina Korobeynikova: swan lake.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ01HYmbrSw

Isn't the GPs starting in one and a half months?

That program can't possibly be more generic and disconnected.

I am calling it now - she will skate to 17 Moments of Springs next season.

[caseyedwards]

Kovtun's Long program

Really uneven! Some wow some real lows. 4/3 and no lutz.

[Domshabfan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNX7ErQZEw&feature=plcp Ryaznova/Tkachenko FD

[alchemy void]

Riazanova Tkachenko FD - Godfather!

[Ladida]

R/T another funeral free dance from them...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNX7ErQZEw&feature=plcp

[love_skate2011]

R/T another funeral free dance from them...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNX7ErQZEw&feature=plcp

the all black, is this their final costume, and the Tarasova FD made ?

[love_skate2011]

I am underwhelemed by R/T, so far amongst the russian ice dancers
only Sinitsina/Zhiganshin has real speed and power in their skating

[Ladida]

No idea. But the program makes me sleepy. My last hope is probably M/K free dance. I'm praying for something finally worthy.

[Cherub721]

I am calling it now - she will skate to 17 Moments of Springs next season.

and an SP to Scene D'Amour.

Can't keep up with all the new posts!

Stolbova/Klimov - Great!

Sinitsina - She is so pretty. Not bad, I kinda liked it. A much more natural expression than last year. Unfortunately, with many of these Russian dancers, they are so leggy and long but it makes the lifts look like crap. Can we have Domnina back plz?

Also, S&Z continue to follow D&W's trajectory... Samson, Phantom, Tango (if not the exact same music). Not really the way to set yourselves apart as seniors.