How can Russia reverse its decline in Ice Dance?

[Maofan7]

Between 1984 and 2006, the USSR/Russia dominated Ice Dance, winning all but 1 of the Olympic titles in the event during that period. The exception was 2002, won by Marina Anisina & Gwendal Peizerat of France, and even then Marina Anisina originally came from and skated for the USSR/Russia. Furthermore, between the retirement of Towler & Ford in 1969 and the rise of Torvill & Dean, the USSR also dominated the event, winning the 1976 and 1980 Olympic titles. Hence, the USSR/Russia, have won 7 of the last 10 Olympic titles in the event

After 2006, the balance of power in Ice Dance began to shift decisively towards North America, with the rise of Virtue & Moir, and Davis & White.

So, what went wrong with Russian Ice Dance, and what can they do to start producing world and Olympic champions in the event again?

A major factor behind the decline in my view was the emigration of many top quality coaches from Russia during the 1990's and early 2000's, after the collapse of the USSR. During that same period, there was also a sharp decline in investment in the sport in Russia. However, after winning the right to host the 2014 Olympics, there has been a huge injection of money into the sport and there has also been improvements in the coaching system and the way the sport is organised. Will this turn matters around in Ice Dance for Russia?

[caseyedwards]

Abandon its traditional view of what ice dance is.

[robinhood]

After V/M and D/W retire the power will shift back to Russia, I think. They have too many good young couples and in Elena and Nikita they know they have a gem waiting to be polished. I dunno, after Sochi I think everything will be more clear

[judgejudy27]

Virtue & Moir are certain to retire after Sochi. Davis & White though might go until 2018, and if they do they might have a good shot (regardless of if they win in 2014 or not). Then again the judges might get tired of their dominance by then, particularly if they win the 2013 Worlds and 2014 Olympics over V&M as well, and start letting younger teams challenge them.

Beyond the D&W factor I think they have a good shot. I see the young Russian teams of today generally from now on being ahead of Weaver & Poje, and the other young Canadian and American teams. I guess it depends alot on new emerges.

[caseyedwards]

All the Russian teams have shown the possibility of being behind s/s, w/p, c/l and p/b only if they start really changing the whole aspect of program design will they not be 5 and 6 at a gpf and also challenge for world and Olympic medals.

[Vash01]

Changes in the rules of ice dance, particularly COP, also dropping the compulsory dance, Russian coaches moving to the west, have all contributed to the decline.

[Cherub721]

I have always wondered why Russia churns out so many Jr World Champs in ice dance and yet have comparatively less success in the seniors. Look at Bobrova & Soloviev, they won JWs one year after Virtue & Moir, and the best they've done at Worlds is 6th, which V&M got the year after winning juniors. I&K have done ok but even the Shibutanis had more success out of the gate.

It's sad, today's top Russian teams would have done no better than 5th or 6th at the Russian Nationals during the good old days.

[blue_idealist]

I don't think Russia will win the Olympic gold in 2018. Can they? Yes. Will they? Probably not. I think V/M will surely have retired but D/W will still be there. Teams like W/P, Chock/Bates and Gilles/Poirier are also on the rise. I could see a team like Sinitsina/Zhiganshin challenging for the podium.

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

D/W will still be there.

Oh gods no. That would make me give up on Ice Dance completely, forever.

I've been waiting for the day V&M and D&W retire since the beginning of the freaking quad.

[bek]

I don't think Russia will win the Olympic gold in 2018. Can they? Yes. Will they? Probably not. I think V/M will surely have retired but D/W will still be there. Teams like W/P, Chock/Bates and Gilles/Poirier are also on the rise. I could see a team like Sinitsina/Zhiganshin challenging for the podium.

I don't know why its assumed that one of the Russian teams won't be able to break through. I don't really think the teams you are mentioning have shown themselves to be that spectacular... And D/W are going to be that much older and I wouldn't be surprised if folks will be looking for something new....

I think the Russians have enough talent, its only a matter of time.

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

I don't know why its assumed that one of the Russian teams won't be able to break through. I don't really think the teams you are mentioning have shown themselves to be that spectacular...

Wishful thinking.

Too many people have gotten used to the NA dominance and don't wanna see those evil Russians get even minor medals ever again.

[caseyedwards]

I have always wondered why Russia churns out so many Jr World Champs in ice dance and yet have comparatively less success in the seniors. Look at Bobrova & Soloviev, they won JWs one year after Virtue & Moir, and the best they've done at Worlds is 6th, which V&M got the year after winning juniors. I&K have done ok but even the Shibutanis had more success out of the gate.

It's sad, today's top Russian teams would have done no better than 5th or 6th at the Russian Nationals during the good old days.

In the case of b/s they had a coach who was extremely complacent and did not adjust properly to seniors. You could say d/s and k/n made them number three but the coach was publicly disbelieving of technical elements called lower than 4. They are also prone to mistakes.

Zhulin coached I/k to world jr gold but was himself So busy he was barely coach in their sr debut and always liked to say he didn't want them working too hard too early so they would peak not at their first gp but worlds which he doesn't seem to realize may have created habits for I/k where they only really train to their fullest before euros worlds Whig means that during gp they don't really look that good.

So with these coaches you can see how so many good ones leaving for the us has damaged Russian ice dance

[Autumn_girl]

With young teams like I/K, S/Z and S/B I'd say Russian chances are very high. I don't think teams like Weaver/Poje, Chock/Bates, the Shibutanis and Gilles/Poirier are anywhere close to the V/M and D/W level, and for sure they are beatable for the young Russians + Bobrova/Soloviev.

[analia]

It's going to be a Russian quad next quad. Russia is gonna have 4 world junior champions in a roll. I/K, M/K, S/Z, and certainly S/B this year. They are all better than the NA junior teams. Aldridge/Eaton has been on the junior circuit forever and no one ever considers them a real threat due to obvious look issue. The only junior dance team with great potential is Papadakis/Cizeron.

Weaver/Poje isn't a young team. They are older than V/M, with injury issues too. No certainty they won't retire after Sochi. G/P is just meh, same with Chock/Bates. The Shibs are hopeless unless they grow out of their goofy schoolboy/girl style. It's quite obvious next quad will see a Russian podium sweep early on.

[analia]

It's going to be a Russian quad next quad. Russia is gonna have 4 world junior champions in a roll. I/K, M/K, S/Z, and certainly S/B this year. They are all better than the NA junior teams. Aldridge/Eaton has been on the junior circuit forever and no one ever considers them a real threat due to obvious look issue. The only junior dance team with great potential is Papadakis/Cizeron.

Weaver/Poje isn't a young team. They are older than V/M, with injury issues too. No certainty they won't retire after Sochi. G/P is just meh, same with Chock/Bates. The Shibs are hopeless unless they grow out of their goofy schoolboy/girl style. It's quite obvious next quad will see a Russian podium sweep early on.

[Aussie Willy]

Simple - give them some decent bloody music and programs instead of the crap that most of them are skating to these days.

[spikydurian]

I think they can. Russian has a strong tradition in figure skating. Their time will come. You cannot create champions overnight. Be patient.

[Cherub721]

Interesting that nobody has brought up C&L as a threat to the Russians or the NA. Will they be able to dominate?

[caseyedwards]

C/l is very possible. They narrowly fell behind both Russian teams at euros after beating both at gpf. And almost beat both at worlds 2012 and wtt. So euros was problematic for c/l in the sd and they couldn't recover but have great records for 2014 2018

[Ziggy]

What decline?

Russian Junior teams are dominating the Junior circuit and Russian senior teams just placed 1st, 2nd and 4th at Euros.