`Am not too fond of the USA' - Vaitsekhovskaya's interview with Leonova

[FunnyBut]

I recall a recent interview where Patrick complained about the lack of organic chicken and greens in Sochi and how awful the food was in general, saying it was too greasy and gave him the runs but that Russians were used to it, just like they were used to constantly being surrounded by cigarette smoke. He also compared the lodgings to the hotel from the Shining so it's not a purely Russian phenomenon

Patrick he does not let us down

[GarrAarghHrumph]

When Morozov's skaters travel to train, they either stay in hotels near the rink, or else in the apartment of a local skater/coach. And Morozov tends to move his folks fairly often, and without a lot of notice.

In addition, the food at most of the rinks where they train is not good. It's also typical snack bar fare - bad pizza, overdone chicken nuggets, soggy french fries, stale soft pretzels, etc. Some of the rinks do have a bit more variety re: healthier choices, but the snack bars aren't always even open when the elite freestyle sessions are going. Russian-style food certainly isn't normally something accessible very near any of their rinks. And there aren't always a lot of local options in terms of obtaining decent food, and they may or may not have the ability to cook for themselves, depending on where they are staying.

[rfisher]

BTW, the readers of Vaitsekhovskaya's blog commented on this interview being rather sad - Leonova doesn't mention anything positive, which is quite unusual to her normal `everything is great, I'm the best, let's go and kick some asses'

This is the impression I got from the article as well. I couldn't care less what she says about food or where she's training, but I had the distinct impression she isn't happy. If you read between the lines, it's clear that Morosov is devoting more attention to his sweetie and I suspect it makes it difficult for the other female skaters in the group. The males probably ignore it, but it would be harder for Leonova to do so. She knows she had a terrible season. She has to be very concerned about making the Olympic team next year. Sometimes the anxiety is all you can focus on. I actually felt sorry for her after reading the interview.

[BittyBug]

If there is one consistent theme from champions that I hear time and time again, it's the importance of discipline, a rigorous schedule and a predictable routine, but the Morosov camp seems to live like a band of gypsies that don't know where they'll be from one week to the next or what bed they'll be sleeping in, a free for all in which dancers and singles skaters duke it out on the same ice, vying for the attention of their coach. What stood out to me the most about this interview was Alena's comments about off-ice work - that they are left to themselves. Maybe something was lost in translation, but that seems extremely undisciplined for high-level athletes. The whole environment just sounds so haphazard; it's a wonder that any of his skaters do well.

[Loves_Shizuka]

I also get the impression Alena isn't very happy and her performance at the Russian Cup certainly lacked spark or confidence (unsurprising given her season)

I hope she's OK and is happy to be going to worlds. This is more important than what she think of french fries.

[Ziggy]

I was really surprised when Leonova said that she doesn't have an off-ice coach and is left to do physical conditioning on her own. At this level, training in Russia where you do generally have everything provided, it really doesn't seem acceptable.

And American food does suck (and not just american food, every type of food is worse in America because all the ingredients are heavily processed), plus you need to drive to places in New Jersey, which is inconvenient for foreigners. You would have to rent cars and stuff, just very complicated. She was completely right.

Probably the main reason why I could never live in the US. I either walk everywhere or use public transport.

[Cherub721]

If there is one consistent theme from champions that I hear time and time again, it's the importance of discipline, a rigorous schedule and a predictable routine, but the Morosov camp seems to live like a band of gypsies that don't know where they'll be from one week to the next or what bed they'll be sleeping in, a free for all in which dancers and singles skaters duke it out on the same ice, vying for the attention of their coach. What stood out to me the most about this interview was Alena's comments about off-ice work - that they are left to themselves. Maybe something was lost in translation, but that seems extremely undisciplined for high-level athletes. The whole environment just sounds so haphazard; it's a wonder that any of his skaters do well.

This. Maybe he should just stick to doing choreography so he can pop in and out of his skaters' home rinks. Has he ever explained the reason for this system? He has a young daughter... I don't understand why he wouldn't want to have a stable US training base.

[olympic]

...And American food does suck (and not just american food, every type of food is worse in America because all the ingredients are heavily processed), plus you need to drive to places in New Jersey, which is inconvenient for foreigners. You would have to rent cars and stuff, just very complicated. She was completely right.

I generally agree about the quality of American food and I am American. There are high quality items, but you have to really search for them and pay through the nose.

Probably the main reason why I could never live in the US. I either walk everywhere or use public transport.

Public transport is evil socialism, plus taking public transport is a sign in America that you are too lazy to work hard and save up to buy a car (that's a joke to all who don't know me)

[BittyBug]

Probably the main reason why I could never live in the US. I either walk everywhere or use public transport.

You might be shocked to find out that there are a actually people who don't own or use cars in the U.S. If you live in a major city like Chicago, NY, Washington DC, Philadelphia, etc., it's easier almost not to have a car than to have one.

[Vagabond]

Frankly, from what I read in Russian about Sochi, GPF organization etc - Chan sounds positive enough...

Any lynx links? Translations? Summaries?

Oh, a skater says something interesting, now hate him/her.

We don't hate her; we pick apart what she says. This is FSU.

And American food does suck (and not just american food, every type of food is worse in America because all the ingredients are heavily processed)

Perhaps, but Leonova was criticizing the food in Canada. And she didn't mind the borscht and veal she had there.

[morqet]

This. Maybe he should just stick to doing choreography so he can pop in and out of his skaters' home rinks. Has he ever explained the reason for this system? He has a young daughter... I don't understand why he wouldn't want to have a stable US training base.

As far as I'm aware, he's only usually in the US for a month or so pre-season - they're currently there for a pre-Worlds camp so there won't be issues with adjusting to timezones etc closer to the competition & did a similar thing in 2011 when it was still intended for Worlds to be in Japan - so there's not really a need for any permanent base. They have a full time base in Novogorsk & there everything is set up properly. That said, you would think that these camps would be planned for far in advance & suitable arrangements made so that there's no need for the nomadic living out of a suitcase lifestyle that other posters have described.

It must be difficult for his skaters to deal with the number of people in his training group - he must have been at every GP this season, surely? It seems like they'd only see him in weeks they are actually competing, as the rest of the time he'd be in another country with other skaters. I remember Miki Ando travelled with him to TEB in 2010 and trained at the Bercy rink during the competition, but that's not ideal and probably not even financially possible for most skaters.

[Ziggy]

You might be shocked to find out that there are a actually people who don't own or use cars in the U.S. If you live in a major city like Chicago, NY, Washington DC, Philadelphia, etc., it's easier almost not to have a car than to have one.

Yes but that's only if you live inside a big city.

[ioana]

Yes but that's only if you live inside a big city.

It didn't seem like Leonova bothered to make that distinction, i.e. "from what I've seen in New Jersey." Then again, she sounded downright depressed overall, so I'm not surprised her NJ living arrangements were no exception to the tone she set in the rest of the interview.

[MacMadame]

Yes but that's only if you live inside a big city.

And Hawaii.

Actually, when I lived on a Rutgers campus in NJ, we didn't have a car either. It was more inconvenient than not having a car in NYC but we managed because lots of students don't have cars so there was public transportation.

But other places I've lived, it would be impossible to get around without a car.

[Dave of the North]

And American food does suck (and not just american food, every type of food is worse in America because all the ingredients are heavily processed), .

Must be from the lack of horsemeat.

[antmanb]

Must be from the lack of horsemeat.

Findus horsemeat lasagne anyone? To be fair though, the horsemeat has only shown up in processed crap in Europe (so far anyway).

[jeffisjeff]

Well, just wait until the US meat inspectors are furloughed!

[milanessa]

Yes but that's only if you live inside a big city.

Yeah, like it's any different in Europe. I lived in a small village in England and we got one bus a day to go into town to shop/work. Didn't fit your schedule? Tough. Don't you live in a city?

[Iceman]

When Morozov's skaters travel to train, they either stay in hotels near the rink, or else in the apartment of a local skater/coach. And Morozov tends to move his folks fairly often, and without a lot of notice.

In addition, the food at most of the rinks where they train is not good. It's also typical snack bar fare - bad pizza, overdone chicken nuggets, soggy french fries, stale soft pretzels, etc. Some of the rinks do have a bit more variety re: healthier choices, but the snack bars aren't always even open when the elite freestyle sessions are going. Russian-style food certainly isn't normally something accessible very near any of their rinks. And there aren't always a lot of local options in terms of obtaining decent food, and they may or may not have the ability to cook for themselves, depending on where they are staying.

Can't they have a caterer bring in the kinds of food they want?

[milanessa]

Can't they have a caterer bring in the kinds of food they want?

Out of Morozov's booze money?