From Russia with love [#29]: Spring 2018 and beyond

[Mad for Skating]

LOL 100lbs? I was thinking more 85-90....

I was worried it was closer to 85-90 too, I just said 100 because it was a nice even number. Basically, she's nowhere near overweight.

So now Zagitova is getting sh!t because she dared to eat a gram of ice cream after her Olympic win?

Maybe needs to take her own eating advice, and learn that puberty IS a thing, way to treat your Olympic champ

No offense to TAT but I think it's been a long time since she was Alina's size...

That is NOT what Tarasova said. She used "incomplete sentence" which was translated INCORRECTLY.
Here is the original article: https://www.championat.com/other/ne...osla-na-tri-santimetra-nado-pomenshe-est.html

This is what Tarasova said (she was quoting Zagitova, what Zagitova said about "puberty and eating").
"После Олимпийских игр Загитова выросла на три сантиметра. Она этого не понимает. Она сама говорит, что никакого пубертата нет, надо поменьше есть. Нет, пубертат есть, он вот так ломает".

TAT (about Zagitova): After the Olympics Zagitova grew 3 cm. She has not yet realized it (the impact of it). She herself (quoting Zagitova) said that "there is not such thing as (an effect of) puberty, just watch what you eat". (now TAT speaking her own words): No! there is such thing as "affect of puberty", and it can break you just like that."

It is Zagitova herself who said "Puberty is imaginary. Just watch what goes into your mouth, and eat less".
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...rtat-eto-vydumki-zakryt-rot-i-ne-est-1386749/

That's even more worrisome. I'm afraid Eteri is behind this. Someone (most likely with a perm and a fancy coat) is clearly putting these ideas in her head. But we knew this already...

I don't like hearing that at all. I hope she has some sane adult around to talk sense into her. I'd like to think Eteri learned something from what happened to Julia, but I don't have a good feeling about it.

Agree. But for Eteri it's not a matter of skaters' health, as long as she gets champions. If something goes wrong, she just says the kid has anorexia and washes her hands clean...

Well that's with her skates of course...

Haha.

 

[kinoriH]

I bet Julia is watching all this drama with a little smile on her face.

 

[Vash01]

Who would've thought Russia would medal in men's at this Worlds, but not in ladies??

I must say, I'm becoming a fan of Kolyada. In this new-look Worlds, without the longtime big 3 of Hanyu, Chan, and Fernandez present, Kolyada really stood out with his extension, line, and basic skating quality. Which, to be frank, is miles ahead of some of the more hyped quad phenoms. Potential rules changes this year could also work in Kolyada's favor to make him a real contender in years to come. Although he's GOT to become more consistent. (I'm not sure his inconsistency is due to quads--some skaters are just inconsistent no matter what level of content they're attempting.)

I only got to see part of Aliev's long program so far, but I like him too.

I have liked Kolyada for quite sometime. After his two clean performances at the 2016 worlds I became a fan, but he became inconsistent after that. It frustrates me because he is such a complete skater, unlike Chen who has only quads. Jin has at least worked on his presentation. I would really like to see programs that are not so heavy on quads being rewarded. Even then, Kolyada will do better only if he achieves some consistency. He has a lot of personality, dance ability, extensions, basic skating skills. Some skaters just can't be consistent.

 

[Ka3sha]

Stolbova/Klimov are staying for a year and after that will decide if they are going to continue
http://www.sport-express.ru/figure-skating/news/sleduyuschiy-sezon-tochno-otkataemsya-stolbova-i-klimov-prodolzhat-kareru-1388163/

 

[Mayra]

I bet Julia is watching all this drama with a little smile on her face.

I can't imagine that Julia is the kind of person to take glee or satisfaction in the misfortune of others. Particularly that of a 15 year old.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I bet Julia is watching all this drama with a little smile on her face.

I can't imagine that Julia is the kind of person to take glee or satisfaction in the misfortune of others. Particularly that of a 15 year old.

Julia recently said about the Olympic results (paraphrasing): "It is no secret i wanted Alina to win, but after watching Evegniya's FS, how she performed and how much of her self she put into it, my heart went out to her. I thought she would be in first place".

At the time when Julia skated, it was Evgeniya who was right behind her, and it is reasonable to think she thinks of her as a rival, rather than Alina, thus Julia was cheering for Alina. Plus "the drama" about not eating and weight is media's invention..

 

[Darkverse]

I read a couple of references about Kolyada/Konstantinova's coach saying that they don't practice much... I don't know if those were being taken out of context or not... can anyone explain?

I read all of Chebotareva's interviews and I have not seen anything of the sort and it does not sound like something she'd say. Where does this come from?

 

[Ka3sha]

I read a couple of references about Kolyada/Konstantinova's coach saying that they don't practice much... I don't know if those were being taken out of context or not... can anyone explain?

Well, if you compare them with girls from Tutberidze’s group, when yes, all other skaters don’t practice much

As far as I know, there were some problems with ice time in ‘Figure Skating Academy’ (Chebotareva and Rukavitsin work there), but those problems were solved few years ago

 

[Darkverse]

There is a phrase from a video interview of Kolyada's: "I am a lazy person... actually, athletes are some of the laziest people in the world", which was stripped of context to begin with (he must have explained exactly in what way athletes are lazy but they cut it and a lot of other stuff). But after the Olympics even the second part of that phrase was cut off and all that was shown was "I am a lazy person", i.e. Kolyada doesn't work hard and that's why he did badly. This is how rumours start.

 

[Cherub721]

I read all of Chebotareva's interviews and I have not seen anything of the sort and it does not sound like something she'd say. Where does this come from?

I am not sure. Sorry. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought it up. I found one of the comments that I had in mind, which I thought was posted here, but was actually posted on another forum during the Worlds Ladies LP: "Chebotareva are you still proud that your students don't train hard?"

 

[Ka3sha]

Very short interview with Evgenia in Russian Vogue, beautiful photos inside
https://vogue.ru/peopleparties/news/zhenya_medvedeva_esli_tyazhelo_delay_eshche_bolshe/

 

[Tinami Amori]

....but was actually posted on another forum during the Worlds Ladies LP: "Chebotareva are you still proud that your students don't train hard?"

I don't know what was posted on "other forums". In summary, Chebotareva's position (and comments) on Kolyada's performances @ Olys and Worlds has pretty much been this (I can't list 100 articles and interviews all in Russian): Kolyada does not need "harder training", he needs to work on his "mental toughness and approach" or in other words "psychological steadiness/readiness".

Quote fr Chebotareva: Тренер Коляды: "Мише не хватило психологической подготовки"

 

[Darkverse]

I don't know what was posted on "other forums". In summary, Chebotareva's position (and comments) on Kolyada's performances @ Olys and Worlds has pretty much been this (I can't list 100 articles and interviews all in Russian): Kolyada does not need "harder training", he needs to work on his "mental toughness and approach" or in other words "psychological steadiness/readiness".

Quote fr Chebotareva: Тренер Коляды: "Мише не хватило психологической подготовки"

Considering that Kolyada was jumping great starting from the camp in Japan and up to the official practice the day before the team event, she does have a point.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Considering that Kolyada was jumping great starting from the camp in Japan and up to the official practice the day before the team event, she does have a point.

I am glad she has a point, and now what will she and he do about it? realizing is not enough....

 

[jlai]

The way that I heard it, it was that she was kind of bragging that they don't need to practice much, which sounds pretty strange so I wanted to know more.
I love the boy, but if he didn't manage to medal in this splatfest, I was going to say the federation should just retire him forever.

Thing is the guy only has one quad toe in his program up to 20 years of age. You can't just add two more quads in your program and expect to be suddently consistent in those too. He has a better shot at clean with 2 quad toes which is like a Piddy Chan program basically. Definitely in the mix for a medal with just two quad toes. But he needs to be clean.

 

[Darkverse]

I am glad she has a point, and now what will she and he do about it? realizing is not enough....

A lot of work to do with a psychologist there. And I honestly wish Chebotareva would get one for herself as well, her nerves do not seem to be any steadier than her students' and she is still not sufficiently mentally prepared to work at such a high level.

 

[Tinami Amori]

A lot of work to do with a psychologist there. And I honestly wish Chebotareva would get one for herself as well, her nerves do not seem to be any steadier than her students' and she is still not sufficiently mentally prepared to work at such a high level.

possible... (i have not followed her teaching techniques and methods, so i don't know).

 

[Taso]

A lot of work to do with a psychologist there. And I honestly wish Chebotareva would get one for herself as well, her nerves do not seem to be any steadier than her students' and she is still not sufficiently mentally prepared to work at such a high level.

I've been thinking the same. I don't see why either Kolyada or Konstantinova are so erratic, they've got the goods and I really like both of them a lot of skaters but I'm fried rooting for them at this point

 

[Marco]

Russian ladies actually barely retained 3 spots for next year. 4 years ago, Lipnitskaya started to lose jumps right around the Olympics too. She nailed the team event but made mistakes at both the individual event and Worlds, and then basically never recovered. Here's hoping better fate for Zagitova. Too bad Tsurskaya didn't place high enough to be the 1st alternate and be sent to Worlds when Evgenia withdrew. Don't know which of the young phenoms will br age eligible next season but I know I will keep my eyes on Kostornaya either way.

Delighted by both Kolyada and Aliev. I much prefer Aliev's understated elegant style but Kolyada does have better basics on the ice. Here's hoping he can have better programs next season and learn to use less of her arms / use them in more meaningful and musical ways.

 

[Sylvia]

Don't know which of the young phenoms will br age eligible next season

There are 3 in the top 17 -- noted below -- who will have to remain junior internationally (they will be old enough for ISU senior competitions in 2019-20).

ISU Season Best Totals list after 2018 Worlds:

1 239.57 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018 23.02.2018
2 238.26 Evgenia MEDVEDEVA RUS XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018 23.02.2018
4 225.52 Alexandra TRUSOVA RUS ISU World Junior Championships 2018 10.03.2018 (14 in June)
7 216.28 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS ISU Grand Prix Final 2017/18 09.12.2017
11 210.19 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS ISU GP NHK Trophy 2017 12.11.2017
12 207.39 Alena KOSTORNAIA RUS ISU World Junior Championships 2018 10.03.2018 (age 14; 15 in August)
13 206.82 Elena RADIONOVA RUS ISU GP Audi Cup of China 2017 05.11.2017
16 199.68 Stanislava KONSTANTINOVA RUS ISU CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 2017 08.12.2017
17 199.64 Anastasia TARAKANOVA RUS ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2017/18 09.12.2017 (will be 14 in April)
21 196.68 Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA RUS ISU GP Audi Cup of China 2017 05.11.2017
22 196.55 Daria PANENKOVA RUS ISU JGP Baltic Cup 2017 06.10.2017
29 192.19 Sofia SAMODUROVA RUS ISU JGP Egna Neumarkt 2017 14.10.2017
30 190.95 Alena LEONOVA RUS ISU GP NHK Trophy 2017 12.11.2017
32 189.75 Serafima SAKHANOVICH RUS ISU GP Skate America 2017 26.11.2017
36 185.09 Valeriia MIKHAILOVA RUS ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2017 21.10.2017
42 181.43 Anastasiia GULIAKOVA RUS ISU JGP Brisbane 2017 26.08.2017
44 180.33 Alisa FEDICHKINA RUS ISU CS Tallinn Trophy 2017 24.11.2017

 

[Dobre]

I just means s/b truly are a nothing team!

What Stepanova & Bukin are is a team that . . .

1. Defeated Gilles & Poirier at Rostelecom.
2. Defeated Weaver & Poje at Trophee de France.
3. Defeated Cappellini & Lanotte at Europeans.
4. Defeated Bobrova & Soloviev in the SD at Europeans.
5. Competed consistently enough over the past four years to outlast and/or defeat Olympic bronze medalists (Ilinykh & Katsalapov), Olympic competitors (Sinitsina & Zhiganshin), National champions and Grand Prix Finalists (Ilinykh & Zhiganshin), National silver medalists (Sinitsina & Katsalapov), 2015 Worlds 8th place finishers (Monko & Khaliavin), and 2015 Junior World Champions (Yanovskaya & Mozgov).
6. Missed out on an Olympic dream for reasons we may never know.
7. Showed up at Worlds and did their best against a slew of U.S., Canadian, Italian, and French athletes in a competition held in Italy with a Canadian, U.S, & French technical panel.

S&B had a great season. Kudos to Zagorsky & Guerreiro for a great Worlds. But kudos to Stepanova & Bukin for scratching their way to the top of the Russian ice dance field. I think it is impossible to read the future of Russian dance. Always so many talented athletes & so many competitive young teams. But from what I have seen over the past four years, S&B have the dedication, cool heads, competitive guts, and commitment to make it in this discipline. Hope I am right.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Russian ladies actually barely retained 3 spots for next year. 4 years ago, Lipnitskaya started to lose jumps right around the Olympics too.
.... Here's hoping better fate for Zagitova.

Zagitova went on a did all her 3x and combos in the Gala. Her meltdown is not about weight. It is too bad that media misquoted ZAG, and then TAT misquoted media's comments about ZAG, and then media misquoted TAT.... In the last interview yesterday, Zag said how she felt just before FS (paraphrasing her comments from 3 diff. interviews): i was in a trans, as if i fell asleep. i am usually slightly nervous before i skate, but this time i felt nothing, was numb, and it worried me, i was suddenly in another reality, a dream.

 

[caseyedwards]

What Stepanova & Bukin are is a team that . . .

1. Defeated Gilles & Poirier at Rostelecom.
2. Defeated Weaver & Poje at Trophee de France.
3. Defeated Cappellini & Lanotte at Europeans.
4. Defeated Bobrova & Soloviev in the SD at Europeans.
5. Competed consistently enough over the past four years to outlast and/or defeat Olympic bronze medalists (Ilinykh & Katsalapov), Olympic competitors (Sinitsina & Zhiganshin), National champions and Grand Prix Finalists (Ilinykh & Zhiganshin), National silver medalists (Sinitsina & Katsalapov), 2015 Worlds 8th place finishers (Monko & Khaliavin), and 2015 Junior World Champions (Yanovskaya & Mozgov).
6. Missed out on an Olympic dream for reasons we may never know.
7. Showed up at Worlds and did their best against a slew of U.S., Canadian, Italian, and French athletes in a competition held in Italy with a Canadian, U.S, & French technical panel.

S&B had a great season. Kudos to Zagorsky & Guerreiro for a great Worlds. But kudos to Stepanova & Bukin for scratching their way to the top of the Russian ice dance field. I think it is impossible to read the future of Russian dance. Always so many talented athletes & so many competitive young teams. But from what I have seen over the past four years, S&B have the dedication, cool heads, competitive guts, and commitment to make it in this discipline. Hope I am right.

Well based on all the teams you mention getting to the top of the Russian ice dance field is not very impressive at all! I mean outlasting Monko/khalavian or yanakovskaya/mozgov so Its not like it’s grishuk/platov, usova/zhulin, krylova/osianakov, navka/kostomarov or lobacheva /averbukh, even khoklova/ novitski or domnina /Shabalin.

Great season for a Russian team? Russian team likely heading to be national champions? Russian champions being celebrated for beating Gilles Poirier once? That is just such a demonstration of having thrown away any expectation of greatness from a major Russian ice dance team.

 

[Darkverse]

possible... (i have not followed her teaching techniques and methods, so i don't know).

It's not the teaching techniques that are the problem, it is that she very obviously gets nervous before competitions and is visibly affected by her students' bad results. Someone who is freaking out over their mistakes does not need their coach to also behave like the sky has fallen and make them feel extra guilty about letting the coach down. I think an extensive experience of major competitions with their ups and down helps a coach put things in perspective and help their students put things in perspective, both before and after their skates. Of course, one has to acquire that experience somehow, it doesn't just appear.

 

[DimaToe]

Sounds like Chebotareva would fit in nicely as a coach for the U.S. she does seem to know what she’s doing though so maybe trying to find another coach to add to her team that does the traveling and acts as the “rock” of the coaching team might be of interest to her.

 

[Ka3sha]

Anna Pogorilaya is back on the ice, she hadn’t trained for six months but already had two practice sessions in last few days. Anna also said that she wants to continue skating and right now it looks like she will be able to do it, but she needs more time. If she stays, she will keep her Swan Lake LP for the next season
https://m.championat.com/news/sport/other/3386569/

 

[taz'smum]

Kudos to Zagorsky & Guerreiro for a great Worlds.

 

[Vash01]

Stolbova/Klimov are staying for a year and after that will decide if they are going to continue
http://www.sport-express.ru/figure-skating/news/sleduyuschiy-sezon-tochno-otkataemsya-stolbova-i-klimov-prodolzhat-kareru-1388163/

All I want for them is good health, and no problems on or of the ice. Let the rest take care of it.

 

[Loves_Shizuka]

So pleased Stolbova/Klimov and Pogorilaya want to continue. I can hope for at least one more season watching them.

Al the best to them, health and skating

 

[nuge]

Anna Pogorilaya is back on the ice, she hadn’t trained for six months but already had two practice sessions in last few days.
https://m.championat.com/news/sport/other/3386569/

Love Pogorilaya so glad she's continuing.Can someone refresh my memory please? When was her last competition?