Another Rafael Arutyunyan interview

[rhapsody]

I have a feeling this is about Hanyu and that the lack of discussion or interest in Orser means we're all ignoring Orser, which is a roundabout way of ignoring Hanyu and you're really upset about that.

This was my train of thinking.

 

[Meoima]

I have a feeling this is about Hanyu and that the lack of discussion or interest in Orser means we're all ignoring Orser, which is a roundabout way of ignoring Hanyu and you're really upset about that.

As a Hanyu's fan, I actually find it so relaxing people here ignore him. I like this forum because of that to be honest. Not many people gush about Hanyu here so I find it peaceful.
Anyway, once people talk about Hanyu in the Western media, they are mostly be amused by his love for Pooh bear and then that's all. Because he is not European and not American so there is not much to PR, no appeal to these countries anyway.

So I am not sure why you think @Fairuza think as you think of her. The reality is, she has a whole big forum to talk about Hanyu whenever she wants.

I guess the main reason Orser's interviews do not get much attention is that he does not speak up dramas so there is not much to dramatize about.

Unlike Rafael, he has a lot of dramas to talk about. People are drawn to dramas (I am the same), it is natural.

 

[Meoima]

Oh BTW, Marin Honda will move to Rafael is the latest rumor... Rafael will have a busy schedule next season.

 

[nimi]

Oh BTW, Marin Honda will move to Rafael is the latest rumor... Rafael will have a busy schedule next season.

OTOH it's practically certain that Adam is retiring from competition and pretty likely that Ashley does the same, too. So even if the rumor about Marin turns out to be correct and not just a rumor, the number of top level competitors in his camp might stay pretty much the same for the next season.

 

[whiteskates]

I love all Raf interviews because he speaks his mind. I don't see why people feel that being honest equals being arrogant. Sugarcoating answers, being overly cautious about what you say and saying what people want to hear is boring which is why his outspokenness and candour makes the interviews interesting.

 

[berthesghost]

Telling your student honestly that you think her programs are crap is one thing. But in a judged sport where perception is reality and coaches also act as emesaries promoting their students to the judges, publicly calling your student’s programs crap is just shooting yourself in the foot. But this also seemed like an after the fact comment as in “don’t blame me for her bad season last year, it was all her. I told her those programs were crap” which comes off as self-serving. Honesty is not always the best policy.

While his interviews are always refreshing, the “arrogance” vibe isn’t because he’s honest. It’s more the “my way or the highway” attitude to coaching he often espouses that makes him seem big headed. The flip side of that is it’s quite common attitude for top coaches and I’m not convinced it’s all bad. But honesty often does hurt feelings so I’m sure he’s come to terms with a life long habit of offending people with his bluntness.

 

[el henry]

Ah, Raf, he never fails to amuse....
The geater with the heater, the big boss with the secret sauce

I don't see how his interviews can be treated as some sort of level-headed, just telling it like it T-I-S, tis, realism, but I'll never convince people who think otherwise and they'll never convince me that's what he is.

Amusing though he may be....

 

[quiqie]

Brian Orser sure knows how to do dramas. I remember a week in August spent in the Kim/Orser split threads on FSU that I’ll never get back.

 

[Fairuza]

oh wow. He made you spend that week on that drama, did he now?

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

Ah, Raf, he never fails to amuse....
The geater with the heater, the big boss with the secret sauce

OT be damned, I appreciate a good Jerry Blavat reference and this needs to be noted.

 

[kwanfan1818]

If he was really "My way or the highway," he would never have taken Chen back so easily after he dropped Arutunian temporarily for Zoueva. Chen would have known their relationship was over after changing his jump layout in the Olympic SP and bombing. RA would have kicked Wagner out of the rink when she stopped focusing on her training and/or got to the point where her options were more limited as she aged. Plus her refrains of "Oh, Raf " would have gotten her nowhere fast.

He, in fact, seems to be of the "You'll do what you do, realize you were wrong, learn something and admit it." At least at the elite level. He sounds more like a parent than "Papa" Mishin.

 

[el henry]

OT be damned, I appreciate a good Jerry Blavat reference and this needs to be noted.

Wow, someone got it! And to circle back, Raf’s patter really does remind me of Jerry’s; May he have as long a career

 

[berthesghost]

If he was really "My way or the highway," he would never have taken Chen back so easily after he dropped Arutunian temporarily for Zoueva. Chen would have known their relationship was over after changing his jump layout in the Olympic SP and bombing. RA would have kicked Wagner out of the rink when she stopped focusing on her training and/or got to the point where her options were more limited as she aged. Plus her refrains of "Oh, Raf " would have gotten her nowhere fast.

He, in fact, seems to be of the "You'll do what you do, realize you were wrong, learn something and admit it." At least at the elite level. He sounds more like a parent than "Papa" Mishin.

ITA

I guess I just meant his “told you so” attitude in these interviews. Weather he lets them make their own mistakes or not, it’s still a “father knows best” attitude he gives off in these interviews, hence how some find him “arrogant”. I don’t, but I could see how others could.

 

[suki]

Ah, Raf, he never fails to amuse....
The geater with the heater, the big boss with the secret sauce

Great reference to one of my favorite DJs, the ageless Jerry Blavat. Are you still on a Super Bowl high, el Henry? Philly rules

 

[Bellanca]

I love how Rafael interrupts the test skater sugary spice review to give his real one.

Yeah, that’s the best part. Raf needs to do that more often, keep reminding USFS, in his own way, they are viewing everything through rose-colored glasses - too sensitive, excessively sentimental, hesitant to provide constructive feedback, etc. all to a fault and particularly as it pertains to specific athletes. This is one of many reasons the U.S. programs find themselves lagging behind the rest of the world.

Always enjoy Rafael Arutyunyan interviews, a breath of fresh air.

Raf should definitely start charging $50.00!

 

[VGThuy]

So since everything is so nice at Champ's Camp, then that must mean the programs skaters are told to change either were really bad OR the people doing the talking must have really strange taste. Also, Raf is the one who encouraged Ashley to try Moulin Rouge again, right? I mean he did it in a way where he didn't tell her and just allowed her to decide for herself, but he wasn't discouraging of it at all. Maybe somebody should have told Raf to take a stronger stand against the idea of Ashley doing MR a third time because there would be no way a performer like her wouldn't have gotten bored of it herself during the season.

 

[IceAlisa]

So since everything is so nice at Champ's Camp, then that must mean the programs skaters are told to change either were really bad OR the people doing the talking must have really strange taste. Also, Raf is the one who encouraged Ashley to try Moulin Rouge again, right? I mean he did it in a way where he didn't tell her and just allowed her to decide for herself, but he wasn't discouraging of it at all. Maybe somebody should have told Raf to take a stronger stand against the idea of Ashley doing MR a third time because there would be no way a performer like her wouldn't have gotten bored of it herself during the season.

I think here he was talking about the season before, so it's the other two programs we are all trying to forget. But yes, it appears the return of MR was his idea, from other sources and a bad one at that.

 

[Meoima]

Brian Orser sure knows how to do dramas. I remember a week in August spent in the Kim/Orser split threads on FSU that I’ll never get back.

I think more like it’s more Orser doesn’t want drama like that anymore. People change in time.

 

[Wyliefan]

Raf should definitely start charging $50.00!

He charges less than I expected! I pay only a little more than that for a piano lesson (granted, it's a 45-minute piano lesson, but still) and I'm a rank amateur.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I think Raf comes across as very arrogant in these interviews - for example, in stating that he fires skaters, skaters don't fire him. Perhaps this may be true and he is in much demand, but even so, I think it's arrogant.

I don't think he is arrogant. I think he knows his worth, his talents, his abilities, and sees good results of his work. He is worth every penny and reached a POWERFUL position where he determine his own path, style of work, and ability to select students relatively on his terms. That's what happens when one has talent and works hard, one gets to choose and set rules of his work and business. Fortunately, Rafik grew up in "all equalizing soviet society", that often put mediocrity and great talent on the same plank and in the same minimal reward system, but it did not break him, or his sense of ego and pride in accomplishments and rewards. Go Rafik! you earned it ALL.

Raf should definitely start charging $50.00!

.. that's for 20 minutes (@ 150 USD/hr).... eah... I hope he charges $ 200...

 

[Meoima]

It’s official that Marin Honda will move to Rafael https://twitter.com/nikkansports/status/979450379107618817?s=20

 

[Sylvia]

The article ( https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/201803290000865.html ) also mentions that Marin's older brother, Taichi Honda, 19, plans to relocate to train with Arutunian as well. He finished 15th in senior at Nationals this past December.

 

[el henry]

Great reference to one of my favorite DJs, the ageless Jerry Blavat. Are you still on a Super Bowl high, el Henry? Philly rules

I changed avatars in the two weeks before the Super Bowl, fully expecting to change back after my heart was broken yet one more time... and then YOWZA! So it stays until the start of the new season.

It’s also useful for skating comments, whenever someone wants to go on and on about how this a sport, sport, sport or I just don’t understand real, tough-love, unvarnished, truthful comments (I guess the kind Raf would give if he ever passed a mirror without kissing it), I can just say, hey, check the avatar

 

[Eeyora1]

I think here he was talking about the season before, so it's the other two programs we are all trying to forget. But yes, it appears the return of MR was his idea, from other sources and a bad one at that.

Maybe he was referring to “The Feeling Begins” which Ashley was going to use and it supposedly didn’t work and she went with Muse.

 

[IceAlisa]

Can't wait to see the results of Marin's work with Rafael.

 

[canbelto]

Hmm Raf might sound arrogant but I have a feeling he might have a softer side when he actually coaches. He's taken on some very "difficult" students and they've stayed with him for a long time so ...

He certainly has a better track record with "difficult' skaters than, say, Frank Carroll ...

 

[suki]

I changed avatars in the two weeks before the Super Bowl, fully expecting to change back after my heart was broken yet one more time... and then YOWZA! So it stays until the start of the new season.

It’s also useful for skating comments, whenever someone wants to go on and on about how this a sport, sport, sport or I just don’t understand real, tough-love, unvarnished, truthful comments (I guess the kind Raf would give if he ever passed a mirror without kissing it), I can just say, hey, check the avatar

Wow, el henry. You have nerves of steel. I couldn't watch the local news in the run up to the Super Bowl. I thought I would jinx it.

You are right about the avatar. No one dares to mess with a Philly fan.

 

[DreamSkates]

Good for Raf that he can speak what he thinks about a program rather than being overly courteous to be kind. How can a skater improve if he/she thinks all is good?

 

[VGThuy]

The skaters who have stayed with Raf seem to really like him and his bluntness. I think they know he never has malicious intent and is only trying to get the best he can out of them. He also doesn't seem abusive or anything as it seems he allows his skaters to learn from their mistakes by allowing them to make mistakes and then says his version of "I told you so" later. I bet some times skaters say it back at him when it works out well for them. I know Adam and Raf have sort of personal relationship outside the rink as well as Adam mentioned living in Raf's basement and Raf co-signing for his car. At least I remember reading that.

Raf also learns from his mistakes and is open about it too as he said about Mao Asada and that whole 2007-2008 season and how sorry he was about not understanding her situation at the time. He also said Mao still comes up to him (or did when she competed) and greets him and thanks him still.

I also think Kwan really enjoyed being with him too even though it was the waning years of her career. You could sort of see they had a good working relationship and he understood that she couldn't always practice due to her pain.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Ah, Raf, he never fails to amuse....
The geater with the heater, the big boss with the secret sauce

oh, i don't get "Blavat" vibes from Rafik. Blavat is a combo of Jerry Lewis and Frank Sinatra.
Rafik, if you see him in person or live, talks and gesticulates like a Mediterranean passionate eager but loving father, a combo of Zorba and Tveya. His words on paper and in person create different impression...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72napY-7Vtg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGA-zC-qiVA