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

[MAXSwagg]

Moser said she was going to be pretty much out of coaching this season. Is Trankov working at her rink or is he elsewhere? I'm at the idea of Stolbova/Klimov moving to him as well. He and Fedor are BFFs, but he and Ksenia are most definitely not.

I guess this also means Robin is out of Russia?

Those things are exaggerated by the media. Ksenia and Max get along okay.

 

[TAHbKA]

Am still curious where the coaching genious Stas Morozov. Is he with Moskvina?

 

[hanca]

Am still curious where the coaching genious Stas Morozov. Is he with Moskvina?

I am not sure whether he is a coaching genius. He was successful with Volosozhar/Trankov, but since then he had some juniors who never got anywhere, and some seniors skating for different country and they also were not that great. If I recall correctly, he was coaching the Croatian pair?

ETA: actually, it was Larionov who coached the Croatian pair. But Morozov had some juniors, in the past Gainedtinova/Alexeev, this season Akopova/Kuznetsov...and it never goes anywhere.

 

[babayaga]

I am not sure whether he is a coaching genius. He was successful with Volosozhar/Trankov, but since then he had some juniors who never got anywhere, and some seniors skating for different country and they also were not that great. If I recall correctly, he was coaching the Croatian pair?

ETA: actually, it was Larionov who coached the Croatian pair. But Morozov had some juniors, in the past Gainedtinova/Alexeev, this season Akopova/Kuznetsov...and it never goes anywhere.

I believe he was initially coaching Tarasova/Morozov when they were still juniors and they developed their basic skills under him. In particular, huge twists and throws for both V/T and T/M are his work. I hope he will have another promising team soon.

 

[Marco]

Switching to Max is not going to help them with their taste in music and programs...

 

[whiteskates]

Much as I would love looking at Trankov standing by the boards, his coaching experience is none as far as I know and the FS he made for T/M to "Hallo" was NOT good. I hope he hires a good choreographer who can give them something extra which is what they need.

 

[TAHbKA]

I am not sure whether he is a coaching genius. He was successful with Volosozhar/Trankov, but since then he had some juniors who never got anywhere, and some seniors skating for different country and they also were not that great. If I recall correctly, he was coaching the Croatian pair?

ETA: actually, it was Larionov who coached the Croatian pair. But Morozov had some juniors, in the past Gainedtinova/Alexeev, this season Akopova/Kuznetsov...and it never goes anywhere.

Savchenko, Volosozhar, Volosozhar/Trankov, James/Cipres split twist, Tarasova/Morozov splits and throws... Yes, a coaching technique genios.

 

[Ka3sha]

Am still curious where the coaching genious Stas Morozov. Is he with Moskvina?

Very likely.
There wasn’t any official confirmation about the move, but he was seen n few videos with Moskvina students (working on quad twist with Boikova/Kovlovsky)

 

[Finnice]

Tarasova/Morozov moved to Trankov
https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180515/1136949071.html

(too early, it’s not an official information - just according to the “source, who is close to the team” )

and. Interesting how it will be.

 

[nuge]

What next P/C going to train with Scott Moir

 

[hanca]

Savchenko, Volosozhar, Volosozhar/Trankov, James/Cipres split twist, Tarasova/Morozov splits and throws... Yes, a coaching technique genios.

I agree that some elemenets are great and the skaters who had him definitely fixed those elements, but one needs much more to win than to be able to do a few elements. He didn’t manage to get any of his juniors anywhere. One can argue that Volosozhar/Trankov didn’t need that much work; they had trouble with an element or two because of a different technique, but they were not starting from zero like many juniors do. If he was a coach genius, he would manage to take two singles skaters and make a junior worlds medallist from them within a year, same as Boikova/Kozlovski’s coach managed.

 

[zebraswan]

Nina confirmed that Max is now T/M's coach. As for the programs, I think they are old enough to start taking some responsibility for that...do you see S/K passively sitting around having no say in what they skate to? Absolutely not. I think they just fundamentally have no charisma or spark together and no real style of their own, so it can't be easy to find the right vehicle for them.

https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136982582.html

edit: Max says Robin will still handle the technical aspect of training, and he will "take on the whole bulk of the choreography, load distribution, PFD, etc." Hahaha...

https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136983880.html

I did not like the "Hello" program, but Sarabande Suite was not so bad. Give the man a chance...how much worse can he be? Anyway, I'm glad Robin will still be involved.

 

[barbarafan]

Nina confirmed that Max is now T/M's coach. As for the programs, I think they are old enough to start taking some responsibility for that...do you see S/K passively sitting around having no say in what they skate to? Absolutely not. I think they just fundamentally have no charisma or spark together and no real style of their own, so it can't be easy to find the right vehicle for them.

https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136982582.html

mmm maybe John Kerr...... as long as someone else does their costumes....You don't get extra pts for wedgies and it is such a cringe....especially with the classy camera men who do closeups on lifts. They are a wonderful team. Give them the tools.

 

[reut]

Moser said she was going to be pretty much out of coaching this season. Is Trankov working at her rink or is he elsewhere? I'm at the idea of Stolbova/Klimov moving to him as well. He and Fedor are BFFs, but he and Ksenia are most definitely not.

I guess this also means Robin is out of Russia?

Based on this interview which was published just now he will stay as their technical coach:
https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136983880.html

Mozer also "doesn't leave them":
https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136982670.html
(interestingly enough Ksenia/Fedor are not mentioned there at all)

ETA: But they are mentioned here:
https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136984916.html

 

[Finnice]

mmm maybe John Kerr...... as long as someone else does their costumes....You don't get extra pts for wedgies and it is such a cringe....especially with the classy camera men who do closeups on lifts. They are a wonderful team. Give them the tools.

If John Kerr, Robin Szolkowy and Maxim Trankov were standing at the stands at the same time, I would not give a d**m what T/M were skating.
Yes, I am shallow.

 

[zebraswan]

Tchernyshev will do their choreography again this season (although Max says he will choose their music & images). Funny how he escaped all criticism and blame for their programs...

https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136986389.html

Max says they intend to be at CoR and Skate America

https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180516/1136987252.html

 

[Mad for Skating]

Apparently Ksenia is still getting treatment for her leg in the USA...I thought she was supposed to be back to training already. But I've learned to just cross my fingers and go with the flow when it comes to Ksenia and Fedor sooooo...they have until September or October before they need to be ready.

Tarasova/Morozov moving to Trankov doesn't surprise me. Max is a competent skater and I hope it translates into coaching; however, I worry a bit that his temper could get in the way.

 

[clairecloutier]

Tchernyshev will do their choreography again this season (although Max says he will choose their music & images). Funny how he escaped all criticism and blame for their programs...

I found that kind of interesting myself. I guess he was given a pass because he has things like K/S's Manfred Symphony on his resume. And his SPs for T/M have been successful, just not the LPs. Still, between "Candyman" and Sotnikova's odd music orchestration selections in Sochi ....

 

[Mad for Skating]

I found that kind of interesting myself.

Yes, usually I love Tchernyshev's programs but WHAT WAS HE THINKING about Candyman? I expected the man who did the Shibs' Fix You and Kavaguti/Smirnov's Manfred Symphony to create something, at the least, decent for a talented young pair. But...every Monet paints a bad canvas once in a while.

 

[Vash01]

Yes, usually I love Tchernyshev's programs but WHAT WAS HE THINKING about Candyman? I expected the man who did the Shibs' Fix You and Kavaguti/Smirnov's Manfred Symphony to create something, at the least, decent for a talented young pair. But...every Monet paints a bad canvas once in a while.

From what I read, T&M had a part in selecting Candyman, to improve their audience connection. The intent was right. The final priduct was not.

 

[barbarafan]

Apparently Ksenia is still getting treatment for her leg in the USA...I thought she was supposed to be back to training already. But I've learned to just cross my fingers and go with the flow when it comes to Ksenia and Fedor sooooo...they have until September or October before they need to be ready.

Tarasova/Morozov moving to Trankov doesn't surprise me. Max is a competent skater and I hope it translates into coaching; however, I worry a bit that his temper could get in the way.

I like Max....Where did his temper get in the way of something?

 

[dinakt]

If John Kerr, Robin Szolkowy and Maxim Trankov were standing at the stands at the same time, I would not give a d**m what T/M were skating.
Yes, I am shallow.

Amen! (as I retreat to my fantasy land)

 

[hanca]

If John Kerr, Robin Szolkowy and Maxim Trankov were standing at the stands at the same time, I would not give a d**m what T/M were skating.
Yes, I am shallow.

If John Kerr was standing there, you would give a damn what T/M are skating to because it would be a really nice program.

 

[Finnice]

If John Kerr was standing there, you would give a damn what T/M are skating to because it would be a really nice program.

Yes, that is true. Let's hope he will!

 

[Mad for Skating]

I like Max....Where did his temper get in the way of something?

I don't have a problem with Max myself, I just know that he can get riled up easily (I have a fiery temper myself so I get it). I'm hoping he can keep a cool head about things when he's coaching.

 

[Bigbird]

I don't see how this does anything good for them actually. Trankov isn't particularly innovative and he was pretty much a lazy competitor, I still can't believe the scores they were given for utterly disgraceful programs. I found him and partner more impressive in their exhibitions than their actual programs. A lot of what they did was accomplished by the heavy political involvement of their federation. IMHO, his partner would make for a much more dynamic and interesting coach. I hope he draws from her for inspiration. Meh.

 

[Mad for Skating]

I don't see how this does anything good for them actually. Trankov isn't particularly innovative and he was pretty much a lazy competitor, I still can't believe the scores they were given for utterly disgraceful programs. I found him and partner more impressive in their exhibitions than their actual programs. A lot of what they did was accomplished by the heavy political involvement of their federation. IMHO, his partner would make for a much more dynamic and interesting coach. I hope he draws from her for inspiration. Meh.

I think Trankov was very blessed to have Volosozhar. She had that sparkling quality of A Pair Girl You Want to Watch (very much on par with Savchenko, Stolbova, and Sui). Max was doing all the elements well, but Tatiana was always the real star of the show for me.

I do agree, most of their exhibitions were better than their competitive performances (SKYFALL FTW!!!). I liked their Bollywood, Dracula, and "Bring Me to Life", but was not a big fan of Jesus Christ Superstar, and I found Masquerade Waltz a little boring. However, his competitive programs may not be an indication of what he'll be giving to Tarasova/Morozov, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[zebraswan]

So let me get this straight...Trankov was solely responsible for all of V/T's programs (not partner, coach or choreographer), Nina Mozer was entirely to blame for T/M's programs (not the skaters or choreographer or anyone else in their team), and there is no way Trankov could have possibly matured or learned a few things from his career and his work on Ice Age...he's stuck at whatever age someone started to dislike him and that's it.

Ok...

 

[Ananas Astra]

I think Trankov was very blessed to have Volosozhar. She had that sparkling quality of A Pair Girl You Want to Watch (very much on par with Savchenko, Stolbova, and Sui). Max was doing all the elements well, but Tatiana was always the real star of the show for me.

I do agree, most of their exhibitions were better than their competitive performances (SKYFALL FTW!!!). I liked their Bollywood, Dracula, and "Bring Me to Life", but was not a big fan of Jesus Christ Superstar, and I found Masquerade Waltz a little boring. However, his competitive programs may not be an indication of what he'll be giving to Tarasova/Morozov, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Trankov is probably one of the most expressive male pairs skaters in history along with the likes of Anton Sikharulidze, Artur Dmitriev and Sergei Grinkov.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Trankov is probably one of the most expressive male pairs skaters in history along with the likes of Anton Sikharulidze, Artur Dmitriev and Sergei Grinkov.

And I don't mind expressive pair guys! Sikharulidze, Dmitriev, Grinkov, and Trankov all had their own distinct look on the ice. I like when the guy isn't just "a prop in a black shirt and pants". But occasionally for me, Trankov became a little "much" on the ice. OTOH, some of their programs were amazing and I enjoy rewatching them many times.

I also don't mind when the guy has a strong presence but doesn't get in the lady's way (e.g. Fedor Klimov) or when the man and the lady create a nice equal balance (Eric Radford to Meagan Duhamel, Morgan Cipres to Vanessa James, or Cong Han to Wenjing Sui). Bruno Massot, Vladimir Morozov, and Chris Knierim all remind me of huge strong towers holding their tiny girls up in the air, which I also love. I think each pair has their own unique chemistry; they just need to find their groove. There is no bad pair, only bad packaging.