From Russia with Love [#30]: If There Are Test Skate Videos, It Must Be Fall 2018

[layman]

I don't know if this was posted already. Evgenia's new SP practice.

Was that Tatiana Tarasova with Brian Orser at the boards?

 

[rfisher]

Was that Tatiana Tarasova with Brian Orser at the boards?

Yes, but I suspect she was there watching a number of skaters.

 

[alchemy void]

that Brian Boitano was her favorite skater

I can't even.

Sorry, I know Ted has lots of fans here, but:
- young junior ladies never tried/got quads before? (listen Miki!)
- Eteri's young girls were never seen seriously injured? (listen Shcherbakova!)
- wonderful job in choreo and music for her girls? (listen Zagitova)

This interview seemed totally unprepared and amateurish

I agree with you; like someone else said, it was like an ISU fluff piece. It was still interesting to listen to, but not exactly insightful. I still like Ted, but he was a lot more annoying than usual at the JGPF, for whatever reason.

And was the tinkly piano music really necessary when Eteri was talking about her ailing mother?

 

[Tinami Amori]

While Gracie, Gabby, Ashley, and many other North American skaters as far back as Jenny Kirk have all discussed weight and depression, they were all encouraged to take time for themselves and seek treatment. Skaters and coaches alike have been very supportive of their messages and are making changes to try to prevent the development of eating disorders including banning coaches from weighing skaters, having coaches read up on how to recognize eating disorders, and providing healthy eating support to athletes.

That's neither here nor there... Once a person states publicly about health issues, many give them support and encouragement, in any country..

The question is, what drove Gracie, Gabby, Ashley, Jenny into eating issues and depressions, while they were training with their coaches?.. If Eteri is blamed for what happened on her watch, then those other coaches are to be blamed what happened on their watch.... ... unless "some are more equal than the others"..

Daleman's own words: "My eating disorder started in Grade 5 or 6 and it didn't end until after the (Sochi) Olympics." .. it must be also Eteri's fault...

I think the thing is, I don't even think a journalist has to attack Eteri to get her to say politically incorrect things about diets and skaters' weight. They introduce the topic and she'll say something controversial about it - look at her discussion of Lipnitskaya's eating habits..

Lipnitskaya's "eating habits" and weight issues started before she came to Eteri, and became acute after she left Eteri during her full year with Urmanov in Sochi. Eteri arranged for Lip's mother to become an official employee with salary, to take care of Julia's diet and health. Mrs. Lipnitskaya FAILED to do it right. There are enough info and articles that have been posted about it. People who chose to dislike Eteri for whatever reasons are choosing to ignore inconvenient facts.

Tutberidze said a lot less "un-PC" things about weight and eating than many other coaches, on a long list.

Marina Zueva and many others are putting their skaters on the scales and telling them exactly how many pounds to loose. Rafael Arutyunyan recently complained in an interview and pretty much regreted that his hands are tied with skaters in America when it comes to weight gain issues. Buianova, Tarasova and many others directly and publicly insulted their skaters on weight issues. Artur Dimitriev put Antipova on starvation diet and she barely survived.. He has never been publicly questions about it, not once, and certainly not in the last 5 years.

And while there maybe few immediate comments "how wrong they are", none of these coaches are pestered constantly on the issues, like Tutberidze is.

I do not believe that attacks on Tutberidze are out of concerns for skaters. If it was about the concern itself then EVERY coach on the list of "offenders" would be attacked with same frequency.

 

[PRlady]

I agree, actually, that attacks on Eteri are partially motivated by her success. The rest comes from her statements and that of her skaters and the fact that she doesn’t have a skater older or bigger than Zag: her system has an age-out component that is unseemly.

All the other Russian coaches you mention have the same values when it comes to weight. Some US girls, including Gracie and Tanith, also had eating problems under Russian coaches. Some US girls like Jenny had American coaches and an eating disorder as well.

Other than Daleman some years ago, elite Canadian lady skaters are fit and healthy, so clearly something is working up there.

It’s not picking on Eteri to say that she is an example of skating coaches who obsess and force their skaters to obsess about weight.

 

[Wyliefan]

Mie Hamada is having great success with her girls this season. No one here has ever attacked or even criticized her as far as I've seen. Why? Because every story that mentions her talks about her concern for their health, particularly Satoko's, and how she's acted on that concern. She doesn't have a factory with a scrap heap out back; she treats her students like human beings, and she's respected for that.

 

[barbarafan]

I agree, actually, that attacks on Eteri are partially motivated by her success. The rest comes from her statements and that of her skaters and the fact that she doesn’t have a skater older or bigger than Zag: her system has an age-out component that is unseemly.

All the other Russian coaches you mention have the same values when it comes to weight. Some US girls, including Gracie and Tanith, also had eating problems under Russian coaches. Some US girls like Jenny had American coaches and an eating disorder as well.

Other than Daleman some years ago, elite Canadian lady skaters are fit and healthy, so clearly something is working up there.

It’s not picking on Eteri to say that she is an example of skating coaches who obsess and force their skaters to obsess about weight.

I am on the fence here on canadian rinks and weight. I also have not heard anything about cdn singles skaters but I have never been involved in the skating world and most of my news comes from FSU or instagram. I have heard something about a pairs rink and weight. If it is kept quiet at the rink we will not hear. For instance if a girl is being harassed about her weight by a coach she may be very reluctant to tell her parents as they may go storming to the rink to have it out with the coach, might pull her from skating etc. and if the girl loves skating she might not want that to happen so shuts up. We do hear from several coaches how important their health is and that they must eat healthy to be strong enough to be the best they can. Hopefully silence means there is no problem....I hope so....but it is not for sure.

 

[rfisher]

I agree, actually, that attacks on Eteri are partially motivated by her success. The rest comes from her statements and that of her skaters and the fact that she doesn’t have a skater older or bigger than Zag: her system has an age-out component that is unseemly.

All the other Russian coaches you mention have the same values when it comes to weight. Some US girls, including Gracie and Tanith, also had eating problems under Russian coaches. Some US girls like Jenny had American coaches and an eating disorder as well.

Other than Daleman some years ago, elite Canadian lady skaters are fit and healthy, so clearly something is working up there.

It’s not picking on Eteri to say that she is an example of skating coaches who obsess and force their skaters to obsess about weight.

Except almost all the ladies are about Zagitova's age. Tuk at the ripe old age of 21 was the oldest skater at the GPF. Leonova is the only other non-teen aged single skater in Russia and neither have ever been coached by Eteri. Miyahara is 21 and likely to be pushed off the Japanese podium by the teenagers. It's just a fact that there are so many young skaters in both Russia and Japan, the average age is 17 or so, and they are gone by the time they reach their early 20s. And, there are rumors about what might be considered abusive behavior by the Japanese coaches toward their skaters. It's all relative.

 

[starrynight]

I’ve noticed that there is a lot of devasted crying/sobbing by Eteri girls after they get off the ice and usually over unremarkable mistakes or mistakes that certainly don’t warrant scared crying.

That doesn’t sit right with me. Particularly when it’s the junior girls crying over a step out on a quad. I don’t feel entertained by that.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I’ve noticed that there is a lot of devasted crying/sobbing by Eteri girls after they get off the ice and usually over unremarkable mistakes or mistakes that certainly don’t warrant scared crying.
That doesn’t sit right with me. Particularly when it’s the junior girls crying over a step out on a quad. I don’t feel entertained by that.

In your dreams they are crying/sobbing ... I see same videos as you, and! many more... never saw a rain fall of Eteri's girls crying and sobbing.... All skaters fall and get frustrated, sometimes they cry, men and women, in comps and during practices...
http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/i/strea...0/2D11705964-today-mao-asada-140220-tease.jpg
https://media.giphy.com/media/xThtasL0l6qcqYpKzm/giphy.gif

Mie Hamada is having great success with her girls this season. No one here has ever attacked or even criticized her as far as I've seen. Why? Because every story that mentions her talks about her concern for their health, particularly Satoko's, and how she's acted on that concern. She doesn't have a factory with a scrap heap out back; she treats her students like human beings, and she's respected for that.

First of all, Hamada has 2 girls so far who had success this season. Kihira is 16 and had good success, Satoko had relative success, so far.

Hamada and girls a) don't give that many interviews, b) not asked "those kind of questions, c) the culture itself not leaning towards public display of internal/private issues, d) only few very formal interviews with formal content are translated into English.

Hamada is now praised because many see her as "opposition to Eteri's girls", and yet recently she said something that maybe hurtful and UNFAIR to Kihira, that she rather see "mature/Satoko" win over younger ones.

We don't know what goes on inside Japanese training centres. Japanese culture is not as open and as outspoken as US, Canada, Europe and even more so Russians who speak in public "what's in the head is on the tongue"..

The only Japanese skater who spoke out about anorexia and being driven to eating disorder and over trained so her periods would stop is Akiko Suzuki ... If the rest of them speak out, then we'll know "how strict Japanese coaches are"....

http://www.absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2013akikosuzuki

TOKYO/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Japanese figure skater Akiko Suzuki was struggling with jumps when her coach said losing a kilogram could help. Instead, in two months she lost nearly a third of her body weight, putting her career - and her life - in danger.

http://ohlovesosweet.tumblr.com/post/132286077986/figure-skater-suzuki-akiko-speaks-up-note-all
Suzuki: Due to the intense training I went through to reach the Olympics, my period stops halfway into the season, and it returns when the season ends. Since it returns once the season ends, it’s more likely due to mental stress than weight fluctuation in my particular case.

Eating disorders and anorexia have been on an increase in Japan, in society and in sports, but culture does not encourage talking about it in public. But it is an ongoing trend since the 1980's
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...bout-it-the-rise-of-eating-disorders-in-japan
http://psychopathology.imedpub.com/past-current-and-future-of-anorexia-nervosa-in-japan.php?aid=7534

We may never know the "troubles" of Japanese skaters out of eye site... .. and don't tell me "they look healthy", because we don't know what their natural weight without diet would be and because their shapes are general different from europeans.

 

[Amantide]

HURRAH!

Passion, angst, drama. That’s my girl. So much better than that jazzy cheese. Smart move.

I agree. That's much better.

 

[Amantide]

Artur Dimitriev put Antipova on starvation diet and she barely survived.. He has never been publicly questions about it, not once, and certainly not in the last 5 years.

By the way, how is she now? I haven't heard any news about her since she was in hospital, a couple of years ago?

 

[Tinami Amori]

By the way, how is she now? I haven't heard any news about her since she was in hospital, a couple of years ago?

She recovered, gained normal weight, was able to jog and do regular athletics... as of 2015.
https://www.instagram.com/p/x4ftiJDfPj/
Then in 2017 she gave an interview to a magazine in Norway, where she mentioned that she wants to return to competition and make the 2018 Olympic team, and never did. Nothing specific has been written since. However recently a person named "Julia Antipova" appeared in one of the Russian Government Health Ministry employee lists, as a manager responsible for "health and nutrition purchases product control". Not sure if it is the same Julia, but could be. That's all i could find (there are links to the above, if you like).

HURRAH!
Passion, angst, drama. That’s my girl. So much better than that jazzy cheese. Smart move.

I love Med's new SP! the situation is called "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"..

Few private clips have been posted... Canadian Orser instructing her how to skate to a European Opera..
http://images.vfl.ru/ii/1545250540/35477681/24662602.gif

Alexei Mishin walking past her.. (there is a "minor" controversy brooding in the Med vs. Mishin's skaters fandom... Med's fans ganging up on Samodurova who may take supposedly the 3rd spot on national team, and supposedly "not as good of a skater as Med, but some how made it to GPF".. Then there are discussions going on about who should take the 3rd spot, if it is between Med and Tuk.. ). So anywho..... this is Med and Mishin passing each other.
http://images.vfl.ru/ii/1545250786/a6bcc5bd/24662650.gif

I know, right?? It totally went over my head, but I was wondering why Boitano? Oh my, I love her even more if that was her motivation!! lol

I don't know if Eteri is trolling Orser, but she did mention (in interviews about her times in USA) the shows such as "Witt and Boitano's Carmen" and other shows these two did together in the early 90's, when she (Eteri) started to skate in Ice Capades in USA at the same time. Zagitova recently said that "the best Carmen is Witt" and that Eteri was explaining and made her watch all the videos, Olympics and with Boitano. So, if the two of them were dissecting Witt/Boitano's "Carmen" to pieces for the last few months, where Boitano was quite good and an artist, it is not a surprise that "Boitano popped up in her brain"..... She said "Boitano has it all" meaning artistry, athletics and in "Carmen" he did pairs and dance moves... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlH2lAq0J_E

(but i wish she was trolling Orser... because he deserves it, for not being gracious in his comments during the switch and spreading rumors about "Eteri" ).

Buianova commented on Voronov's injury and why he is out of Russian Nationals... Let's hang her, he damaged his knee badly on her watch.... Gosh would there be a revolution if he was Eteri's skater.....
https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1069851065.html

Russians on chats are joking about "Buianova's Grave Yard" and "a skater who perished in Biuanova-Tarasova Mortuary"... Похоронное бюро "БуяноваТарасова" в деле.

So far their joint effort, with so much concern to hurt Eteri, resulted in ruined Voronov, Kovtun, Tsurskaya, Goubanova, Sotskova, etc..

 

[Finsta]

She recovered, gained normal weight, was able to jog and do regular athletics... as of 2015.
https://www.instagram.com/p/x4ftiJDfPj/
Then in 2017 she gave an interview to a magazine in Norway, where she mentioned that she wants to return to competition and make the 2018 Olympic team, and never did. Nothing specific has been written since. However recently a person named "Julia Antipova" appeared in one of the Russian Government Health Ministry employee lists, as a manager responsible for "health and nutrition purchases product control". Not sure if it is the same Julia, but could be. That's all i could find (there are links to the above, if you like).


I love Med's new SP! the situation is called "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"..

Few private clips have been posted... Canadian Orser instructing her how to skate to a European Opera..
http://images.vfl.ru/ii/1545250540/35477681/24662602.gif

Alexei Mishin walking past her.. (there is a "minor" controversy brooding in the Med vs. Mishin's skaters fandom... Med's fans ganging up on Samodurova who may take supposedly the 3rd spot on national team, and supposedly "not as good of a skater as Med, but some how made it to GPF".. Then there are discussions going on about who should take the 3rd spot, if it is between Med and Tuk.. ). So anywho..... this is Med and Mishin passing each other.
http://images.vfl.ru/ii/1545250786/a6bcc5bd/24662650.gif


I don't know if Eteri is trolling Orser, but she did mention (in interviews about her times in USA) the shows such as "Witt and Boitano's Carmen" and other shows these two did together in the early 90's, when she (Eteri) started to skate in Ice Capades in USA at the same time. Zagitova recently said that "the best Carmen is Witt" and that Eteri was explaining and made her watch all the videos, Olympics and with Boitano. So, if the two of them were dissecting Witt/Boitano's "Carmen" to pieces for the last few months, where Boitano was quite good and an artist, it is not a surprise that "Boitano popped up in her brain"..... She said "Boitano has it all" meaning artistry, athletics and in "Carmen" he did pairs and dance moves... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlH2lAq0J_E

(but i wish she was trolling Orser... because he deserves it, for not being gracious in his comments during the switch and spreading rumors about "Eteri" ).

Buianova commented on Voronov's injury and why he is out of Russian Nationals... Let's hang her, he damaged his knee badly on her watch.... Gosh would there be a revolution if he was Eteri's skater.....
https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1069851065.html

Russians on chats are joking about "Buianova's Grave Yard" and "a skater who perished in Biuanova-Tarasova Mortuary"... Похоронное бюро "БуяноваТарасова" в деле.

So far their joint effort, with so much concern to hurt Eteri, resulted in ruined Voronov, Kovtun, Tsurskaya, Goubanova, Sotskova, etc..

Wow. I feel like I just read a gossip magazine

 

[Kasey]

Wow. I feel like I just read a gossip magazine

Ditto. And like I suddenly need a good shower.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Wow. I feel like I just read a gossip magazine

Gossip magazines don't support the "gossips" with videos and links... "Myths of Evil Eteri" are more of a gossip mag material than reality.

But then how one can expect any objectivity from "Eteri haters" and "Medvebots" is beyond me... Face it people, you're jerks.. who can't accept that Zag won the Olys and that Eteri's girls are all standing on podiums..... unlike those who left her camp. Don't hang yourself over it, please.. I want you to live and suffer at her success..

 

[Tinami Amori]

Thank-you. Are any of them translated into English?

I promised you some vids.... but I was able to find 3 which are either in English or with english translations. These interviews are combined with Eteri's comments, Zag, Med and few others, but there is "soul and feelings" too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRRDlaK1Ixs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqQcVMCSWws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZNz_sjH-DQ

 

[Finsta]

Gossip magazines don't support the "gossips" with videos and links... "Myths of Evil Eteri" are more of a gossip mag material than reality.

But then how one can expect any objectivity from "Eteri haters" and "Medvebots" is beyond me... Face it people, you're jerks.. who can't accept that Zag won the Olys and that Eteri's girls are all standing on podiums..... unlike those who left her camp. Don't hang yourself over it, please.. I want you to live and suffer at her success..

I’m not even sure what this means .

 

[Amantide]

She recovered, gained normal weight, was able to jog and do regular athletics... as of 2015.
https://www.instagram.com/p/x4ftiJDfPj/
Then in 2017 she gave an interview to a magazine in Norway, where she mentioned that she wants to return to competition and make the 2018 Olympic team, and never did. Nothing specific has been written since. However recently a person named "Julia Antipova" appeared in one of the Russian Government Health Ministry employee lists, as a manager responsible for "health and nutrition purchases product control". Not sure if it is the same Julia, but could be. That's all i could find (there are links to the above, if you like).

Thank you. I am happy she is recovered now and I hope she's the same person working in the Health Ministry.

Few private clips have been posted... Canadian Orser instructing her how to skate to a European Opera..
http://images.vfl.ru/ii/1545250540/35477681/24662602.gif

WTH is that guy?

So anywho..... this is Med and Mishin passing each other.
http://images.vfl.ru/ii/1545250786/a6bcc5bd/24662650.gif

I promised you some vids.... but I was able to find 3 which are either in English or with english translations. These interviews are combined with Eteri's comments, Zag, Med and few others, but there is "soul and feelings" too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRRDlaK1Ixs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqQcVMCSWws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZNz_sjH-DQ

Thank you for this. The last one is new for me.

 

[Tinami Amori]

WTH is that guy?

If you mean who is the guy in the last screen shot? i can find his name if you need it. I believe he works for MatchTV or MatchArena, he is also a blogger with his own youtube channel, he recently interviewed Zagitova after GP in Moscow (that interview where Eteri pulled Alina away by her hand). He is not "Zag fan" but was not a "skating fan" at all before he got the skating assignments fro "Match entity" which is due to a number of "financial connections and interests" supports Med over Zag. If you want more details, i'll dig them up, but it will take time.

I’m not even sure what this means .

I am fine with that...

 

[Amantide]

If you mean who is the guy in the last screen shot? i can find his name if you need it. I believe he works for MatchTV or MatchArena, he is also a blogger with his own youtube channel, he recently interviewed Zagitova after GP in Moscow (that interview where Eteri pulled Alina away by her hand). He is not "Zag fan" but was not a "skating fan" at all before he got the skating assignments fro "Match entity" which is due to a number of "financial connections and interests" supports Med over Zag. If you want more details, i'll dig them up, but it will take time.

No, that's fine. I was just curious because he made a funny expression when Med left. LMAO

I was reading some comments on YT, from that last video you posted. Geezers, all that cirticism and complaining about Eteri's harsh method. If she is really like in the video, she is way softer than my teacher used to be.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I was reading some comments on YT, from that last video you posted. Geezers, all that cirticism and complaining about Eteri's harsh method. If she is really like in the video, she is way softer than my teacher used to be.

My coach used to hit me with a pointing stick under the knees to "point my toes", and when i fell off a trampoline and hit my leg on the metal railing, she said "now i have to stop training and get you an ice bag, i suppose"... My school teachers, when we failed to do our homework right used to call us "empty heads without brains, only good to be display hangers for winter hats", and that our parents need to be advised not waist money on buying us pants, because all we do is take up space and sit on school benches and rub holes in them without a reason....

And then my coach kicked me out of the junior team, after 1972 Olympic Israeli team murder, she said "i can't keep jews on the team, because you guys can be cause of some trouble, and plus, you're all "brains" and not much muscles, you're not serious about sports because you all go to Universities instead of moving to sports dormitories and dedicating yourselves to training".....

So then i came to California.... where coaches started the class with 42-teeth smile, and a question "how are you? so..... did you have fun this weekend? oh.... that's niiiiice....... So..... what would you like to practice today? Let's have some fun.... ".

If you ask me? I'll take "hitting" and "ice pack" any day over "let's have fun for $ 35 USD an hour"...... Training back in Russia was harsh but productive, not just in sports but in the rest of life.

-----

P.S... Reporters from Sport-Express chased Zagitova and her Grand Mother, and Eteri and Diana all the way from their homes, to the train station and filmed them through the window, leaving for Saran'sk...... Poor girls..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJi71JjNI2g

 

[barbarafan]

I promised you some vids.... but I was able to find 3 which are either in English or with english translations. These interviews are combined with Eteri's comments, Zag, Med and few others, but there is "soul and feelings" too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRRDlaK1Ixs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqQcVMCSWws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZNz_sjH-DQ

Thank-you so much
I just finished watching them all.

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

Never watch YouTube videos before going to bed. I dreamed last night that Eteri had become my closest friend, we talked all night... Weird dream!!

 

[Marco]

Please Aliev, deliver and win that title!

Now that Kolyada is not competing, he is by far the skater with the best overall skating package. (I might say that even if Kolyada was competing...) I can't stand the idea of Samarin possibly winning.

 

[Amantide]

My coach used to hit me with a pointing stick under the knees to "point my toes", and when i fell off a trampoline and hit my leg on the metal railing, she said "now i have to stop training and get you an ice bag, i suppose"... My school teachers, when we failed to do our homework right used to call us "empty heads without brains, only good to be display hangers for winter hats", and that our parents need to be advised not waist money on buying us pants, because all we do is take up space and sit on school benches and rub holes in them without a reason....

And then my coach kicked me out of the junior team, after 1972 Olympic Israeli team murder, she said "i can't keep jews on the team, because you guys can be cause of some trouble, and plus, you're all "brains" and not much muscles, you're not serious about sports because you all go to Universities instead of moving to sports dormitories and dedicating yourselves to training".....

So then i came to California.... where coaches started the class with 42-teeth smile, and a question "how are you? so..... did you have fun this weekend? oh.... that's niiiiice....... So..... what would you like to practice today? Let's have some fun.... ".

If you ask me? I'll take "hitting" and "ice pack" any day over "let's have fun for $ 35 USD an hour"...... Training back in Russia was harsh but productive, not just in sports but in the rest of life.

Geezers! Okay, your teachers beats mine. Though ours were in the same vein, more or less.
The majority of them had studied in USSR, so had what we called the "russian methodology" (my violin teacher studied in Moscow). Although in fairness, they were very strict and tough only when it came to teaching. They were very demanding but, off school, I remember my teacher inviting us (those who lived in dormitories and couldn't go home until for winter&summer holidays) for lunch every sunday. Or if we were sick they would come and ask and bring some good home prepared food.
So yeah, although it was difficult, mainly because my family was far away, I remember the school and the teachers very foundly.

I'm a bit like you in that regard tbh, but I suppose time have changed. It's like when our parents used to tell us "In my time....". We've become them.

 

[NAOTMAA]

Please Aliev, deliver and win that title!

Now that Kolyada is not competing, he is by far the skater with the best overall skating package. (I might say that even if Kolyada was competing...) I can't stand the idea of Samarin possibly winning.

Is that official?

I thought his participation was on the fence but I haven't read anything that he withdrew. I thought he was there and practicing?


I'm rooting for Dmitri too but it would be pretty hilarious if after all the months (pre-season and during) of Kolyada, Aliev, Voronov and Samarin debating Kovtun won the whole thing

 

[feraina]

Anyone else noticed Med moved her combo to the start and is now doing a 3R? Yay. Much safer layout. Also she’s skating so much faster than she used to! You can really see the speed and power! Bravo!

 

[TAHbKA]

Mean while in Russia: Cirque du Soleil are planning to build a venue in Russia. Apparently a Russian circus owner (one who still uses animals in their shows) wrote Putin a letter asking not to allow the Canadians in Russia. Averbukh joined claiming: it will hurt the development of the Russian arts and sports because (ok, sit tight) Cirque du Soleil will keep gettin the best artists and sportsmen offering them long term contracts and better conditions.

Where is a throw up icon when you need one....

 

[NAOTMAA]

Rooting for B/K in the pairs!

I love their free program and also just because I need to see Tamara in the k&c at Euros and worlds on TV (well my computer screen ) again