The Russian Federation was a big source of revenue for the ISU. Switzerland has imposed sanctions on businesses dealing with Russia, so there should not be any revenue at all coming in from Russia to the ISU, and there may not be any for a long time to come.
Which may be a big problem for the ISU as there are no other countries that will make up the loss.
Then perhaps ISU officials will have to start flying steerage and staying in the same class hotels as everyone else.
It was a ridiculously weak event, but Stellato and Deschamps have improved x1000. Really good programs and a really good competition for them. To almost beat the reigning World Champions, at their own home event, says a lot about just how good they were IMO.I just looked up the Skate America pairs results and
Or how weak the world champions are... But no, the part I quoted was about Stellato but I like that team fine and didn't mean to snark on them. It was more that it made me look up the results and I'm
at the field and the scores. Last year's Finlandia and Golden Spin were stronger than this. Talk about a fake GP.
Gosh - care to share the actual results page of the Russian FakeGP? Because there doesn't seem to be one, so it's ridiculously hard to review scores and protocols and compare which GP was stronger across all 4 disciplines. Sure, pairs is going to be weak on the ISU's RealGP, but I'm quite positive that the men and dance were much stronger events in Norwood than in Moscow. And it's impossible to take the Russian FakeGP women's event seriously when they allow drug cheats to compete.Or how weak the world champions are... But no, the part I quoted was about Stellato but I like that team fine and didn't mean to snark on them. It was more that it made me look up the results and I'm
I dunno... Makes one wonder whether all the Russian pairs have a 
.That's not my quote- that's the interviewer's question to Tikhonov. I'm glad that the Russian media is taking notice of Deanna's achievement and the other competitor who is still competing at 42. Tikhonov himself skated pairs for a long time. If T&M can take inspiration in others perservering and apply it to themselves, more power to them. Look at gymnastics and how respected Chusovitina is by everyone, including Simone Biles. She's still competive but she's not at the very top, but it's her perserverance and commitment to getting better that earns respect.I just looked up the Skate America pairs results and
There are results pages. Just go to the event page. If you don't want to watch the event don t, but there seems to be a lot of interest in the Russian event from people who like to repeatedly declare how uninterested they are. The article wasn't criticizing the pair event in NA, it was about how Stellato is still skating and doing well, and Tarasova/Morozov could continue if they chose even though both are now in their 30s.Gosh - care to share the actual results page of the Russian FakeGP? Because there doesn't seem to be one, so it's ridiculously hard to review scores and protocols and compare which GP was stronger across all 4 disciplines. Sure, pairs is going to be weak on the ISU's RealGP, but I'm quite positive that the men and dance were much stronger events in Norwood than in Moscow. And it's impossible to take the Russian FakeGP women's event seriously when they allow drug cheats to compete.
Vladimir turns 30 on November 1. Evgenia doesn't turn 30 until the end of 2024. They don't seem super inspired right now, but I don't see how the fake GPs are that inspiring to anyone. I think for T/M especially doing the fake GPs are the difference between being funded or being unemployed.
Or how weak the world champions are... But no, the part I quoted was about Stellato but I like that team fine and didn't mean to snark on them. It was more that it made me look up the results and I'm
No doubt. Evgenia is newly married and may be thinking of starting a family, but employment is a reason many skaters continue to skate. They don't know what else to do or there may not be other opportunities. Unless she decides to help Fedor with his teams, I don't see her coaching, and who knows about Vladimir's plans as he seldom talks about them. Pair teams require 2 people who want to compete. When one is done and the other isn't, it's a problem. Just ask Savchenko
And Stellato and Dudek would still have been fabulous if the pairs behind them had been stronger. They already were fabulous live at Nebelhorn Trophy
And Stellato and Dudek would still have been fabulous if the pairs behind them had been stronger. They already were fabulous live at Nebelhorn Trophy
Stellato-Dudek & Deschamps?And Stellato and Dudek would still have been fabulous if the pairs behind them had been stronger. They already were fabulous live at Nebelhorn Trophy
It doesn't help that they are still skating to last year's program. The article said that Vladimir wanted to do a new long program and it made it seem as if he was the one pushing for them to continue. I think it would be a better idea if they got a new long program because it looks kind of tired that they have the same boring program while all their competitors got new programs. They already have a good memory and moment tied with that program and they should create a new moment. They also seem to be doing a lot of publicity and making event appearances to capitalize on their highest finish in Beijing. They also did a lot of shows which gave them a late start. Assuming Russia gets reinstated by Worlds, which may happen, they only have one slot available for a pair so this "Fake GP" is very important because it seems they are hanging around to win that World Championship that has eluded them.
Maybe Evegnia was busy planning her wedding and didn't have time to learn a new program? Don't know that that is the case, but it's certainly possible. But, with the young teams and Boi/Koz and Mish/Gal still having something to prove, it may be a mistake.
They were doing Averbukh's show in August I believe and had to learn a new show program. They learned this new Short Program afterward in record time and it's a lovely program with all the elements hitting the highlights of the music. I think after Zhenya got married, they seem to relate to one another more warmly in their programs. I imagine it must be uncomfortable for those two, and it looks more like him, to skate to romantic music when they no longer have romantic feelings. This new short program works because because it has a more neutral feel. The other one is romantic and in Beijing, even though it was skated well, he didn't really look at her directly in those moments where they had these close looks choreographed. It looked awkward on his end. I prefer Moskvina's pairs because at least she's not packaging them as romantic couples on the ice. I also think their programs have more energy.
And, it's a good example of how energy doesn't mean frantic.
As someone unwilling to scroll through this thread, who said this?
Post 2061.
I really appreciate the way Moskvina packages her couples and the way she showcases her male skaters and she actually has ideas that are not related to romance. I think the only "romantic" pair she really had was B&S. Even Liebestraum seems to be more about the idea of love than actual love between Artur and Natalia. I really liked Snowstorm and Time as well even though that program was criticized. The uptick in the end with the bells ringing and emphasis on Russian culture was a nice contrast to all the boring ballads everyone else was skating to- other than her other couple B&K.She does like energy. Kavaguti/Smirnov's Manfred Symphony will always be my epitome of energy, especially when Smirnov goes mad and stomps around the ice.
to be or not to be.....that is the question......Is this Valieva on drugs again. Obviously there is no-one in Russia who would report it. They would just switch samples.
I call the fake Russian Grand Prix the Russian Grand Faux.
