Battle of the Top Ice Dance Coaches

[jiejie]

With a dab of free time on my hands, thought I'd do a rundown of results by primary coaching team, based on 2016 ISU Championships.
North America:
--Marina Zoueva: Shibs (W2), Sin/Kats (W9), Muramoto/Reed (W15). Can't think of any top juniors she has.
--Igor Shpilband: Chock/Bates (W3), Coomes/Buckland (W7), Tobias/Tkachenko (W12), Lorenz/Poloziakis (W17). Also has Mansour/Ceska, 4CC team Min/Gamelin, and junior teams Pogrebinsky/Benoit and Abachkina/Thauron. Also didn't include teams with him temporarily, like Ilinykh/Zhiganshin.
--Angelika Krylova: Weaver/Poje (W5). Also Agafanova/Ucar, Wang/Liu. Has Hawayek/Baker, juniors I don't know.
--Marie France: Papadakis/Cizeron (W1), Hubbell/Donahue (W6), Fournier/Sorensen (W13). Also Paradis/Ouellette, Robledo/Fenero, juniors Lauriault/LeGac.
--Carol Lane: Gilles/Poirer (W8), juniors Bent/Razugaliev.
Europe:
--Mezzadri: Capellini/Lanotte (W4), Testa/Czolley (W14)
--Fusar-Poli: Guignard/Fabri (W10), Silna/Kuryakin (W20), also juniors Ghislandi/Ortenzi.
--Zhulin: Nazarova/Nikitin (W19), also Bobrova/Soloviev, unclear who else.
--Zhuk/Svinin: Stepanova/Bukin (W11), also Kim/Minov and junior Shpilevaya/Smirnov
--Rumiantseva: junior standouts Loboda/Drozd and Popova/Vlasenko. Not sure about senior skaters.

Others have the rest of the Worlds participants scattered around.

Miscellaneous thoughts: How quickly things change in very few years: formerly the "hot" coaches, Krylova/Camerlengo stable seems to be diminishing. Montreal getting crowded. No sign of Linichuk anywhere--did she essentially retire or just not getting top teams anymore? Will McNamara/Carpenter and/or Parsons (JW 1 and 2) stay with current coaching team at Wheaton (Novak/Kiliakov) if they go into seniors, or move elsewhere? Whatever is going on with Russian coaching? Platov is still lonely for top skaters.

 

[barbarafan]

With a dab of free time on my hands, thought I'd do a rundown of results by primary coaching team, based on 2016 ISU Championships.
North America:
--Marina Zoueva: Shibs (W2), Sin/Kats (W9), Muramoto/Reed (W15). Can't think of any top juniors she has.
--Igor Shpilband: Chock/Bates (W3), Coomes/Buckland (W7), Tobias/Tkachenko (W12), Lorenz/Poloziakis (W17). Also has Mansour/Ceska, 4CC team Min/Gamelin, and junior teams Pogrebinsky/Benoit and Abachkina/Thauron. Also didn't include teams with him temporarily, like Ilinykh/Zhiganshin.
--Angelika Krylova: Weaver/Poje (W5). Also Agafanova/Ucar, Wang/Liu. Has Hawayek/Baker, juniors I don't know.
--Marie France: Papadakis/Cizeron (W1), Hubbell/Donahue (W6), Fournier/Sorensen (W13). Also Paradis/Ouellette, Robledo/Fenero, juniors Lauriault/LeGac.
--Carol Lane: Gilles/Poirer (W8), juniors Bent/Razugaliev.
Europe:
--Mezzadri: Capellini/Lanotte (W4), Testa/Czolley (W14)
--Fusar-Poli: Guignard/Fabri (W10), Silna/Kuryakin (W20), also juniors Ghislandi/Ortenzi.
--Zhulin: Nazarova/Nikitin (W19), also Bobrova/Soloviev, unclear who else.
--Zhuk/Svinin: Stepanova/Bukin (W11), also Kim/Minov and junior Shpilevaya/Smirnov
--Rumiantseva: junior standouts Loboda/Drozd and Popova/Vlasenko. Not sure about senior skaters.

Others have the rest of the Worlds participants scattered around.

Miscellaneous thoughts: How quickly things change in very few years: formerly the "hot" coaches, Krylova/Camerlengo stable seems to be diminishing. Montreal getting crowded. No sign of Linichuk anywhere--did she essentially retire or just not getting top teams anymore? Will McNamara/Carpenter and/or Parsons (JW 1 and 2) stay with current coaching team at Wheaton (Novak/Kiliakov) if they go into seniors, or move elsewhere? Whatever is going on with Russian coaching? Platov is still lonely for top skaters.

Would like Platov to go to Montreal

 

[blancanieves]

I think it would be interesting if the Parsons went to Carol Lane. She has a great feel for circumventing the inherent romantic aspects of dance in compelling ways. Their solid skating foundations combined with that kind of choreographic creativity could put a nice spotlight on them. They might eventually need to look for new partners anyway, but I think the move would be worth trying.

 

[Cherub721]

D&L will also have Virtue/Moir next year.

Zhulin coaches Zahorski/Guerreiro (Russia #5, just released to skate internationally) and Monko/Khalavian (currently injured, unclear future). Not sure about juniors.

What about Zazoui?

 

[Cachoo]

I knew how I felt about many skaters. But in this competition someone "new" always catches your eye and for me it was Guignard/Fabri with Fusar-Poli. I knew I would appreciate those in the top five or six because I know them, know what to expect. This team unexpectedly took my breath away at times. Great job.

Hawayek/Baker---untapped potential; imho there is so much talent there. This is another example of a team with a strong male and a female who complements him. But will they ever move up?

 

[Jun Y]

Paul and Islam are also in Montreal. Orford and Hill are training with Wing and Lowe in Vancouver mostly, but are also connected with Lane and Razgulajevs.

Haguenauer seems to be training the French junior team (ageing out next season IIRC). Similarly Bourzat seems to be in charge of Abachkina and Thauron.

 

[TorontoSkateFan]

I think it would be interesting if the Parsons went to Carol Lane.

Just a question about this as it came up in a discussion at our club this morning: is it just me or do other people find it a conflict for a active coach to be a TV commentator? I am not sure how one can comment on skaters that you work with every day (not to mention provide you with income) and not be biased in some way. I tried to think of examples from other sports where this occurs but couldn't come up with any. Just wondering other people's thoughts on this.

 

[Scrufflet]

I would prefer that it not happen although I think Lane has done a pretty good job of remaining objective. Tracy Wilson has also done a good job of it.
Further, I think the commentary has become so bland with Kurt and Carol. Nobody will risk and make predictions! And they no longer argue about judging, everything safe and predictable! We need David Pelletier to say someone's got a lousy program or costume! Dull as dishwater!

 

[Firedancer]

Didn't Tanith stop coaching for this exact reason?

 

[barbarafan]

I would prefer that it not happen although I think Lane has done a pretty good job of remaining objective. Tracy Wilson has also done a good job of it.
Further, I think the commentary has become so bland with Kurt and Carol. Nobody will risk and make predictions! And they no longer argue about judging, everything safe and predictable! We need David Pelletier to say someone's got a lousy program or costume! Dull as dishwater!

I have no problem with Tracy Wilson but I have found Carol Lane is showing a snide side lately with competition of Piper and Paul... She was not bad last night but the competition b4 she was slipping shade in about madison and Zack

 

[kwanfan1818]

Would like Platov to go to Montreal

IIRC, the reasons he stayed in the US were because he lived by the sea in NJ, and then he married an American based there. He might thrive professionally in Montreal, but he gave up offers in the past to stay in NJ.

 

[marbri]

I find Tracy Wilson fine because she is a consultant at the club and not a main coach.
Carol Lane I find odd commentating while coaching top teams. But I also really dislike her as a commentator and find she talks too much when the skaters are performing and it's mostly rubbish that comes from her mouth. For example today during the pair competition when a team was doing a death spiral she actually said "around and around and around" for each rotation. WTF kind of commentating is that? I am watching the live feed on my laptop instead of my nice big flatscreen TV because I can't handle the woman's voice anymore.

Rant over

 

[barbarafan]

IIRC, the reasons he stayed in the US were because he lived by the sea in NJ, and then he married an American based there. He might thrive professionally in Montreal, but he gave up offers in the past to stay in NJ.

That makes sense although they had a hurricane or something a few years ago on the seaside ..not sure what impact it made economically but .....oh well ..wishful thinking on my part....My glass is always half full...I also believe in miracles and world peace.

 

[TorontoSkateFan]

I find Tracy Wilson fine because she is a consultant at the club and not a main coach.

Don't get me wrong here as I like Tracy Wilson as a commentator but she is definitely a coach ..... they may call her a "Consultant" but she is on the ice with her skaters everyday and is just as much as a coach as any other 'main coach'. It is quite widely known at the Cricket that her 'Consultant' title was provided to ensure she was in compliance with her NBC contract. Even Skate Canada in her bio on their website state that she is a coach, "the former Olympic ice dancing medallist has quietly and behind the scenes fashioned a stellar career as a skating coach to some of the world’s best". 'Quietly and behind the scenes' is correct but I think for the wrong reasons. I just believe everyone should be open and transparent about their various roles and the networks should declare it openly on the broadcasts, then we can all make informed opinions as to their comments during the broadcasts.
UPDATE: FYI: they just had Tracy listed as Javier's coach on the screen graphics before he skated.

 

[Twizzler]

IIRC, the reasons he stayed in the US were because he lived by the sea in NJ, and then he married an American based there. He might thrive professionally in Montreal, but he gave up offers in the past to stay in NJ.

Unless I'm mistaken, Platov left NJ and is in Florida now...

ETA link: http://www.pbiw.org/coachesbytype.aspx?CoachTypeId=2

Yes- looks like he's now in Palm Beach- same rink where Igor Pashkevich was.

 

[OrioleBeagle]

Would like Platov to go to Montreal

He should go to Maryland.

 

[OrioleBeagle]

I think it would be interesting if the Parsons went to Carol Lane. She has a great feel for circumventing the inherent romantic aspects of dance in compelling ways. Their solid skating foundations combined with that kind of choreographic creativity could put a nice spotlight on them. They might eventually need to look for new partners anyway, but I think the move would be worth trying.

NO!!!! We have better coaches (than Lane) in the US.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Unless I'm mistaken, Platov left NJ and is in Florida now...

ETA link: http://www.pbiw.org/coachesbytype.aspx?CoachTypeId=2

Yes- looks like he's now in Palm Beach- same rink where Igor Pashkevich was.

I never knew. Thank you for the info!

But I think "Beach" is the operative word. He said in an interview quite a while ago that he grew up on the water, and it reminded him of home.

 

[blancanieves]

NO!!!! We have better coaches (than Lane) in the US.

Of course, I just think her choreography could be particularly good for the Parsons. Skating alongside an established senior team (G/P) could also be helpful as they transition into the senior ranks, and they would get the benefit of being the sole U.S. team in the camp; it wouldn't hurt to get away from the "WISA's number 2" label.

 

[laviemn]

Of course, I just think her choreography could be particularly good for the Parsons. Skating alongside an established senior team (G/P) could also be helpful as they transition into the senior ranks, and they would get the benefit of being the sole U.S. team in the camp; it wouldn't hurt to get away from the "WISA's number 2" label.

They could go to a better coach and hire Christopher Dean for choreography. And I don't think it matters whether they're 1 or 2 in their camp when their coaches don't have established reputations in the senior ranks.

 

[Jem X]

Didn't Tanith stop coaching for this exact reason?

I thought Tanith still worked for Marina.

 

[Firedancer]

She talked about it during one of the times she was on tv.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Tanith still coaches, but she said in her TSL interview that she hasn't taught any ice dancers for a couple of years. She thinks that being less "inside" gives her a fresher perspective as a commentator.

 

[amy8]

I find Tracy Wilson fine because she is a consultant at the club and not a main coach.
Carol Lane I find odd commentating while coaching top teams. But I also really dislike her as a commentator and find she talks too much when the skaters are performing and it's mostly rubbish that comes from her mouth. For example today during the pair competition when a team was doing a death spiral she actually said "around and around and around" for each rotation. WTF kind of commentating is that? I am watching the live feed on my laptop instead of my nice big flatscreen TV because I can't handle the woman's voice anymore.

Rant over

MUTE is your friend

 

[VGThuy]

I still think it's odd that Carol Lane doesn't go to the competitions with Paul and Piper. She may have been at Worlds, not sure, but I know she wasn't at 4CC when they were commentating after-the-fact in a Canadian studio.

 

[arakwafan2006]

Would like Platov to go to Montreal

For what?

 

[arakwafan2006]

They could go to a better coach and hire Christopher Dean for choreography. And I don't think it matters whether they're 1 or 2 in their camp when their coaches don't have established reputations in the senior ranks.

I like his work but the material he gave Piper and Paul had some very non COP friendly lulls in it. Top notch choreographers have to remain abreast of all the rules and study them or else they'll create a beautiful piece of work that wont score well. Igor Shpilband should seriously consider hiring Christopher Dean for the summer. Igor is a master of taking advantage of the rules but not so great IMO at creating fresh and captivating dances. Christopher does well at this so i'm wondering if it would even out. Just a thought.

 

[Dobre]

it wouldn't hurt to get away from the "WISA's number 2" label.

It would if it lowered their quality of skating, kept them from becoming World Junior Champions #1, or hindered their debut in U.S. Seniors. (WISA has earned plenty of respect at U.S. Nationals; and if the Parsons move up, that is the competition that will likely matter the most for them). IMO, the Parsons exceeded expectations this season. They started off their JGP season with a second place in the short dance at Bratislava, and broke right through for the win. Wrapped up their season with a win in the SD at Junior Worlds and a 2nd place ranking there. Moved up two spots from last season (and last season's placement was higher than anticipated). I'm not sure why anyone would recommend a coaching change for a team with that record. Unless their coaches elect not to continue with senior teams.

 

[barbarafan]

For what?

Saw some posts stating he didn't have students and he seems like a great coach..Many others are very concerned that there are 2 many dancers coming to mtl to D.L.'s for them to handle.

 

[arakwafan2006]

Saw some posts stating he didn't have students and he seems like a great coach..Many others are very concerned that there are 2 many dancers coming to mtl to D.L.'s for them to handle.

Did you see the results of World's? Pretty sure that they're handling things fine...They have a maximum number of students they'll allow and quite frankly he had his chance with top teams and did not do the work that Marie France did during his time...