Davis/Smolkin and their transfer to Ice Academy of Montreal

[Sylvia]

April 10, 2024: https://matchtv.ru/figure-skating/m...li_prijti_v_jego_akademiju_jeshhe_v_2022_godu

Machine translation:

Coach Roman Haguenauer told Match TV that figure skaters Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin are now training at his academy in Montreal, although they first approached his team two years ago.

On Monday it became known that Russian-Georgian dancers Davis and Smolkin moved to the Montreal academy, which is led by World Championship medalists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, as well as the Frenchman Haguenauer.

“It all started with the usual process for athletes who want to train at our academy. Diana and Gleb contacted us two years ago, but then it was not the right time. We thought that now everything was improving and began cooperation. We are working on dance concepts for the new season, while at the same time the skaters are developing their sports skills,” Haguenauer told Match TV.

Previously, the daughter of the Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze and Smolkin represented Russia; in June 2023 they joined the Georgian national team. Until recently, they were trained by Elena Novak and Alexei Kiliakov. At the World Championships in Montreal, Davis and Smolkin took 12th place.


By Boris Khodorovsky (April 10, 2024)

Дэвис и Смолкин — в лучшей танцевальной академии мира. Что их ждет в Канаде

Переход выступающих под флагом Грузии Дианы Дэвис и Глеба Смолкина в монреальскую школу не удивил. Возглавляемая Мари-Франс Дюбрей и Патрисом Лозоном команда... РИА Новости Спорт, 11.04.2024

rsport.ria.ru

Machine translated excerpts:

Although Davis/Smolkin is not a Georgian or Russian duo. And even calling Diana and Gleb students of American or Canadian coaches would be wrong. This is a “parental” duet, interest in which is fueled by the personalities of the partner’s father and partner’s mother. The training of the dancers, who have been training overseas for a long time, was financed mainly by the popular artist Boris Smolkin and Eteri Tutberidze, who needs no additional introduction. After changing their sports citizenship, Davis and Smolkin even returned the funds that, in full accordance with existing rules, they received through the FFKKR and the Ministry of Sports as members of the Russian national team.

In December 2019, during the ISU Grand Prix final in Turin, I had a chance to talk with Igor Shpilband, who then coached Diana and Gleb. He brought the Russian duo to the finals of the Junior Grand Prix, which took place simultaneously with the adults. “Our cooperation began on the initiative of the guys themselves and Eteri Tutberidze,” said the coach. “The FFKKR functionaries, let’s say, did not interfere, but did not particularly contribute to our joint work.”

Shpilband especially emphasized that he was surprised how, with his workload, Tutberidze found the opportunity to pay so much attention to his daughter. While training the best Russian singles skaters, Eteri Georgievna managed to fly to the USA and resolve all issues, including everyday ones. The departure of Davis and Smolkin from Shpilband in the summer of 2022 is still shrouded in secrecy. The American coach himself refused to comment then.
The choice of Kilyakov as a coach surprised many. Although almost all Russian specialists working in the USA note that he managed to create one of the best dance centers in the country. We should not forget that at one time Alexey was Eteri’s partner in the show. Kilyakov also refused detailed comments after his dancers left for the Montreal school.

 

[PRlady]

 

[skatfan]

Eteri must write some good NDAs!

 

[Lizziebeth]

I hope Shpilband and Kilyakov got a truckload of flowers

 

[Wyliefan]

Although Davis/Smolkin is not a Georgian or Russian duo. And even calling Diana and Gleb students of American or Canadian coaches would be wrong. This is a “parental” duet, interest in which is fueled by the personalities of the partner’s father and partner’s mother.

I thought we weren't supposed to say things like that. Guess no one told the Russians.

 

[Vagabond]

I thought we weren't supposed to say things like that. Guess no one told the Russians.

Aren't all the parties concerned Americans by now?

 

[Sonata]

Wondering how the other I.AM skaters will feel when Eteri starts showing up at the rink to resolve “everyday” issues.

 

[kosjenka]

I hope Shpilband and Kilyakov got a truckload of flowers

Didn’t Shpioband drop them like a hot cake ?

 

[skategal]

I wonder were Diana and Gleb put on an IAM waitlist two years ago?

 

[Karen-W]

I wonder were Diana and Gleb put on an IAM waitlist two years ago?

Clearly below Holubtsova/Bielobrov and the Browns and the new team of SmaDie that formed in the interim.

 

[Vagabond]

 Does Ice Academy of Montreal have a waiting list? I thought it acted like a black hole, sucking in everyone and everything within its reach.

 

[skatfan]

 Does Ice Academy of Montreal have a waiting list? I thought it acted like a black hole, sucking in everyone and everything within its reach.

They have definitely said no to couples with good elite credentials. Reportedly they declined to take Weaver/Poje.

 

[skategal]

They have definitely said no to couples with good elite credentials. Reportedly they declined to take Weaver/Poje.

REJECTED! WAITLISTED! ACCEPTED!

This thread is reminding me of all those college decision YouTube videos that graduating high school students make each year.

I’ll show myself out now….

 

[chameleonster]

Carreira/Ponomarenko also tried to go to the main IAM school in 2021 but was told there wasn't room for them, but that Scott was opening another location. Either Davis/Smolkin weren't interested in IAMO or IAMO wasn't interested in them.

 

[Frau Muller]

Wondering how the other I.AM skaters will feel when Eteri starts showing up at the rink to resolve “everyday” issues.

Now this is a TV reality series that I want to see!

 

[Sonata]

Carreira/Ponomarenko also tried to go to the main IAM school in 2021 but was told there wasn't room for them, but that Scott was opening another location. Either Davis/Smolkin weren't interested in IAMO or IAMO wasn't interested in them.

I wonder how they feel when they see new teams join the Montreal main campus. Christina is from Montreal, I would have thought this was their first choice to be close to family and friends. Were they offered a spot in Montreal before other new teams joined? But it seems it has worked out for them to be in London.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I wonder how they feel when they see new teams join the Montreal main campus. Christina is from Montreal, I would have thought this was their first choice to be close to family and friends. Were they offered a spot in Montreal before other new teams joined? But it seems it has worked out for them to be in London.

It also would be closer to drive to the US border and back from Montreal. Mind you, that would involve living in a very small US town.

 

[Wyliefan]

C/P are very well off where they are, and I think they know it. Not only have they really bonded with their coaches, and gotten a lot from them, but they can get more individual attention.

 

[skategal]

C/P are very well off where they are, and I think they know it. Not only have they really bonded with their coaches, and gotten a lot from them, but they can get more individual attention.

Yeah if it were me, I wouldn’t be rushing to move away from Scott Moir and Maddie Hubbell as my coaches.

 

[barbarafan]

April 10, 2024: https://matchtv.ru/figure-skating/m...li_prijti_v_jego_akademiju_jeshhe_v_2022_godu

Machine translation:

Coach Roman Haguenauer told Match TV that figure skaters Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin are now training at his academy in Montreal, although they first approached his team two years ago.

On Monday it became known that Russian-Georgian dancers Davis and Smolkin moved to the Montreal academy, which is led by World Championship medalists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, as well as the Frenchman Haguenauer.

Previously, the daughter of the Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze and Smolkin represented Russia; in June 2023 they joined the Georgian national team. Until recently, they were trained by Elena Novak and Alexei Kiliakov. At the World Championships in Montreal, Davis and Smolkin took 12th place.


By Boris Khodorovsky (April 10, 2024)

Дэвис и Смолкин — в лучшей танцевальной академии мира. Что их ждет в Канаде

Переход выступающих под флагом Грузии Дианы Дэвис и Глеба Смолкина в монреальскую школу не удивил. Возглавляемая Мари-Франс Дюбрей и Патрисом Лозоном команда... РИА Новости Спорт, 11.04.2024

rsport.ria.ru

Machine translated excerpts:

hopefully Eteri will not be allowed in Canada.

 

[Vagabond]

hopefully Eteri will not be allowed in Canada.

Why wouldn't she be allowed?

 

[VarBar]

A really smart move from Davis/Smolkin or whoever advised them to go to Montreal for coaching. I can see D/S beating the other I.AM teams at their own game especially that the current field is not particularly deep. There's no mountain Eteri cannot conquer when she sets her mind to it.

 

[barbk]

I don't love Davis/Smolkin's skating, but Diana is not her mom.

 

[Karen-W]

hopefully Eteri will not be allowed in Canada.

Seeing that she was front and present for the Georgian team during Worlds, I can't imagine she won't be allowed to return to the country to visit her daughter.

 

[barbarafan]

Why wouldn't she be allowed?

Hello...she was a suspect in contributing to minors doping. In Canada that would be enough...pick and choose we do. One call from Skate Canada and she will not get a visa.
That would be the easiest. As well Davis/Smolkin are adults and do not need mommy or daddy to hold their hand. I am sure an agreement has been reached between the skaters and Iam that Eteri no go there.

 

[tony]

Hello...she was a suspect in contributing to minors doping. In Canada that would be enough...pick and choose we do. One call from Skate Canada and she will not get a visa.
That would be the easiest. As well Davis/Smolkin are adults and do not need mommy or daddy to hold their hand. I am sure an agreement has been reached between the skaters and Iam that Eteri no go there.

Hello… she was at Worlds as noted.

Also, when Diana and Gleb were training with Shpilband, I didn’t hear reports of how she was constantly involved in what he daughter was doing. Maybe I missed out on her magically showing up to spy/tell Igor what to do.

I think as usual, people are assuming something completely different than reality and Eteri will focus on her own skaters while letting others teach her daughter.

 

[Vagabond]

Hello...she was a suspect in contributing to minors doping. In Canada that would be enough...pick and choose we do. One call from Skate Canada and she will not get a visa.

What @tony said. Plus how would Skate Canada have any evidence that Tutberidze actually contributed to doping minors?

 

[Rukia]

C/P are very well off where they are, and I think they know it. Not only have they really bonded with their coaches, and gotten a lot from them, but they can get more individual attention.

Yeah I think if you had asked them how they felt about it when they first switched vs now, you'd get two very different answers as well. I think they ended up exactly where they needed to be and while I used to think they'd try to switch to Montreal, I don't see them doing that at all now.

 

[Karen-W]

Yeah I think if you had asked them how they felt about it when they first switched vs now, you'd get two very different answers as well. I think they ended up exactly where they needed to be and while I used to think they'd try to switch to Montreal, I don't see them doing that at all now.

They spend a decent amount of time in Montreal as it is. I think they've got a really good set-up the way things have worked out so far.

 

[Frau Muller]

Yeah if it were me, I wouldn’t be rushing to move away from Scott Moir and Maddie Hubbell as my coaches.

Just don’t repeat the fugly costumes & theme!