FAN PROJECT for ADIAN PITKEEV

[Katarzyna]

Since Adian due to injury had to retire from single skating and has started a new chapter in his career, I decided to set up a fan project for him. It’s about collecting messages, paintings, pics for him (whatever you like) for a special scrapbook. With retiring from single skating Adian now left behind a very important part of his life. This even if ice dance works out and we might see him in another discipline again in competition. In any case trying out ice dance at his age is a real challenge, so I feel this is the time when he needs just as much support as possible.

Basically this scrapbook should be a little farewell for his career in singles but also a warm and positive input from his fans regarding the switch to dance or any other things Adian might do in future, so that he will be aware, how many people wish him well. If anybody likes to participate, please send me a PM, then I will give you more details about it (e.g. where to send your contribution, deadlines, handing over, etc.).

The scrapbook will be given to Adian by a friend of mine, so it won’t be sent by snail mail or something, but it will be given personally to him, so you can be sure that Adian will receive your input.

Thanks in advance for your interest in participating and any contributions to this project.

.

 

[aftershocks]

Bump

Good luck to Adian. I think he will make an excellent ice dancer, and cheers to him on his new skating journey!

 

[Katarzyna]

The fan project for Adian ist still in action, I’m still collecting messages for his scrap book (see post above). Thanks to everybody who already participated, your encouraging words and to those who will still send contributions: You can send your messages for Adian by PM on this board, to my mail address or my snail mail address. I set up a site on tumblr where you can find the details:
https://katiafigurnoekatanie.tumblr.com/

There is also a Q&A section, where I tried to cover some questions raised frequently (e.g. that you might send your messages to Adian in English language, etc.) and also some additional information:
https://katiafigurnoekatanie.tumblr.com/image/163217047231

So if you’d like to dedicate a few nice words to Adian, wish him well for the future – please participate (creative members may of course also send drawings, collages, etc.). Thanks!

 

[Spun Silver]

Are there any updates on Adian's ice dance efforts?

 

[hanca]

I think I read somewhere that the partnership with Lozko didn't work out. Someone probably realised that you can't put two dance beginners together and hope that they will suddenly make up for the last ten years that their competitors were working on ice dance. And with Aidan aging out from juniors in a year or two, they would be expected to be even better than juniors... I think it would have been better if they were both matched with an experienced partner, and Lozko with someone younger, so that she has more time in juniors.

 

[Spun Silver]

That is a bit sobering, but Russia has a lot of talent, so let's keep hoping.

 

[Katarzyna]

I think I read somewhere that the partnership with Lozko didn't work out. Someone probably realised that you can't put two dance beginners together and hope that they will suddenly make up for the last ten years that their competitors were working on ice dance. And with Aidan aging out from juniors in a year or two, they would be expected to be even better than juniors... I think it would have been better if they were both matched with an experienced partner, and Lozko with someone younger, so that she has more time in juniors.

There has been no official confirmation on the status of Alisa and Adian recently, but the last information I’ve seen on Russian boards was that Adian and Alisa don’t skate together any longer and that Adian might skate in shows (which would mean doors in ice dance have been closed for him ).

Alisa recently confirmed on her ask that she left Moscow and is back in St. Pete:
https://ask.fm/Alisa_Lozko/answers/141986334448

Basically I have the same feeling: it was just stupid right from the beginning to pair up two single skaters, still everybody seems to have expected them to learn a new discipline within a few weeks. I’m just sad about the lack of support both kids, Alisa and in particular Adian, seem to have gotten here. I wish he’d been given a real chance to try out for let’s say half a year, or at least a couple of month if he can adapt.

However, with these developments I think it’s even more important to support Adian, so for everybody who likes Adian and wants to wish him well for his future, there is one more week left to send me any messages for him either with a private message here on FSU or to my E-Mail address: [email protected].

One thing to add: I’ve noticed people very often feel they need to do something extraordinary, a poem, etc. (though of course I'm happy if someone is able to do). But basically this is about collecting a few nice words for Adian, so even a short message wishing Adian well will be highly welcomed. I’ll print out any text messages with different colors and fonts so it will look very nice. The goal is that just as many skating fans as possible send nice and positive messages to support Adian and to show him, how proud he can be of his achievements despite his shortened career.

So don't be shy, every contribution to this project will be very much appreciated.

 

[hanca]

There has been no official confirmation on the status of Alisa and Adian recently, but the last information I’ve seen on Russian boards was that Adian and Alisa don’t skate together any longer and that Adian might skate in shows (which would mean doors in ice dance have been closed for him ).

Alisa recently confirmed on her ask that she left Moscow and is back in St. Pete:
https://ask.fm/Alisa_Lozko/answers/141986334448

Basically I have the same feeling: it was just stupid right from the beginning to pair up two single skaters, still everybody seems to have expected them to learn a new discipline within a few weeks. I’m just sad about the lack of support both kids, Alisa and in particular Adian, seem to have gotten here. I wish he’d been given a real chance to try out for let’s say half a year, or at least a couple of month if he can adapt.

However, with these developments I think it’s even more important to support Adian, so for everybody who likes Adian and wants to wish him well for his future, there is one more week left to send me any messages for him either with a private message here on FSU or to my E-Mail address: [email protected].

One thing to add: I’ve noticed people very often feel they need to do something extraordinary, a poem, etc. (though of course I'm happy if someone is able to do). But basically this is about collecting a few nice words for Adian, so even a short message wishing Adian well will be highly welcomed. I’ll print out any text messages with different colors and fonts so it will look very nice. The goal is that just as many skating fans as possible send nice and positive messages to support Adian and to show him, how proud he can be of his achievements despite his shortened career.

So don't be shy, every contribution to this project will be very much appreciated.

I don't think we have enough information to claim that there was luck of support and that they were expected to learn a new discipline within a few weeks. I understand that you are disappointed, but it seems to me that you are not being objective in this situation. Being ice dancer requires very specific skills, which singles skaters simply don't have. It usually takes years to develop those skills. Aidan unfortunately made the decision to move to ice dance too late. He will need to move to seniors and the relatively short time, a year or two he has left in juniors is not long enough to catch up what other ice dancers have been working on for a number of years. He would be competing against skaters who were getting into JGPF and competing at junior worlds, while he was learning again how to do basic stroking and simple turns. I do believe that the Russian coaches know what they are doing; they gave it a chance, but if they saw that there is no point to continue, it is better to be honest about it. It would be different if Russia was a country that doesn't have any ice dancers; then they would have nothing to lose if they tried to develop even a couple that looks not very promising. In such case any result (e.g. 20th at worlds) would be considered a success, but Russia has other dance couples, more is coming through from juniors every year, so I don't blame them that they don't want to waste their resources on something they don't believe in. The resources are not unlimited.

As for Lozko, I believe she has enough time to switch to ice dance. I am not sure why she decided to return home. Maybe because there was no point staying if she doesn't have a partner, or maybe she realised that it is not quite what she imagined it to be, working constantly on her basics. Maybe she didn't enjoy it.

 

[Katarzyna]

I understand that you are disappointed, but it seems to me that you are not being objective in this situation.

I obviously very much like Adian. And yes, I’m very diappointed for him. He tried to cure his back for more than a year as he so much wanted to continue in singles and now there was hope he could switch to dance and doors seem to be closed for him again.

But I certainly wouldn‘t make a public statement based on symphaty. I would see it the same way if I noticed a similar story with a skater I’d be not particularly fond of. I think we all agree that you can’t learn a new discipline within a few weeks, right? In particular with another single skater? And I’m pretty sure the involved skaters were pretty much aware of it as well, i.e. that it will take some time to adapt and that this is more than a few weeks. I assume both would not have enganged in a hopeless project, in particular not Adian in his situation. I don’t think both have started dance if they’ve been told they need to catch up within about a few weeks. Don’t forget that Alisa even had to move to another city. So if no one wanted to invest appropriate time in them, which is at least a couple of months, why let them even try? To me it looks like they were abused as kind of marketing gag and would both would not have started this adventure, if they’ve been told right away that they’ll only have a couple of weeks to try. And Alisa was even asked to come, so it was not her initiative. For Adian it also possibly meant leaving ZSKA – which is a club which usually takes care of their former skaters, i.e. gives them a possibility to work as coach, in particular as they’ve just opened a new rink or to train for skating at shows. Do you think he’d risked that for a from the very beginning hopeless short trial period?

Now compare this e.g. to Sasha Proklova, trying out pairs: who was given the chance to skate with a top pairs skater for a much longer period. And while Sasha switched earlier, in her case it was quite clear that her type of injury will also effect her in pairs (and don’t get me wrong: this is no complaint, I think it’s good she got a chance, but so should others).

And about the age thing: I don’t get it. So an average skater with less skating skills who very early observes he has no chance in singles might switch, but a skater who was talented enough to compete on top level at seniors is not. So that’s basically being punished for talent. It’s not like Adian is 25 or something. Zhulin by the way switched about his age to dance if I recall it right. In addition after moving to Buyanova Adian certainly worked a lot on his skating skills when having troubles with jumps. And there are two things you can’t teach: being able to perform under pressure (ask e.g. Kovtun or Katsalapov) and the desire to be a competitive athlete.

As mentioned I would see it just the same way, if any other skater would have been given that treatment. If you don’t want to give skaters a serious chance to succeed, don’t make them try.

 

[hanca]

I obviously very much like Adian. And yes, I’m very diappointed for him. He tried to cure his back for more than a year as he so much wanted to continue in singles and now there was hope he could switch to dance and doors seem to be closed for him again.

But I certainly wouldn‘t make a public statement based on symphaty. I would see it the same way if I noticed a similar story with a skater I’d be not particularly fond of. I think we all agree that you can’t learn a new discipline within a few weeks, right? In particular with another single skater? And I’m pretty sure the involved skaters were pretty much aware of it as well, i.e. that it will take some time to adapt and that this is more than a few weeks. I assume both would not have enganged in a hopeless project, in particular not Adian in his situation. I don’t think both have started dance if they’ve been told they need to catch up within about a few weeks. Don’t forget that Alisa even had to move to another city. So if no one wanted to invest appropriate time in them, which is at least a couple of months, why let them even try? To me it looks like they were abused as kind of marketing gag and would both would not have started this adventure, if they’ve been told right away that they’ll only have a couple of weeks to try. And Alisa was even asked to come, so it was not her initiative. For Adian it also possibly meant leaving ZSKA – which is a club which usually takes care of their former skaters, i.e. gives them a possibility to work as coach, in particular as they’ve just opened a new rink or to train for skating at shows. Do you think he’d risked that for a from the very beginning hopeless short trial period?

Now compare this e.g. to Sasha Proklova, trying out pairs: who was given the chance to skate with a top pairs skater for a much longer period. And while Sasha switched earlier, in her case it was quite clear that her type of injury will also effect her in pairs (and don’t get me wrong: this is no complaint, I think it’s good she got a chance, but so should others).

And about the age thing: I don’t get it. So an average skater with less skating skills who very early observes he has no chance in singles might switch, but a skater who was talented enough to compete on top level at seniors is not. So that’s basically being punished for talent. It’s not like Adian is 25 or something. Zhulin by the way switched about his age to dance if I recall it right. In addition after moving to Buyanova Adian certainly worked a lot on his skating skills when having troubles with jumps. And there are two things you can’t teach: being able to perform under pressure (ask e.g. Kovtun or Katsalapov) and the desire to be a competitive athlete.

As mentioned I would see it just the same way, if any other skater would have been given that treatment. If you don’t want to give skaters a serious chance to succeed, don’t make them try.

I like Aidan too, but at the same being a fan does not prevent me from using a common sense.

The trouble is, you can't compare ice dance with pair skating. Switching to pairs requires learning pairs elements. There have been a number of skaters who successfully switched to pairs. Unlike pair skating, in ice dance you have to completely change your technique of skating. It starts with basic stroking, crossovers, turns... it is quite hard to change the way how you skate if you have been skating that way for many years. People think that ice dance is easier because it doesn't have the jumps. If it was so easy, ice dancers wouldn't have to practice eight hours per day.

You are making serious assumptions about them being expected to catch up within a few weeks. Unless you have been present at their practices, you don't really know what was going on. The coaches are specialist in their job, they can observe progress or lack of it, and if they gave it a month and there wasn't adequate progress, they have right to call it off. No one said that they expected to catch up so quickly.

 

[Katarzyna]

I like Aidan too, but at the same being a fan does not prevent me from using a common sense.....

You didn’t get my point: my personal opinion is, that there might be cases where a late switch might be worth a try - that in general, not related to Adian. Like some people might learn skating at age 13 and become a World medalist. We might have different opionons here, which is ok. Different people might see things differently - this is not the place to discuss our different views on this issue, in particular as I don’t want to get another reply that I lack common sense due to fandom.

However, my personal opinion on this issue does not matter at all for the point I wanted to make: if people think a 19 year old (no matter if Adian or anybody else) is too old to switch, in particular as in such a case it’s clear you need intense, individual training, don’t let him even try. It’s just that simple.

Alisa by the way seems to continue with dance aspirations in St. Pete. Gives you a hint that for her there was no chance to develop in Moscow.

Also the idea to pair up two advanced singles was doomed to fail from the very beginning. The only slight chance to make this work would have been this couple having a coach working with them pretty much exclusively and intensively on a long term basis. Something not very likely to happen in Russia, and not in Gorshkov’s group. There is no need to have attended their practices, etc., to make such a conclusion, i.e. that the practice conditions were not helpful. And thus I think there is a good reason to question a lot of things here: in particular who initiated this project, who called Alisa to move to Moscow, etc.

 

[Yehudi]

thus I think there is a good reason to question a lot of things here: in particular who initiated this project, who called Alisa to move to Moscow, etc.

Why don't you ask Alisa whose idea was it, instead of speculating? For all we know, it could have been how most teams come together: One needs a partner. Another asks if they are interested in trying out. You'd be surprised to learn how many pairs and ice dance partnerships, even among experienced partners, fail after only a few weeks together.

 

[Katarzyna]

I don’t need to speculate here: it were Alisa’s own words when asked on her ask that if they (so people whom she obviously trusted to asess her talent for dance) called her, she has talent.

I’m also aware that finding the right ice dance partner isn’t easy (actually Gorshkov just recently gave an interview on that issue and how he tried to match Domnina with someone else, but it didn’t work out), but what I don’t remember is that anyone had tried to match two that advanced single skaters. So I don’t see anything wrong questioning whose glorious idea this was. In particular as this is the trash can.

 

[Vash01]

I don’t need to speculate here: it were Alisa’s own words when asked on her ask that if they (so people whom she obviously trusted to asess her talent for dance) called her, she has talent.

I’m also aware that finding the right ice dance partner isn’t easy (actually Gorshkov just recently gave an interview on that issue and how he tried to match Domnina with someone else, but it didn’t work out), but what I don’t remember is that anyone had tried to match two that advanced single skaters. So I don’t see anything wrong questioning whose glorious idea this was. In particular as this is the trash can.

Matching partners in ice dance is even harder than in pairs. I am sorry it didn't work out. Such is life. I am sure something good is waiting for both of them, and it may not even be on the ice.

 

[Katarzyna]

I am sure something good is waiting for both of them, and it may not even be on the ice.

Let's hope so, by goodness!

Today is by the way the official deadline and in principle the last day to send me contributions for Adian’s scrap book.
Now if you can’t keep the deadline, but still wish to participate: 2-3 days of delay won’t cause a problem if you send me text messages, as I can arrange them rather flexible regarding size and planned with a little time buffer. If you like to send something like e.g. a drawing, i.e. something which takes some space which is more than half a page, please let me know about it till tomorrow so I can plan this. – At the beginning of the week I need to know how many pages I need to take into account for arranging the scrap book. However, I will do my very best that even late contributions might find its place in the book.

At this point please don’t send anything to my snail mail address, but use either a private message here on FSU or my E-Mail address: [email protected] – Thank you!

 

[Katarzyna]

I received a very lovely post card from the U.S. from Seattle today and I'm very thankful about it. However, I couldn’t allot it to anyone I’ve been in contact with. So if this card has been send by an FSU user, please contact me. I like to thank you personally and to let you know how this project will proceed (I’m sorry for not giving details here. I hope Adian does not know about the project yet, but if he does, at least he shouldn’t know any details ).

 

[Katarzyna]

On Friday the scrap book respectively the scrap books have been given to Adian.

I received so many messages from you that I actually had to make two books (= 88 contributions and Adian has evidence that he has fans on every continent – most fans were from Russia, U.SA., China but also fans from Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Egypt or Australia participated). This is really great – thank you all who made it possible that this project to became very special.

To surprise Adian a bit more at (just in case he had noticed something is going on which he luckily didn’t) we also asked Elena Buyanova and Sergei Voronov to sign the book (Sergei’s words being once more proof that Eteri’s statements why he left her were total nonsense – when reading I was so angry about her. ) And at the opening of CoR Stephane Lambiel also wrote something nice for Adian.

As I received so many contributions (and also asked people to contribute till the very last minute) the project unfortunately became a bit chaotic: I had planned to give the book my friend Tatiana Flade at ONT in Bratislava who should then give it to Adian at CoR. But I simply didn’t manage to get everything ready. So I changed plans and went to CoR and thus had a chance to be present when Adian received his book. Elena Buyanova helped us a lot with giving tickets to CoR and telling him he should attend.

Adian’s reaction to the present was just priceless – he seemed to be almost shocked that so many people wish him well. And when we told him Stephane wrote something ins his book he asked “for me????” (No Adian, in your book but for Plushenko ). It’s just incredible how modest he is. And shy (I’m a shy person as well, but I’d consider myself a crazy extrovert person compared to him ). It was great I got to know him in person, what a sweetheart.

I’m very happy that thanks to all of you Adian received a great present which I hope will also boost his confidence a bit and show him support to continue as a dance. So thanks again to everybody participating in this project. This was the third scrap book project for me (though with prior ones I did only the organizational part, not the setting up of the book) and with the response and getting to know other fans of Adian a very special one. Certainly it was a lot of work, but every second invested was worth it. I’m very happy it could be realized and that Adian has been given a nice memory on his single career and that he knows he has dozens of fans behind his back wishing him well.

Here are a few pictures concerning the preparation of the scrap book and the handing over:

The books: https://vk.com/adyan_pitkeev?z=photo-58643094_456239046/wall-58643094_2026
Sergei signing: https://vk.com/adyan_pitkeev?z=photo-58643094_456239047/wall-58643094_2026
Stephane signing: https://vk.com/adyan_pitkeev?z=photo-58643094_456239048/wall-58643094_2026

Adian with his surprize:
https://vk.com/adyan_pitkeev?z=photo-58643094_456239049/wall-58643094_2026
https://vk.com/adyan_pitkeev?z=photo-58643094_456239050/wall-58643094_2026
https://vk.com/adyan_pitkeev?z=photo-58643094_456239051/wall-58643094_2026

And a few pics of him at CoR with fans and friends:
https://vk.com/figureskating_love?z=photo-64888695_456264911/album-64888695_00/rev
https://vk.com/albums-58643094?z=photo-58643094_456239044/photos-58643094
https://vk.com/albums-58643094?z=photo-58643094_456239043/photos-58643094
https://vk.com/albums-58643094?z=photo-58643094_456239040/photos-58643094
https://vk.com/albums-58643094?z=photo-58643094_456239052/photos-58643094

 

[zebraswan]

That's fantastic...you went above and beyond and I am sure he was extremely appreciative. I would looooove to know what Sergei wrote! And Stephane, for that matter!

I am no psychic, but I feel pretty strongly that he will fight his way back to the ice in some shape or form. He is too good to simply fade away.

 

[Spun Silver]

How generous and kind of you to put together that worldwide tribute to him, @Katarzyna, and I’m glad you got to meet him. I hope it comforts him and gives him heart to keep skating however he can.

 

[sus2850]

Hi Katarzyna, I just saw this thread today, this was a very nice project you did. And did you have a chance to ask Adian what his future holds for him now, what are his plans?

I always thought the ice dance idea was unfortunately not possible to go through with because of his back problmes (as he has to perform lifts).

 

[SmallFairy]

@Katarzyna Thanks for the update and thanks for organizing this great project! I'm really happy to hear the CoR-story, so nice you got to present the albums to Adian, thanks for sharing, love his reaction

 

[Katarzyna]

Thank you all for the nice comments. I’m glad you like the outcome of the project. For those who like to know how the books looked inside a put a few pictures on my tumblr-side: https://katiafigurnoekatanie.tumblr.com/ (due to data protection considerations, however, I only published pages with articles and pictures). That’s why I unfortunately also cannot publicly share the comments of Sergei and Stephane (I think they and also Adian would need to consent to that). But I can tell they wrote incredibly nice messages for him.

Hi Katarzyna, I just saw this thread today, this was a very nice project you did. And did you have a chance to ask Adian what his future holds for him now, what are his plans?
I always thought the ice dance idea was unfortunately not possible to go through with because of his back problmes (as he has to perform lifts).

That’s unfortunately the one thing which went completely wrong. Tania had planned to do an interview with Adian. So I didn’t ask him much about his health or his how he is doing in ice dance, as Tania would just ask him the same things and I felt it will be more convenient for him to talk about it with someone he knows than with a complete stranger. So when picking him up - Tania told him to wait in sector A1 - and going with him to the press Center (where we gave the books to him) I asked Adian as intelligent questions like how he likes the competition.

However, as there was no time on friday to make that interview, Adian could keep the accreditation I gave him on friday till next day hoping there will be another opportunity to realize the plan. I really considered that important. First of all so many fans followed Adian’s retirement and wanted to know how he is doing but second in my opinion it is very important for Adian to stay present if he wants to continue in dance. From what I know Adian is not very fond of interviews and “publicity work” in general, he doesn’t like to talk about making things, but doing them (one of the things I like about him ).

On Saturday, however, there was no chance either and shortly before the competition ended Tania wrote me I should ask Adain about the interview (it was the final group of ladies and of course she had to watch carefully for reviewing the event afterwards). Now asking him – how? You were not allowed to enter another sector and after the event he might quickly leave. In SOS-mode and with no other choice I finally decided to do something which for me as a fan usually would be an absolute no go which is to write Adian an SMS if he’ll attend the gala tomorrow and if not, we need to meet again at sector A1 so I can pick him up again (Adian recently announced that he is on partnersearch on tulup.ru, that’s where I got his number from). It was really embarrassing – in particular after all the bad experiences he made with crazy Julia fans he must have thought “right, yesterday I got the scrapbooks, today private SMS from that fan and hell knows, where she got my number from”. Here I need to add that I used a lot of stickers preparing the books to ensure that all messages will glue well. Many of them hearts (and flowers, and butterflies – right the things a young adult man would expect, but it was still better than options like princess lillifee stickers or rosy-pink unicors. ). So I can imagine what thoughts might have come to poor Adian’s mind. What additionally added to the embarrassment was that my stupid Austrian handy autocorrected the transliterated Russian words, so e.g. “togda” (then) became “Tagfalter” and I didn’t know how to change it and time till the event was over was running. Luckily Adian is a clever guy so he understood the messages.

So I again went with Adian to the press center (my Russian with the whole embarrassing situation being worse than ever) where Tania talked with Adian how our plan still could be realized (phuuu, I was so relieved that Adian now knew it was really about this interview and not a fan starting to stalk him). Basically both agreed that they’ll do the interview later online. So there should be kind of information, but it might take some time as the GP is in full flight. Today I can laugh about it, but that time it really felt uncomfortable.

What I can give as info at the moment from talking with him: Adian is still pursuing his goal to continue his career in ice dance. But it’s of course difficult for him (finding the right partner). From what I red on Russian forums he trains with Rubleva and he’s got medical clearance to do ice dance. But hopefully, there will be soon more information.

One thing to add here: Tatiana did an amazing job. At CoR she was also translating the press conferences. I was lucky to get a press accreditation as I write a little bit for a German figure skating magazine and this was the first time for me to follow a really big event behind the scenes and sometimes I felt almost displaced. When I got to know Tania many years ago, I thought cool job, you get to know all the stars in person and you are paid to watch figure skating. Today I’m in total admiration of Tania and any journalists writing on that top level. I’d never switch my job with theirs. It’s just amazing how these people start their day at 7 a.m. in the morning or even earlier and are in 100 % concentration mode, kicking out reviews ultraquickly till late night and that with sitting in a tiny work space in a noisy room they have to share with at least 20 others. And beside all that Tania still managed to help to arrange the handing over of the books. So I’m really thankful to her.

 

[Josh78]

What an amazing experience! I'm so glad that he enjoyed them and that you got to meet him -- I'm glad he's still pursuing ice dance too