I suppose I uber Tarasova and Morozov (I've never used that term before!). But I really hope they give them great programs next year; while I liked their SP, their LP was really boring and uninspired, really not worthy of what they could be. They have beautiful technique, lovely lines, they are both gorgeous and fit well together: let them grow, please, coaches and choreographers!
From Russia with love [#23]: Spring/Summer 2016
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I suppose I uber Tarasova and Morozov (I've never used that term before!). But I really hope they give them great programs next year; while I liked their SP, their LP was really boring and uninspired, really not worthy of what they could be. They have beautiful technique, lovely lines, they are both gorgeous and fit well together: let them grow, please, coaches and choreographers!
I loved their LP. Chopin suited them well. It was beautiful skating. They are so pure. They can achieve greatness through simplicity, like G&G. No need for Loud a Rock n Roll music.
I agree with you that they can do very well with simplicity. However, this LP was not that for me (the irritating obvious costuming, for one).
To each his own. Their costumes were beautiful IMO. They were under marked in both SP and LP
The pairs results were soul-crushing, but unfortunately fair (aside from the question mark over S&M vs S&K)
I absolutely agree with you about Medvedeva! I don't like her programs or tasteless packaging at all!! She leaves me completely cold and I don't think the world record scores were merited
I disagree on both. S&M were unfairly given high marks in SP and LP. StolKlim and T&M were held down. I will still maintain that D&R were way over marked in the SP.
I love Medvedeva's LP, costume, her clean jumps. She has it all. She fully deserved the high marks. It was one of the best skated ladies programs. I didn't like the design of her SP because it was unbalanced (all jumps late in the program) but no rules were violated and it worked for her to get those bonus marks.
In my opinion, without Averbukh ideas Evgenia would have probably finished off the podium in Boston.
They would have given her nice technical program with nice lyrical music, she would have looked nice on ice and she would have received nice "debutant" scores for a nice 4-6th place.
Averbukh's programs made her stand out, accentuated her strenghts and hid her weaknesses: physically she looked juniorish, but she didn't perform juniorish, all those musical accents, gestures, choreo diversity in the program (especially long) were great idea for a young slim girl, who can't fully emanate femininity, the way other girls can (Ashley for instance). Yes, her skating is airy, gentle and adorable, but all of this would not have been enough for a rookie skater to win Worlds gold medal. It's the choreography that made her truly INTERESTING to watch.
I don't really like or even trust this guy personally, but he is a freaking genius.
Oh let's face it. She received those PCS scores because, like Tuk last season, she had been consistent and winning almost everything. (and she was actually very solid on everything and actually had choreography)
Now that she has won all the big titles in one year, the pressure should be off a little, and I hope she can come back with better programs with different styles next season. Her programs this and in past seasons have all been rather similar, tone wise. And she better work on her 2axel in the off season - it is not up to standard to the rest of her jumps. Once that's done, she can then work on the upper-body pre-rotation issue.
I still have an issue with her layout, and felt doing the 3sal3toe after the 2axel2toe2toe can be disastrous under COP rules, but she was too darn consistent for this to become an issue.
I wonder if the RSF may make some changes due to the failure to medal here? After the 2010 Olympics, where Russia didn't medal, they put together the team of Volosozhar & Trankov and achieved great success. There are many talented pairs in a Russia now, but is anyone OGM material?
I think for 2018, Stolbiva-Klimov, if healthy, should contend. No changes needed, except May be they need a coach who does not tell them to skip some major competitions.
Tarasova Morozov may be. I still see them as 2022 champions.
V&T - it really depends on their goals and motivation. If they want to compete in 2018, nobody can doubt their talent.
B&D - based purely on Vasiliev's interview they are shooting for gold in 2022, not for 2018
A&R- if they develop, by 2022
I don't expect Kawaguti Smirnov to be contenders in 2018.
So the choices are very limited (S&K, and may be T&M and V&T)
I think for 2018, Stolbiva-Klimov, if healthy, should contend. No changes needed, except May be they need a coach who does not tell them to skip some major competitions.
Tarasova Morozov may be. I still see them as 2022 champions.
V&T - it really depends on their goals and motivation. If they want to compete in 2018, nobody can doubt their talent.
B&D - based purely on Vasiliev's interview they are shooting for gold in 2022, not for 2018
A&R- if they develop, by 2022
I don't expect Kawaguti Smirnov to be contenders in 2018.
So the choices are very limited (S&K, and may be T&M and V&T)
altai_rose
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This documentary is now subtitled (well, 90% subtitled)
Eteri seems firm and strict (I can see why her style might not work for some skaters...), but also a genuinely nice person who cares about her skaters.
Xela M
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But then Canada, China and Germany only have one contender each, so Russia having 3 is not too bad.
If they want the OGM though they will HAVE to upgrade their elements and no more playing it safe! If D&R win the Olympics I think I will have a nervous breakdown
CassAgain
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The massive treble clef on her chest--so helpful.
I adore them on the whole and hope they have programs worthy of them next season.
If Julianne Seguin recovers fully--please skate gods--it's hard not to imagine they are strong contenders for the next two cycles. They came roaring out of juniors this year.
Totally agree. She's a very classic look from the way she's built, her line, her packaging, the whole bit. Musical, can jump and seems like an all around well-grounded, great kid who genuinely likes others. So much to like there.Medvedeva, tasteless packaging?!?It really does take all kinds, I guess. I think her packaging is gorgeous and fascinating.
barbarafan
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I wouldn't call three fabulous teams to be very limited..Russia is very rich in pairs. Hopefully the injuries can all be worked out and everyone does not come back to the ice too soon..(even skipping GP season to do it) and t&m get programs which stand out. I cannot wait until next year.Upgrading is an option but only if they can train and perform them safely. As well...I don't know about pair boys in Russia but so many young Russian girls in singles are such beautiful skaters but who will never get to the top in singles..surely some could be converted?
Xela M
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Wow, beauty really is in the eye of the beerholder
Medvedeva "stunning" "gorgeous"?! Really? Tiny girl dressing in her mother's clothes. I don't even find her pretty in a little girl kind of way and certainly not stunning in a womanly kind of way.
Now when you're talking those adjectives, Anna is the skater that comes to my mind. Beautiful girl with a grown woman's body and good taste.
Medvedeva "stunning" "gorgeous"?! Really? Tiny girl dressing in her mother's clothes. I don't even find her pretty in a little girl kind of way and certainly not stunning in a womanly kind of way.
Now when you're talking those adjectives, Anna is the skater that comes to my mind. Beautiful girl with a grown woman's body and good taste.
oleada
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Wow, beauty really is in the eye of the beerholder
Medvedeva "stunning" "gorgeous"?! Really? Tiny girl dressing in her mother's clothes. I don't even find her pretty in a little girl kind of way and certainly not stunning in a womanly kind of way.
Now when you're talking those adjectives, Anna is the skater that comes to my mind. Beautiful girl with a grown woman's body and good taste.
Anna is certainly stunning but she really tries to do her best to hide it with those horrid costumes. We saw her on the street in Boston and she is a total knockout - wish she had better packaging on the ice to highlight it.
Not sure when Evgenia pissed on your cornflakes but she's definitely quite pretty and well packaged. I've been trying to figure out who she reminds me off and I've realized it's a young Rachel Weisz
Xela M
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Anna is certainly stunning but she really tries to do her best to hide it with those horrid costumes. We saw her on the street in Boston and she is a total knockout - wish she had better packaging on the ice to highlight it.
Not sure when Evgenia pissed on your cornflakes but she's definitely quite pretty and well packaged. I've been trying to figure out who she reminds me off and I've realized it's a young Rachel Weisz
I thought Anna's SP costume was super sexy. The LP not so much, but she certainly has the best fashion sense of all the Russian girls! At least she doesn't reek of "village" the way we say in Russia, and Medvedeva certainly is "village" from head to toe (as is Elena). I guess figure skaters in general are attractive people, but I can't really find tiny skinny-legged girls with no shape attractive.
MarieM
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Anna is just a class act above all the others in terms of fashion. All the others DO have poor taste IMO.
antmanb
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Anna is certainly stunning but she really tries to do her best to hide it with those horrid costumes. We saw her on the street in Boston and she is a total knockout - wish she had better packaging on the ice to highlight it.
But she rocked a headband
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It's been bugging me for ages that she reminds me of an actress and I couldn't put my finger on who and you're exactly right.
Xela M
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MarieM
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You can add Elena I to the list of good taste IMO in fashion. I found Tarassova there stunning too 
But russians in general do IMO not make fashion choice I would Too "in your face".
But russians in general do IMO not make fashion choice I would
Too "in your face".
BlueRidge
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"village" is that like "townie"?
Xela M
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I don't know, but it's an expression used in Russian (a lot) to describe someone who looks classless
MarieM
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In france we would say "peasant" I guess
Based on politics- from what I saw in Boston- there might be an effort to hold down the Russian pairs at the 2018 Olympics. I see the Chinese as the most likely OGM winners in 2018. They have the big elements (though not top basic skating skills), difficulty, cuteness, and proximity to the region. In 2022 it's almost a guarantee that the Chinese will win, with the Olys in China, and they will have 3 pairs that would be medal contenders.
What will the RSF do to counter this? They can no longer sit on their laurels. After what happened in Boston, I cannot count out D&R from being OGM contenders. By then they might be landing two quad throws, including a quad lutz. No matter how ugly the rest of their skating is, the judges might just be swayed to give them the gold.
I agree with you that the Russian pairs will need quads (and more) to compete for the top spot. The subtle skills are no longer valued.
I don't find either Elena or Evgenia classless in their looks or behavior. Both are pretty young ladies who give a lot to this sport.
julieann
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The Russian pairs didn't perform well and with only triple throws and no Lutz jump, they have to be 100% and they definitely were not. Trankov and Stolbova's jump was a mess. Stolbova's throws were great but Tatiana's was messy. V&T no longer have the best twist and S&K's twist is terrible. S&K have the 3T 3T but they don't have enough speed for the last jump. With how well K&S performed after his injury-the best of their career, I wouldn't count them out. They can get 6th at Worlds too.
S/M were not as over marked as some have said, it's the fact that some fans don't like the fact Bruno hasn't paid his "dues" yet.
S/M were not as over marked as some have said, it's the fact that some fans don't like the fact Bruno hasn't paid his "dues" yet.
julieann
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If the skaters want subtle skills valued, they have to be performed properly.
Xela M
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I agree. The Russians (S&K and V&T) were completely off on the night and T&M have the worst programs imaginable. Had the Russians been clean, they would have probably been 2-3 on the podium. S&M's twist is breathtaking and the best I have ever seen from any pair and all their elements bar the double-footed throws were on point.
You can never count YukO out; she has a lion's heart, but she has been through so many injuries that at some point the body is going to say- No. The fact that she got injured during the warmup worries me. Can she stay healthy for the next two years? This is the only Russian pair with a consistent quad, but they are so prone to injuries! Luckily for Russia, there is no shortage of talented pairs.
