From Russia with love [#23]: Spring/Summer 2016

[lauravvv]

And ugh, Mozgov should have teamed up with Queen Monko as opposed to Bettina. Why choose trash over class?

You yourself are not being classy at all right now. Also, unlike Yanovskaya/Mozgov, it seems Monko/Khaliavin did not split just like that and he did not simply leave her. Apparently Monko really has a career ending injury. So Mozgov could not have chosen her anyway. And apart from Popova there were no other female ice dancers of decent level available in Russia. No other splitting teams.

 

[quiqie]

I wonder why he didn`t want to leave, though. It could have been his chance to get away from Kustarova. Maybe he hoped that they would get now the # 1 status in Kustarova`s group with I/Z in Novi?

There isn't much choice - Zhulin has B/S, Z/G, and M/K haven't quit officially yet; Zhuk/Svinin have S/B, Zoueva - S/K, Shpilband now has I/Z. That leaves Krylova/Camerlengo, but everyone is leaving their camp these days; Linichuk, but everyone (including Karponosov) has left her already. Gorshkov and Platov, but Mozgov had worked with both of them already, and, according to him, they parted on very bad terms: http://rsport.ru/interview/20131208/706462688.html So really, if he feels comfortable in Kustarova/Alekseeva's group, it makes sense that he wants to stay.

 

[Katha]

Is there a possibility to go to non-Russian coaches? I'm guessing not... Are there other dance coaches in Russia who could cope with an elite pair? I've heard Rubleva and Shefer have gotten into coaching, though I don't know what their results are and if they could be a viable option (at least in the future).

And...in honour of the newest Russian ice dance drama, I thought I'd bring back this timeless classic : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9iGnlrz5Us
Really, compared to this all these new pairs are such harmless amateurs.

 

[Eislauffan]

Yanovskaya/Mozgov struggled this season and seemed to regress, maybe it was because she was injured at the beginning of the season, or maybe it was just the difficult transition from juniors to seniors, but she didn't seem to have grown significantly and he is very tall anyway. Maybe they just would have needed more time, now we never know. I thought they had potential.

However, even if the coaches felt that Yanovskaya/Mozgov had no future and they saw more potential in him than in her, I think Anna would have deserved more honesty and respect. All this could have been handled in a much better and less painful way for Anna (obviously I'm relying on her side of the story, but she was very classy and while sad and upset did not say anything bad about her ex-partner and the coaches, so I have no reason to doubt her story).

I also agree with other posters on Betina Popova. Betina has a sparkly personality and is very expressive on the ice, but she needs to improve a lot technically.

 

[kosjenka]

Sorry guys, but I cannot diss Linichuk despite all her non sense and "aboriginal" program disaster. She made Tanith Belbin a better skater. Respect. She also gave us this .

I have to agree with @Eislauffan about everything.
I love Betina Popovas on the ice personality and she is funny on social media too, but she is not an upgrade compared to Yanovskaya when it comes to skating.

 

[TAHbKA]

Averbukh is doing bith Medvedeva's programmes.

 

[MarieM]

Kustarova is useless to fix technique. With her even Elena had began to regress. So she's not the solution to fix Betina obvious problems as far as skating technique or posture are concerned.
Why staying with her? I really don't see the point and IMO either the russian feds finds someone who can join her team and TEACH basics or there is no point in letting people go to her again and again.

 

[pinky166]

I'm sorry, but Betina has one of the most lovely personalities on the camera. She looked like she was playing around and having a blast at the GPF. IMO there was never any question that she was going to get someone. She has star quality. And hasn't the most common complaint recently been that the Russian ladies from Worlds didn't have enough? I was rooting for Khaliavin, but I can see that Betina is closer to Mozgov's age.

Also, I don't think there is a huge mystery here. Anna grew this season. I feel very much for the fans who had fallen in love with this team. I know exactly how hard it is to see a team sweep the junior field and then disappear. And I think too often there is a rush to move on when the lady grows instead of working through the challenge. It drives me crazy!

But I hardly think Betina deserves to be called names. She was brought in from outside. And she is a wonderful performer. Anyone who could sell me the free dance she did this season deserves loads of credit in my opinion.

I'm sure Bettina is a lovely person, I wasn't throwing shade at her personality or behavior, the issue is packaging and those outlandish, trashy programs she's been given the past few seasons. She does have talent, no denying that, I just think her current team clearly does not have her best interests at heart and that some of the music, program, and costume choices she's had recently are questionable....in this sense maybe teaming up with Mosgov and training with a new coach will help.

And I wasn't aware Monko's injury was so serious, I thought they split up because the recovery period was long and Kirill did not want to loose so much training time. If she's incapable of continuing her career then obviously she shouldn't be getting a new partner...

 

[morqet]

I'm sure Bettina is a lovely person, I wasn't throwing shade at her personality or behavior, the issue is packaging and those outlandish, trashy programs she's been given the past few seasons. She does have talent, no denying that, I just think her current team clearly does not have her best interests at heart and that some of the music, program, and costume choices she's had recently are questionable....in this sense maybe teaming up with Mosgov and training with a new coach will help.

Betina needs to work on speed, posture and getting more nuance & subtlety into her performance style. I'm not one of the posters who thinks Kustarova is a completely incompetent coach, but I wouldn't choose to send a skater with those weaknesses to her.

 

[Xela M]

I think Zhulin is the only good ice dance coach left in Russia and I don't think his group is too crowded. B&S will not continue post 2018 and M&K have split, so that only leaves Z&G. I don't see why P&M can't go to Zhulin.

Aside from that, all good Russian ice dance coaches are abroad - Zuoeva, Shpilband, Platov. I don't know where Morozov is and how residtant Popova would be to his sex appeal but those are the only viable options I can see. Kustarova not being one of them!

 

[Jeschke]

I think Zhulin is the only good ice dance coach left in Russia and I don't think his group is too crowded. B&S will not continue post 2018 and M&K have split, so that inly leaves Z&G. I don't see why P&M can't go to Zhulin.

don't forget about nazarova/nikitin and of course stavitskaya/bagin (trainwreck-power )
and who says that kiril will leave zhulin?

so it might not be that empty as expected in camp zhulin.

 

[hanca]

I think Zhulin is the only good ice dance coach left in Russia and I don't think his group is too crowded. B&S will not continue post 2018 and M&K have split, so that only leaves Z&G. I don't see why P&M can't go to Zhulin.

Aside from that, all good Russian ice dance coaches are abroad - Zuoeva, Shpilband, Platov. I don't know where Morozov is and how residtant Popova would be to his sex appeal but those are the only viable options I can see. Kustarova not being one of them!

I am sorry but I am not sure if Zhulin is that much better than Kustarova. Kustarova has done pretty well with I/Z the first season and had quite disappointing results the second season. In comparison, Zhulin has been as inconsistent as Kustarova. There were seasons that Bob/Sol have done unexpectedly well, and seasons that they have done pretty bad. The most important season for them, the Olympics 2014, he didn't choose the right package and I think that Bob/Sol lost their chance to medal becUse of him, not because of their lack of skills. Similarly, I can't say that I have been particularly impressed with Mon/Khav results. People are saying that Kustarova manages to get her students to a chain level (junior worlds gold) and then they stagnate. On the other hand, isn't that true for all Russian dance coaches within Russia? All couples, no matter who coaches them, get to the level of, let's say, top six, and then they seem unable to do the extra step to reach the medals. So I don't think it is only Kustarova's problem, I think Zhulin has exactly the same problems. It is not like if Bobrova/Soloviev were constantly medal contenders. Maybe one of six possible contenders for a medal, but not like 'definitely a medal, just fight for the gold' skaters.

And regarding Platov, he doesn't have any medals gained by his students, so how can you dismiss Kustarova who at least gets regularly decent result on junior level (though unfortunately not on senior level) and then name an example of a great coach someone who didn't manage to have decent students on junior or senior level? What gives you the certainty to say that he is better than Kustarova?

 

[hanca]

don't forget about nazarova/nikitin and of course stavitskaya/bagin (trainwreck-power )
and who says that kiril will leave zhulin?

so it might not be that empty as expected in camp zhulin.

Did I miss anything? Does Stavitskaya have a new partner?

 

[Jeschke]

Did I miss anything? Does Stavitskaya have a new partner?

obviously

 

[hanca]

I wonder if Davankova would be still happy to do pairs. It seems that Bobrov is free again. His latest partner, Ustinova, is on the ice partner search. It seems that they gave up after only one competition. But he is 189 cm tall which would be good for Davankova. I know they had some try out a year ago and then she chose (or she was told to choose) Enbert, but it is not as if she had that huge choice of potential partners, and she is definitely a higher level than Bobrov so he could finally settle down with her. Saying that, Bobrov has been doing pairs for five years and has had five partners already, so I am not sure if he regards any partner as a temporary solution... Maybe it would be just a waste of time to skate with someone for a year, before that person decides to drop you.

 

[hanca]

obviously

Come on, Jeshke, tell us all details. I missed that. When did it happen? And who skates with his previous partner, Khachaturian?

I don't think Kha. Will leave Zhulin even if he teams up with a Spanish dancer and skate for Spain. I mean, who would coach them in Spain? Unless they would go to USA or Canada...

 

[Xela M]

And regarding Platov, he doesn't have any medals gained by his students, so how can you dismiss Kustarova who at least gets regularly decent result on junior level (though unfortunately not on senior level) and then name an example of a great coach someone who didn't manage to have decent students on junior or senior level? What gives you the certainty to say that he is better than Kustarova?

Platov got a joke team like Coomes & Buckland to medal at Euros and he cleaned their skating up so much they almost became unrecognisable! There was also the amazing work he did with the Kerrs (two Euro medals). If Platov had the material Kustarova regularly has to work with, he would have moved moutains with them. Obviously there's a limit to how much you can do with a team who can barely skate.

 

[hanca]

Platov got a joke team like Coomes & Buckland to medal at Euros and he cleaned their skating up so much they almost became unrecognisable! There was also the amazing work he did with the Kerrs (two Euro medals). If Platov had the material Kustarova regularly has to work with, he would have moved moutains with them. Obviously there's a limit to how much you can do with a team who can barely skate.

Hey, you are being a bit offensive to our team! Not everyone can be Russian! And unlike Russia, we do have only sixty million people to choose from.

 

[Xela M]

Hey, you are being a bit offensive to our team! Not everyone can be Russian! And unlike Russia, we do have only sixty million people to choose from.

I think Coomes & Buckland are the price Britain has to pay for having had Torvill & Dean

 

[Jeschke]

Come on, Jeshke, tell us all details. I missed that. When did it happen? And who skates with his previous partner, Khachaturian?

have no details for you, sorry.
tm2 is no skating with her bf bagin:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDlF4x5wwsy/?taken-by=_jabber_wock_

both would just fit in in juniors the upcoming season, so might be a good start for them, as there is obviously no 'over-the-top' russian junior dance team right now, and her senior experience with shibnev should speak for themselves unfortunately

no clue about khachaturian.

#shibnev
#teamtrainwreck

 

[Moustaffask8r]

Hey, you are being a bit offensive to our team! Not everyone can be Russian! And unlike Russia, we do have only sixty million people to choose from.

Wow! Better be from UK than Russia... Too many people there, not enough air to breath ! They're not all there and the after career is usually bad! What's the point in being good in s sport if you suck at being a human!!!

 

[barbarafan]

Is there a possibility to go to non-Russian coaches? I'm guessing not... Are there other dance coaches in Russia who could cope with an elite pair? I've heard Rubleva and Shefer have gotten into coaching, though I don't know what their results are and if they could be a viable option (at least in the future).

And...in honour of the newest Russian ice dance drama, I thought I'd bring back this timeless classic : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9iGnlrz5Us
Really, compared to this all these new pairs are such harmless amateurs.

Oh my god...I have heard all the names and admired Zhulin's coaching..(my fav dance team is Alexandra and Maxim from Ukranie) but the rest is news to me.If there is any poll there for country with the most drama..Of course Russia wins no contest.

 

[barbarafan]

I think Zhulin is the only good ice dance coach left in Russia and I don't think his group is too crowded. B&S will not continue post 2018 and M&K have split, so that only leaves Z&G. I don't see why P&M can't go to Zhulin.

Aside from that, all good Russian ice dance coaches are abroad - Zuoeva, Shpilband, Platov. I don't know where Morozov is and how residtant Popova would be to his sex appeal but those are the only viable options I can see. Kustarova not being one of them!

ok..my choice is train in the U.S. with Platov

 

[Spun Silver]

FWIW, Morozov is listed on the staff at the Ice House in Hackensack NJ. I believe he works in the US because of his daughter, but maybe he splits his time?

 

[Marta24]

Still sad about the way Anna was treated What is Collin Brubaker doing these days? He could be tall enough for Anna.

 

[casken]

Still sad about the way Anna was treated What is Collin Brubaker doing these days?

Finishing in the lower half of the top ten at Nationals like usual. I actually like the guy, but at this point I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[Marta24]

Finishing in the lower half of the top ten at Nationals like usual. I actually like the guy, but at this point I don't think it's going to happen.

Wow, I didn`t realize that Arronow/Brubaker competed at Nationals this year. Yikes, they were even behind Aldridge/Blackmer.

 

[TAHbKA]

Sotnikova's SP is by Tchernyshev and is almost ready. He is also doing Kovtun's SP

 

[caseyedwards]

I am sorry but I am not sure if Zhulin is that much better than Kustarova. Kustarova has done pretty well with I/Z the first season and had quite disappointing results the second season. In comparison, Zhulin has been as inconsistent as Kustarova. There were seasons that Bob/Sol have done unexpectedly well, and seasons that they have done pretty bad. The most important season for them, the Olympics 2014, he didn't choose the right package and I think that Bob/Sol lost their chance to medal becUse of him, not because of their lack of skills. Similarly, I can't say that I have been particularly impressed with Mon/Khav results. People are saying that Kustarova manages to get her students to a chain level (junior worlds gold) and then they stagnate. On the other hand, isn't that true for all Russian dance coaches within Russia? All couples, no matter who coaches them, get to the level of, let's say, top six, and then they seem unable to do the extra step to reach the medals. So I don't think it is only Kustarova's problem, I think Zhulin has exactly the same problems. It is not like if Bobrova/Soloviev were constantly medal contenders. Maybe one of six possible contenders for a medal, but not like 'definitely a medal, just fight for the gold' skaters.

And regarding Platov, he doesn't have any medals gained by his students, so how can you dismiss Kustarova who at least gets regularly decent result on junior level (though unfortunately not on senior level) and then name an example of a great coach someone who didn't manage to have decent students on junior or senior level? What gives you the certainty to say that he is better than Kustarova?

Zhulin choked as a coach of B/S. B/S didn't have a chance because their coach was a mess constantly altering and changing their programs and making them miss competitions based on him being a total flake! It was the Olympic season! His behavior was awful and damaging.

 

[Xela M]

Zhulin choked as a coach of B/S. B/S didn't have a chance because their coach was a mess constantly altering and changing their programs and making them miss competitions based on him being a total flake! It was the Olympic season! His behavior was awful and damaging.

I don't really understand what happened to Zhulin during the Olympic season and why he chose that season of all to not pay any attention to his top team?!