From Russia with love [#28]: Autumn to Winter 2017

[caseyedwards]

Was cooking and watching this show today, erm, Navka is still in better shape and has better SS than Sinitsina, Zahorski and Stepanova all together
Zagitova skated to the Don Quixote with all jumping passes

And speaking of Navka:
Here’s the video of her working with Sinitsina/Katsalapov
https://instagram.com/p/Bfxh9J2lLig/

Omg it’s so horrible how Sinitsina is so wobbly and navka so secure on the edges! Sinitsina truly doesn’t have skating skills

 

[Bigbird]

Omg it’s so horrible how Sinitsina is so wobbly and navka so secure on the edges! Sinitsina truly doesn’t have skating skills

But she's very pretty and elegant which is more important to Katsalapov than actual skating skills. Erm, Russian ID is in the pits I tell you. The pits.

EDIT: And by the way, Elena Ilinykh has better skating skills than Navka herself, always has. But as they say, this is Russian ID. LOL.

 

[Ka3sha]

Victoria has nice lines and great work ethic, sure, her SS can be improved as well as her presence on the ice, but her basics are still miles better than Stepanova’s

 

[caseyedwards]

But she's very pretty and elegant which is more important to Katsalapov than actual skating skills. Erm, Russian ID is in the pits I tell you. The pits.

EDIT: And by the way, Elena Ilinykh has better skating skills than Navka herself, always has. But as they say, this is Russian ID. LOL.

It’s so bad! How can this be? How can they even look at Sinitsina wobble like that and continue the partnership? I don’t understand? Too much focus on looks! This is by far the worst but most illuminating thing I have seen describing the collapse into total incompetence of Russian ice dance.

Victoria has nice lines and great work ethic, sure, her SS can be improved as well as her presence on the ice, but her basics are still miles better than Stepanova’s

This is true! It’s so bad. I’ve not seen something so shocking and revealing about skating skill incompetence in Russian ice dance before.

 

[Bigbird]

Deleted.

 

[Bigbird]

I won't argue much with that, but Stepanova has something intangible that Sinitsina doesn't have and may never have. She is so much more pleasant to watch. And that's the crux of my problem. With S/B its Stepanova that draws all the interest while with S/K its Katsalapov. The pairs, both of them are so uneven. Oh well.

EDIT: They need to address how they cultivate, train and engage their young ice dancers.

As for Sinitsina, what difference does it make how hard she works if her partner doesn't work half as hard as her and if the results are not forthcoming? Aljona and Bruno only took three years to honestly mine gold at the OGs, as a team S/K are nowhere near S/B. How can this still be after four years of work? Let's hope they begin to show some major improvement in the next two seasons or they may be brushed aside by more promising junior teams. That would truly be a waste of talent.

 

[caseyedwards]

I won't argue much with that, but Stepanova has something intangible that Sinitsina doesn't have and may never have. She is so much more pleasant to watch. And that's the crux of my problem. With S/B its Stepanova that draws all the interest while with S/K its Katsalapov. The pairs, both of them are so uneven. Oh well.

EDIT: They need to address how they cultivate, train and engage their young ice dancers.

As for Sinitsina, what difference does it make how hard she works if her partner doesn't work half as hard as her and if the results are not forthcoming? Aljona and Bruno only took three years to honestly mine gold at the OGs, as a team S/K are nowhere near S/B. How can this still be after four years of work? Let's hope they begin to show some major improvement in the next two seasons or they may be brushed aside by more promising junior teams. That would truly be a waste of talent.

I totally agree but a main issue is so simple! Ice dancers should know - really know!! - how to skate! No more of this only one partner needs talent stuff!

S/m are a great example to all! If you both work hard and in the proper environment with proper coaching there can be success. Zhulin is so horrible in every way now he’s of no use to anyone and why he has totally helped to demolish and obliterate all Russian success in ice dance. Even having the lesson with navka helps to show a problem! Navka is there! But would Kostamorav help? No.

 

[coppertop1]

Any word on Pogo? I really hope she's able to make a comeback

 

[Anyasnake]

I totally agree but a main issue is so simple! Ice dancers should know - really know!! - how to skate! No more of this only one partner needs talent stuff!

That's not always easy. Actually, there are not much ice dancers today who are just ice dancers. In France, solo Ice Dance is a thing, the skaters usually don't switch from singles to ice dance. You start as an Ice Dancer and you never do jumps, and when you compare simple things such as crossovers, the difference is almost shocking. But that produce excellent skating skills and quality dancers (P/C, Pechalat/Bouzat, Del/Schoes, A/P...).
I know that Sasha started as singles and switched for example. Don't know about the others though.

 

[hanca]

Oh, so this thread is becoming another thread where ‘Russian ice dance is so bad, it is doomed’ is discussed. Perhaps it would be possible to open another thread for Russian ice dance being doomed and not spoil all threads that talk about Russian ice skating. This thread has always been very good for learning news about Russian skaters and coaches, but I am getting a bit fed up about the monotonous input of several posters.

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

Oh, so this thread is becoming another thread where ‘Russian ice dance is so bad, it is doomed’ is discussed. Perhaps it would be possible to open another thread for Russian ice dance being doomed and not spoil all threads that talk about Russian ice skating. This thread has always been very good for learning news about Russian skaters and coaches, but I am getting a bit fed up about the monotonous input of several posters.

Very true! I just found this thread and it seems like there is to much repeating, not much humor and very serious talks. So negative!

On positive side, I found this page about the girl with exotic tiger exhibitionist program getting a dog: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/russian-teen-ice-princess-to-get-beloved-japanese-dog/

 

[starrynight]

I always have my fingers crossed for a a Tuktamysheva comeback but I'm not sure where her jumps have gone. I'd just love for someone to give her good packaging. She's such a visually striking lady I'm sure she'd do well in shows if someone would give her a good Gala program to skate to. But at least she is still skating.

 

[caseyedwards]

That's not always easy. Actually, there are not much ice dancers today who are just ice dancers. In France, solo Ice Dance is a thing, the skaters usually don't switch from singles to ice dance. You start as an Ice Dancer and you never do jumps, and when you compare simple things such as crossovers, the difference is almost shocking. But that produce excellent skating skills and quality dancers (P/C, Pechalat/Bouzat, Del/Schoes, A/P...).
I know that Sasha started as singles and switched for example. Don't know about the others though.

but once anyone makes a commitment to ice dancing in Russia Russian fed to save its program must make remedial skating classes a total requirement. Like with bonuses for the girls doing triple triples. Or have auto deductions for Sinitsina style wobbling!

Oh, so this thread is becoming another thread where ‘Russian ice dance is so bad, it is doomed’ is discussed. Perhaps it would be possible to open another thread for Russian ice dance being doomed and not spoil all threads that talk about Russian ice skating. This thread has always been very good for learning news about Russian skaters and coaches, but I am getting a bit fed up about the monotonous input of several posters.

This is the thread where the video of Sinitsina wobbling on her edges was! I didn’t even consider moving talk about the video to a new thread!

 

[hanca]

Albiba Sokur, who skated junior pairs with Pleshkov, wants to switch to ice dance and skate for Ukraine.

 

[BittyBug]

Medvedeva revealed that under the white scarf that was affixed to the OAR jackets was the Russian flag. Sneaky!

 

[caseyedwards]

Medvedeva revealed that under the white scarf that was affixed to the OAR jackets was the Russian flag. Sneaky!

So zagitova knew that when people were psycho analyzing her face!

 

[lauravvv]

Of course, in case P/C are not there.

Not only P/C are on the entry list, they also said explicitly after Olympics that they are going to Worlds.

 

[clairecloutier]

FSGossips translation of short interview with Medvedeva: http://fs-gossips.com/evgenia-medvedeva-victory-is-the-feeling-that-you-have-overcame-yourself/

Questions about her mother, and her style on-ice and off-ice, etc.

 

[Ka3sha]

FSGossips translation of short interview with Medvedeva: http://fs-gossips.com/evgenia-medvedeva-victory-is-the-feeling-that-you-have-overcame-yourself/

Questions about her mother, and her style on-ice and off-ice, etc.

Here’s another article about Evgenia with beautiful photos inside
http://woman.ru/stars/medley1/article/217157/

 

[quiqie]

Alina profile for Japanese TV: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iGz7Vx1o80c

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Santa Maria de Guadalupe!!!!

Trusova with nearly 100 points in TECHNICAL for the free..... well now someone will already be taking down Zag... this is so hard to wrap my mind around.... the level of talent..... Wow.....

 

[coppertop1]

These Russian girls are insanely talented! If Russian Ladies Figure Skating is the Hunger Games on Ice then Tutberidze's girls are like Career Tributes. They can loan some of their girls to other countries

 

[alexikeguchi]

That quad sal especially was off the hook! The rotations looked so casual and easy that I had to watch again to see that it was really a quad. Also, her double axel is quite good for a Tutberidze skater; I'll bet she can upgrade that to a triple, improve her mediocre spins to pick up a couple more GOE points there, and maybe hit 100 tech.

 

[barbarafan]

These Russian girls are insanely talented! If Russian Ladies Figure Skating is the Hunger Games on Ice then Tutberidze's girls are like Career Tributes. They can loan some of their girls to other countries

Alexandra Trusova was so amazing. This is the first time I saw her skate and of course I expected her to be a jumping bean but everything about her programs was beautiful. She has an innate timing and spring for her jumps which she got great GOE's for well deserved. She has lovely lines and arms and her musicality made the short so enjoyable. It looked a little bit rushed for the long but.....it takes time to prepare for quads so there is a tradeoff there. I feel she was undermarked for the PCS and that is the first time my fingers have typed such a thing for one of Eteri's girls. Bravo!

 

[hanca]

Whoever follows Russian junior pairs, there is a gossip on the Russian forum that Kudryavtseva/Spiridonov left Pavlova and moved to Dmitriev. It looks like a lucky escape to me. Though not sure if Dmitriev is a good choice. He hasn’t had much success for quite a while, and especially not in juniors.

 

[clairecloutier]

Interesting @Eislauffan interview with Pavliuchenko/Khodykin: http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3634-da...-kak-brat-s-sestroj-ssorimsya-i-mirimsya.html

Pavliuchenko says she tried out for Eteri Tutberidze's group as a singles skater. Tutberidze rejected her & told her to go to pairs skating instead. Pavliuchenko stopped skating for a while (8 months), but then took the advice to go into pairs.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Japanese video: Zagitova's new dog (2nd half of the tape) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvw7Xg4OqPA
I am a bit concerned, to be honest. Zagitova has a) a cat (rare breed) and b) 2 chinchillas.. and now a Dog.... And it's all on her Grand-mother when Alina travels. I am having a hard time picturing her grand-ma being pulled by this Dog... and, their Moscow rented apartment is very very small.. https://gubdaily.ru/blog/lifestyle/...hivet-olimpijskaya-chempionka-alina-zagitova/

Interesting @Eislauffan interview with Pavliuchenko/Khodykin: http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3634-da...-kak-brat-s-sestroj-ssorimsya-i-mirimsya.html

Thank you for the link! I am now even more sure that Khodykin has "issues" which may affect the team. I read on Russian chats that he is a "bully" and very "self-centered", which are not good traits if they are planning to train quad twists and throws, and yet both admit that they have "issues" with jumps. Khodykin in the interview admits having weight gain problems and jumping technique problems, and in combination with "selfishness" it is dangerous for the girl.

Plus these comments...
Translation:
- How are your relationship between the two of you?
Denis: We argue
Dasha: We're like brother and sister. We argue, when problems come up, but make up.

- What do you argue about?
Dasha: On all different subjects. From simple daily issues (to....Denis interrupts her)
Denis: ... to, first of all, what to train first, SP or LP during practice..

- (to Dasha) As an "older brother", does Denis protects/takes care of you?
Dasha: Sometimes he has this internal mean-streak (his nasty "I, me"), and he will not give in (will not let go).


=======
-- Какие у вас отношения между собой?
Денис: Спорим.
Даша: Как у брата с сестрой. Спорим, когда возникают проблемы, но миримся.

-- О чем спорите?
Даша: На разные темы. От жизненных вопросов…
Денис: ...до того, что в первую очередь будем катать – короткую или произвольную программу на тренировке.

-- Как старший брат, Денис, наверное, опекает?
Даша: Иногда в нем включается его внутреннее вредное Я, которое уступать мне ни в чем не хочет.

 

[barbarafan]

Whoever follows Russian junior pairs, there is a gossip on the Russian forum that Kudryavtseva/Spiridonov left Pavlova and moved to Dmitriev. It looks like a lucky escape to me. Though not sure if Dmitriev is a good choice. He hasn’t had much success for quite a while, and especially not in juniors.

Yay!!!...another escape from he**ll. Kudos to a pair guy who has shown he is a pair man by protecting his partner from untold horrors up to and including death. Pair girls are not expendable. Hopefully Dmitriev will be up to the challenge of maximizing their talent and skills. I will be following them next season.

 

[hanca]

Yay!!!...another escape from he**ll. Kudos to a pair guy who has shown he is a pair man by protecting his partner from untold horrors up to and including death. Pair girls are not expendable. Hopefully Dmitriev will be up to the challenge of maximizing their talent and skills. I will be following them next season.

Well, he wasn’t a big enough man to protect Amina when Pavlova decided to split them. Glad to see that he finally grew a pair of b..ls!

 

[Ka3sha]

Interesting @Eislauffan interview with Pavliuchenko/Khodykin: http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3634-da...-kak-brat-s-sestroj-ssorimsya-i-mirimsya.html

Pavliuchenko says she tried out for Eteri Tutberidze's group as a singles skater. Tutberidze rejected her & told her to go to pairs skating instead. Pavliuchenko stopped skating for a while (8 months), but then took the advice to go into pairs.

Their coach, Sergei Dobroskokov, also said in his recent interview, that Daria sometimes trains with Eteri’s group and they help her a lot with her triples. They also plan to work on new triples, 3-3 combo and quad twist in the off-season
https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180309/1133817312.html