From Russia with love [#29]: Spring 2018 and beyond

[Vash01]

Trankov? So far we have not seen anything from him as a coach but as far as I remember he was the one who chose the music and did the choreography for them skating to "Hallo" which was not a good choice at all. If the rumours are true, I'm not sure what to expect from T/M next season. I was hoping they'd go to Moskvina.

Moskvina would be perfect for T&M.

 

[SamuraiK]

She commented Ice Dance event at Worlds, I re-watched few dances on YouTube with her commentary later - she seems to be better than Ilinykh and even managed to silence Iolanda Chen (very talkative woman, who did commentary on MatchTV during the Olympics)

Oh wow if she could do that she's good in my book. Match TV videos on youtube are usually of very good quality but the constant talking over the music and for unrelated stuff to the performance (i dont know russian but I could hear the names "Plushenko" or "Medvedeva" being constantly dropped during a dance routine) drove me away!!!

 

[Eislauffan]

Trankov? So far we have not seen anything from him as a coach but as far as I remember he was the one who chose the music and did the choreography for them skating to "Hallo" which was not a good choice at all. If the rumours are true, I'm not sure what to expect from T/M next season. I was hoping they'd go to Moskvina.

I don't really expect Maxim Trankov to become a full-time coach of a top-level pair now. He and Tatiana are very popular and can perform in many shows. Also, he wanted to join Nina Mozer's team as a coach and worked with a junior pair, but she chose Robin Szolkowy. And Fedor Klimov is a good friend of Maxim. So would he go and coach Fedor's rivals?

I was also thinking that Tamara Moskvina and her team could be a good choice for Tarasova/Morozov. IMHO, they need a make-over, a fresh start and be in a group where they are the top priority of their coaches. And they need better programs.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Alina Zagitova finally gets a major endorsement/sponsor - SBERBANK of Russia (Russian Savings & Loans Bank).
Message is: the harder the task, the fewer can do it right. others may try to imitate, but only the champions get it right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcG_tiK6kZQ

 

[Mad for Skating]

I think it is not secret in Russia,everybody talks about Trankov as their new coach

Well we'll just have to wait and see.
I actually liked their "Hello" program that Trankov did for them (Compared to Candyman, it's a dream LOL). Anyways, I hope they get some help, because they have all the potential right there.

I do agree with the posters who want to see T/M work with Moskvina. She is a coaching genius.

 

[rfisher]

Tarasova/Morozov don't need a different coach. Their technical skills are superb and their twist is much better than any Moskvina team. What they need are programs that highlight their strengths. That's a collaboration between the skaters, coaching team and choreographer. Given Mozer's health issues and the fact Stolbova/Klimov (who ALWAYs have programs that highlight their strengths so it's not a coaching team issue (so did Volo/Trankov) are staying in for one more year, T/M just need to take charge of their career. The only issue with Candyman was it was so fast, it was difficult for them to keep up with the music. When they went clean, it scored very well so the judging panels didn't seem to have issues with either the program or the polka dots. Sometimes it takes skaters a while to really understand themselves. They're still experimenting, but they'll figure it out. They are Russia's No 1 and likely to stay there given Stolbova/Klimov's history of unfortunate events and injury .

I fully expect to see Tar/Mor stay on top throughout this quad and be competitive with the Chinese (especially since Sui has the same issues with injury as Stolbova). I would be thrilled for Susie to have a great year and earn a world title to end her competitive career, but I'll be holding my breath for every event.

 

[barbarafan]

Alina Zagitova finally gets a major endorsement/sponsor - SBERBANK of Russia (Russian Savings & Loans Bank).
Message is: the harder the task, the fewer can do it right. others may try to imitate, but only the champions get it right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcG_tiK6kZQ

Yay!! Good for her.....that takes some of the pressure off. I love her in that skating dress. Beautiful.

 

[Ka3sha]

Alina Zagitova finally gets a major endorsement/sponsor - SBERBANK of Russia (Russian Savings & Loans Bank).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcG_tiK6kZQ

As far as I understand, it’s just a commercial, not sponsorship.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Tarasova/Morozov don't need a different coach. Their technical skills are superb and their twist is much better than any Moskvina team. What they need are programs that highlight their strengths. That's a collaboration between the skaters, coaching team and choreographer. Given Mozer's health issues and the fact Stolbova/Klimov (who ALWAYs have programs that highlight their strengths so it's not a coaching team issue (so did Volo/Trankov) are staying in for one more year, T/M just need to take charge of their career. The only issue with Candyman was it was so fast, it was difficult for them to keep up with the music. When they went clean, it scored very well so the judging panels didn't seem to have issues with either the program or the polka dots. Sometimes it takes skaters a while to really understand themselves. They're still experimenting, but they'll figure it out. They are Russia's No 1 and likely to stay there given Stolbova/Klimov's history of unfortunate events and injury .

I fully expect to see Tar/Mor stay on top throughout this quad and be competitive with the Chinese (especially since Sui has the same issues with injury as Stolbova). I would be thrilled for Susie to have a great year and earn a world title to end her competitive career, but I'll be holding my breath for every event.

Agree. T/M are still young and can grow a lot in four years, and if they can pull it together, I won't mind watching them. I think it's just time they get more mature programs and present themselves as leaders, rather than "the baby pair team".

I remember Stolbova/Klimov had a complete makeover at this age - unique programs, new hairstyles, more difficult elements. In 2013-14 they were a young pair skating a cutesy program to The Addams Family and by 2015-16 they looked like serious adults ready to run with the likes of Duhamel/Radford and Savchenko/Massot. I think T/M are ready for that kind of transformation.

As always, my prayers are with Queen Susie, but I'm realistic about their chances and have learned to just close my eyes on her side-by-sides...

 

[Ka3sha]

Two recent interviews translated by fs-gossips

with Aleksandra Trusova: I always wanted to do what nobody does

How did the idea to try quads appear?
– I always wanted to do what nobody does. But first we did not think about quads, I wanted to do a triple axel. I have been asking Eteri Georgievna about this for a long time and finally she said: “Try”.
Why did she postpone?
– Nothing special, we just waited for the period without competitions to begin.
And how did it go?
– Axel did not work our, but at the same time coaches realized something else: I can try quads. It was a little over a year ago, then I was 12. And we started to learn quadruple salchow.
Do you remember the exact date when it turned out for the first time?
– I don’t remember the exact date, somewhere in the 20th of April.
But it was a memorable date. Have you received gifts?
– Yes, my parents gave me a pendant- a bear on a chain. I always wear it.
How long did it take to learn salchow?
– It’s hard to count. If the competitions were close, then we stopped and worked on the main program. Then again worked on quad. But in general, less than two months.
You jumped salchow, what was next?
– Vacation. We went to Italy. Then training camp. And in December we began to work on the second quadruple – toeloop.
Another 1,5-2 months?
– No, three days. It was already easier. Despite the fact that this is a fundamentally different jumps – one from the toepicks, another from the edge, but still they have much in common.
Does the coach often praise?
– For the performances at the competitions I was praised twice – at the Grand Prix of Australia and at the World Championships.
Only twice? During all this time?
– There is always something to work on. We work and do not expect that someone will praise us.

And with Mikhail Kolyada: We skaters are like soldiers

How do you assess your performance at the main сompetitions of the past four years – the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang? On the one hand, silver was won in the team event, on the other hand individual event were a pretty screwy competitions for you…
-I went to Korea, like into complete unknown, but with the feeling of a grandiose holiday. After all, I haven’t been at the Olympics before. And in this country I had only been on a transfer to a plane. Four performances per competitions it’s unusual. Not everything turned out at the Games, I could have skated better, but many athletes have been going to these competitions all their life, and I’m among them. And I liked the team event more – teammates really supported and physical resources, apparently, were exhausted there. Excitement played a cruel joke. You can make excuses for a long time, but I will not do it. In general, if we talk about my failures at the Games, the season turned out to be instructive. I think that the Olympics were the beginning of a long, but interesting journey.
...
What experience have you taken from this season?
– Back at the “bronze” European Championships in Moscow, I made sure that it is necessary to work harder. And my opinion has not changed. The more you work, the greater the confidence not only in practices, but also in competitions. This is very closely related. So I’ll have to learn new multi-rotational jumps.
To learn more multi-rotational jumps? But after all, the International Skating Union talk about the upcoming radical changes in the rules of figure skating – about reducing the time of the free program, in order to increase the number of participants, about limiting the number of quadruples …
– We skaters are like soldiers. What rules will be developed for us, we will compete in accordance with them. If it’s necessary, we will shorten the free program to keep within the allotted time. However, there are talks about these changes, but nobody knows the future. Today, figure skating has reached such a level that the participants of the World Championships jump all quads which are possible. Except the axel. It’s incredible. To complicate step sequences and spins. Earlier figure skating looked cool, beautiful, but in a different way. If only we could use the time machine to move back and change something. Because to do six quads it’s cosmis. Any health isn’t gonna be enough.

 

[Tinami Amori]

As far as I understand, it’s just a commercial, not sponsorship.

oops! you're right... i used the word "sponsor" meaning "paying client"...

 

[caseyedwards]

Tarasova/Morozov don't need a different coach. Their technical skills are superb and their twist is much better than any Moskvina team. What they need are programs that highlight their strengths. That's a collaboration between the skaters, coaching team and choreographer. Given Mozer's health issues and the fact Stolbova/Klimov (who ALWAYs have programs that highlight their strengths so it's not a coaching team issue (so did Volo/Trankov) are staying in for one more year, T/M just need to take charge of their career. The only issue with Candyman was it was so fast, it was difficult for them to keep up with the music. When they went clean, it scored very well so the judging panels didn't seem to have issues with either the program or the polka dots. Sometimes it takes skaters a while to really understand themselves. They're still experimenting, but they'll figure it out. They are Russia's No 1 and likely to stay there given Stolbova/Klimov's history of unfortunate events and injury .

I fully expect to see Tar/Mor stay on top throughout this quad and be competitive with the Chinese (especially since Sui has the same issues with injury as Stolbova). I would be thrilled for Susie to have a great year and earn a world title to end her competitive career, but I'll be holding my breath for every event.

Judges are not allowed to have problems with programs! That’s why ice dance people want the right to say a program was not entertaining!!! The problems with candyman was that everyone saying in Pyeongchang candyman was worst program of all time in pairs and t/m were totally undeserving of a medal mentally destroyed them!! But it’s true the scores were amazing and fabulous.

 

[Eislauffan]

Judges are not allowed to have problems with programs! That’s why ice dance people want the right to say a program was not entertaining!!! The problems with candyman was that everyone saying in Pyeongchang candyman was worst program of all time in pairs and t/m were totally undeserving of a medal mentally destroyed them!! But it’s true the scores were amazing and fabulous.

"Candyman" was crap, sorry. The lyrics were embarassing ("voulez vous coucher avec moi" - "do you want to sleep with me"), the program was so much weaker than the programs of the other top teams. It was not an Olympic program, no way. Tarasova/Morozov can do so much better than this. They have excellent qualities, beautiful elements, but they need better material.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

"Candyman" was crap, sorry. The lyrics were embarassing ("voulez vous coucher avec moi" - "do you want to sleep with me"), the program was so much weaker than the programs of the other top teams. It was not an Olympic program, no way. Tarasova/Morozov can do so much better than this. They have excellent qualities, beautiful elements, but they need better material.

Are you sure that you aren't confusing these specific lyrics with the wrong song?

The bolded French phrase (along with the words "ce soir") is not part of the lyrics (AFAIK) of "Candyman", but of "Lady Marmalade", originally made famous by the group Labelle and later sung in a remake for the film "Moulin Rouge" by an ensemble of female singers, including Christina Aguilera, L'il Kim, Mya and Pink.

 

[caseyedwards]

"Candyman" was crap, sorry. The lyrics were embarassing ("voulez vous coucher avec moi" - "do you want to sleep with me"), the program was so much weaker than the programs of the other top teams. It was not an Olympic program, no way. Tarasova/Morozov can do so much better than this. They have excellent qualities, beautiful elements, but they need better material.

T/m should have changed their program before the Olympics. It’s very strange they didn’t. Hopefully they learned to change programs regardless of the judges because commentators and competitors are just as important

 

[clairecloutier]

Are you sure that you aren't confusing these specific lyrics with the wrong song?

The bolded French phrase (along with the words "ce soir") is not part of the lyrics (AFAIK) of "Candyman", but of "Lady Marmalade", originally made famous by the group Labelle and later sung in a remake for the film "Moulin Rouge" by an ensemble of female singers, including Christina Aguilera, L'il Kim, Mya and Pink.

Those lyrics (“Voulez-vous couchez avec moi?”) are in the T/M program. In the middle. There are 2 Aguilera snippets in the program.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Those lyrics (“Voulez-vous couchez avec moi?”) are in the T/M program. In the middle. There are 2 Aguilera snippets in the program.

Thanks for clarifying - my guess is that they were lifted from the MR version of "Lady Marmalade" that I referenced (after all, there is the Xtina connection between it and "Candyman").

 

[RoseRed]

Thanks for clarifying - my guess is that they were lifted from the MR version of "Lady Marmalade" that I referenced (after all, there is the Xtina connection between it and "Candyman").

Actually, in their program, it's from Nasty Naughty Boy.

I'll give you some oh-la-la
Voulez vous coucher avec moi?
I got you breaking into a sweat
Got you hot, bothered, and wet
You nasty boy

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Actually, in their program, it's from Nasty Naughty Boy.

Ah - the "writers" of that song (apparently Xtina and Linda Perry) must be quite adept at stealing lyrical ideas from others (in this case, from both the late Allen Touissant for "LM" and Janet Jackson for "Nasty"). I don't believe that either of them will be winning a Pulitzer Prize any time soon, based on that example.

Thanks for the additional clarification.

 

[Eislauffan]

Are you sure that you aren't confusing these specific lyrics with the wrong song?

The bolded French phrase (along with the words "ce soir") is not part of the lyrics (AFAIK) of "Candyman", but of "Lady Marmalade", originally made famous by the group Labelle and later sung in a remake for the film "Moulin Rouge" by an ensemble of female singers, including Christina Aguilera, L'il Kim, Mya and Pink.

Others have clarified from which song these lyrics are, thank you. I was referring to "Candyman" as the name of the program.

 

[Eislauffan]

Interview with Polina Tsurskaya on the website of the Russian Figure Skating Federation:
http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3704-polina-tsurskaya-ne-nado-nikogda-sdavatsya.html

She talks about how she almost retired from skating in the summer but came back, the past season - her success at NHK Trophy and her regrets for not making the Olympic team, her impressions from watching the Olympic Games and how she is inspired by Aljona Savchenko and Carolina Kostner.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Others have clarified from which song these lyrics are, thank you. I was referring to "Candyman" as the name of the program.

Noted elsewhere and I appreciate your clarification as well as those of others.

 

[rfisher]

Interview with Polina Tsurskaya on the website of the Russian Figure Skating Federation:
http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3704-polina-tsurskaya-ne-nado-nikogda-sdavatsya.html

She talks about how she almost retired from skating in the summer but came back, the past season - her success at NHK Trophy and her regrets for not making the Olympic team, her impressions from watching the Olympic Games and how she is inspired by Aljona Savchenko and Carolina Kostner.

I hope she has all her health issues behind her and can really make up the lost time the next couple of years.

 

[Vash01]

Interview with Polina Tsurskaya on the website of the Russian Figure Skating Federation:
http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3704-polina-tsurskaya-ne-nado-nikogda-sdavatsya.html

She talks about how she almost retired from skating in the summer but came back, the past season - her success at NHK Trophy and her regrets for not making the Olympic team, her impressions from watching the Olympic Games and how she is inspired by Aljona Savchenko and Carolina Kostner.

I hope to see her on the 'worlds' team in 2019. She should change her name from Polina to almost anything though (just kidding)

 

[SmallFairy]

I hope to see her on the 'worlds' team in 2019. She should change her name from Polina to almost anything though (just kidding)

I know

 

[Bellanca]

Interview with Polina Tsurskaya on the website of the Russian Figure Skating Federation:
http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3704-polina-tsurskaya-ne-nado-nikogda-sdavatsya.html

She talks about how she almost retired from skating in the summer but came back, the past season - her success at NHK Trophy and her regrets for not making the Olympic team, her impressions from watching the Olympic Games and how she is inspired by Aljona Savchenko and Carolina Kostner.

I knew Polina was a smart girl! Does it get any better than having AS & CK as role models?! Thanks for the interview link, @Eislauffan, appreciate it.

 

[Tinami Amori]

http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3704-polina-tsurskaya-ne-nado-nikogda-sdavatsya.html

I am not sure i like what i read about Polina's plans and parental influence. Polina clearly stated she wanted to pursue education rather than skating. Her parents influenced her to skate.... Polina wants to attend one of the best Economics University in Russia, now she is trying to figure out how to combine both, skating and school... Not sure parents should stand on the way of education..... weird!
Higher School of Economics https://www.hse.ru/en/

Polina says she prefers to sit at the desk and solve mathematical formulas..... but now that she returned full time to sports, she will probably attend the "institute of physical culture" (the one all athletes attend when they don't have time for regular educational system.....

Да. Сейчас я в 10-м классе, на следующий год сдавать ЕГЭ и поступать. И как раз тогда, когда я хотела уйти и думала, что не буду и не хочу связывать свою жизнь с фигурным катанием, то задумалась о Высшей школе экономики. Я и сейчас не отступаю от своего мнения: в будущем тренером быть не хочу, хочу учиться в ВШЭ. Знаю, это будет непросто, сложно совмещать спорт и учебу. Но если такая возможность выпадет, то попробую.

Мне легче дается математика, проще решать уравнения, задачи, чем писать сочинения. Папа у меня предпочитает географию и биологию.

Скорее всего, после школы буду поступать в физкультурный институт, а потом, когда завершу спортивную карьеру, хочу получить второе высшее образование.

 

[Bellanca]

Polina says she prefers to sit at the desk and solve mathematical formulas.....

That's just so... you know,

I cannot imagine that someone as ambitious and apparently as equally motivated as Polina seems to be, would let skating derail her educational aspirations. She's young enough to accomplish both, hopefully successfully.

 

[Madison25]

That's just so... you know,

I cannot imagine that someone as ambitious and apparently as equally motivated as Polina seems to be, would let skating derail her educational aspirations. She's young enough to accomplish both, hopefully successfully.

Yes, she can start the second degree in Economics in early 20s. It's not something unusual... people can learn in a formal setting irrespective of their age.

 

[Mad for Skating]

I knew Polina was a smart girl! Does it get any better than having AS & CK as role models?! Thanks for the interview link, @Eislauffan, appreciate it.

She bows at the thrones of the goddesses of greatness! That's my kind of girl!