From Russia with Love [#30]: If There Are Test Skate Videos, It Must Be Fall 2018

[Rina RUS]

On a funny note. Yagudin was asked "who is the best, Zagitova or Medvedeva"? and he said "Eteri Tutberidze"..

Oh, Yagudin does his best to support both girls. He answered "Eteri Tutberidze" for the first time when both girls were Tutberidze's students.
Yagudin interviewed Medvedeva, but when somebody tried to say in his instagram, that something was "unfair" about the Olympics, he answered: "NOOOO!!!!! Alina is #1!!! Olympic champion!!! End of conversation", "not just Evgenia deserved the title!!! All of the ladies deserved, but Alina was BETTER than the rest of the field"
When somebody said, that Alina's fans were annoying, he answered, that it was possible to understand them, because Alina didn't have enough attention from media indeed.
As for Bestemianova's words... he thinks, that it is "an outrage": "How can one think such things, let alone saying?!?!? Let the girls live and practice with a peaceful mind!!!!!!"
Yagudin also was asked whether he thinked it was a tragedy, that Alina Zagitova was on the second place after SP. He answered: "While you, wretches from newspapers, keep thinking, that it is a tragedy, they will be suffering. I don't think, that it is a tragedy." They posted these words in the article indeed.
https://news.ru/sport/yagudin-emocional-no-otreagiroval-na-vopros-o-zagitovoj/

Yet of course, Yagudin doesn't agree, that Tarasova is a bad commentator.
As for Tarasova, she only said, that many loved Zhenya more than they loved Alina, because they knew Zhenya for a longer time. Tarasova only kept talking too much about Zhenya. Such is love.

 

[Rina RUS]

a Russian circus owner (one who still uses animals in their shows)

? As far as I know, many people still eat animals - they think they are enlightened people.

As for Averbukh's letter... he doesn't say anything like "forbid it!", so... actually, I don't get what was the point of writing such a letter.

Averbukh's shows had to compete with Cirque du Soleil in Sochi, and Averbukh's shows still were successful.

 

[Willin]

Mean while in Russia: Cirque du Soleil are planning to build a venue in Russia. Apparently a Russian circus owner (one who still uses animals in their shows) wrote Putin a letter asking not to allow the Canadians in Russia. Averbukh joined claiming: it will hurt the development of the Russian arts and sports because (ok, sit tight) Cirque du Soleil will keep gettin the best artists and sportsmen offering them long term contracts and better conditions.

Where is a throw up icon when you need one....

Well, if you're concerned about competition because they offer better contracts and conditions maybe you should *le gasp* offer better contracts and conditions?

 

[layman]

I am surprised that Kolyada competed the SP. He looked very off balance. As someone who also has sinus problems, I know that sinusitis can cause bad vertigo. I don't know how he was able to jump and spin. It was shaky but still cleaner than the healthy men.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Yet of course, Yagudin doesn't agree, that Tarasova is a bad commentator.

that's right, he does not think that she is a bad commentator... He only thinks she is too loud, too excitable and talks too much.... https://www.instagram.com/p/BrAmMirB2Tp/
(Yag/"Leshka" doing a parody on TAT's exclamations: I am Tatiana Tarasova! Listen everybody! I want to say it and say it again! Leshka! My Leshka! there is nothing he can't do!"...

I am surprised that Kolyada competed the SP. He looked very off balance. As someone who also has sinus problems, I know that sinusitis can cause bad vertigo. I don't know how he was able to jump and spin. It was shaky but still cleaner than the healthy men.

Few news reports state that right after SP Kolyada was feeling "strange" (dizzy/disoriented?) and was sent to see a doctor. https://nevasport.ru/42402-kolyade-ponadobilas-pomoshh-vracha-posle-korotkoj-programmy-na-chr/

He also said that he has not yet recovered, but is not planning to withdraw (from FS).
https://nevasport.ru/42466-kolyada-ne-uspel-opravitsya-ot-bolezni-no-snimatsya-ne-planiruyu/

 

[Rina RUS]

that's right, he does not think that she is a bad commentator... He only thinks she is too loud, too excitable and talks too much...

So? I guess Lyoshka Yagudin knows, that Lyoshka Yagudin is as emotional and talkative as Tanyushka Tarasova. Somebody said Tarasova liked the video which you show.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9zTFQ5m3EA

 

[Rina RUS]

Well, if you're concerned about competition because they offer better contracts and conditions maybe you should *le gasp* offer better contracts and conditions?

What a funny advice.

Many coaches in "soviet Russia" couldn't buy new clothes for themselves, they had been wearing the same clothes year by year. Now conditions are a bit better - for those who live in Moscow, at least. Not for all the country.

Many people had got brilliant education for free in the Soviet Union and left the country later looking for a place where they will be able to buy some clothes and some food for their kids.

Yagudin can say: "we skated in a dog house" ("в сарае") about some ice arenas in Russia. This is not hate, this is pain. Such is our life, we are OK with that. The country tries to build new arenas, the country offers "better contracts" to footballers, though even with "better contracts" Russian footballers are not great now.

If you mean Averbukh, he offers as much as he can. In Sochi they skate in the new ice palace all summer long, as for TV - Averbukh is used to work on the most prestige channel.

People from different cities keep asking skaters to come and skate. Some cities can offer only a "dog house" with no good road to it.

There was a really good article about Averbukh's work - maybe you still can see it. For example, Averbukh says, that tickets can give enough money "only in 3 or 4 big cities", as for other cities - he can get enough money only from sponsors.

https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/in...buch-by-artur-doud’-“clockwork-orange”.98750/
https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dud/962738.html

 

[hanca]

Well, if you're concerned about competition because they offer better contracts and conditions maybe you should *le gasp* offer better contracts and conditions?

No bread? Let them eat cake!

 

[Rina RUS]

In short, if we speak about ice shows, an ice show in Russia can look like this (it's amazing, that he didn't break any chairs or boards around this rink ):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB-qwQYoiqw&t=1m12s
And people are grateful to skaters.

 

[Amantide]

Well, if you're concerned about competition because they offer better contracts and conditions maybe you should *le gasp* offer better contracts and conditions?

Not that easy. It's not like they can afford what Cirque du Soleil can. That's just mu assumption though, I might be wrong.

Having said that, I don't think it's a good thing to deny them the permission to build a venue in Russia. But I can see an argument for some restrictions, if they want local circus to survive smh.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Well, if you're concerned about competition because they offer better contracts and conditions maybe you should *le gasp* offer better contracts and conditions?

Every country has a right to exercise protectionism in its own territory and economy, and many countries do exactly that in various forms. "Country A" is not obligated nor often can match the "better contracts and conditions" of "Country B". What, in my opinion, in such case "Country A" has no right to do is to prevent its citizens from travelling outside the country to seek those "better conditions", but it certainly has a right to, on its own territory, to protect local businesses and to prevent competition from, and "brain/talent drain" to, foreign entities.

Citizens who are not happy with their current conditions should have a right to seek "better", but then they should take the risk and make the effort to seek employment and move abroad, and go through all the difficulties and issues. Russian system and government now have open borders for those who want to leave, it's not USSR... But to expect a country to let in direct competition (if that's how it is perceived) is not reasonable.

Many people had got brilliant education for free in the Soviet Union and left the country later looking for a place where they will be able to buy some clothes and some food for their kids.

Education in USSR was very good! But it was NOT free! I am sure i don't need to repeat the banal "marxism/communism/socialism" concepts, but in a nutshell, the Soviet government held its citizens captive, not allowing us to leave the country, and decided for us (citizens) what we will be "given without having to pay for it" and "how much we can earn at work", which was pretty much the same salaries for all regardless of talent, abilities, and productivity.

Those talented engineers, scientists, doctors, professors, artists who would be millionaires or at least very wealthy people if worked outside of USSR (and have become so once they left USSR with great difficulties), had pretty much the same shitty living conditions and salaries as less talented and less productive. In exchange we received by government's decision "bunch of services we did not have to pay for", but many professionals were not compensated for what their worth would be in the free market economy. People have a right to have a socialist country if majority chooses to, but then those who don't accept it should be allowed to leave, and for a long time we were NOT allowed to leave and were held by force. We were not given a CHOICE of what happens to our lives and how much we can earn, and we were held captive, the education was NOT free...

Also, many people who left Soviet Union did not do it for "better clothes and food"..... Those who were productive and industrious found ways to get great clothing, food and many other things not available in regular stores.

If you mean Averbukh, he offers as much as he can. In Sochi they skate in the new ice palace all summer long, as for TV - Averbukh is used to work on the most prestige channel.

Averbukh did a lot to commercialize Figure Skating in Russia, and created a market where many skaters can earn a decent living. He is basically "the Father of Russian Commercial Figure Skating Industry" who opened many doors for many, skaters and other show organizers (Plush, Navka, etc.). Averbukh has every right to send any kind of petitions he chooses to the government to protect his market and prospective talent from foreign entities. Those who want to work with foreign companies should be free to travel abroad, which they are now.

 

[Ananas Astra]

Help me, please. When exactly has this thread started to suck so much?

 

[skatingguy]

Help me, please. When exactly has this thread started to suck so much?

I think it started after the Grand Prix event in France.

 

[Marco]

I have so much respect for Kolyada to compete and actually skate as well as he did, almost better than when he is healthy. Perhaps the ailment made him focus and lose the nerves. Coz I am sure he can still be named to the Euros Team even if he withdrew. I just hope he has a "safe" free skate. 4 more jumps can be tricky.

(I am esp relieved that he competed since Aliev bombed...)

 

[TAHbKA]

Help me, please. When exactly has this thread started to suck so much?

ignore is your friend.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I have so much respect for Kolyada to compete and actually skate as well as he did, almost better than when he is healthy. Perhaps the ailment made him focus and lose the nerves. Coz I am sure he can still be named to the Euros Team even if he withdrew. I just hope he has a "safe" free skate. 4 more jumps can be tricky.

Kolyada just gave an interview (in Russian). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VnLFVnMAZw

In a nutshell:
- This Silver is more valuable to him than any Gold (he has or could have earn) because he was/is still sick, and could not practice very much before this event.

- When he returns home the next day, he is going back to the hospital/to see doctors, so they can determine the recover process and set a plan what he needs to do before the next competition.

- He then described the time line of what happened. On Thursday (last week) during practice he felt pain/complications and disorientation/something was very wrong. On Friday he went to the hospital, and was told "that's it, you need to stay and get treatment". He got out on Monday (of this week) and still took antibiotics, but stopped on Tuesday. His first practice since last week's Thursday, was this Thursday (yesterday) so for almost a week he did not skate.

- To the question "have you thought of withdrawing", he said "i left it as an option in case my condition becomes acute, but i decided to go as far as it is possible, so i have no regrets and can say that at least i tried".

- The whole experience has been like no other for him, and he learned many valuable lessons.

 

[mjb52]

I've seen interviews with Kolyada, Kovtun, and Sinitsina/Katsalapov and they all seem so exhausted! Proud of what they've achieved but very tired! I hope they get some rest!

 

[NAOTMAA]

I think it's all rather surprising so far. At the beginning of the season did anyone think Kovtun would be the men's champion? Or that S/B would not be ice dance champs and would end the competition no longer the #1 Russian dance team? Really shows you it's never over until it actually plays out on ice

 

[Amantide]

I still don't care for Kovtun's skating tbh. Bless him.

"Stand up and wave" said Orser to Med. I liked that.

I'm so disappointed with the judges. Gubanova was criminally underscored in PCS, yet again.
She and Kostornaia - who deserved better even with the fall - should be the two leading ladies in PCS.
I mean 35.31 PCS for Konstantinova (just an example but there are more) vs 32.59 for Gubanova and 34.71 for Kostornaia is ridiculous.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Mie Hamada is having great success with her girls this season. No one here has ever attacked or even criticized her as far as I've seen. Why? Because every story that mentions her talks about her concern for their health, particularly Satoko's, and how she's acted on that concern. She doesn't have a factory with a scrap heap out back; she treats her students like human beings, and she's respected for that.

Hamada is pretty nice but I do recall she had said she didn’t want Kihira beating Miyahara yet and some of my Kihira fan friends got ticked.

I do know Sakamoto’s coach (whose name I can’t remember) had rudely mentioned Kaori’s weight in some interviews this summer. It’s not just Eteri. But it’s no excuse.

I still don't care for Kovtun's skating tbh. Bless him.

"Stand up and wave" said Orser to Med. I liked that.

I'm so disappointed with the judges. Gubanova was criminally underscored in PCS, yet again.
She and Kostornaia - who deserved better even with the fall - should be the two leading ladies in PCS.
I mean 35.31 PCS for Konstantinova (just an example but there are more) vs 32.59 for Gubanova and 34.71 for Kostornaia is ridiculous.

I agree with all this so much! Kostornaia and Gubanova are both sooooooo soft out there. (The PCS part is spot on, even though I do like Konstantinova)

 

[hanca]

Efimova/Korovin has just been beaten by Pavliuschenko/Khodykhin. I expect Boikova/Kozlovski and possibly Mishina/Galliamov to beat them too. It is sad to see my favourite pair to be dropping, but Efimova/Korovin had so many opportunities and the in past few years they have not been making much progress.

 

[Amantide]

I'm so disappointed with the judges. Gubanova was criminally underscored in PCS, yet again.
She and Kostornaia - who deserved better even with the fall - should be the two leading ladies in PCS.
I mean 35.31 PCS for Konstantinova (just an example but there are more) vs 32.59 for Gubanova and 34.71 for Kostornaia is ridiculous.

Here we go again in the FS.

Zagitova: PCS 72.23
Kostornaia: PCS 71.36
Konstantinova - PCS 70.46

How on earth, Zagitova gets higher PCS than Kostornaia, and Kostantinova barely under, is beyond any reason. This time, judges do not even have the excuse of a higher TES.

TES:
Kostornaia: 80.78
Konstantinova: 68.06
Zagitova: 61.18

Boooooooo!

 

[Bigbird]

Yes, Eteri strikes again. She must stop it now. Whoa. De people dem......ROFL.

 

[s_parks]

Man, I would be so pissed if I were Gubanova(she probably is). Way to get robbed at nationals again. I really don't understand Konstantinova's PCS. She is not terrifically consistent, nor has won major titles, so what's up with her marks vs others who have to work for them?

 

[Amantide]

Man, I would be so pissed if I were Gubanova(she probably is). Way to get robbed at nationals again. I really don't understand Konstantinova's PCS. She is not terrifically consistent, nor has won major titles, so what's up with her marks vs others who have to work for them?

Words!
I reckon because Konstantinova has been reliable during this season at international level, so they can't afford to give her lower marks. She is in the NT and they need to push all of them as much as they can.

Politically it makes sense, but it's heartbreaking to see how they lowball Gubanova consistently.
She is a beautiful skater and they need to nurture and protect her as much as they can. I'm not pretending favoritism. Just give the girl the marks she deserves.

p.s. I was very happy to see the support and cheers Med got from the fans in the arena. I think she really needed that.

 

[Bigbird]

Words!
I reckon because Konstantinova has been reliable during this season at international level, so they can't afford to give her lower marks. She is in the NT and they need to push all of them as much as they can.

Politically it makes sense, but it's heartbreaking to see how they lowball Gubanova consistently.
She is a beautiful skater and they need to nurture and protect her as much as they can. I'm not pretending favoritism. Just give the girl the marks she deserves.

Look here, a tired fi seh de same ting in a English, so let me buss some Jamaican patios. Russian politrics in Figure Skating is real, fi real. Half a di time dem already wuk out who a go get what, before competition even start. Watch and learn. More time.

 

[Bigbird]

Words!
I reckon because Konstantinova has been reliable during this season at international level, so they can't afford to give her lower marks. She is in the NT and they need to push all of them as much as they can.

Politically it makes sense, but it's heartbreaking to see how they lowball Gubanova consistently.
She is a beautiful skater and they need to nurture and protect her as much as they can. I'm not pretending favoritism. Just give the girl the marks she deserves.

p.s. I was very happy to see the support and cheers Med got from the fans in the arena. I think she really needed that.

Amantide, pull yourself together woman, how many national championships have we watched over the years? How often does this really happen? This Russia baby, chin up, her day may come a little later.

 

[Lizziebeth]

I don't know where else to ask this, but why do some skaters go to both Russian Senior and Junior nationals? Are the juniors who medaled at Senior nationals required to go to Junior nationals to be eligible for Junior Worlds? Not really sure how this system works.

 

[Vash01]

Is Konstantinova related to someone powerful in the RSF? It is the only explanation I can think of when it comes to her marks. I find it hard to enjoy her skating even when she does not make mistakes. When she does make mistakes they are ignored and she gets PCS that are difficult to explain.

 

[Sylvia]

Interview with Shcherbakova, Trusova and Kostornaia after they won their first senior national medals: https://rsport.ria.ru/20181223/1548502631.html

ETA: Thanks to @wickedwitch for reminding me that Kostornaia won the bronze last year in her debut.