From Russia with Love [#31]: Winter to Spring 2019

[Tinami Amori]

Tarasova dug into everbody..

... yet another gems on Kovtun (on National Ch #1 TV, after his FS):
https://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sport...v_obmoroke_katajetsa_i_sidit_v_nem_do_sih_por

"- What an embarrassment, really! This is called a wipe out. Simply shameful. We have others to replace him. He replaced himself. He failed to fight. He and Katzalapov have similar (weak) minds. He is sitting waiting for marks... what is he expecting? To stay in top 10? And also, it is not what he needs. What is the resume of (his skating)? There is no need for a resume. This person is skating in a fainting spell, and remains in one sitting here. Maybe we should stop upholding him (supporting him) and then he'll start doing it himself? I am not upholding him. Yes, i love him, but so what? A lot of efforts put into him by Elena Vodorezova (Buianova)" - said Tarasova on Ch#1.

Plushenko said about Kovtun and Kolyada: if this trend continues, i'll get together with Yagudin, we'll reinstate our 3X and Quads, and we'll go to the next season's competitions instead of these two.. (He also insists Kol and Kov should go to Mishin) https://tass.ru/sport/6044876

Few articles indicate that RFSF will have a difficult decision which men to send to Worlds: Kolyada based on BOW compared to Kovtun? Kovtun the nat-champ? or Samarin given his score variations yet a Silver at Euros?

Kovtun: Am i ashamed? yes. But i am not going to die over it, will examine what went wrong.
https://www.championat.com/other/ne...-zhe-teper-budu-dumat-chto-poshlo-ne-tak.html

Tarasova on Zag:
https://www.eurosport.ru/figure-skating/european-championships/2018-2019/story_sto7114552.shtml
- She is a humble (unspoiled), wonderful, kind, talented child, but something broke in her (is damaged inside)..

(I have an answer for Tarasova what could be part of the damage "You and personal games, idiotic old Cow!".. .. and NOT just with Zagitova).

Mishin on Sam/Zag:
https://sputnik.by/sport/20190123/1...in-golos-s-Tarasovoy-my-ne-razgovarivali.html
- We did not expect such outcome. Samodurova may have won this event, but it does not mean she surpassed Zagitova, who is Oly Gold medalist and a master of hard elements.

Artur Dmitriev (thinks she gained weight... )
https://rsport.ria.ru/20190126/1549961622.html
- Zagitova grew (in height), gained weight, and loosing her balance.

Tarasova on Sin/Kats:
https://www.championat.com/other/ne...zavjolsja-emu-nado-sebja-v-rukah-derzhat.html
- He spun himself out of control from the start. He needs to learn how to hold himself together.

Tarasova on Tar/Mor:
https://rsport.ria.ru/20190124/1549882330.html
- Morozov is skating in his own space (as if he is alone), before they had connection and warmth in their programmes, now it's not here.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Is it worse than the hideous one Daleman used for her short program last season?

I think the worst version of Carmen music has got to be Murakami's.

Is there a need to dig into Daleman and Murakami for their poor "Carmen" skates? Their bad Carmens are NO EXCUSE for Zagitova's bad skate...

"Carmen" is a great piece of music! if you skate good using it, you win. if you skate bad, you lose..... really people!

 

[hanca]

Is there any chance that Katsalapov can make his twizzles stable? He was already coached by Morozov, Zueva and Zhulin...if those coaches didn’t manage to make it stable, what are his chances for the future? I am not saying that he will never be a world champion, he might be, but his results will always be up and down. At least there is extra excitement, wondering whether he will twizzle or not.

 

[DimaToe]

Is there any chance that Katsalapov can make his twizzles stable? He was already coached by Morozov, Zueva and Zhulin...if those coaches didn’t manage to make it stable, what are his chances for the future? I am not saying that he will never be a world champion, he might be, but his results will always be up and down. At least there is extra excitement, wondering whether he will twizzle or not.

I feel like twizzles are to Katsalapov what Triples are to Courtney Hicks of the U.S. just too much power being put into the element.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I feel like twizzles are to Katsalapov what Triples are to Courtney Hicks of the U.S. just too much power being put into the element.

I think in this particular skate, he simply misused his free leg, by starting the "pull out of the twizzle" too early: by lifting his free leg too high, starting the motion too early and lost balance. (at least that is what it looks like to me in slow-mo...). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agxY09Z6mlg

 

[rfisher]

TAT is just a bright little ray of sunshine isn't she. But, she's a huge fan of Step/Buk so there's no surprise there. As for Kovtun and Kolyada……..

 

[DimaToe]

TAT is just a bright little ray of sunshine isn't she. But, she's a huge fan of Step/Buk so there's no surprise there. As for Kovtun and Kolyada……..

I feel like Tarasova is that rude and entitled great aunt that should just retire by a nice beach but you have to keep on inviting her to all of the family’s events because she helped your mom get a good job or helped your uncle get a good car like 30 years ago.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

TAT is a beast. But she is not wrong. She says what a lot of people are thinking....

 

[shuilee]

Russian men have 3 spots for Worlds. Are they thinking of dumping Koyalda or Kovtun off the world team?

 

[DimaToe]

Russian men have 3 spots for Worlds. Are they thinking of dumping Koyalda or Kovtun off the world team?

To me Samarin is a given, id have a skate off between Kolyada, Aliev, Kovtun, and Voronov for the other 2 spots.

My ideal world team would be Samarin, Kolyada and Aliev. I’m sure that the Russian fed would love to have more consistent men, but most of them are not, so might as well go with the team that is more PCS friendly.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Russian men have 3 spots for Worlds. Are they thinking of dumping Koyalda or Kovtun off the world team?

I don't think they are in a position to dump either. Maybe Kovtun but replaced him with whom? Aliev? Voronov if he's healthy? I dunno. None of them are consistent and reliable skaters.

 

[rfisher]

To me Samarin is a given, id have a skate off between Kolyada, Aliev, Kovtun, and Voronov for the other 2 spots.

My ideal world team would be Samarin, Kolyada and Aliev. I’m sure that the Russian fed would love to have more consistent men, but most of them are not, so might as well go with the team that is more PCS friendly.

Yeah, they could have them all skate at the Russian Cup Final, but the problem is whoever won, might still implode at Worlds. They are terrible competitors. Voronov is the best of the 4 and he falls apart at big events too. Plus, it depends if his injury is healed.

 

[Tinami Amori]

TAT is just a bright little ray of sunshine isn't she. But, she's a huge fan of Step/Buk so there's no surprise there. As for Kovtun and Kolyada……..

Her fandom is subjective.. as in "financialy and socially motivated" ...
https://mirnov.ru/images/photos/medium/article126158.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Rd6gDkkIJ8/maxresdefault.jpg

.. and one must be a member of the club: "the plebis of russian figure skating"..
https://b1.mskagency.ru/c/260410.jpg?block_mode=iframe

 

[skatingguy]

Any word on Kolyada's wrist? That could be a factor in whether he goes to Worlds.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Her fandom is subjective.. as in "financialy and socially motivated" ...
https://mirnov.ru/images/photos/medium/article126158.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Rd6gDkkIJ8/maxresdefault.jpg

.. and one must be a member of the club: "the plebis of russian figure skating"..
https://b1.mskagency.ru/c/260410.jpg?block_mode=iframe

She's loyal. There could be much worse qualities in a coach. As in not loyal.

 

[Tinami Amori]

She's loyal. There could be much worse qualities in a coach. As in not loyal.

for a second i thought you said "royal" and liked her furs..

 

[caseyedwards]

TAT is just a bright little ray of sunshine isn't she. But, she's a huge fan of Step/Buk so there's no surprise there. As for Kovtun and Kolyada……..

She’s just become a total destroyer and one that brings ruin

 

[Tinami Amori]

Any word on Kolyada's wrist? That could be a factor in whether he goes to Worlds.

Yes. it is not a fracture/break, but most likely a sprain (suspected).
https://www.gazeta.ru/sport/news/2019/01/26/n_12565315.shtml

 

[Wyliefan]

She’s just become a total destroyer and one that brings ruin

I believe that's her superhero name.

 

[NAOTMAA]

I expect the men's team for worlds will remain the same unless someone gets sick or injured and has to pull out. I honestly don't see any reason to change it since the alternatives available are just as inconsistent. ALL of them are in the same group, brilliant one day and suck ass the next. So why change the team now beyond personal bias?

 

[Kasey]

Voronov has been the most consistent of all of them over the past several seasons; medals at GP events, gets to GP final, medalist twice at Euros; he also consistently blows Nationals. Sadly, he didn't have that chance this year. If he is able to skate and has healed up, I say take Kovtun off and send Voronov in his place (after a test skate, of course)

 

[Tinami Amori]

I expect the men's team for worlds will remain the same unless someone gets sick or injured and has to pull out.

That's what few coaches from the Russian Coach Council are saying on social media.. Here, i found one as an official article, by Kudryavtzev.
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...ny-vystupat-samarin-kolyada-i-kovtun-1505130/

The press has not been kind to any of the three men, even Samarin got some "heat"..
"Kolyada fell, Kovtun vanished, Samarin lost (gold). Fernandes is a 7x Euro Champion."
https://www.sovsport.ru/figure/arti...al-samarin-proigral.-a-fernandes-semikratnyiy

 

[NAOTMAA]

That's what few coaches from the Russian Coach Council are saying on social media.. Here, i found one as an official article, by Kudryavtzev.
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...ny-vystupat-samarin-kolyada-i-kovtun-1505130/

The press has not been kind to any of the three men, even Samarin got some "heat"..
"Kolyada fell, Kovtun vanished, Samarin lost (gold). Fernandes is a 7x Euro Champion."
https://www.sovsport.ru/figure/arti...al-samarin-proigral.-a-fernandes-semikratnyiy

Surely Samarin was the last one they expected to win. I mean he was 3rd man ranked yet was the only one to keep it together and almost won. And we wonder why many of them are headcases

Out of interest what do the press and council say about the pairs situation? I always hear press about the ladies, men's and dance but almost nothing about the pairs.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Out of interest what do the press and council say about the pairs situation? I always hear press about the ladies, men's and dance but almost nothing about the pairs.

I am not the one tracking comments on pairs, another few people in our "skating company" follow pairs more then me.

But in a nutshell, what i've seen:
- No comments from "council members" yet, except TAT. I posted her comments few posts above. She said "Morozov is skating as if he's alone, lost the "pairs connection", etc.".

- Trankov said "we (as a team) allowed several mistakes to happen, which prevented us from repeating past success at the Europeans. It hits me hard, and i feel fully responsible. Appreciate the support, and welcome the critique. I take it all into account, and will never give up."
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...it-uspeh-dvuh-poslednih-chempionatov-1504455/

- Robin Sholkovy said: The team faced a lot of changes this season, new coach, new style/dynamics of relationship (they were originally friends, now they are in coach-student dynamics), searching/substituting programmes, etc. They made mistakes. Their FS is great as is, they need to skate it clean to earn gold. French are strong and improved this season."
https://rsport.ria.ru/20190125/1549911946.html

The "normal press" (not "yellow") is 50/50 in terms of "glass half full or glass half empty".
Half full: Russians take 2 out of 3 medals in pairs.
Half empty: Russians lost to French. First time in a long time lost Gold.

 

[whiteskates]

That's pretty much the story of every Russian man since Plushy isn't it? Either the SP or the LP but never both

That seems to be the case, yes. Kolyada is so artistic and I had high hopes for him because I like the artistic skaters. i also like Aliev but he hasn't delivered either.

 

[caseyedwards]

Russia is going to go down to 1 Entry in both men’s and ladies for 2020. Incredible.

 

[VGThuy]

Russia is going to go down to 1 Entry in both men’s and ladies for 2020. Incredible.

Uh...the ladies have to do a lot worse than they've done all season to go down to one spot.

 

[Bigbird]

Is there any chance that Katsalapov can make his twizzles stable? He was already coached by Morozov, Zueva and Zhulin...if those coaches didn’t manage to make it stable, what are his chances for the future? I am not saying that he will never be a world champion, he might be, but his results will always be up and down. At least there is extra excitement, wondering whether he will twizzle or not.

It's just that he's been struggling with his twizzles for at least 10 yrs now as a senior ice dancer, I mean they worked so hard this season to be consistent and they come to their first real competition and he does this. He just doesn't look comfortable on the ice. He skates very cautiously with Victoria. I believe in his hearts of hearts he misses Lena greatly but he completely annihilated that bridge and there is no way back. I wish him good luck considering what we've seen at Canadian and US Nationals.

 

[Deleted member 40371]

Uh...the ladies have to do a lot worse than they've done all season to go down to one spot.

It is @caseyedwards and her ADHD acting up, looking for response from us.

 

[caseyedwards]

Uh...the ladies have to do a lot worse than they've done all season to go down to one spot.

Only SS has a chance to be in the top 10!