From Russia With Love [#37]: Summer 2020

[hanca]

As long as they don't get sick along the way.
This is a time to gently improve and work at your leisure since there's no pressure to compete. Silver lining maybe?

Considering the level of competition in some of the disciplines (e.g. ladies), I doubt anyone will be taking it easy. The home competition might be harder than the international competition.

 

[taz'smum]

Considering the level of competition in some of the disciplines (e.g. ladies), I doubt anyone will be taking it easy. The home competition might be harder than the international competition.

Yep, Russian skaters have always said, the competition they fear the most is Russian Nationals!

 

[ninalovesskating]

Was thinking of possible partners for Vadym Kolesnik since he said he wants to look for a partner outside USA & I thought of Eva Kuts... Lovely skater, she was a JGP medalist & finished 5th in 2019 Junior RusNats. I think they'd make a good pair... same age, good height difference, good match with skills.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Just an FYI: Mishin's group passed the test for xxxxxxxxx. They are allowed to start practicing on ice and in the gym.

Тесты на коронавирус фигуристов группы Мишина показали отрицательный результат - ТАСС

Спортсмены приступили к занятиям на базе в Кисловодске

tass.ru

 

[Ka3sha]

If anyone is interested, Lina Fedorova announced an interview with Nikita Katsalapov tomorrow, at 6 pm Moscow time


Also,

International figure skating competitions may not take place this year. Russia is preparing for the Cup and the national championship



https://m.sport-express.ru/figure-s...ovitsya-k-kubku-i-chempionatu-strany-1688085/

Aleksandr Kogan denied this information and said that Russian skaters are still preparing for international events. The Fed plans to held junior test skates in August and senior test skates in Setember, just as usual.

Коган: российские фигуристы продолжают готовиться к международным стартам - ТАСС

Генеральный директор Федерации фигурного катания на коньках России отметил, что готовность спортсменов контролируется именно с учетом их выступления на международных соревнованиях

tass.ru

 

[DobrinFan]

Aleksandr Kogan denied this information and said that Russian skaters are still preparing for international events. The Fed plans to held junior test skates in August and senior test skates in Setember, just as usual.

Коган: российские фигуристы продолжают готовиться к международным стартам - ТАСС

Генеральный директор Федерации фигурного катания на коньках России отметил, что готовность спортсменов контролируется именно с учетом их выступления на международных соревнованиях

tass.ru

And were is St. Pete with ice? Last I checked, Kutovoi didn't have any. Will be interesting to see what happens to assignments if test skates happen in a month. Kid has been off the ice for 3 months and Semenenko and Lutfullin are just about to leave quarantine.

 

[Bigbird]

And were is St. Pete with ice? Last I checked, Kutovoi didn't have any. Will be interesting to see what happens to assignments if test skates happen in a month. Kid has been off the ice for 3 months and Semenenko and Lutfullin are just about to leave quarantine.

What sense does that make when the playing field is so uneven...they do realize the value of equity with respect to team spirit right?

 

[starrynight]

And were is St. Pete with ice? Last I checked, Kutovoi didn't have any. Will be interesting to see what happens to assignments if test skates happen in a month. Kid has been off the ice for 3 months and Semenenko and Lutfullin are just about to leave quarantine.

It's all very strange. Only a very select few skaters were given access to ice in Novogorsk and all the others have been without it. It will be a pretty rough test skate if skaters are turning up with only several weeks of training after months off ice.

I would be interested in knowing if funding from the government requires all of these events to be pencilled in and for it to be insisted that international competitions will occur.

 

[mjb52]

The test skates aren't a competition though, right? They are theoretically supposed to be an opportunity to get feedback from the federation or judges (not sure which) on programs, so that participating would have value even for skaters who are earlier in the process than others? But even if that's right, which I'm not sure about, I could see how it would be hard for those skaters to see it that way. And I guess a lot of skaters are keeping their old programs anyway. Is there any news about the Perm skaters and where they are at with ice?

 

[DobrinFan]

The test skates aren't a competition though, right? They are theoretically supposed to be an opportunity to get feedback from the federation or judges (not sure which) on programs, so that participating would have value even for skaters who are earlier in the process than others? But even if that's right, which I'm not sure about, I could see how it would be hard for those skaters to see it that way. And I guess a lot of skaters are keeping their old programs anyway. Is there any news about the Perm skaters and where they are at with ice?

For juniors it's an opportunity to earn a JGP which is why I only mentioned Kutovoi, Lutfullin and Semenenko. At least Lutfullin and Semenenko will have 4 weeks or so of ice, but Kutovoi is still without AFAIK.

 

[mjb52]

Ah got it, that is a problem then.

 

[starrynight]

For juniors it's an opportunity to earn a JGP which is why I only mentioned Kutovoi, Lutfullin and Semenenko. At least Lutfullin and Semenenko will have 4 weeks or so of ice, but Kutovoi is still without AFAIK.

Isn't half of the Junior Grand Prix series cancelled anyway though?

I would hope at least that if they insist on holding test skates with very inequitable conditions that they are fully closed. I expect that will be the case. Traditionally, the Russian Test skates have been like the Hunger Games, but I don't think that's reasonable now.

 

[Sylvia]

Isn't half of the Junior Grand Prix series cancelled anyway though?

There are currently 5 JGPs still on the schedule: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...21-skating-season.107193/page-15#post-5829326

 

[DobrinFan]

Isn't half of the Junior Grand Prix series cancelled anyway though?

I would hope at least that if they insist on holding test skates with very inequitable conditions that they are fully closed. I expect that will be the case. Traditionally, the Russian Test skates have been like the Hunger Games, but I don't think that's reasonable now.

They are not discussing JGP until Monday. Until then, there are still 5 taking place...and all the rest of the junior/novice boys, including the reserves have ice except my baby boy.

 

[starrynight]

There are currently 5 JGPs still on the schedule: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...21-skating-season.107193/page-15#post-5829326

Hungary still has its borders closed to all countries except EU nations. So that would exclude Russia and the USA, China, Japan, Canada. So it will depend on whether that will change any time soon.

As far as I can tell, Czech Republic is not letting in USA residents (not sure about Russia).

Slovakia isn't allowing entrants outside of Europe - so that counts out Canada, China, Japan, USA. But perhaps Russia can compete - but the athletes will need to take a test and quarantine until the results are returned.

In respect of Latvia - EU countries (except those with high infections such as Sweden) can travel freely, the rest need 14 days of quarantine. USA, Canada, Japan, China etc banned. No mention of Russia's status anywhere that i can find.

So.

If the JGP events proceed and things remain kind of the same, it may end up being a European Union competition. Without USA, Canada, China, Japan and potentially Russia in some places.

Then the difficulty is probably that so many athletes - like a lot of the European Union ice dancers - are based in the USA and Canada. Some of them might need to relocate home before attending any competitions that proceed.

Perhaps this season could be like those Olympics with big boycotts - skaters from small European Union feds could find themselves winning things they normally never would. Whether the big feds would be happy with this remains to be seen. It would be a flex if Russia could insert its skaters into competitions where Canada, USA, Japan and China were excluded. All the competition would be wiped out. Handy for ranking points.

I can see why some would want competitons under these conditions to proceed, it would be very politically advantageous for some feds -- but a bit disastrous for others.

 

[Ka3sha]

If anyone is interested, Lina Fedorova announced an interview with Nikita Katsalapov tomorrow, at 6 pm Moscow time

Tried to listened to it but my Internet connection was quite poor and I got distracted few times.
Anyway,

-Nikita, your most disappointed fails?
- Pfff, thousands (but chose 2019 Euros)

 

[mjb52]

Tried to listened to it but my Internet connection was quite poor and I got distracted few times.
Anyway,

-Nikita, your most disappointed fails?
- Pfff, thousands (but chose 2019 Euros)

I was hoping you would summarize it for us but I did just see a quote from him in the broadcast about Vika that was really lovely.

 

[Sylvia]

If anyone is interested, Lina Fedorova announced an interview with Nikita Katsalapov tomorrow, at 6 pm Moscow time

Their archived chat: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCRCBy1I11o/

 

[Ka3sha]

Interview with Igor Shpilband

«Грани между российским и американским стилем нет. Всё смешалось». Этот тренер помог дочке Тутберидзе попасть на ЧМ

Интервью с Игорем Шпильбандом.

sport.business-gazeta.ru

And from that Lina Fedorova’s interview with Nikita, the parts I had a chance to
He loves social media and Instagram, but after 2014 and the fans reaction/comments don’t like to post a lot in his own page - better to just share some pics with your friends directly rather than read negative hateful comments. Victoria encourages him to start posting, so maybe one day he will.
(given some comments during this interview, his position is justified - there were some “you are still in love with Elena”, “you are no one without her” types of comments )


During the quarantine he read a lot about finance and investing, watched tv series and old skating programs to look for some interesting ideas and elements.
Now they are skating again, super excited about it, choreographing new free dance - it’s a completely new style for them, they haven’t tried anything like it before.

He says that back in 201he was super ambitious and they wanted to win and prove everyone etc , so they made mistakes. But you have to calm down and understand that you won’t be able to show ‘more’ on competitive ice, only what you have worked on during practices. And now he hoped he has finally realized this.


About Victoria:
“Vika is the kindest person ever, maybe just for me and her close ones, but she truly is. She doesn’t know how to lie at all, this is her huge strength. It’s easy to live when you don’t have to explain anything to anyone and speak as you think, as you see and don’t lie.
She's a super hardworking person. And I am
talking not only about figure skating. She always has a plan, she always knows what to do, she hates to miss something.
For example If the weather is good and I'm tired, I can just lie around at home, but she will definitely have a great day and for her benefit. I adore Vika. I learn a lot from her, she is so wise.”

Now if they argue during practices - it’s only some objective critique and not rushed and screaming at each other. They take time (10 minutes), calm down and start working again.

About Zhulin:
“I found my coach. Aleksandr Vyacheslavovich sculpted me from the scratch once again, sculpted my head from the inside. I understood that if this doesn’t work, then I may have problems in professional sports. And we are no longer a young couple. So I listened to every word of our coach. The boss - is one love.”
He also said that they have great relationship with Tchaikovskaya and she sometimes comes to the rink. He loves her. And he also agrees with TAT’s words that “Zhulin is Katsalapov’s last dock”. Those words resonated with him and made think.

Most memorable career moments: 2010 JWC, Euros in Bern, 2014 Olympics, SD at 2015 Skate America, first Russian National title and 2020 Euros.

Can’t choose between Olympic bronze and Euros gold - it’s like to different lives.

They don’t know if they retire after Beijing - with current situation when everything may change in a second it’s hard to tell. They are now thinking about Olympics and that’s it. If it was someone else, he would have recommend to retire probably , but for himself he just simple doesn’t know.
Nikita isn’t sure about coaching , but he likes the choreographing process and would like to try it.

Feel free to add, since I could have easily missed something

 

[happycamper2554]

Will someone give me a summary of what they each said. Yes its dumb but it's not like we have anything better to do

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[Ka3sha]

Will someone give me a summary of what they each said. Yes its dumb but it's not like we have anything better to do

Lina: What’s about your personal life? Are you two together? Or sport is the most important thing right now?
Victoria: I will say it that way - let’s keep private life private. Let people think whatever they want, but sport is the first place for us now.

Lina: Are you together off the ice?
Nikita: What did Vika say?
Lina: Don’t remember
Nikita: Aaah, then I won’t give an answer too. (both laughing)
Lina: Well, she didn’t give a direct answer. Said let’s keep it private. But Nikita, you can’t imagine how many questions like this I got..
Nikita: And that’s why it’s so good
Lina: Ok, you also didn’t answer!
Nikita: But you know that I love her the most, right? it’s enough for you to know
Lina: So we got it (laughing)
Nikita: What did you get? I just said I love her.

He also said some nice stuff throughout the interview like “I have always believed in her and she brought us to this Euro’s gold”, “it’s impossible not to love her” and etc.

 

[mjb52]

Thank you @Ka3sha !

 

[Jeschke]

Has Savosin switched to Butsaeva too or why is he with all the Volchkova-boys at practice?
Is she the new meeting point of promising RUS junior guys not making it into seniors?

 

[DobrinFan]

Has Savosin switched to Butsaeva too or way is he with all the Volchkova-boys at practice?
Is she the new meeting point of promising RUS junior guys not making it into seniors?

He's always with them, especially Murashov. They are BFF.

 

[Jeschke]

He's always with them, especially Murashov. They are BFF.

Thanks, I just asked as it seemed Volchkova group is on some training camp somewhere and was confused Savosin is there too.

 

[DobrinFan]

Thanks, I just asked as it seemed Volchkova group is on some training camp somewhere and was confused Savosin is there too.

They are all in Moscow AFAIK.

 

[ninalovesskating]

It seems like Denis Khodykin & Betina Popova are dating

 

[DobrinFan]

It seems like Denis Khodykin & Betina Popova are dating

Dating, living together for something like 2 years.

 

[Amy L]

I didn't know they were together for that long, but I did notice earlier this year that they were (separately) posting pictures with the same dog. That's how I figured that one out.

 

[Immortelle]

He was also wearing Betina’s RD headband at Nationals because P/M had to withdraw due to injury.