From Russia With Love (No 32): Spring to Summer 2019

[Yehudi]

^^joti polizoakis. 17th at worlds his first season in dance (Kavita switched maybe 2 seasons earlier)

 

[Tinami Amori]

Do coaches get mad about this kind of thing, or is it now just so deeply ingrained in the younger generation that they don’t even try to do anything about it? After that younger skater (sorry can’t remember her name right now) made that doping comment I was wondering if coaches started trying to monitor this at all. Maybe I’m just old and hate the idea of broadcasting everything online but if I was Buianova I’d be pissed off at this (but I like it got gossip’s sake)

It is a bad situation now with these "live videos" from kids, which they post 24/7 and say things that are damaging. It's fun for fans, to learn the inside info, but not good for the kids and their clubs. Coaches and admins at clubs are starting to address it..

Panova did try to cover up and minimize what happened, to the press. But back at the rink she was very upset, not just at Shabotova for saying this, but for all the fall out her whole club received as a result of it. She made a new rule at the rink - turn in your smart-phone in the dressing room to the attendant, or come in with a regular push-button mobile phone, and no videos and no fotos. Here is one of the interview for example..
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...oey-gluposti-ona-otvetila-pro-doping-1502996/

Я ее отругала и сказала всем: "Ребята, свои телефоны приносите, сдаете и ходите теперь с кнопочными, раз вы не умеете себя вести и общаться в соцсетях".
I scolded her and told everybody: "Guys, now when you come (to the rink), you turn your (smart)phones over (to the attendant) or bring in the push-buttons ones, since you don't know how to behave properly and handle it on social media".

 

[Dobre]

^^joti polizoakis. 17th at worlds his first season in dance (Kavita switched maybe 2 seasons earlier)

Yes, Kana defeated him there though. In 2 out of 3 Worlds and an Olympic Games. Hence, I named Kana first and then Joti. And did either of them stick around for a second quadrennium?

To be determined . . .

 

[hanca]

I believe Kana Muramoto finished 15th at Worlds her 2nd year in dance. Perhaps she was younger? But she is the most successful athlete I can think of that switched disciplines into dance and succeeded rapidly. (And, of course, she had a very experienced partner). If I remember correctly, Davankova & Shibnev lost to the #3 Germans at Universiade, which as far as I can recall was D&S's only international. They finished @7th at Nationals, but several of the competitive junior teams hadn't moved up yet. Therefore I would say that Kana & Polizoakis (possibly Yura Min) were more successful. That said, I fully agree that it is a HUGE endeavor to switch disciplines to ice dance at a later stage in one's life.

Not sure to whom Davankova/Shibnev lost at Universiade, but I considered it success that they even qualified to the seniors nationals and then managed to beat there several couples who did ice dance for many years. For comparison, Popova/Mozgov were the same season a new dance couple and didn’t qualify to the nationals. And considering that both Popova and Mozgov were already ice dancers when they got together, he was even world champion, whereas Davankova was a beginner and Shibnev was practically unknown... so that’s why I am considering what Davankova/Shibnev achieved a huge success. Clearly, they would not get to Europeans or worlds while Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov, Stepanova/Bukin and Zagorski/Gurreiro were still around. That’s a huge advantage Muramoto with her partner have - they don’t have to worry about strong competition at home.

 

[hanca]

Do coaches get mad about this kind of thing, or is it now just so deeply ingrained in the younger generation that they don’t even try to do anything about it? After that younger skater (sorry can’t remember her name right now) made that doping comment I was wondering if coaches started trying to monitor this at all. Maybe I’m just old and hate the idea of broadcasting everything online but if I was Buianova I’d be pissed off at this (but I like it got gossip’s sake)

I can see why Buianova would be angry about having things like that posted about her, but then again, think about how the skaters must be angry if she doesn’t turn up at their pre-arranged lessons and doesn’t even bother to keep them informed. So if she really does things like that, I don’t think she has much right to be angry. She should have at least told them.

 

[Ardarys]

I can see why Buianova would be angry about having things like that posted about her, but then again, think about how the skaters must be angry if she doesn’t turn up at their pre-arranged lessons and doesn’t even bother to keep them informed. So if she really does things like that, I don’t think she has much right to be angry. She should have at least told them.

Oh of course, you’re absolutely right. I was just thinking in a more general sense. I know it’s such a cliche for old people to complain about young people being on their phones all the time, but phones on the ice and at the rink are a particular pet peeve of mine. I think the phone-check idea is a good one, but of course that doesn’t excuse Buianova leaving in the middle of lessons

 

[Tinami Amori]

I can see why Buianova would be angry about having things like that posted about her, but then again, think about how the skaters must be angry if she doesn’t turn up at their pre-arranged lessons and doesn’t even bother to keep them informed. So if she really does things like that, I don’t think she has much right to be angry. She should have at least told them.

Buianova was walking out in the middle of training sessions... just turning around and leaving without world..

Here are two IG feeds posted by 2 girls in Boyanova’s Junior group just leaving the rink and sending video to friends…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGF8x7R8wKo
“Guess who ended up training us today last 20 minutes of the class! You have 2 guesses! No, just 1…You’ll never guess! No, it was not Nikita…. It was Elena Radionova herself…. Aha… Elena Georgievna (Buianova) suddenly got up and walked out, and we just stood there, and Radionova ended up supervising us…. but she mostly took care of Roman..

... continued (about Selitzakay/asst. coach with Buianova)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=8-MAuGcXrgE
“... and now we don’t have practice tonight, we’re not very happy about it, they (the coaches) are all leaving tomorrow (for comps)… so Selitzkaya just did not show up (today) and will not be in for the evening practice.. So we sent her a text message to make sure “When is our evening practice?”… and so she just replies abruptly “Get your answers from Elena Georgievna (Buianova)”… so this morning she simply did not show up, she ditched us just like that…. Yes… oh well.”.

 

[Dobre]

Not sure to whom Davankova/Shibnev lost at Universiade, but I considered it success that they even qualified to the seniors nationals and then managed to beat there several couples who did ice dance for many years. For comparison, Popova/Mozgov were the same season a new dance couple and didn’t qualify to the nationals. And considering that both Popova and Mozgov were already ice dancers when they got together, he was even world champion, whereas Davankova was a beginner and Shibnev was practically unknown... so that’s why I am considering what Davankova/Shibnev achieved a huge success.

I believe Popova & Mozgov didn't qualify because they didn't attend a second World Cup event. Davankova & Shibnev lost to Nazarova & Nikitin, Evdokimova & Bazin, Muller & Dieck and Koch & Nuchtern at Universiade. Popova & Mozgov defeated Nazarova & Nikitin, Evdokimova & Bazin, and Koch & Nuchtern at Golden Spin that season. I think maybe P&M lost one head-to-head to D&S at home in Russia early in the season. (It is not an accident that I argued for P&M to be on Team Trainwreck).

Anyway, we agree that it's a huge endeavor and that depth at home is a huge factor in whether these types of partnerships get to the big events.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Ilya Averbukh is holding a show celebrating his "15 Years of Success".
Videos and fotos on this page: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv6oLOHAuks/
Trusova's number and 4T:
https://vk.com/videos-97272391?z=video-97272391_456242373/club97272391/pl_-97272391_-2
https://vk.com/videos-97272391?z=video-97272391_456242378/pl_-97272391_-2
Tursynbaeva's number:
https://vk.com/videos-97272391?z=video-97272391_456242372/pl_-97272391_-2


Alina Zagitova will be a guest on Channel #1, "Evening Urgant" (Vecherny Urgant) Show, in April (the one missed after her Olympic win). http://sh.uploads.ru/BqdFP.jpg
If anyone is in Moscow and wants to attend the taping of the show, it is open access for fans, here is information how to join as audience. The taping is on April 11, 2019. Everyone is welcome.
https://vk.com/topic-37008294_35774519

 

[hanca]

I believe Popova & Mozgov didn't qualify because they didn't attend a second World Cup event. Davankova & Shibnev lost to Nazarova & Nikitin, Evdokimova & Bazin, Muller & Dieck and Koch & Nuchtern at Universiade. Popova & Mozgov defeated Nazarova & Nikitin, Evdokimova & Bazin, and Koch & Nuchtern at Golden Spin that season. I think maybe P&M lost one head-to-head to D&S at home in Russia early in the season. (It is not an accident that I argued for P&M to be on Team Trainwreck).

Anyway, we agree that it's a huge endeavor and that depth at home is a huge factor in whether these types of partnerships get to the big events.

If I remember correctly, Popova/Mozgov messed up their second event (fall or something in the short dance) and then they withdrew. So that’s why they couldn’t do another event. Or was it their first event they messed up and then they didn’t bother to do second one because of that? Not sure now, but I remember that one event wasn’t good at all and then they didn’t really have a chance.

 

[Dobre]

If I remember correctly, Popova/Mozgov messed up their second event (fall or something in the short dance) and then they withdrew. So that’s why they couldn’t do another event. Or was it their first event they messed up and then they didn’t bother to do second one because of that? Not sure now, but I remember that one event wasn’t good at all and then they didn’t really have a chance.

At their first event, they finished second to Davankova & Shibnev, which is what I was thinking. At P&M's second event, Mozgov had a lovely splat on the twizzles in the RD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EipNMwd5Bvo

Very of him. Whether this would have been enough to keep them out of Nationals without the withdrawal, I don't know. I can't find the results page or the actual scores from the event. (Their video is listed as #4 on the Golden Skate page where I found the link so I tend to assume P&M were in 4th after the splat, but without the scores I've no idea how far behind they were pointwise).

 

[hanca]

At their first event, they finished second to Davankova & Shibnev, which is what I was thinking. At P&M's second event, Mozgov had a lovely splat on the twizzles in the RD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EipNMwd5Bvo

Very of him. Whether this would have been enough to keep them out of Nationals without the withdrawal, I don't know. I can't find the results page or the actual scores from the event. (Their video is listed as #4 on the Golden Skate page where I found the link so I tend to assume P&M were in 4th after the splat, but without the scores I've no idea how far behind they were pointwise).

Yes, so I remembered it correctly. Because they attended second event, they couldn’t have another chance (third event) when they withdrew in the second event. And the SD was quite a disaster, I remember watching that. They might have qualified if they finished the competition, but Davankova/Shibnev would qualify far above them. Davankova being new to ice dance, Shibnev being nobody, beat two ice dancers, one of whom was junior world champion.

 

[Dobre]

Davankova being new to ice dance, Shibnev being nobody, beat two ice dancers, one of whom was junior world champion.

It happens with new teams. The current Worlds silver medalists were a lovely epic mess during the second event I saw them skate together too. One reigning Olympic bronze medalist and one Junior World Champion. Double splat & an invalid element.

 

[hanca]

Of course it happens. It is ice dance. Expect the unexpected. Though I remeber I was quite surprised that Davankova/Shibnev doing much better than Popova/Mozgov that season. Considering Popova and Mozgov were both dancers... It does show that if the choreographer is very good, lots of weaknesses can be hidden. No matter what we think about Morozov as a person, professionally he knows how to do his job (or at least, how to make a program that hides all weaknesses and shows all strengths). I would like him to make a program for Zahorski/Gurreiro. During this season the top two Russian dance teams clearly moved up, and I would like Z/G to move up too.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Glad that Sokolovskaya made an official comment about Sotskova's switch (because the press was already running off with sensationalized headings for this situation).
It was a mutual decision between all 3 parties, no scandals, no drama.

"Mutual decision between us. Masha skate as much as she decides. I will be there to help with what i can."
https://tass.ru/sport/6303699

 

[Dobre]

Of course it happens. It is ice dance. Expect the unexpected. Though I remeber I was quite surprised that Davankova/Shibnev doing much better than Popova/Mozgov that season.

If you say it enough, it might make it true? In the end, they didn't do better. Popova & Mozgov had the better international debut. Not just a little better. Significantly better. And continue to exist today. We are just going to have to agree to disagree here. Which is fine. As you said, it was an honorable result considering the huge challenge; and I thought Davankova skated quite well at her Nationals.

 

[Mad for Skating]

No matter what we think about Morozov as a person, professionally he knows how to do his job (or at least, how to make a program that hides all weaknesses and shows all strengths).

This is true. I love some of his choreography for Weaver/Poje, Denis Ten, Pogorilaya, Stolbova/Klimov, and even the SP he did for Radionova was not bad. If only artistic genius = human decency.

 

[Tinami Amori]

If only artistic genius = human decency.

it sure does not, given how Einstein treated his first wife, and Picasso some of his wives and lovers. But it is simple, praise/use their work, avoid them socially....

There was once an interesting comment made by a person who knows the "inside stories", but has no horses in the race; it was about Morozov and his affairs. He said that he witnessed himself, that many young girls at the russian rinks where Morozov comes to work, think it is "quality stamp" to be seen out with Morozov and to have a short affair with him, and they compete with each other who gets him first, and make bets on it. To some he is a "toy-boy" and to be used for entertainment..

 

[Ardarys]

I used to think Morozov was cute in the 02-06 quad I was young and stupid which I guess he would have loved if I was a girl

 

[hanca]

If you say it enough, it might make it true? In the end, they didn't do better. Popova & Mozgov had the better international debut. Not just a little better. Significantly better. And continue to exist today. We are just going to have to agree to disagree here. Which is fine. As you said, it was an honorable result considering the huge challenge; and I thought Davankova skated quite well at her Nationals.

I am not trying to rewrite the past. But you seem to be concentrated on one single competition, the international one, whereas I am looking at the results across the whole season, so at least three competitions. I don’t think that one competition can be accurate measurement of anything because anyone can have a day off. Look at Sinitsina/Katsalapov, this season they didn’t even manage to get a medal at Europeans, and then they got silver at worlds.
And obviously, I do agree that Popova/Mozgov are much better team long term, because at least they lasted and are improving, unlike Davankova/Shibnev who didn’t last.

 

[Mad for Skating]

it sure does not, given how Einstein treated his first wife, and Picasso some of his wives and lovers. But it is simple, praise/use their work, avoid them socially....

There was once an interesting comment made by a person who knows the "inside stories", but has no horses in the race; it was about Morozov and his affairs. He said that he witnessed himself, that many young girls at the russian rinks where Morozov comes to work, think it is "quality stamp" to be seen out with Morozov and to have a short affair with him, and they compete with each other who gets him first, and make bets on it. To some he is a "toy-boy" and to be used for entertainment..

Well, let’s look at this from the perspective of a young woman. Younger girls often like dating older guys because it makes them feel special. Some girls in freshman year of high school try to chase boys who are in their junior or senior year, because they find it satisfying that the boy picked them over some older, more experienced girl. Of course, this plan often falls through in the long run, but for the girl, it’s very gratifying at the moment.

Of course, a 3-4 year age gap is very different than 20+, but it follows the same principle, except on a larger scale. If attracting a guy a few years older than oneself is good, then attracting a successful man in his 40s who could have any refined, classy woman closer to his own age must be even better. This is not a character flaw; it’s just how many girls think. I think societal norms have created some of this (the idea that the man should be older, taller, and stronger than his woman), but some of it is human nature.

Not to mention, young girls do tend to crush on people who are older than them. I’ve had crushes on celebrities twice my age, because they seemed more glamorous than kids my own age.

But that still doesn’t excuse Morozov’s part in the whole situation. Just because the fish is attracted to the bait doesn’t mean the fisherman isn’t responsible for reeling it in.

I used to think Morozov was cute in the 02-06 quad I was young and stupid which I guess he would have loved if I was a girl

LOL! We all have dumb crushes when we’re young.
You take the coach, I’ll take the girlfriends. #gaysolidarity

 

[muffinplus]

Deleted, as I see it's been reported already

 

[DobrinFan]

It's been reported that Sotskova has left Buyanova's team and will now be training with Sokolovskaya...

You're a day late.

 

[muffinplus]

You're a day late.

Yep just saw it.. don't know how I missed it as it's been posted about

 

[Tinami Amori]

Alena Kostornaya has been seen at the rink, and is added back on to Tutberidze's "Stars on Ice" show in April.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv7UopfHq-E/

 

[mjb52]

I've been watching Shevchenko/Eremenko's free dance for this year a lot lately, I think they are a really promising team. There are a bunch of young teams at the top in Russian ice dance right now so there's a tough road ahead but I hope they stick it out. Remind me, they are going senior next year right?

 

[hanca]

I've been watching Shevchenko/Eremenko's free dance for this year a lot lately, I think they are a really promising team. There are a bunch of young teams at the top in Russian ice dance right now so there's a tough road ahead but I hope they stick it out. Remind me, they are going senior next year right?

Yes, he is aging out of juniors after this season.

 

[Rina RUS]

It is funny to notice, that Yagudin has agreed to confirm his instagram belongs to him. Not long ago he still didn't want to do it: when someone asked why didn't he do it, Yagudin asked why the asking person didn't do it to his own instagram. (It is funny he does answer such questions - careless, but stubborn)

I guess he still doesn't think he is VIP who should confirm it. He had the contacts of his agents on his page - that was enough for him.

 

[Sylvia]

http://tass.com/sport/1052655

Russian figure skater and ice dancer Anastasia Shakun was found guilty of violating anti-doping rules and disqualified for one year, the International Skating Union press service reported.
The ban officially starts as of November 10, 2018.
Shakun was paired with Daniil Ragimov and won the senior ice dance competition at the Pavel Roman Memorial competition held in Olomouc, the Czech Republic, on November 9-11. Upon the tournament’s completion, the ISU received a report from the Czech National Anti-Doping Committee stating that the Russian failed the doping test and her samples contained the prohibited substance furosemide.
... Last season was the first for the pairing of Shakun and Ragimov, because previously she had been teamed up with Yuri Petrosyan. The best result the pair got was silver at the Russian Cup.

(Yuri Larionov was suspended for 18 months by the ISU for the same reason in 2008-09.)

ISU Communication No. 2237 (April 8, 2019): https://www.isu.org/inside-isu/isu-communications/communications/20766-isu-communication-2237/file
Case No. 2019-01 (April 3, 2019): https://www.isu.org/inside-isu/isu-...ions/20767-case-2019-01-isu-vs-ms-shakun/file

Shakun/Ragimov's ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00103718.htm

 

[rfisher]

furosemide (lasix) has to have a doctor's prescription (or at least it does in the US). If a skater has a valid script, is it still a violation? It can be used to treat high blood pressure among other conditions. Stupid people sometimes use it to lose weight, but all you lose is fluids. I can't imagine it would be that helpful for an ice dancer.