German Skating News - 2022 / 2023 Season

[Karen-W]

Efimova/Blommaert got the GP spot at skate Canada. Great!! Pairs are packed with Germans.

Is a second GP spot within reach so that they might even qualify for the GPF?

Am I dreaming too big?

I don't know that it's out of reach, but I don't know that I think it's all that likely.

The Pairs alternates list for the GP includes any and all teams that are achieving the total score minimum at the early Challengers, so it now has 11 teams on it and 2 more competing at Finlandia this week. It might come down to which fed is doing the inviting as to whether or not Efimova/Blommaert can get a second invitation - eg, if Chernyshova/Windsor do wind up withdrawing from NHK because of his ankle injury, Japan might decide to invite their new senior pairs team, Yunoki/Ichihashi rather than the top scoring team available on the alternates list (EfiBlom).

As far as making the GPF - again, it would really depend on where they wound up at for a 2nd GP. The fields at GPdF and Espoo are really strong (SDDes, PengJinx2, SafBerux2, HocKun, GhiAmbrx2, SmirSiia), slightly less so at SkAm & NHK, and comparable to SCI at MKJW. If they were to get a 2nd assignment at MKJW, then, yes, I'd expect that they could easily qualify for the GPF, but my guess is that some of the other teams waiting for one assignment will be invited first before any of the teams on the alternates list get a 2nd assignment.

Well, now... With PengJin's withdrawal from both of their GPs, Efimova/Blommaert were invited to fill one of the open Espoo spots. It is entirely possible, with the way pairs is shaking out already, that they could indeed slide into the GPF. It's still one of the tougher fields, but if they can finish 2nd this week at SCI, then a 3rd at Espoo should probably qualify them, depending on how the rest of the fields shake out, especially the four teams in contention for the GPF who are at GPdF next week (SDDes, SafBeru, HocKun, and GhiAmbr).

 

[Quadjump]

Yes. With that field the doors are widely open for even two German pairs in the GPF.

K/F and the Japanese are probably save. But after them the field is open. Stellato/Deshampes and the Georgians challenges the Germans.

 

[Karen-W]

Yes. With that field the doors are widely open for even two German pairs in the GPF.

K/F and the Japanese are probably save. But after them the field is open. Stellato/Deshampes and the Georgians challenges the Germans.

I think SDDes are likely safe too - their SB is markedly higher than any of the teams they'll face next week at GPdF. It's really going to come down to how SafBeru look and how the Germans fare against GhiAmbro and ChanHowe. Feels like 5 teams vying for 3 spots.

 

[tony]

I think SDDes are likely safe too - their SB is markedly higher than any of the teams they'll face next week at GPdF. It's really going to come down to how SafBeru look and how the Germans fare against GhiAmbro and ChanHowe. Feels like 5 teams vying for 3 spots.

I think there are 6 teams beyond K/F, M/K, and SD/D who all have a chance at either two medals or 2nd and 4th-- should be exciting to follow.

[Those teams being the two Georgians, the two Germans, Italians, and Chan/Howe]. Either Hocke/Kunkel or Chan/Howe is likely going to be the silver medalist in JPN, so that should set that team up nicely for the Final. Same with Metelkina/Parkman in GBR.

 

[Karen-W]

I think there are 6 teams beyond K/F, M/K, and SD/D who all have a chance at either two medals or 2nd and 4th-- should be exciting to follow.

[Those teams being the two Georgians, the two Germans, Italians, and Chan/Howe]. Either Hocke/Kunkel or Chan/Howe is likely going to be the silver medalist in JPN, so that should set that team up nicely for the Final. Same with Metelkina/Parkman in GBR.

Fair point about Metelkina/Parkman. I'd forgotten what a weak field MKJW is. It is going to be really exciting to follow!

 

[Sera]

The German national team list has been updated:

https://www.eislauf-union.de/files/users/903/Bundeskaderliste2022-2023_Homepage2-1.pdf

Aya Hatakawa and Asaf Kazimov are not listed anymore. So obviously Lopousova/Kazimov have split, Lopousova is still on the list as an individual member.

And the homepage now has a ranking for euros qualification:

https://www.eislauf-union.de/files/users/977/RanglisteEM-Qualifikation_2022-23.pdf

 

[Andrea82]

I saw Katharina Muller in the K&C at Denis Ten Memorial with the couple representing Kazakhstan (Nauryzova/Datiev). Is she coaching now? At what training camp?

 

[Belsornia]

I saw Katharina Muller in the K&C at Denis Ten Memorial with the couple representing Kazakhstan (Nauryzova/Datiev). Is she coaching now? At what training camp?

According to Gaukhar Nauryzova's IG, they're currently based in Dortmund.

 

[text_skate]

maschine translated source:

Radio journalist Andreas Wagner has been elected the new President of the German Skating Union. At the extraordinary general meeting in Dortmund, former ice dancer Daniel Hermann and engineer Thomas Rücker were elected as his vice-presidents.

Background article in broadsheet Süddeutsche about DEU, published 28th. No words.

Streit um Macht in der Deutschen Eislauf-Union

Die Deutsche Eislauf-Union versucht im zweiten Anlauf ein neues Präsidium zu finden.

www.sueddeutsche.de

 

[feraina]

Sorry to post here, but I was hoping someone here can give me some advice. I’ve started my two boys, 4&7, in beginners group lessons. They both love it and can’t get enough of it! I’m thinking about getting the older one his own skates. We recently moved from the US to Darmstadt, and the local rink has no skateshop. Anybody got suggestions for how to get inexpensive boys’ skates here? Like what brand, and where?

 

[Hedwig]

Sorry to post here, but I was hoping someone here can give me some advice. I’ve started my two boys, 4&7, in beginners group lessons. They both love it and can’t get enough of it! I’m thinking about getting the older one his own skates. We recently moved from the US to Darmstadt, and the local rink has no skateshop. Anybody got suggestions for how to get inexpensive boys’ skates here? Like what brand, and where?

The best skate shops are in Berlin and Hamburg. Are you there in the near future?

 

[feraina]

The best skate shops are in Berlin and Hamburg. Are you there in the near future?

No. Are there skates one can buy online?

 

[Ananas Astra]

Sorry to post here, but I was hoping someone here can give me some advice. I’ve started my two boys, 4&7, in beginners group lessons. They both love it and can’t get enough of it! I’m thinking about getting the older one his own skates. We recently moved from the US to Darmstadt, and the local rink has no skateshop. Anybody got suggestions for how to get inexpensive boys’ skates here? Like what brand, and where?

I used to buy my skates in Frankfurt, they also used to have a little shop named "Skater's World". I don't know if it's still there, though.

ETA: Apparently, it is! https://www.skatersworld.de/

Does the figure skating club in Darmstadt still exist btw?

 

[feraina]

I used to buy my skates in Frankfurt, they also used to have a little shop named "Skater's World". I don't know if it's still there, though.

ETA: Apparently, it is! https://www.skatersworld.de/

Does the figure skating club in Darmstadt still exist btw?

Do you mean the TSG figure skating section?

 

[Ananas Astra]

Do you mean the TSG figure skating section?

Yep.

 

[feraina]

Yep.

That’s where my kids are taking lessons from. Unfortunately they don’t have enough interested kids in this age group to run group lessons in November and December.

I find it very weird but the club here has no boys at all, and no male coaches. Of course skating is always girls heavy, but in all the dozens rinks I’ve visited in the past, in the US, UK, and France, I had never seen a rink with no boys at all. Is that just a weird anomaly in Darmstadt or is it like that everywhere in Germany? I’m worried that my kids will get teased and bullied for doing figure skating, if culturally it is unacceptable.

 

[Miezekatze]

That’s where my kids are taking lessons from. Unfortunately they don’t have enough interested kids in this age group to run group lessons in November and December.

I find it very weird but the club here has no boys at all, and no male coaches. Of course skating is always girls heavy, but in all the dozens rinks I’ve visited in the past, in the US, UK, and France, I had never seen a rink with no boys at all. Is that just a weird anomaly in Darmstadt or is it like that everywhere in Germany? I’m worried that my kids will get teased and bullied for doing figure skating, if culturally it is unacceptable.

I don't think skating is culturally unacceptable in Germany for boys, I think the sport of skating is just rather unpopular in Germany right now and really under-developed and in a very bad shape. Then you have a small amount of kids in generally and I'd guess no boys at all is just a coincidence.

 

[Ananas Astra]

Yeah and especially in Hessia, figure skating has been quite dead for some time now.

25 years ago you'd have huge competitions and a lot of different figure skating clubs...now their regionals are sometimes combined with regionals from other states and many clubs don't exist anymore (just like mine).

 

[Hedwig]

In our rink we hardly have any boys but a few male skaters of higher age so I am sure that the boys do not feel out of place. But yes, skating is very unpopular in Germany :sad:

If you need good skates, you can call here:

EisArena Hamburg

Schlittschuhe professionell schleifen lassen im Schleifzentrum der EisArena Hamburg

www.doublelutz.de

they also sell skates online and they will be able to give recommendations for your kids.

Schlittschuhe online kaufen

Der Onlineshop für hochwertige Schlittschuhe von Jackson, Graf und Risport in riesiger Auswahl

www.eiskunstlauf-schlittschuhe.de

 

[sandra_persch]

it doesn't seem to be as bad in Berlin. At the open Berlin Championships this weekend they have 11 skaters in Novice Men - 6 of them from Berlin.

Großer Berliner Bär 2022

Event results for Großer Berliner Bär 2022

www.eissport-berlin.de

 

[sandra_persch]

Entry Lists for NRW Trophy are up

https://lev-nrw.org/docs/event/2195/html/index.htm

They keep adding skaters still. The first version had less Senior Men

 

[Miezekatze]

I was reading this article about Alexander König (in German):

Eisschnelllauf-Bundestrainer Alexander König: Grenzgänger auf eisigem Gelände

Vor einem Jahr kam es zum Bruch mit dem Eiskunstlauf-Verband. Beim Eisschnelllauf hat er seine neue Rolle gefunden, doch die Trennung wirkt nach.

www.tagesspiegel.de

Towards the end he is quoted as saying that Minerva Hase is training with a new partner and they should be ready for 2023/2024.

Anyone knows who the mysterious partner is? If they are training surely someone must know.

 

[Sera]

I was reading this article about Alexander König (in German):

Eisschnelllauf-Bundestrainer Alexander König: Grenzgänger auf eisigem Gelände

Vor einem Jahr kam es zum Bruch mit dem Eiskunstlauf-Verband. Beim Eisschnelllauf hat er seine neue Rolle gefunden, doch die Trennung wirkt nach.

www.tagesspiegel.de

Towards the end he is quoted as saying that Minerva Hase is training with a new partner and they should be ready for 2023/2024.

Anyone knows who the mysterious partner is? If they are training surely someone must know.

I just had a look at Paarlauf Fanclub site (they are usually the first to know) and apparently it`s Nikita Volodin.

http://www.paarlauf-fanclub.de/paare/minerva-fabienne-hase_nolan-seegert/

 

[Karen-W]

I just had a look at Paarlauf Fanclub site (they are usually the first to know) and apparently it`s Nikita Volodin.

http://www.paarlauf-fanclub.de/paare/minerva-fabienne-hase_nolan-seegert/

Interesting information on that page...

New couple: Minerva Fabienne Hase & Nikita Volodin

More details to come. Photo a little later….

They are currently training in Heerenveen and Berlin.

And then down at the bottom of the page...

Both train pair skating under the direction of Dimitri Savin.
Choreographer: ( Mark Pillay, Paul Boll), Rostislav Sinicin

Did Savin relocate from Sochi? I think that's where he was last year, along with Danilova/Tsiba and Hase/Seegert, among other teams.

 

[Miezekatze]

Did Savin relocate from Sochi? I think that's where he was last year, along with Danilova/Tsiba and Hase/Seegert, among other teams.

I don't know, parts of that page might be outdated or old info which hasn't been changed yet (since the page seems to be a work in progress).

But I googled a bit and this rather new article talks about a Canadian Junior pair presumably working with him in Mississauga in late October, so maybe he's really outside Russia or I don't assume he could travel to Canada:

Local figure skaters punch ticket to Grand Prix Final in Italy

Incredulous. That’s one way to describe how pairs figure skaters Ava Kemp and Yohnatan (Yoni) Elizarov of Winnipeg felt Friday as their second Grand Prix competition wrapped up in Poland.

www.winnipegfreepress.com

 

[Quadjump]

Well. König sat with the Georgian pair Metelkina/Parkmann in the Kiss and Cry this weekend. The other Georgian pair Safina/Berulava works with him in Berlin as well.

So he has still a lot to do with pair skating. Speed skating seems to be an akward place for him.

And Hase's new partner is definitly Nikita Volodin. They are practicing together in Berlin. Just saw them this week.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I was reading this article about Alexander König (in German):

Eisschnelllauf-Bundestrainer Alexander König: Grenzgänger auf eisigem Gelände

Vor einem Jahr kam es zum Bruch mit dem Eiskunstlauf-Verband. Beim Eisschnelllauf hat er seine neue Rolle gefunden, doch die Trennung wirkt nach.

www.tagesspiegel.de

Towards the end he is quoted as saying that Minerva Hase is training with a new partner and they should be ready for 2023/2024.

Anyone knows who the mysterious partner is? If they are training surely someone must know.

oh wow. I thought she wanted to stop skating and Nolan wanted to continue with a new partner

 

[sus2850]

oh wow. I thought she wanted to stop skating and Nolan wanted to continue with a new partner

No, he wanted to continue with her and she decided that she needed a better/younger partner to get an Olympic medal.
If she had given it another season with Nolan they could have won a European title possibly this season. Or at least a medal.
But apparently the bad result in Beijing after his covid quarantine ruined the partnership for her.

 

[Quadjump]

No, he wanted to continue with her and she decided that she needed a better/younger partner to get an Olympic medal.
If she had given it another season with Nolan they could have won a European title possibly this season. Or at least a medal.
But apparently the bad result in Beijing after his covid quarantine ruined the partnership for her.

Did she ever said something about an olympic medal? This is a huge way to go. Would it not have been better so stay with nolan and work hard to get that 3LoTh going?

But yes. Some pairs will regret their decision to retire or leave the sport with that Level of performances right now. Aljona could have won her 12th World medal with kind of any propper partner.

 

[sus2850]

She hasn“t said that explicitly, but making this decision so soon indicates it is her goal to achieve something beyond what would have been possible with Nolan.