OK, lets do it! Who are your top 3 Favorite Russian Pairs teams?

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

And Good Lord if I leave your favorite off forgive me.

Down to business: Who are your top 3 favorite Russian Pairs teams of all time??? Why?

I think y'all know my favs. But lets do top 3 so we can discuss our faves in more detail.

In terms of available space I will leave off Tarasova & Morosov for now as they are more relatively new.

Im going for the proven Greats here with this poll.

Wish I could have added Beschke & Petrov, Kasakova & Dmitriev and Rodnina with Ulanov.

The 10th spot I went with Petrova & Tikhonov but had to think about it.

 

[lala]

B/S, G/G, M/D

 

[gk_891]

For me, definitely the first 3 teams listed. They have captured my attention more than any of the other teams have.

 

[Vash01]

Mine remain the same as before- B&S, M&D, G&G - all tied for number one.

 

[snowbird]

Petrova/Tikhonov because Maria is so foxy.

 

[MAXSwagg]

1. G/G - perfect, that is all
2. B/S - ethereal...love the contrast between his strength and swagger and her delicatness
3. V/T - drama...power yet lightness, perfectly matched
4. S/K - MODERN...absolutely superb skating skills...effortlessness

These teams combine artistry, skating skills, unique programs, high-quality elements, emotion into one complete jewel. No one else can compete. This order is mostly trivial because I pretty much like all of these teams equally though for different reasons.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

These teams combine artistry, skating skills, unique programs,

Agree, but no one had more unique programs than Mishkutenok & Dmitriev! SLAY!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

My choices are eons old, but here goes.

I loved Valova and Vassiliev for their drama and expressive choreography, Selezneva and Makarov for their attack, and the relatively unheralded pair of Vorobieva and Vlasov for combining multiple elements years before it became a thing.

 

[attyfan]

Mine are the Protopopovs (changed the sport), B/S (so lyrical) and the PetTikhs ... simply because they are such a class act (Tikhnov at 2006 worlds ... carrying an injured Shen across the ice so she could congratulate winners Pang and Tong, for example)

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

The only thing Ill say about Elena B is that I didnt see enough joy on her face...

To me, she usually seemed burdensome, worried or melancholy... something...

(Now that I think of it same for Yuko and Tatiana Tot. whom I adore both!!!) I guess the Alexa Scimerim's are rare.

Added later: I was thinking of Megan D, and she seems to be as expressive as Alexa. Then I thought some more.. same for Ashley Cain, Haven (all smiles), Marissa, Julianne. Question: Do North American women in pairs seem to be more expressive (smiling and joy) than their Russian counterparts?

One thing that hooked me in with Natalia Mishkutenok is how she (usually) stared gazingly into Artur. It did create a vision for me.

Perhaps Russian women (and men) feel more stress in pairs because of their long, rich history of pairs skating?

Added even later... Man, now that I think about it wasn't Elena B abused by an ex-partner?? Im trying to remember the commentating during some of their performances and now that I think of it I think I remember commentators saying she was abused. Man.... Do they still perform as professionals? Anyone know what they are up to?

 

[Bellanca]

I guess I'm just no good at polls. I think I have it narrowed down to three, and then out of the blue, I recall something charming or memorable that happened at a competition, changing my mind, again Or, I might have a soft spot for a team or two that are listed, making it impossible. Exhausting!

Now, if we were polling top 3 favorite American pairs teams, that's easy!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

^^^^ Start it, @Weve3

and P.S. I better see the waitress and the truck driver on that list!

 

[love skating]

I picked G&G and M&D, my third favorite was not on the list Bechke & Petrov

 

[Bellanca]

^^^^ Start it, @Weve3

and P.S. I better see the waitress and the truck driver on that list!

Nah, I’ll just take a cut, a % and leave the rest to the pros! I’m a silent partner.

 

[Taso]

My choices are eons old, but here goes.

I loved Valova and Vassiliev for their drama and expressive choreography, Selezneva and Makarov for their attack, and the relatively unheralded pair of Vorobieva and Vlasov for combining multiple elements years before it became a thing.

I love all three of these pairs, too, and could easily put them into my top 3. I selected M&D, S&K, and B&S. 4h would've been the Protopopovs

 

[blue_idealist]

M/D, G/G, P/T... besides Bechke/Petrov, Shishkova/Naumov and Eltsova/Bushkov were unfortunately also missing, although they wouldn't have changed my choice.

 

[Limonite]

My no. 1 are Mishkutenok & Dmitriev; fantastic pair. For no. 2 and 3 I chose B/S and G/G, but they are far from my no. 1 choice. I also like Bechke and Petrov.

 

[julieann]

Dmitriev and anyone really!

 

[MAXSwagg]

How Mishkutionok and Dmitriev are so close to Elena and Anton is beyond me.

 

[briancoogaert]

G&G by far !
M&D for their impressive 1994 Olys LP, and all their unique skills.
B&S for speed, 1999, 2000 and 2001 programs, I love them all !

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

How Mishkutionok and Dmitriev are so close to Elena and Anton is beyond me.

Dont start, just don't start.

 

[valenc]

This poll reminded me of one of my favorite old-timey clips:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ppAA8pY7wNU

 

[nguyhm]

This poll reminded me of one of my favorite old-timey clips:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ppAA8pY7wNU

Thank you for the link! Such glorious and iconic pairs. I miss those times, pair skating at its best. B&S was the last pair of that era. Pair skating has changed so much under COP and I'm still adjusting.

 

[Winnipeg]

Liked B/S but Elena did always look rather sad or ethereal or tragic in some way. Beautiful skater though.

 

[Simone411]

Gordeeva & Grinkov, Mishkutenok & Dmitriev and Volosozhar & Trankov. Actually, I wanted to select all of the Pairs couples listed.

 

[hanca]

From the currently competing Russian pairs, Stolbova/Klimov, Efimova/Korovin, and until yesterday I would say Atakhanova/Spiridonov, but now it looks that I will have to find a different junior pair. I can't wait for Russian cups and for JGP events.

 

[Vash01]

Funny that 3-times OGM winner (2-time with Zaitsev) has the fewest votes in this poll.

I picked the traditional- G&G, M&D, B&S. I also liked V&T and T&M a lot but I could choose only three.

 

[Coquelicot14]

We are missing Kazakova/Dmitriev
I liked his skating with her much more then with Mishkutenok.
From the pairs above though,
V&T, S&K, B&S, special mention to K&S.
New faves: A&R

 

[Amantide]

1. Natalia&Artur
2. Elena&Anton
3. The Protopovs


4. Honourable mention: Klibova.

I so did love Bechke&Petrov when they went Pro. also.