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Russian Skating Federation

youarewhipped

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
I am confused with what the Russian Skating Federation has done this year. It seems that they always crack the whip on their skaters and pick and choose who gets the compete internationally. We know they always pressured Maria B to quit and never let her do well, until she won worlds of course. But why would they ever let Elena, who has gained probably 20 lbs of excess weight (it's surely not msucle) or more compete so much this season? Did you see her at all? She made a fool out of herself! She couldn't land basic doubles!!! She got last at every event which I'm sure did not help her confidence. Couldn't they have sent VV (not that she would have landed her jumps, but at least they'd be triples) or Kristina Oblasova or Ludmilla Nedlina> They have plenty of talented skaters, why are they doing this to their top skaters? Also it seemed that Irina did some competitions last season that I'm guessing she probably didn't want to do because during them she was sick and her mother was dying. She didn't skate well in them, one I remember vividly was the Campbells with cupcake's first transformation to poundcake and Irina's equally dissapointing performance. They should take care of their skaters!!!
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
urwipt - Good question about the Russian Federation but it more than likely applies to other Federations, too. Whom do you think they will send to Euros if the Nationals do not count?

Joe
 

youarewhipped

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
Well...

Irina is looking good so not a problem

Ludmilla is doing a triple axel in her short this year and has a quad toe so she'd be competitive--she skates consistently but she just can't do the artistic elements

Kristina Oblasova-won Junior Worlds

VV-will do better than an morbidly obese (by skating standards) poundcake who has lost her confidence.
 

icenut84

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
youarewhipped said:
Ludmilla is doing a triple axel in her short this year and has a quad toe so she'd be competitive--she skates consistently but she just can't do the artistic elements

I thought the ladies weren't allowed to do a triple axel in the short. On the list of elements, I'm pretty sure it says "double axel" for the ladies and "double or triple axel" for the men.

VV-will do better than an morbidly obese (by skating standards) poundcake who has lost her confidence.

Morbidly obese poundcake? Was that really necessary? :rolleye: :mad: She's just had an injury, surgery, and had some bad competitions, no wonder she's lost her confidence. I for one hope she gets back to the form of last year, I'm sure she will.
 

wvgal57

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 23, 2003
Irina at Campbells

Irina actually skated decent at Campbells end of year event last season. She commented herself that she'd been unable to train due to being in St. Petersburg with her mom. She landed everything but the lutz combo and for someone who didn't practice from February till April that was pretty darn good


Edited to Add:
Also, I was told a few days ago that Nelinda was minus a coach now..don't know if its true or not and I haven't tracked down any Russian newssites to even verify.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
youarewhipped said:
Irina is looking good so not a problem.
Whipped, what can you tell us about Irina? The last I heard she was practically at death's door and they were wondering if she would even be able to walk without pain for 6 months or a year. I had understood that she would not be competing at all this year.

Is she fully recovered then and ready to compete? I sure hope so!

Mathman
 

youarewhipped

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
She just commented (I don't have the article, sorry) about how her skating was very good and she is getting back into the flow of things after her personal issues. She said that she is getting ready for worlds, feeling confident and so on. Good luck to Irina!
 

valuvsmk

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
youarewhipped said:
She just commented (I don't have the article, sorry) about how her skating was very good and she is getting back into the flow of things after her personal issues. She said that she is getting ready for worlds, feeling confident and so on. Good luck to Irina!

2 questions please:

Will Irina compete at Russian Nationals this week?

If she does not compete, what confirmation do you have that she will be named to the Worlds team anyway?
 

dewet

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
youarewhipped said:
I am confused with what the Russian Skating Federation has done this year. It seems that they always crack the whip on their skaters and pick and choose who gets the compete internationally. We know they always pressured Maria B to quit and never let her do well, until she won worlds of course. But why would they ever let Elena, who has gained probably 20 lbs of excess weight (it's surely not msucle) or more compete so much this season? Did you see her at all? She made a fool out of herself! She couldn't land basic doubles!!! She got last at every event which I'm sure did not help her confidence. Couldn't they have sent VV (not that she would have landed her jumps, but at least they'd be triples) or Kristina Oblasova or Ludmilla Nedlina> They have plenty of talented skaters, why are they doing this to their top skaters? Also it seemed that Irina did some competitions last season that I'm guessing she probably didn't want to do because during them she was sick and her mother was dying. She didn't skate well in them, one I remember vividly was the Campbells with cupcake's first transformation to poundcake and Irina's equally dissapointing performance. They should take care of their skaters!!!
Actually, Elena didn't finish last in her GP events, she finished ninth, which is just as bad. All the Russians,(Neledina, Basova, Volchkova) competed twice, but just weren't televised as much. Elena's appearance at the fluff events were because of her silver medal at worlds, and the federation can't decide to send somebody else there.
 

dewet

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
icenut84 said:
I thought the ladies weren't allowed to do a triple axel in the short. On the list of elements, I'm pretty sure it says "double axel" for the ladies and "double or triple axel" for the men
Ladies can do a triple axel for their combo, but they still need to do a double axel.
 

CassidyL

Rinkside
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
valuvsmk said:
2 questions please:

Will Irina compete at Russian Nationals this week?

If she does not compete, what confirmation do you have that she will be named to the Worlds team anyway?

Maybe wvgal will come back and tell us. I understood she talked to Irina or her reps quite often. She usually lets us know what is happening.
 

Ptichka

Forum translator
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Whipped, the assignments were made before Elena has had her surgery. And, lest we forget, she is the World Silver Medalist. I have a hard time imagining USFSA pulling a World Silver Medalist from the GP events when she does not do well on one event. Just imagine the outrage if the did try!

BTW, I am usually the first to jump on the "let's beat on the Russian Federation" bandwagon. That federation is corrupt, favors certain coaches/ skaters, etc. This time, however, I see nothing wrong with its decisions.
 

Excidra2001

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
As some of you know now, Irina decided to withdraw from nationals couple of weeks ago. I believe if she is in top shape to compete at Euro's or worlds, her federation will send her in a heart beat.
Even the president of the federation was quoted as saying " I wish Irina returns soon".
Wouldn't it be crazy if the USFSA did not send MK to worlds because she didn't compete at Nationals due to health problems, they would be crazy not to send her if she was prepared to go.
 

wvgal57

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 23, 2003
Irina is not competing at Russian Nationals. As far as Europeans or Worlds competition goes, the Russian Federation retains the option of naming Irina to the team. If she is healthy then I'm sure she would be asked to skate her programs and then they would decide. Remember last year the Victoria Volkcholva missed Nationals and was still named to the Worlds team.

We do have a new Christmas show picture of Irina up at her website now.

www.irina-slutskaya.com


I'm not aware of the recent comments by Irina regarding training, etc. If you have an article to link to it'd be great!
 

lavender

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Well if Irina is healthy then she should be on the team. There's no way I would leave her off. She's the best of all those ladies 3 axel/3/3 combos or not. This is a special situation but I just hope she isn't pushing it too much. I really think she will be back next year (definitely the Olympic year).
 

Nadine

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
wvgal57 said:
Irina is not competing at Russian Nationals. As far as Europeans or Worlds competition goes, the Russian Federation retains the option of naming Irina to the team. If she is healthy then I'm sure she would be asked to skate her programs and then they would decide.

We do have a new Christmas show picture of Irina up at her website now.

www.irina-slutskaya.com

Thanks for the aforementioned news wvgal57........it's good to see your posting here, as well as at the ISU board (even though I don't, lol :D )........and over the years I know if I want any kind of info. on Irina Slutskaya, I need go no further than you (no lie). Looking forward to more news & updates on Irina in future. :) Thanks, btw, for posting Irina's contact info. over on the ISU board.

***Note: thanks, too, for using the same username wherever you post, as do I, b/c it's easier to know whom is talking. JMHO.***

Peace & Love, Nadine

P.S. Interesting bit about Ludmila Nelidina that I've been reading on various boards ~ have always thought that the Russian Skating Federation would focus on her sooner or later ~ just thought it would be the former though.
 

valuvsmk

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Excidra2001 said:
As some of you know now, Irina decided to withdraw from nationals couple of weeks ago. I believe if she is in top shape to compete at Euro's or worlds, her federation will send her in a heart beat.
Even the president of the federation was quoted as saying " I wish Irina returns soon".
Wouldn't it be crazy if the USFSA did not send MK to worlds because she didn't compete at Nationals due to health problems, they would be crazy not to send her if she was prepared to go.

What I gathered from the TV interview with Irina that appeared on ABC a few weeks ago was that her health was still rather precarious. That is why I asked the question.

Based on past practice, I can understand that the RFSF would ask Irina to demonstrate that she is in good enough health and shape to compete at the level they wish. They certainly have done that before with other skaters.

My concern was about Irina's current health and training schedule. If her doctors have cleared her for her normal practice schedule, that would thrill me to no end. I just don't want her rushing back to compete when her health would be compromised. She has been very seriously ill, and what I want for her is to be able to regain her full health in the best way possible (whatever that might be).
 

wvgal57

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 23, 2003
Thanks, Nadine!

I have to thank TeamIrina for news updates on Irina and of course Kazushi does the hard stuff at the site -- the forum is my main project.

I only wish we had even more news to share with folks, I get emails daily about Irina and her training and a lot of times I simply don't have anything new to share.
 
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