Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov Split | Page 86 | Golden Skate

Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov Split

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Ryan O

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 5, 2004
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I guess it's safe to say Zueva wants them pretty bad.

If V&M and D&W are retiring as expected, that would make sense. Zueva didn't have a couple on the World podium this year for the first time in years. I'm sure she wants to remedy that situation next year. ;)
 

elif

Medalist
Joined
Jan 28, 2010
I find Sinitsina to be a fairly limited performer. She only works well as the object of the male partner's desire so Zoueva will probably give them a VM/GG romantic style.

I'm not sure how romantic style would work with Sinitsina's cold/distant look.:confused:
 

bramweld

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Well if she is indeed involved with katsalapov they could demonstrate some chemistry. I just think we will have two promising pairs. As Zueva mentioned S/K are your traditional russian pair, in a light way? (whatever that means) While Rus and Len will be more youthful, dynamic. I just sense this from their previous partnerships. However to be honest I am more interested in I/Z. S/Z sort of have the look of a modern N/K (both attractive, long legged and blond) while I/Z are just completely fresh to me.:popcorn:
 

sky_fly20

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
I'm not sure how romantic style would work with Sinitsina's cold/distant look.:confused:

Sinitsina isn't cold, just because S/K are threatening for I/Z doesn't mean she's cold
I can see them fitting fast tempo, tangos, classical, romantic style programs
 

sisinka

Final Flight
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
They still have shadows of that bend. Only time I see Sinitsina/Zhiganshin (him too) straight, is their twizzles.:eek: Better than Bobrova, still :eek:

Hmmm, forget it.
Let’s make a comparison od I&K and S&Z FD from World Champs, I took mainly moments from step sequences and cross-overs. (Quite visible that I&K really have a lot of spacing between each other). Both couples can skate with nice upper body posture, but in other moments…it is obvious that Nikita is usually more bent forward than Ruslan….and Lena is sometimes slightly more bent forward than Victoria, but I think that Lena bending forward - it can be also influenced by the big spacing between her and Nikita, she simply doesn’t have so long arms, so she must bent forward to take some hold with him.
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BlackPack said:
Seeing Sinitsina's skating in her recent Worlds LP didn't impress. Zueva talks about height being a potential generator for speed, but so many factors go into speed...Sinitsina really looked like a run-of-the-mill skater. Average twizzler, so-so knee bend/stroking, and her expression isn't earth-shattering.

Victoria is a very good twizzler. From those four - the best is Lena, no doubt about it, the worst Nikita, no doubt about it. Victoria and Ruslan improved a lot in twizzles since last season, they have great ice cover like I&K, but their rotation in twizzles is a little slower in first set than for I&K, but their synchronisation is better.

Victoria has great knee‘s work, yes, Lena and Ruslan has a little bit more smooth knee‘s work (Alexeeva also mentioned it), but still Victoria’s knees are one of the top 6 at Worlds. (Without Tessa & Scott, it would be in top 4). Even such great technicians like Bobrova & Soloviev has more stiff knee’s work yet than those four skaters (Lena, Victoria, Ruslan, Nikita). It is very visible in FD in both step sequences, and it is more difficult to have deep knees there thanks skating in holds.

Abraxis12345 said:
I find Sinitsina to be a fairly limited performer. She only works well as the object of the male partner's desire so Zoueva will probably give them a VM/GG romantic style. Elena, Nikita, and Ruslan are much more varied performers. If they gave Elena and Ruslan Nelli and Alex's socialite/nerd programs, it could work and an Anissina Peizerat type program could work just as well.

I find Ruslan the only one from those four who is variable in expression of music. He could be dramatic and demonic in Phantom of The Opera, passionate and flirting in Tango routine, strong, powerful and finally lost in love in this year’s Norma, very latin in 2011/12 Cha-cha SD, cute and playful cowboy in 2012/13 SD, and dancy trumpetist occupying the whole dance floor in this season’s SD. Everytime he was different and very often he was great especially this season. Of course he has still much things to improve to get to such level like previous Russian top dancers – Shabalin, Platov, Zhulin etc.

I don’t see variety in Lena, Victoria or Nikita. Lena always plays a Hollywood star who tries to suffer and keep smiling to judges. Nikita always plays a man who fell in love with Lena and cherish her like diamant. Victoria is a cute sexy girl who is tempting and soft. In both ex couples – men partners where those with dynamic moves. In both ex couples ladies lacked a sort of dynamic moves. Lena was always bigger exhibicionist who likes attention and smiles to every corner in a very sexy and luscious way. Victoria is more modest and soft, she has more elegant arm moves than Lena, she is more romantic. Lena takes more attention to herself and she is more open to public. Victoria reacts mainly on her partner, she is not putting such attention to judges (this is perfect for all love stories…you can hardly believe Lena that in both Ghost and Swan Lake program she fell in love with Nikita….then with technical specialist…with Referee…with judge number 5 and 7, number 3 and 2….but she smiles and looks and winks at them like they would be included into love story…I hope that Kustarova‘s team will correct this bad habbit). I can imagine Victoria in some sort of music like Russian Version of War and Peace - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k30OO5_nEWY#t=132 , or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mSHQgpeCbQ . But waltz is a very fast dance it would need fast legs and keep the rhythm – first would be problematic for Viki, second for Nikita. Lena is more like a girl from Grease movie, or Dirty Dancing movie soundtrack, but in romantic pieces – she still stays flirtatious and sexy there, she is not changing with music. Nikita is still “falling in love and then fully in love“ style. Last program where his lover tendency was not so obvious was Don Quijote, but it was four years ago. Since that moment he is still showing love emotions, the same emotions, the same dynamics of movements with the same expression (thanks to Morozov almost the same choreo in some parts of programs).

sky_fly20 said:
Sinitsina isn't cold, just because S/K are threatening for I/Z doesn't mean she's cold
I can see them fitting fast tempo, tangos, classical, romantic style programs

For S&Z – I think that classical and romatic style would be OK, some sort of not so fast flirting and playful music also (for Viki). I don’t agree with fast music – you need fast legs for it – Nikita starts to be a little bit heavy and Victoria doesn’t have such fast legs. A tango in its classical version is not good choice – Nikita is dynamic, but not passionate, Victoria is mild. Victoria skated Tango with Ruslan, but modern version and she was flirting and playful and sexy – that was great, but Tango feeling (in modern version of music) was added by Ruslan.
 

joannix

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Well if she is indeed involved with katsalapov they could demonstrate some chemistry. I just think we will have two promising pairs. As Zueva mentioned S/K are your traditional russian pair, in a light way? (whatever that means) While Rus and Len will be more youthful, dynamic. I just sense this from their previous partnerships. However to be honest I am more interested in I/Z. S/Z sort of have the look of a modern N/K (both attractive, long legged and blond) while I/Z are just completely fresh to me.:popcorn:

I cannot agree more!!!!!!!!! :agree:
 

elif

Medalist
Joined
Jan 28, 2010
I find Ruslan the only one from those four who is variable in expression of music.

First time I did seen Elena Ilinyhk is Schindler's List FD at JGPF. It was :jaw: Same year Zaretskis skated with Schindler's List too but not good as I/K. I can't forget this dance. Ruslan still have long long way to reach Elena's level of interpretation.:rolleye: By the way she was 15 year old there.:clap:
 

Kitt

Final Flight
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First time I did seen Elena Ilinyhk is Schindler's List FD at JGPF. It was :jaw: Same year Zaretskis skated with Schindler's List too but not good as I/K. I can't forget this dance. Ruslan still have long long way to reach Elena's level of interpretation.:rolleye: By the way she was 15 year old there.:clap:

That was also my first intro to them and I was very impressed -- they did not look like juniors to me.
 

bramweld

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
First time I did seen Elena Ilinyhk is Schindler's List FD at JGPF. It was :jaw: Same year Zaretskis skated with Schindler's List too but not good as I/K. I can't forget this dance. Ruslan still have long long way to reach Elena's level of interpretation.:rolleye: By the way she was 15 year old there.:clap:

I agree with Sisinka with most of her comments except for Lena's expression. I would not look at her Morozov years (especially before the OG) as a reflection of her true ability. I truly believed he muted her and placed most of his efforts on Nikita. She was left to fend for herself. (Morozov the low down scum that he is; can't help myself here). But if you look at her Don Quixote, in fact all her work with Zhulin and her Olympic programs you can see she is capable of a variety of expressions. She herself said that Ave Maria was way over her head, however Nikita insisted that they do it, and that was that.

I will miss not seeing a fully developed jazz routine from them. I think this was good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTFeDz6ijXo
 

MK's Winter

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 9, 2009
Sinitsina isn't cold, just because S/K are threatening for I/Z doesn't mean she's cold I can see them fitting fast tempo, tangos, classical, romantic style programs

We haven't seen either team compete yet. How can you say S/K threaten I/Z? Let the skating speak for itself. The slate is clean right now for both teams who are going to need time to develop.
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Normally I wouldn't post this here....especially since it's been posted in the I/Z fanfest thread.... BUT - It's a nice picture of I/Z side by side....and it's them hanging out outside of practice for her birthday.

I think they look very nice together! And this seems like they're getting along off-ice so far, which is awesome

http://static.vklybe.tv/album/data/media/33185/83.jpg

EDIT: I'm not interested in them getting together off ice or anything. I'm only hopeful that they're getting along and not at each other's throats or something. That's all. :)
 

sisinka

Final Flight
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
I agree with Sisinka with most of her comments except for Lena's expression. I would not look at her Morozov years (especially before the OG) as a reflection of her true ability. I truly believed he muted her and placed most of his efforts on Nikita. She was left to fend for herself. (Morozov the low down scum that he is; can't help myself here). But if you look at her Don Quixote, in fact all her work with Zhulin and her Olympic programs you can see she is capable of a variety of expressions. She herself said that Ave Maria was way over her head, however Nikita insisted that they do it, and that was that.

First time I did seen Elena Ilinyhk is Schindler's List FD at JGPF. It was Same year Zaretskis skated with Schindler's List too but not good as I/K. I can't forget this dance. Ruslan still have long long way to reach Elena's level of interpretation. By the way she was 15 year old there.

That was also my first intro to them and I was very impressed -- they did not look like juniors to me.

I must agree that Schindler's list was exceptional dance - music, idea, choreography and kids' interpretation - everything was great at Junior Worlds - both Lena & Nikita were great. And I know that I was impressed a lot too those times. And Don Quijote was different from Schindler's List, not so great and never skated to full potencial, but very good also. But last three years under Morozov Lena & Nikita were still the same, so I wonder whether such great intepretation was really in them inside or whether it was taught by Zhulin movement after movement, because with another coach they were not able to repeat this expression even once and changed into Hollywoodish couple.

It would be great if both Kustarova and Zueva would come back to that year and force kids to remember how it was when a music and story played the main role.
 

bramweld

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
I must agree that Schindler's list was exceptional dance - music, idea, choreography and kids' interpretation - everything was great at Junior Worlds - both Lena & Nikita were great. And I know that I was impressed a lot too those times. And Don Quijote was different from Schindler's List, not so great and never skated to full potencial, but very good also. But last three years under Morozov Lena & Nikita were still the same, so I wonder whether such great intepretation was really in them inside or whether it was taught by Zhulin movement after movement, because with another coach they were not able to repeat this expression even once and changed into Hollywoodish couple.

It would be great if both Kustarova and Zueva would come back to that year and force kids to remember how it was when a music and story played the main role.

True. Morozov was just clueless in that regard. This lack of desire or ability to help them focus on the music and the story contributed I think greatly to their conflicts as well as his complete lack of morals. It's a pity that they were too young to realize this and also that their federation did not manage the situation more wisely given his reputation. But regardless Lena had walked away from the pairing when they were children citing irreconcilable differences so maybe they were just an incompatible pairing from the get go. We were probably just lucky to have had them these last six or so years.
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Considering what happened in Elena's previous partnership, perhaps it's best that they remain just friends.;)

Oh, I agree! I'm all for remaining friends, lol. I just want to make sure that they remain on pleasant terms is all - aka, they're not already at each other's throats, lol. I don't need an off-ice romance, haha

And I edited my above comment to reflect that bc I definitely did not mean that I'm hoping for an off-ice romance, haha. I'm strictly concerned about their potential to do well together on the ice; and to subsequently hopefully have a healthy relationship - aka, generally get along with one another. :)
 
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