Igor Shpilband fired

[ice coverage]

http://www.freep.com/article/201206...-Ice-Arena-Madison-Chock-Evan-Bates-to-follow

Chock/Bates going with Igor.

And in other news ... Jo-Ann Barnas is leaving the Detroit Free Press. Today the Indianapolis Star announced that her husband/colleague, Jeff Taylor, will become its new top editor as of July 2.

Jo-Ann Barnas ‏@JoAnnBarnas

Thanks for your well wishes about Jeff's new post in Indy! Excited but sad about leaving the Freep; 17 great years http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201206121059/NEWS/120612031
10:54 AM - 12 Jun 12​

 

[Tonichelle]

US Nationals just got way more interesting, eh?

 

[Mathman]

^ True. Just to be contrary I am going to root for Chock and Bates!

 

[Tonichelle]

^ True. Just to be contrary I am going to root for Chock and Bates!

 

[meem]

The whole new season of 2012-13 has gotten incredibly interesting. I'm glad Igor found a new rink (and, most importantly, will be staying in the US).

 

[heyhey]

Next on the drumroll would be Tobias/Staguinas....

 

[nevergonnadance]

One thing that has been worrying me about the Z&S team the last two years is the gradual, but now total, disappearance of younger teams from their school. This last season, they did not have a single team on the JGP...this for a coaching team that dominated in juniors for a very long time. And I can see how Igor, as a technical coach, would miss doing developmental coaching work. I would think it would be far more rewarding than dusting off the technique of teams that already know everything.

Shortly before the Olympics many regulars claimed the Zoueva/Shpilband team had had all their success with juniors and were relatively unproven in senior international competition, give or take a B&A Olympic silver.

Interesting that some believe Igor has the reputation and not Zoueva. So, the woman who choreographed three gold medal winning programs through two generations of figure skaters for two different Federations isn't legendary. That's Igor. And not even addressing the World and GPF titles. He followed her to Arctic Edge, I believe, not her him. Furthermore, I don't believe any of Arctic Edge's three top teams are dummies. According to many, all three teams could only improve by using other choreographers. All three teams had the option to keep silent on the firing - it's off season. It was a given Igor would find ice; I think equally a given he'd welcome the top three teams as the headliners of "his own" coaching stable, his own business. They could all have followed him. As these situations go, the timing of the firing wasn't disruptive and look - less than a week later he has a new situation. None of the top three teams thought gee, I could have the entire attention of this "legendary" tech coach for once, instead of him likewise coaching my biggest rivals. I can work with Dean and Carmelengo now! The path to gold is clear!

Everybody stayed with Marina. The top three teams, all at the same training center, all with the same choreographer, elected to stick with her versus following the coach some here claim is better regarded. Why? They're all idiots? That's how they all rose to the top of the sport - they have no judgment?

Marina is the draw. Igor even said he needed her to win gold in Vancouver. There are actually many tech specialists who can drill edges and steps. There are very few who understand music, the audience, movement and music, as well as Zoueva. She is very perceptive, with her ability to knit together the requirements of CoP with a program that uses every beat of the music and shows off three top teams individual and distinct strengths.

I don't think it's news that the USFSA didn't have a part in firing him, but they were apprised of the situation. They keep tabs. It's no different than them questioning Marina when it turned out "Phantom" would be D/W's Olympic long music. So, it stands to reason they were kept up to speed, understood why it was happening, and understood Meryl and Charlie's position. I wasn't aware anybody ever thought in the first place that the USFSA had anything to do with the firing. They were in the loop when it was going down. That part makes sense.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

I'm just gonna mention that despite Igor's vaunted technical ability, D/W, V/M and the Shibs had more problems with levels this past season than I can recall.

 

[dorispulaski]

Actually, I thought that it was evidence that Igor may not have been as present with the 3 top teams as in the past. However, on the rhumba pattern dance part of the SD, it's evidence that the Z&S school has never been stellar with CD's, at least not since Liz Coates left.

And no one said Zoueva is not legendary...but as a choreographer, which is what the biggest need for the top 3 teams is.

BTW, it sounds like the Novi ice facility has what Igor is going to need:

The Novi Ice Arena opened in September 1998. This beautiful multi-surface facility offers two NHL-regulation sized ice sheets with seating capacities of 750 and 250, heated viewing areas, pro shop, two cafés, skate rental and meeting space. The arena offers eight large locker rooms, an officials room, a large figure skating dressing room and figure skating coaches dressing room. The facility is host to a variety of programs, including the Novi Youth Hockey Association, Skating Club of Novi, Novi High School and Northville High School hockey teams.


Suburban Sports Group of Farmington Hills has managed the Novi Ice Arena since 1999

However, I don't see any mention of dance, gymnastics or workout areas, which the skaters also need. However, they could I suppose, do those things at Arctic Edge or somewhere else.

It's about 37 minutes from U Mich, only a little further than Arctic Edge.

And Novi's apparently where Madison went to high school.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I think Marina's ability to choreograph to the strength and style of each of the competing teams goes a long way in keeping the top teams training together in the same club. The skaters can feel they are all getting the best to do their best even as they compete fiercely against each other while sharing the same coaches.

 

[l'etoile]

When Marina clearly stated her priorities are top three, it was already easy to expect that C/B would go with Igor. Now I'm waiting for the news Marina's new "business partner" announcement. Top three teams can't possibly train further without help of wizard technician.

 

[dorispulaski]

Certainly, Igor has found a rink faster than Marina has found a technical coach.

It's not surprising that Chock went with Igor. She has been with him since Intermediates, I think. And she went to high school in Novi. And Zuerlein sometimes coaches at Novi; old home week for Chock.

 

[l'etoile]

They've got so much potential and now they have one of the most accomplished coach all to themselves. I hope this becomes the door for their breakthrough. Free dance to Chopin was just glorious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA4fJxK5q6Y Just amazing! One of the most promising partner changes.

 

[demarinis5]

Glad that Igor has found a new rink and very happy that C/B will remain with Igor. I think this change will be very good for them.
No more skating in the shadows of the great teams will only boost their confidence and IMO help them improve much faster. I am excited for this team!

 

[mskater93]

I am not surprised Igor ended up at Novi. They've been itching for a better coaching situation than they've had there and it's ~10-15 minutes from Arctic. I've skated at both rinks and prefer Arctic from an ice quality and temperature perspective, but I am sure Igor will make his demands from the ice tech...

 

[Tonichelle]

Glad that Igor has found a new rink and very happy that C/B will remain with Igor. I think this change will be very good for them.
No more skating in the shadows of the great teams will only boost their confidence and IMO help them improve much faster. I am excited for this team!

my thoughts exactly!... as I said - US Nationals just got interesting...

 

[cornell08]

I'm happy Chock/Bates are going with Igor but I still wish there'd been the partner swap-- Chock/Copely and Lichtman/Bates!

 

[blue dog]

I'm happy Chock/Bates are going with Igor but I still wish there'd been the partner swap-- Chock/Copely and Lichtman/Bates!

Hopefully, Emily will leave Todd, and move back to Arctic Edge.

 

[ice coverage]

In an article today on The Globe and Mail website, Scott Moir praises Shpilband at length. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...-in-coaching-split/article4255940/?cmpid=rss1

One of many examples:​

" 'We love Igor,' [Moir] said. 'Not only does he give great leadership and has given us direction for the past seven years, but he’s also a dear friend of ours.' "​

Last night Virtue and Moir sounded in good spirits in a radio interview (which had no questions about Shpilband or Zoueva): http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_dema...-Moir-with-Rob-Wong-rw-20120612-Interview.mp3
[The interview is 5:45 in length.]

 

[Violet Bliss]

Tessa and Scott were away for 6 weeks but were kept in the loop by rinkmates but evidently the loop did not include impending firing of Shpilband.

I don't find anything Scott says to be necessarily untrue or merely diplomatic. It is this part

Shpilband, 47, was told to leave the club by management who said a conflict between the two had created tensions in the club. "Marina and Igor just weren’t seeing eye to eye on some really important things," Moir said. "And they had to split ways. It was really unfortunate."

that indicates the firing as a result of the conflict between the two coaches, which is likely more true than the official reason given. The report also generally contradicts the official claim of the skaters' ultimatum against Shpilband. Scott is not colloborating with the management, although he and Tessa choose to stay with Zoueva.

Nothing surprising really.