Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[uhh]

Come on guys. Let's not re-write history here - I/Z have a lot of great things going for them, but I/K did too, and I love I/Z, but they aren't better than I/K yet. They could be, but there's still a lot of work to do - on their lifts, getting more transitions in, improving their awareness of where the other is all the time so it becomes 2nd nature, matching leg lines.

I just don't like it when people talk I/Z up too much. It creates false expectations for a team that has still been together for such a short time & then allows for the criticism that they got after worlds, when they should have been instead praised for doing so well in their 1st year.

Does anyone know when they'll be back in training? I think the group went to Latvia in June last year, so they must be back from holidays soon?

 

[moriel]

Come on guys. Let's not re-write history here - I/Z have a lot of great things going for them, but I/K did too, and I love I/Z, but they aren't better than I/K yet. They could be, but there's still a lot of work to do - on their lifts, getting more transitions in, improving their awareness of where the other is all the time so it becomes 2nd nature, matching leg lines.

I just don't like it when people talk I/Z up too much. It creates false expectations for a team that has still been together for such a short time & then allows for the criticism that they got after worlds, when they should have been instead praised for doing so well in their 1st year.

Does anyone know when they'll be back in training? I think the group went to Latvia in June last year, so they must be back from holidays soon?

Hmmm I mostly meant not skating skills, but how they connect... I/K somehow look like 2 people skating by themselves, I/Z look like a team =D
No overhype ofc, but they are both good and surely will get all the technical stuff working - and a better FD this season =D

 

[solani]

Hmmm I mostly meant not skating skills, but how they connect... I/K somehow look like 2 people skating by themselves, I/Z look like a team =D
No overhype ofc, but they are both good and surely will get all the technical stuff working - and a better FD this season =D

I agree.
I always thought that I/K looked like two rivaling peacocks. Elena just looks better with Ruslan, her aura is better, warmer, more amendable. I love them together!

 

[bramweld]

I agree.
I always thought that I/K looked like two rivaling peacocks. Elena just looks better with Ruslan, her aura is better, warmer, more amendable. I love them together!

100%. I was much more impressed with them when they were with with Zhulin. With Morozov, I/K had these brief flashes or that one or two events per season where they sparkled and we all saw the potential but IMHO, they just didn't fit personally as a pair of people.

What I've seen Ruslan do in one season, I've never seen in K for six years with Lena. So maybe we're a bit too excited but I hope it all pans out.

 

[madison]

I don t think we are in measure to comment the personalities of any of them as we don t know them personally or to discuss the terms of the split as we do not know what really happened behind the scenes. I think nikita has many qualities in terms of skating and he and lena were indeed a brilliant couple and probably the tensions between them but also the emotional attachment created the best chemistry. I agree than ruslan and lena are very good but still have a lot to work on and in any case this talking up too much doesn t serve them right. Yes they were 4 and 7 at Europeans and Worlds but don t forget that 4 important teams were not there(V/M, D/W, P/B and B/S). They competed in an open field as russians no 1 which brought them some better PCS.

 

[chameleon]

They got three weeks off starting on the 9th, so they should be back right at the end of the month and then immediately off to Latvia.

I assume that Najarro will be in Latvia, and Averbukh as well to choreograph their SD. Hopefully we'll get some more reports on their programs.

 

[bramweld]

]I don t think we are in measure to comment the personalities of any of them as we don t know them personally or to discuss the terms of the split as we do not know what really happened behind the scenes.[/B] I think nikita has many qualities in terms of skating and he and lena were indeed a brilliant couple and probably the tensions between them but also the emotional attachment created the best chemistry. I agree than ruslan and lena are very good but still have a lot to work on and in any case this talking up too much doesn t serve them right. Yes they were 4 and 7 at Europeans and Worlds but don t forget that 4 important teams were not there(V/M, D/W, P/B and B/S). They competed in an open field as russians no 1 which brought them some better PCS.

You are probably right so I edited my comments above. However if Zhulin, Zueva and Katsalapov himself speak of his temper tantrums and anger issues, this isn't off limits. My problem with Katsalapov is his hypocracy. Don't go accusing your partner before taking a good look at yourself and man up about your decisions, don't go lying about it after the fact, it just makes you look less than sharp.

But anyways I think all this pretty much is old news to most on this thread. We're just looking forward to how I/Z will progress.

 

[Alba]

Come on guys. Let's not re-write history here - I/Z have a lot of great things going for them, but I/K did too, and I love I/Z, but they aren't better than I/K yet. They could be, but there's still a lot of work to do - on their lifts, getting more transitions in, improving their awareness of where the other is all the time so it becomes 2nd nature, matching leg lines.

I just don't like it when people talk I/Z up too much. It creates false expectations for a team that has still been together for such a short time & then allows for the criticism that they got after worlds, when they should have been instead praised for doing so well in their 1st year.

Does anyone know when they'll be back in training? I think the group went to Latvia in June last year, so they must be back from holidays soon?

I agree with this in general and I was an I&K fan, based on their talent and potential not on what they actually showed on Ice. However, if you're saying that I&K were better in transitions than these two I disagree. If there was a weak point of I&K that was weak transitions and little dance close holds, apart from many mistakes including lifts.

Anyway, I don't see the point of discussing I&K over and over again. Not in the I&Z fan fest at least. It has been more than a year and the new partnership looks very promising and full of excitement. Let's stick with that. ALL of us, please.

 

[bramweld]

I agree with this in general and I was an I&K fan, based on their talent and potential not on what they actually showed on Ice. However, if you're saying that I&K were better in transitions than these two I disagree. If there was a weak point of I&K that was weak transitions and little dance close holds, apart from many mistakes including lifts.

Anyway, I don't see the point of discussing I&K over and over again. Not in the I&Z fan fest at least. It has been more than a year and the new partnership looks very promising and full of excitement. Let's stick with that. ALL of us, please.

Agreed. 100%.

 

[MK's Winter]

I agree with this in general and I was an I&K fan, based on their talent and potential not on what they actually showed on Ice. However, if you're saying that I&K were better in transitions than these two I disagree. If there was a weak point of I&K that was weak transitions and little dance close holds, apart from many mistakes including lifts. Anyway, I don't see the point of discussing I&K over and over again. Not in the I&Z fan fest at least. It has been more than a year and the new partnership looks very promising and full of excitement. Let's stick with that. ALL of us, please.

Preach!

 

[bramweld]

Yes, we guessed right. This is going to be sooo good. Also like choices for Anna and Sergei, wheeee

http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/1071-elena-kustarova-vo-vremya-postanovochnoj-raboty-nakharro-sam-vykhodil-na-led.html

 

[Basil]

Yes, we guessed right. This is going to be sooo good. Also like choices for Anna and Sergei, wheeee

http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/1071-elena-kustarova-vo-vremya-postanovochnoj-raboty-nakharro-sam-vykhodil-na-led.html

Didn't know she was the coach of both couples. It's funny how she didn't want to tell Elena's music, but told the music for Anna and Sergei right away, lol. I'm a bit disappointed in the music choices for them, i think they played it safe for this season. But there's some potential. Thanks for the link.

 

[uhh]

Kustarova also said Antonio promised to come to watch if they make GPF again and confirmed they have agreed with the Fed to do the challenger event in Saransk. Yay for an opportunity for more ranking points, but I wanted them to do Nebelhorn or Finlandia so I could go to see them.

 

[Spiral]

It's great to know that they've had the idea for Frieda for some time, and that both skaters, the coach and the choreographer were so excited about the program and how it was progressing. I'm also intrigued about the original SD. Considering that in their first season they took, perhaps, the most commonly used music in figure skating and created the most memorable SD of the year, I can't wait to see what they'll do next season. And it's wonderful that so many specialists will actually go to Latvia to work with them (besides the obvious benefit of such work, this seems to indicate support from the Federation).

I only have one question, if somebody knows. Kustarova says in the interview that Najarro has done Frieda in various theaters before. Is there such a ballet? Or did he direct a play?

 

[chameleon]

I'm glad they got the event in Saransk, it shows that they have the support of the Federation since they probably don't want to send all their top teams there.

I'm curious about the SD, but they said in a previous interview that they've had the idea for both programs for awhile. So if nothing else that probably means they believe in their programs, which is important. And with all the specialists that will be working with them, I think it should be good.

I really need them to make GPF now, I'd love for Najarro to get the chance to watch them!

 

[MK's Winter]

Soo happy about Saransk! Love any opportunity for ranking points! I miss my team!

 

[Alba]

Soo happy about Saransk! Love any opportunity for ranking points! I miss my team!

I'm very happy about this too. I would also like them to participate in another B competition as well. They could receive more feedback from the judges and go up in the ranking. I can't wait for the GP assignments.

 

[chameleon]

I think whether they do another senior B will be dependent on how the test skates go. If they need to make significant changes they'll probably just focus on the one in Saransk, but if they don't they might do a second one. Also depends on what GP assignments they get.

 

[MK's Winter]

I'm very happy about this too. I would also like them to participate in another B competition as well. They could receive more feedback from the judges and go up in the ranking. I can't wait for the GP assignments.

In hoping they do Finlandia or something. It would be good for them to get out and compete early, work any links out prior to the GP. I want them to get points badly for better starting positions.

 

[chameleon]

Probably not Finlandia since that's the week before Saransk, but maybe Nebelhorn or Ondrej Nepela, depending on who else is there.