Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[katha]

https://t.co/QfZBW2cawY

This is from Kustarova & the director at their rink saying it's only for 2.5 months, and then they come back. Gorshkov has said similar. But from what Elena was saying, I would guess that if it goes well with Igor & they have the money, they will move full time.

Or, if Kustarova is all right with it, they may have an arrangement where they split their time between the two coaches to save costs? I'd think the important thing is to have someone other than Kustarova take a look at them and give them other impulses.

 

[Marta25]

https://t.co/QfZBW2cawY

This is from Kustarova & the director at their rink saying it's only for 2.5 months, and then they come back. Gorshkov has said similar. But from what Elena was saying, I would guess that if it goes well with Igor & they have the money, they will move full time.

I guess it`s similar to what people were saying when S/K had their tryout phase with Zueva. It was pretty much clear that they would go their fulltime, but officially it was said to be just a tryout. We will see, I guess. I wonder if the sponsor they found is only giving them money for this tryout phase or if it`s for the whole season

 

[bramweld]

https://t.co/QfZBW2cawY

This is from Kustarova & the director at their rink saying it's only for 2.5 months, and then they come back. Gorshkov has said similar. But from what Elena was saying, I would guess that if it goes well with Igor & they have the money, they will move full time.

Exactly. If you don't have a federation that is invested in you or your coaching team you need to find a coaching team that commands the worlds respect. Checkmate. Very bold move. I hope they will be exceedingly successful.

 

[bramweld]

I guess it`s similar to what people were saying when S/K had their tryout phase with Zueva. It was pretty much clear that they would go their fulltime, but officially it was said to be just a tryout. We will see, I guess. I wonder if the sponsor they found is only giving them money for this tryout phase or if it`s for the whole season

My feeling is even Kustarova is hoping that they do exceedingly well. I think she wants to see them succeed at all costs even if that means they would leave her. Love them more.

 

[Marta25]

Maybe Kustarova and their rink manager hope that they will change their minds. They are the #1 team in that training team, so if there is still hope that they will remain with Kustarova, they don`t want to admit yet that another team is leaving that coaching team.

 

[borzaya]

https://t.co/QfZBW2cawY
But from what Elena was saying, I would guess that if it goes well with Igor & they have the money, they will move full time.

Shpilband said the same, that "this will be yet sorted out" and that he "doesn't exclude the possibility" that they can stay for full time after the trial period - http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20160222/897849765.html

 

[uhh]

I suppose it's all part of the "no coach changes within the current funding period" thing. They can't make it official yet, but we'll see what happens come June. Either way, this time working with him & Fab will be really good for them.

 

[bsfan]

I read the retiring comment as "The ice dance world changes and we have to change with it. Otherwise you may as well just retire." So not really saying it's actually an option, just that if you don't try all that you can, it's not worth carrying on the career. Any other Russian speakers agree or want to correct me?!

That is my understanding too. This is the best news about them in past two years. For Elena, maybe the best after she left Zhulin. Hope everything works out and they stay in Igor's team.

 

[cathlen]

I think it's a good move and hope it will work for them, whatever decision Ruslena will come to after 'trial period' is over Love that instead of whining about not-the-best results, they do something about it!

 

[tulosai]

I was EXTREMELY happy to read this news! I really think it was time to make a switch, and I hope it will be a permanent one. Igor at a minimum will be able to do a lot more politicking than their current team can, which alone will make a big difference even if that's not fair. He also is masterful at getting everything possible point out of a program. I do think his vision for programs can be a bit predictable and bland, but I think Elena and Ruslan have a vision of their own anyway, and Fabian can also help with this part. Overall I'm extremely optimistic and excited for them!!!

 

[Marta25]

I was EXTREMELY happy to read this news! I really think it was time to make a switch, and I hope it will be a permanent one. Igor at a minimum will be able to do a lot more politicking than their current team can, which alone will make a big difference even if that's not fair. He also is masterful at getting everything possible point out of a program. I do think his vision for programs can be a bit predictable and bland, but I think Elena and Ruslan have a vision of their own anyway, and Fabian can also help with this part. Overall I'm extremely optimistic and excited for them!!!

Hopefully Ruslena`s charisma will even out Shpilband`s bland programs

 

[solani]

New impulses will do them good. I think that will be good especially for Ruslan, because he has never really had the chance to work with another coaching team regularly as far as I know.
Shpilband is an interesting decision of course, perfect Russian drama. I'm all for it.

 

[Marta25]

New impulses will do them good. I think that will be good especially for Ruslan, because he has never really had the chance to work with another coaching team regularly as far as I know.
Shpilband is an interesting decision of course, perfect Russian drama. I'm all for it.

I just want them to have someone in their corner that has the political power. Compared to the other Russian teams they had a real disadvantage in that point, so now they would be on par with the other teams. I had the feeling that they had to fight on too many fronts even before they even went out there skating.

 

[tulosai]

I just want them to have someone in their corner that has the political power. Compared to the other Russian teams they had a real disadvantage in that point, so now they would be on par with the other teams. I had the feeling that they had to fight on too many fronts even before they even went out there skating.

Yes, while it shouldn't be that way I always had this feeling too.

I do think this move will probably be a bigger/harder adjustment for Ruslan than Elena. Her English is better than Nikita's when he went to Zoueva and she's really had several different coaches throughout her life. Ruslan to my knowledge speaks very limited English and has been with Krustova since 2009. To my knowledge that was his first real group/coaching change- he'd been in Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh's group before that for some time. So he has changed groups at least once, but since really starting his serious ice dancing partnerships he's only had one coach.

 

[Marta25]

Yes, while it shouldn't be that way I always had this feeling too.

I do think this move will probably be a bigger/harder adjustment for Ruslan than Elena. Her English is better than Nikita's when he went to Zoueva and she's really had several different coaches throughout her life. Ruslan to my knowledge speaks very limited English and has been with Krustova since 2009. To my knowledge that was his first real group/coaching change- he'd been in Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh's group before that for some time. So he has changed groups at least once, but since really starting his serious ice dancing partnerships he's only had one coach.

I think both are very ambitious, otherwise they wouldn`t even consider this change. Compared to S/K they could even have an advantage, because Elena has already worked with both and she always seemed to be very complimentary about her time in Canton.
I know that Nathalie speaks Russian very well, I`m not sure about Fabian, though.

 

[uhh]

Fabian lived in Russia for 3 years, so I expect he has some Russian, and of course Igor will speak Russian to them, so it won't be a completely alien environment for him. And of course we've always seen that Lena & Rus support each other a lot

 

[tulosai]

I think both are very ambitious, otherwise they wouldn`t even consider this change. Compared to S/K they could even have an advantage, because Elena has already worked with both and she always seemed to be very complimentary about her time in Canton.
I know that Nathalie speaks Russian very well, I`m not sure about Fabian, though.

I know Fabian speaks at least a little but also have NO clue about his proficiency- it could be almost nothing or he could have quite a bit, I really just don't know. If worst came to worst though Elena would just have to translate I suppose. I do think if they stay there Ruslan will quickly learn basic skating terms/phrases in English as a matter of course even if he doesn't learn any other English- he will kind of have to, plus he will just hear them a lot even with Igor speaking to them (presumably) in Russian. So after some months I think probably he'll be able to follow the bare bones of what Fabian is saying to him even if it's in English with much less help from Elena.

 

[Alba]

My guess it will be a switch but they just need to be sure if Igor's plan works for them so that they finalize everything in Moscow and move to US permanently to get ready to the next season.

Besides, they can make the move now - officially I mean - because the transfers are in May. So, even if they want to they can't right now and even then, they will still have a russian club attached to their name, if I'm not mistaken. So it could still be Kustarova group even if they will be full time coached in USA.

 

[Sorrento]

Besides, they can make the move now - officially I mean - because the transfers are in May. So, even if they want to they can't right now and even then, they will still have a russian club attached to their name, if I'm not mistaken. So it could still be Kustarova group even if they will be full time coached in USA.

I'm actually a bit confused about that little comment placed on rsport.ru website saying that they plan to spend only 2.5 months in US and then get back training under same coaches full time. I hope it is not true. For them... they have to switch. Honestly I am a bit shaky about Igor. His athletes are struggling this season (as it seems to me) and I don't know if this switch is the best possible option for Elena and Ruslan. But I do not see a different valid option too. I just want them to develop, I want them to win big next season and that demands much more effort than 2.5 months abroad.

 

[Marta25]

I'm actually a bit confused about that little comment placed on rsport.ru website saying that they plan to spend only 2.5 months in US and then get back training under same coaches full time. I hope it is not true. For them... they have to switch. Honestly I am a bit shaky about Igor. His athletes are struggling this season (as it seems to me) and I don't know if this switch is the best possible option for Elena and Ruslan. But I do not see a different valid option too. I just want them to develop, I want them to win big next season and that demands much more effort than 2.5 months abroad.

Hmm, that comment comes from the ice rink director, so maybe they aren`t ready yet to admit that they lost another top team?

From Elena`s interview it sounds like they want to make radical changes and in the end it`s their decision.