2017-2018 State of Russian Ice Dance

[Anyasnake]

Some nice news: Ksenia Monko & Kirill Khaliavin got married today! Congratulations

I am so happy for them !! They have been together for quite a while I think. I wish them all the very best in their lives !

 

[coldblueeyes]

Hopefully that means that he and Hurtado are planning on leaving Zhulin (no idea why they are still in Russia when they can go anywhere to train). Ksenia can follow him abroad, like Tkachenko's wife. Go now!

Well, their programs this past season were not bad at all, and it seems like they have a good training environment, so why would they leave? They were team number four last year, so it's not like it's going to be any different.

 

[Mattieu]

Russian ice dance, how I see it

Bobrova/Soloviev - will finish after the Olympics
Sinitsina/Katsalapov - one has to question the reason for all of the coaching changes. Something is very badly wrong, so I will be surprised if S/K still be competing in the post Olympic season.

That will leave Zhulin, in the post olympic season, with no top level teams senior. :eekn: unless of course he can pick up a team such as L/D

Stepanova/Bukin - if they can build on last season's success, they have a real chance of becoming Russian Champions, especially as Zhulin appears to be making S/K his priority which will damage B/S chances. Cup of Russia could be a game changer for them when they go head to head with B/S.

Ilinykh/Zhiganshin - It appears they no longer exist

Evdokimova/Bazin - Christmas came early for this team, who take I/Z place on the National team. They are not a top level team nothing more to say.

Zagorski/Guereiro - to date they stagnated with Zhulin, but with the coaching change to Kustarova things could change. Kustarova will have a point to prove with lost so many teams to Zhulin in the past.

Loboda/Drozd - The transition to seniors did not go well for many Russian teams in recent years, let's hope this is one team that changes that trend. Though sadly Alla is another skater struggles with puberty body changes.

Popova/Mozgov - This team is my guilty pleasure, they are totally crazy, but a lot of fun! I hope they surprise everyone this season, as they are one Russian team who is not bland. Also the miss is in great shape it appears from recent photos. https://www.instagram.com/bet1nka/

Davankova/Shibnev - There has been no news or photos posted of this team for some time, are they still together or is Morozov focussing on his daughter?

Morozov/Bagin - There is no doubt that Morozov will do everything to make this team work. Depending on who Morozov backs, his wife or his daughter, I feel they could do quite well.

My predictions for the Olympics
1. Stepanova/Bukin (National champions)
2. Bobrova/Soloviev
Sinitsina/Katsalapov (first reserve)

My shocking predictions for the post olympic season

Retired/split
1. Bobrova/Soloviev
2. Sinitsina/Katsalapov
3. Ilinykh/Zhiganshin
4. Loboda/Drozd

Top 5 (yes Russian ID will sink this low)
1. Stepanova /Bukin
2. Zagorski/Guereiro (though there is a danger of retirement here if the Fed drops them in favour of younger teams)
3. Evdokimova/Bazin
4-5 Davankova/Shibnev or Morozov/Bagin or Popova/Mozgov or a team fresh out of juniors!
​

 

[Snow63]

Top 5 (yes Russian ID will sink this low)
1. Stepanova /Bukin
2. Zagorski/Guereiro (though there is a danger of retirement here if the Fed drops them in favour of younger teams)
3. Evdokimova/Bazin
4-5 Davankova/Shibnev or Morozov/Bagin or Popova/Mozgov or a team fresh out of juniors!

I disagree with many things you've said, but this one made me screaming Thanks.

P.S. And Betina looks GOOD! :luv17:

 

[Mattieu]

P.S. And Betina looks GOOD! :luv17:

Doesn't she just?

 

[Mattieu]

I disagree with many things you've said, but this one made me screaming Thanks.

Well if the retirements/splits arrive as I mentionned, then who else is there?

 

[gmyers]

Based on Zhulin interview S/K are not Zhulin priority. Zhulin is like "whatever. I'll try to salvage something but sinitsina is bland and katsalapov is impossible". So no reason to believe b/S wont be champions! They have Been champions every year but one since 2011! Even 2014 (barely had free dance) and 2016 (so much rust and flaws). They are totally unbeatable and immovable. I am really not sure if b/S retire. They have no competition and could be champions until Beijing Olympics. Does bobrova want kids and retire like domnina? She's already married.

 

[Marta25]

Skoptsova/Aleshin and Shpilevaya/Smirnov will be moving up to Seniors in the 2018/2019 season, so I`m very curious how they will rank in Russian ice dance.

With so many teams moving up to Seniors, Juniors is going to be very interesting next season. Most people seem to expect S/S to become Russia`s #1 on the junior circuit, but S/A were very close to them at Junior Worlds (only 0,13 points) and there are of course Polishchuck/Vakhnov who were very close to S/A at Nats. I especially hope that P/V will stay together since they have been skating together since 8 years and if the early success of Papadakis/Cizeron and Virtue/Moir taught us anything is, that besides of hard training, you need to stay together. Maybe none of the teams mentioned are as supertalented as I/K were, but I think there is still hope for Russian ice dance.

 

[Mattieu]

Does bobrova want kids and retire like domnina? She's already married.

By Russian standards Bobrova is old to be starting a family. They normally get married with the intention of starting a family, so I expect Bobrova to take a break to have babies.

 

[gmyers]

By Russian standards Bobrova is old to be starting a family. They normally get married with the intention of starting a family, so I expect Bobrova to take a break to have babies.

It's true so that's why I broight it up!

Skoptsova/Aleshin and Shpilevaya/Smirnov will be moving up to Seniors in the 2018/2019 season, so I`m very curious how they will rank in Russian ice dance.

With so many teams moving up to Seniors, Juniors is going to be very interesting next season. Most people seem to expect S/S to become Russia`s #1 on the junior circuit, but S/A were very close to them at Junior Worlds (only 0,13 points) and there are of course Polishchuck/Vakhnov who were very close to S/A at Nats. I especially hope that P/V will stay together since they have been skating together since 8 years and if the early success of Papadakis/Cizeron and Virtue/Moir taught us anything is, that besides of hard training, you need to stay together. Maybe none of the teams mentioned are as supertalented as I/K were, but I think there is still hope for Russian ice dance.

The defeat of both teams by carriera ponomarenko was very disturbing!

 

[moriel]

By Russian standards Bobrova is old to be starting a family. They normally get married with the intention of starting a family, so I expect Bobrova to take a break to have babies.

Ummm... I dunno even what to say, as russian.
We get married with the intention of starting a family. As a note, husband + wife = family, just saying.
Many of the young adults who were kids during 90s aren't in a hurry to have kids until their economic situation is solid enough.By russian standards, a woman is old to be having children when she reaches well, her 50s or something and just cannot.

So ummm dunno, this comment of yours is pretty rude and full of prejudice.

 

[Mattieu]

Ummm... I dunno even what to say, as russian.
We get married with the intention of starting a family. As a note, husband + wife = family, just saying.
Many of the young adults who were kids during 90s aren't in a hurry to have kids until their economic situation is solid enough.By russian standards, a woman is old to be having children when she reaches well, her 50s or something and just cannot.

So ummm dunno, this comment of yours is pretty rude and full of prejudice.

Sorry, I was just going by what my Russian friends here in France told me about Russian women wanting to marry young, and clearly it seems to not be the case from what you say.

 

[Jammers]

It's true so that's why I broight it up!



The defeat of both teams by carriera ponomarenko was very disturbing!

Why disturbing? C/P will be in the running for the Jr World title next season and are very talented. Carreira is improving year by year and Anthony is already great and is the son of two legends in ice dancing. I see this team making some noise in Seniors in just 2-3 years if things continue upward.

 

[LadyB]

If Bobrova is old, what does that make Tatiana Volosozhar?

Hard to believe for some, but even the Russians move with modern times.
However, she hinted at something like that (but probably not under traditional duress, but for personal choice) and B/S might have their last season. Well, I for one would be rather sad to see them go.

 

[bramweld]

It's true so that's why I broight it up!



The defeat of both teams by carriera ponomarenko was very disturbing!

Very, very.

 

[gmyers]

Why disturbing? C/P will be in the running for the Jr World title next season and are very talented. Carreira is improving year by year and Anthony is already great and is the son of two legends in ice dancing. I see this team making some noise in Seniors in just 2-3 years if things continue upward.

Because s/S and S/a are supposed to be the future and win Russia titles. Then they don't even medal. So it seems that People are wrong when they say s/S or s/a can win Russia worlds and Olympics. Get people to see Russians still have talent in ice dance.

 

[bramweld]

If Bobrova is old, what does that make Tatiana Volosozhar?

Hard to believe for some, but even the Russians move with modern times.
However, she hinted at something like that (but probably not under traditional duress, but for personal choice) and B/S might have their last season. Well, I for one would be rather sad to see them go.

Rules don't apply to V/T, they won the individual gold in Sochi.

 

[tulosai]

By Russian standards Bobrova is old to be starting a family. They normally get married with the intention of starting a family, so I expect Bobrova to take a break to have babies.

The second part might be true (and I do think she and Dimitri will retire after the Olys regardless) but 27 isn't THAT old in Russia to be starting a family nowadays (or I guess 28 by that time)... the mean age of the woman now for a first baby in Russia is 24.6, so yes younger but not that much so when you consider half of all women will be older than that and half will be younger... surely there are some 20 year olds balancing out the 28 year olds in the scheme of things. Also it's common for athletes to put it off a bit longer- Volosozhar just had her first at 31 after all.

ETA: I see other posters already covered it, thanks!!!

 

[Ice Dance]

Because s/S and S/a are supposed to be the future and win Russia titles. Then they don't even medal.

No, they didn't medal. And they weren't expected to medal. Nor were Carreira & Ponomarenko. None of these teams has ever won a JGP.

Next season is the season all three of them will face medal expectations. We'll see how they deal with the pressure. My guess is that these teams will grab some titles and lose some titles. Just as the Parsons, Loboda & Drozd, and McNamara & Carpenter did working their way to the top on the JGP over the past six seasons for the Parsons, five seasons for M&C, and 4 seasons for Loboda & Drozd.

 

[gmyers]

No, they didn't medal. And they weren't expected to medal. Nor were Carreira & Ponomarenko. None of these teams has ever won a JGP.

Next season is the season all three of them will face medal expectations. We'll see how they deal with the pressure. My guess is that these teams will grab some titles and lose some titles. Just as the Parsons, Loboda & Drozd, and McNamara & Carpenter did working their way to the top on the JGP over the past six seasons for the Parsons, five seasons for M&C, and 4 seasons for Loboda & Drozd.

Now c/p will have significant advantage being world bronze medalists! So now not only do they have North American training and tech and programs they are world medalists!