Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov Split

[sisinka]

Can someone tell me about Elena's new coach? I have no idea how she is and if she can make this couple work.

Alexeeva and Kustarova – mother and daughter training dance teams.
She was ex-partner of Oleg Ovsiannikov before he teamed up with Krylova.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLWT_H8SqsE
…this is a video from exhibition in 1993, she was good skater, they were second and third at Russian Championhips in 1992-1994, third at Junior World Champs in 1987/88. Then she teamed up with Vazgen Azroyan (who later skated with Grebenkina) and they skated together for one year.

She is a very well-known coach in Russia, she is taken like the best coach of juniors dance teams. She coached Bobrova & Soloviev since they were very young until they left to Zhulin after 2011/12 season. Alexeeva & Kustarova are coaches of many past Junior Medalists or Junior Champions of past years (except I&K):
Junior World Champs: Bobrova & Soloviev in 2007, Monko & Khaliavin in 2011, Sinitsina & Zhiganshin in 2012.
Silver Junior World Medalist in 2014 – Yanovskaya & Mozgov, Bronze Medalists – Riazanova & Guerreiro in 2009.
She also helps to train some weak couples – she is one of coaches of Shtork & Rand for example.

Many people criticise those coaches for bad Bobrova’s posture but it is obvious that Katya is struggling with it even with Zhulin, while Sinitsina and Yanovskaya and partly Monko got rid of those not good forward back position – so it is more problem in Katya’s head than bad coach‘s habit.
Kustarova is also criticised for no having good senior teams, but in case of Sinitsina & Zhiganshin – it is just stupid idea.

Overall she and her mother and her team (Olga Riabinina was working with them also, I am not sure whether she is working with them still) – those ladies have dance teams popular for good (Y&M) or great (S&Z, pastly B&S, Monko & Khaliavin) skating skills. If Lena wants to learn how to extend free leg – those ladies are perfect for it.

 

[sisinka]

Korobkova has never made it to Worlds, her personal best total score is 10 points less than I/K's free dance score at Worlds. Does Nikita not want a career at all?

If I was a part of Russian Federation committee I would invite all Russian dance couples and allow Nikita to tryout with every girl. I am sure that straight offer would paid off and not only one girl would start to think about a tryout and maybe future cooperation. I am sure with Riazanova for example, not so sure with Monko and Stepanova, I am sure with Pushkash, probably Sinitsina (we don’t have any official confirmation about the situation from her yet), I am sure with Kosigina, maybe even Yanovskaya…and Nikita would try with all of them. Except Sinitsina those are girls who didn’t have much successful career looking at senior stage (of course juniors have no career in senior stage yet) and Riazanova looks to stagnate past two years. Except Sinitsina all those girls would achieve more than with previous partners and with Nikita they would earn better partner. If somebody is forced to split, than it is much smaller damage to lose a couple without great senior results than to destroy two top couples.

 

[Alba]

So here is the latest twist: Ksenia Korobkova of Kazakhstan enters the race to partner with Nikita. Rumour has it that Nikita is trying with her and Viktoria in case RF refuses to break up S/Z.

Nikita sure seems to be fond of Kazak girls I see.

From your lips to god's(the federation's) ears...

I selfishly hope they stay together but I also do hope the working relationship genuinely is salvageable. Devastated as I am that they may be breaking up, I would not wish on anyone to be in a situation where it is torture for them to go to practice each day, even if the end result is beautiful skating and many medals.

Agreed.:thumbsup:


@sisinka: thank you for the info. So you think they're (Alexeeva and Kustarova) not bad, as some are saying.

 

[fleeting]

Who needs 'Game of Thrones' when we have an amazing soap opera here, in real life!

So Nikita's options:
1) Sinitsina;
2) Korobkova;
3) Dump Morozov and get back to Elena.

What will he chose?

Edit: if RF will refuse to break up S/Z, than Nikita probably will change his nationality. Kazakhstan is going to have new pair?

This is more like the Bachelor. And we're the livetweeters.
It's infinitely entertaining, I must say.

 

[sisinka]

I don't blame any one for the act of splitting, partnerships break down for all sorts of reasons, maybe ultimately they were too incompatible to work together - not just because of the relationship with Morozov, but they fought when they were younger all the time, even when they were an off ice couple too. And maybe the rumours about the work ethic and the difficult training situation is true, and it's up to each individual to decide what kind of conditions they are willing to work in. Where I do find fault, and I think exactly the same of Yuri Larionov & also to an extent of Sinitsina, is a situation where one partner is conspiring with the coach set up a new team, seemingly in I/K's case months before the season was over, and never letting on to the partner being frozen out that there was a problem.

:thumbsup:

I can’t blame Nikita or Lena for not understanding each other and I don’t blame Nikita that he doesn’t want to spend half of every day with somebody who he doesn’t want to work with…
But I don’t like the way he acts. I can understand that he wanted to wait and tell Lena after World Champs…but in moment when an article appeared, he should tell her not to make such confusion in her head. And if he didn’t want because of her/his concentration, they he should immediately announce her his decision after free dance – free dance was in 29th of March….he told her 4th of April.

Why is Viki or Morozov quiet?

Try to imagine situation of Lena and Ruslan. They want to prepare for next season, they want to know what will be next. They want to know it now!
While Nikita took more than one month to find new partner….with his big secret he didn’t give an opportunity to Lena or Ruslan to find somebody else. Sometimes it is not so easy to find a partner who is suitable to you, it needs time…and Lena and Ruslan doesn’t have much time. We are already in first quarter of April, some couples already know what music they will skate to next season… Lena and Ruslan still doesn’t know if they lost partners or not. Gorshkov needs time to decide – to last of May. In May most of couples (and definitely all top couples) will have their dances ready with all choreography…but Lena and Ruslan….maybe they will be still confused about who to skate with…this is not fair. With such behaviour in secrecy and with slowness of Russian Federation….all those people are destroying any chances of Lena and Ruslan to adapt on new situation and train properly.

 

[sisinka]

@sisinka: thank you for the info. So you think they're (Alexeeva and Kustarova) not bad, as some are saying.

Being 100% perfectionists you can find some minor or not so minor mistakes on every coach. The way you look at them is essential - if you want to see good things only or if you want to see bad things only...some people want to see bad things on Kustarova and Alexeeva only. But looking at skating skills of mainly Bobrova & Soloviev, Sintsina & Zhiganshin and Monko & Khaliavin - those coaches are great if they have great material in their hands.

 

[Alba]

But looking at skating skills of mainly Bobrova & Soloviev, Sintsina & Zhiganshin and Monko & Khaliavin - those coaches are great if they have great material in their hands.

That's good.

 

[Alba]

In all this mess, I'm starting to feel more sorry for Ruslan. He is the only "victim" here, because he also learned now that his partner prefer Nikita to him. This is going to be very difficult for him.

 

[fleeting]

Anyone up to translating this?
http://instagram.com/p/mcJuf1KBoQ/

Maybe it'll give us a look into how Elena feels. I've seen a rough translation on Tumblr, but there were things missing from it.

 

[whatif]

Anyone up to translating this?
http://instagram.com/p/mcJuf1KBoQ/

Maybe it'll give us a look into how Elena feels. I've seen a rough translation on Tumblr, but there were things missing from it.

It's gibberish. She turned to poetic prayers now. I am starting to worry for the sanity of both her and Nikita.

 

[Snow63]

Anyone up to translating this?
http://instagram.com/p/mcJuf1KBoQ/

Maybe it'll give us a look into how Elena feels. I've seen a rough translation on Tumblr, but there were things missing from it.

It's a poem of the russian internet author Galina Volenberg.

It's gibberish. She turned to poetic prayers now. I am starting to worry for the sanity of both her and Nikita.

Haha. She's okay, I'm sure. Probably drunk

 

[Alba]

It's gibberish. She turned to poetic prayers now. I am starting to worry for the sanity of both her and Nikita.

She is in love with Nikita. No doubts about it.

 

[hanca]

Being 100% perfectionists you can find some minor or not so minor mistakes on every coach. The way you look at them is essential - if you want to see good things only or if you want to see bad things only...some people want to see bad things on Kustarova and Alexeeva only. But looking at skating skills of mainly Bobrova & Soloviev, Sintsina & Zhiganshin and Monko & Khaliavin - those coaches are great if they have great material in their hands.

They may have the right skills but they don't seem to have the right taste. They don't seem to be able to package someone to highlight their strengths. The programs Bobrova and Soloviev had, including the clothes, it was like if time went back 20-30 years. Plus Bobrova, who has relatively short neck, was wearing high collar dress so that it looked like if she has no neck whatsoever (or as if she is skating with her shoulders up). No one looks perfect, but the clothes the dancers wear can make it look better or worse. Cleverly cut dress can hide some things, and some dresses can make some things look much worse than they actually are. In one dress Bobrova looked like if she was overweight. She also always had the same hairstyle. Ice dance is not only about skills, it is a lot about packaging and this coaching team should hire someone to do it for them.

 

[bramweld]

:thumbsup:

I can’t blame Nikita or Lena for not understanding each other and I don’t blame Nikita that he doesn’t want to spend half of every day with somebody who he doesn’t want to work with…
But I don’t like the way he acts. I can understand that he wanted to wait and tell Lena after World Champs…but in moment when an article appeared, he should tell her not to make such confusion in her head. And if he didn’t want because of her/his concentration, they he should immediately announce her his decision after free dance – free dance was in 29th of March….he told her 4th of April.

Why is Viki or Morozov quiet?

Try to imagine situation of Lena and Ruslan. They want to prepare for next season, they want to know what will be next. They want to know it now!
While Nikita took more than one month to find new partner….with his big secret he didn’t give an opportunity to Lena or Ruslan to find somebody else. Sometimes it is not so easy to find a partner who is suitable to you, it needs time…and Lena and Ruslan doesn’t have much time. We are already in first quarter of April, some couples already know what music they will skate to next season… Lena and Ruslan still doesn’t know if they lost partners or not. Gorshkov needs time to decide – to last of May. In May most of couples (and definitely all top couples) will have their dances ready with all choreography…but Lena and Ruslan….maybe they will be still confused about who to skate with…this is not fair. With such behaviour in secrecy and with slowness of Russian Federation….all those people are destroying any chances of Lena and Ruslan to adapt on new situation and train properly.

I cannot believe I'm going to say this I so agree with you here Sisinka It's like he doesn't think before he acts. Or is he really that dependent on Morozov? Does he really believe that no-one but Morozov could help with his development? These two need a marriage counsellor, because they can work things out if they learn how to communicate properly with each other. Given all that has transpired he and Victoria need to nip this in the bud now because it just looks soooo bad.

 

[uhh]

The number one thing Nikita needs to do in that case is learn to separate his personal life from his career. And that explanation will not fly when they sit down with the federation, there is no way they will support someone who destroys two top couples for such a reason.

 

[fleeting]

The number one thing Nikita needs to do in that case is learn to separate his personal life from his career. And that explanation will not fly when they sit down with the federation, there is no way they will support someone who destroys two top couples for such a reason.

Especially since it's a lock that Elena and he dated in the past as well. It won't hold up and I wouldn't be surprised if they totally shot down his request. Dating doesn't mean they'd work as a partnership at all...

 

[sisinka]

They may have the right skills but they don't seem to have the right taste. They don't seem to be able to package someone to highlight their strengths. The programs Bobrova and Soloviev had, including the clothes, it was like if time went back 20-30 years. Plus Bobrova, who has relatively short neck, was wearing high collar dress so that it looked like if she has no neck whatsoever (or as if she is skating with her shoulders up). No one looks perfect, but the clothes the dancers wear can make it look better or worse. Cleverly cut dress can hide some things, and some dresses can make some things look much worse than they actually are. In one dress Bobrova looked like if she was overweight. She also always had the same hairstyle. Ice dance is not only about skills, it is a lot about packaging and this coaching team should hire someone to do it for them.

I fully agree with you with clothing and make-up (and Bobrova's examples are great, the girl has great figure with looong legs and in most of time her dresses are hiding all her advantages)…it can so much influence the whole look of the couples…and hairstyle as well. But I think that this is not about coaches, they are not those ones who should stay besides the skaters and learn them to do hairs and make-up properly. Like Lena mentioned she had many friends in world of fashionists, stylists…she somewhere noticed that they helped her a lot to find great style and suitable make-up for her. She also cooperates with some well-known designers to find appropriate clothing. This is so great advantage for her and it is very visible. I would wish all girls, especially Bobrova, Monko and Stepanova to have such opportunity of getting advices from stylists. It would help so much to whole image of the programs.

But I think that coach is here to learn you skate and dance on the first place, not to make suitable clothes and make-up. I can hardly think that Zueva is coordinating clothing and make-up of Meryl and Tessa while both girls have different style of clothing and make-up and hairstyle.

 

[uhh]

Especially since it's a lock that Elena and he dated in the past as well. It won't hold up and I wouldn't be surprised if they totally shot down his request. Dating doesn't mean they'd work as a partnership at all...

Exactly. He'll be told to get over it, and if he can't, well have fun skating with her but we won't support you, we might not even fund you, and all the effort will go into Ilinykh & Zhiganshin just because they managed not to cross the federation over something that really shouldn't have been an issue at all.

 

[fleeting]

Exactly. He'll be told to get over it, and if he can't, well have fun skating with her but we won't support you, we might not even fund you, and all the effort will go into Ilinykh & Zhiganshin just because they managed not to cross the federation over something that really shouldn't have been an issue at all.

Nikita needs someone to tell him that he's being a total meathead. Perhaps it's too late though. Elena might be better off with Ruslan, who won't dump her behind her back and then go into a hopeless crusade against the entire Russian federation.

 

[snowflakebeautiful]

But I think that coach is here to learn you skate and dance on the first place, not to make suitable clothes and make-up. I can hardly think that Zueva is coordinating clothing and make-up of Meryl and Tessa while both girls have different style of clothing and make-up and hairstyle.

I don't think coaches are very involved in the clothing portion. From every single interview I've ever read or heard, the girls are the one who come up with the costumes for both them and their partner usually - I know both Meryl and Tessa worked with their mothers and designers to create dresses/costumes. And I believe Maddison CHOCK (I think - it may be someone else, I can't recall) designs her and her partner's clothes...

EDIT: And I feel bad for Lena ...and... Ruslan. This business just keeps getting more messy (from the outsiders view)

Thanks to fleeting for triggering my memory on which Madison it was/is.