Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov Split

[Skater Boy]

Isn't this kind of deja vu. What is it about ice dancing and dramatic splits or break ups of marriages??? Didn't something happen withGrichuk and Usova and Zhulin. and didn't Anisina use to skate with Abervuch but they broke up because he loved Lobacheva??? Oh my.

 

[sisinka]

Nikita could be coming back for army duties. Ruslan, along with Maisuradze and Soloviev have been posting pics of their group.

Yes, skaters had their army duties again…
http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=83032 …looking at this article from 17th of May, Dmitri Soloviev and Ruslan Zhiganshin were released (35 sportsmen overall). Also Kirill Khaliavin, Alexei Rogonov and Nodari Maisuradze were there.

They already had army duties last season during summer, for three days. And Nikita had the same duties some week later. So I also suppose that this season, he will have the same schedule like other guys but some days later (and he will be released as well). Sure this ceremony needs his presence.

There is also some info going around that Oleg Epstein, Marina's technician, is not so enamoured of Sinitsina's technique.

This is very interesting. There are also other notices at forums, for example that Epstein told that Vika was in trouble with twizzles (which somebody translated into troubles with whole technique – one word and so big difference). Troubles in twizzles look like much more possible situation especially if a couple is trying the same entry like I&K did. Every couple uses the entry which is the best for them and because we know that Nikita was always struggling with twizzles, than it would be only logical for Zueva to choose his entry and force Vika to get used to it, this situation may lead to troubles.

Much more funny situation is the fact that more people at FS Universe Forum noticed that Oleg Epstein already left Canton and don’t train with Zueva no more. So then it would look like he judged Vika without seeing the couple together.

Or Epstein never told it and it is just another false info.

 

[bramweld]

Yes, skaters had their army duties again…
http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=83032 …looking at this article from 17th of May, Dmitri Soloviev and Ruslan Zhiganshin were released (35 sportsmen overall). Also Kirill Khaliavin, Alexei Rogonov and Nodari Maisuradze were there.

They already had army duties last season during summer, for three days. And Nikita had the same duties some week later. So I also suppose that this season, he will have the same schedule like other guys but some days later (and he will be released as well). Sure this ceremony needs his presence.



This is very interesting. There are also other notices at forums, for example that Epstein told that Vika was in trouble with twizzles (which somebody translated into troubles with whole technique – one word and so big difference). Troubles in twizzles look like much more possible situation especially if a couple is trying the same entry like I&K did. Every couple uses the entry which is the best for them and because we know that Nikita was always struggling with twizzles, than it would be only logical for Zueva to choose his entry and force Vika to get used to it, this situation may lead to troubles.

Much more funny situation is the fact that more people at FS Universe Forum noticed that Oleg Epstein already left Canton and don’t train with Zueva no more. So then it would look like he judged Vika without seeing the couple together.

Or Epstein never told it and it is just another false info.

Wow. Didn't realize he had left. So does Marina expect Scali to be the new technical specialist? Will she also discontinue working with Margalio? What a new season this promises to be.

 

[sisinka]

People are posting on vk.com that Nikita has come back from Detroit alone and asked Elena to skate with him again It was posted by the admin of the Sinitsina/Katsalapov group (one of the admins on the group is Sinitsina herself) but no one has any idea how legitimate it is, or if it's true whether Elena would take him back. And then what would happen to Ruslan & Victoria?

Some skaters in past prefered to make a video tapes of some parts of the practise and show it to Russian Federation (it is more ”safe” than to go at practise and let people see everything even not the best attempts of all elements). Maybe Nikita prefered this kind of digital tryout in front of whole practise like Lena & Ruslan did for head coach Stifunin.

There is also army duty for Nikita noticed above like another possibility.

At Russian Forum people from that vkontakte site told that some Lena’s friend (called Ekaterina or something like that) told that Nikita came back alone and he asked Lena again. But then the info was denied by some other girl at the Forum who told that it was a lie and that she is Lena’s real friend. That girl also told that being Lena’s friend means that she doesn’t spread and talk such private things publicly (which for me sounds more believably than close friend who would tell everything in social nets).

For me if Nikita would really want to come back to Lena, than we would already have official announcement from Zueva and Russian Federation, mainly from Federation who looks like they are against a split from the beginning. But Federation is quiet, so is Zueva.
Also there was a rumour that trip to America is paid by Nikita’s parents, then it would be very silly to keep Vika in US if a couple split…Nikita’s parents would hardly agree to pay Vika’s bill in such situation. If Vika really didn’t come back, I would suppose that Nikita and Zueva wants to continue but wants to avoid a straight comparison with Lena & Ruslan at practise.

Yesterday, Elena was instagraming plant pics to Ruslan (I guess he gave her a plant?) and telling him to finish his army service and get back on the ice. Doesn't sound like she is considering a major decision in regards to their partnership.

Both Lena and Ruslan look relaxed and Lena’s note to Ruslan at Instagram about coming fastly back in the ice from army looks like I&Z are fine.

 

[sisinka]

Being a Russian test skate, one can assume: a) it will be behind closed doors, and b) they will hit all level 4's with +3's for all GOE.

There are more test skates every beginning of the season, since August I think. From 2010/11 to 2012/13 season there were Open Test Skates also, which were a great opportunity for skaters to show their programs and got a feedback from audience and judges also (with videos on YouTube). Unfortunately and I would say stupidly Open Test Skate was not this Olympic season, personally I don't think that even one skater profited from this situation. Especially for Russian Ice Dancers number of mistakes done at important competitions this Olympic Season (Grand Prix, Russsian Nats, European and World Champs) was enormous and I persist on idea that small number of competitions and presentation of whole programs at the beginning of the season were one of the factors.

 

[elif]

I wish I knew russian language. So Sinitsina is in USA and no words about this test skate at all, Do you think this means federation will accept both teams now?

 

[elif]

Wow. Didn't realize he had left. So does Marina expect Scali to be the new technical specialist? Will she also discontinue working with Margalio? What a new season this promises to be.

I didn't know Massimo as technical specialist. Possibly I'm influenced with his career.

 

[elif]

This is very interesting. There are also other notices at forums, for example that Epstein told that Vika was in trouble with twizzles (which somebody translated into troubles with whole technique – one word and so big difference). Troubles in twizzles look like much more possible situation especially if a couple is trying the same entry like I&K did. Every couple uses the entry which is the best for them and because we know that Nikita was always struggling with twizzles, than it would be only logical for Zueva to choose his entry and force Vika to get used to it, this situation may lead to troubles.

Much more funny situation is the fact that more people at FS Universe Forum noticed that Oleg Epstein already left Canton and don’t train with Zueva no more. So then it would look like he judged Vika without seeing the couple together.

Or Epstein never told it and it is just another false info.

Possibly thats not true as well. I don't know why peoples are doing that.

Next year twizzles rules are changing and all teams must change their twizzles for level4. Of course some couples will have more struggle with new rules. Bobrova/Soloviev and Weaver/Poje doesn't have good twizzles even now and Capellini/Lanotte got better only after working with Igor. I don't think coaches should expect perfection that quickly. I could have understand many other criticism for Victoria but twizzles are one of the least important problems of her. I'm not a expert, of course.

 

[Snow63]

Fresh news.

Zueva is squealing in happyness about S/K here:
http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skating/1020672071.html

Basically she says that they are still together, and they already formed 'as a pair'. More than that, they're already working on their next season free dance.




P.S. OMG. There's even more: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20140519/747018287.html

She want them SO ******* bad, I can't believe it. 'The face of the new generation of russians in the US'... she's drunk. or high.. or both.

 

[rosacotton]

Is it too late for the Shibs to switch coaches?!

 

[snowflakebeautiful]

Is it too late for the Shibs to switch coaches?!

...This!! :agree: If she's going to dedicate herself as much as it seems she will be to S/K, then the Shibs really should move on. I already thought they needed a coaching switch-up, but this is the icing on the cake (though I've seen the writing on the wall since everything came out)... *sigh* They have potential - they just need to be on someone's priority list; and a change in their programs.

 

[sisinka]

Thanks Zueva to make things clear. She obviously has better info that people who were quoting Oleg Epstein and talked about Nikita asking Lena again – it was just false rumour.

http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20140519/747018287.html
…19th of May…Zueva’s interview
“Overall those four blue eyes are amazing for me, kids are catching fastly everything new and they have a big wish of perfection, to work with teachers of different determinations (different specialists). They became a couple just immediatelly when they came. We already prepare new programs: original dance and exhibition program, until now it is not competive programs, just a choreographical piece to free dance which can be used like a preparation for competitions where they will compete at. We train under certain music which may become their base for future.“

 

[sisinka]

http://itar-tass.com/sport/1195841
…19th of May…interview with Zueva…
“Frankly I am very pleased what we reached in last time. Right now we are doing different etudes – flamenco, classic pieces, we try in different directions. They are unbelievably hard workers with not limited physical possibilities. Victoria and Nikita take a training process seriously: they are educated well in sport plan plus they are intelligent people which it is a simply pleasure to be in contact with. I would like to continue work with these sportsmen. We train more than one month and I see: there is couple, they came into being.“

Looking at Zueva’s opinion, a couple is a face of new Russian generation – well-behaved, intelligent: “They are behaving correctly to everybody and to everything.“

“At the ring Victoria and Nikita became an example for everybody, and even for me, like for the Russian coach, it is a pleasure.“

Zueva told she would come to Moscow at the end of May to talk about future of the sportsmen.

“For bigger part it will depend on test skate in front of specialists in Moscow. If it happens that our collaboration will continue, we are planning to train in US, where some other sportsmen are skating with me. I have a duty to those skaters – it is a collective team which I don’t have a right to leave.“

Gorshkov noticed that the meeting with Zueva will be at the end of May. He told that it is too early to talk about a future of skaters now, that everything will be clear after a discussion with Zueva.

 

[elif]

Looks like Zoueva trying to sell Sinitsina and Katsalapov as very well-mannered peoples Do you think I should believe her?:scowl: Looks very suspicious to me

 

[sisinka]

http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20140519/747018287.html
…19th of May…Zueva’s interview

http://itar-tass.com/sport/1195841
…19th of May…interview with Zueva…

There is a visible wish to have a talented team under herself. Plus Russian Federation support and all dotations (I am sure Morozov told that his salary was very generous). This all is too tempting to ignore.
Overall Marina Zueva is a Russian coach, she made an Olympic champions from Canadians, then Americans, now she wants to work and try her talent with skaters from her home-country. (Personally I think that every coach‘s dream is to work with talented skaters from his/her home country and bring medals “home“.)

Another question goes in direction of too many superlatives about Viki and Nikita, I believe that a couple works hard, but frankly who does not work hard. Using Viki and Nikita like examples of hard workers and icons for others at the ring…than it leads to an idea that other skaters are a little bit lazy ones…for example Shibutani….which I don’t believe for even one second, but looking at Zueva’s coments this idea comes to mind.
In comparison with these praising and making a new icons and role models of S&K for whole skating world Lena & Ruslan practise description made by Alexeeva, Kustarova, head coach Stifunin and journalist Vaitsekhovskaya looked much more believable and faithful.

There is a funny notice from Zueva about new Russian generation of skaters who are intelligent and well behaved…does it mean that Zueva thinks that old generation of Russian skaters were rude and stupid people???

Interesting note from Zueva: “They became a couple just immediatelly when they came.“ So like I noticed one month ago, one day is enough for answering a compatibility question.

I wrote some time ago that Zueva will work on image of S&K and that she will try to make a great people from them and excuse all their behaviour. And here it comes: “They are unbelievably hard workers with not limited physical possibilities. Victoria and Nikita take a training process seriously: they are educated well in sport plan plus they are intelligent people which it is a simply pleasure to be in contact with.“ She slightly forces people to think that 1) they are working harder than anyone else, so they will reach top level and can achieve gold medals very soon, 2) they are so talented that they have no limits, 3) they are easy to work with, 4) they are so nice and kind people that it is a pleasure for her to know them. As to point 3) and 4) – she tries to destroy that picture which Nikita created in last months with his “strange“ behaviour.

Another Zueva’s note: “They are behaving correctly to everybody and to everything.“ This is obvious attemp to show that Viki and Nikita don’t have any idea about incorrect behaviour. (I would like to hear a discussion between Zueva versus Lena & Ruslan on a topic of S&K’s correct behaviour…I am almost sure that in this case Zueva would lose a battle 2:0).

I can’t be surprised with this game which already tries to keep judges on Vika and Nikita’s side with that talent, kind and correct behaviour image. I would be much more interested if Zueva personally really thinks that the way which Nikita and Vika prepared and done all of this was really that kind and correct.

 

[Alba]

Next year twizzles rules are changing and all teams must change their twizzles for level4.

I had no idea about this. What's going to happen with the twizzles?

@All: I never paid any attention to what Zueva had to say about her students because all she had to say was: Amore, Amore, Amore. :sarcasm:
I prefer to see them rather than hear Zueva.

 

[kittyvondutch]

http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20140519/747018287.html
…19th of May…Zueva’s interview

http://itar-tass.com/sport/1195841
…19th of May…interview with Zueva…

There is a visible wish to have a talented team under herself. Plus Russian Federation support and all dotations (I am sure Morozov told that his salary was very generous). This all is too tempting to ignore.
Overall Marina Zueva is a Russian coach, she made an Olympic champions from Canadians, then Americans, now she wants to work and try her talent with skaters from her home-country. (Personally I think that every coach‘s dream is to work with talented skaters from his/her home country and bring medals “home“.)

Another question goes in direction of too many superlatives about Viki and Nikita, I believe that a couple works hard, but frankly who does not work hard. Using Viki and Nikita like examples of hard workers and icons for others at the ring…than it leads to an idea that other skaters are a little bit lazy ones…for example Shibutani….which I don’t believe for even one second, but looking at Zueva’s coments this idea comes to mind.
In comparison with these praising and making a new icons and role models of S&K for whole skating world Lena & Ruslan practise description made by Alexeeva, Kustarova, head coach Stifunin and journalist Vaitsekhovskaya looked much more believable and faithful.

There is a funny notice from Zueva about new Russian generation of skaters who are intelligent and well behaved…does it mean that Zueva thinks that old generation of Russian skaters were rude and stupid people???

Interesting note from Zueva: “They became a couple just immediatelly when they came.“ So like I noticed one month ago, one day is enough for answering a compatibility question.

I wrote some time ago that Zueva will work on image of S&K and that she will try to make a great people from them and excuse all their behaviour. And here it comes: “They are unbelievably hard workers with not limited physical possibilities. Victoria and Nikita take a training process seriously: they are educated well in sport plan plus they are intelligent people which it is a simply pleasure to be in contact with.“ She slightly forces people to think that 1) they are working harder than anyone else, so they will reach top level and can achieve gold medals very soon, 2) they are so talented that they have no limits, 3) they are easy to work with, 4) they are so nice and kind people that it is a pleasure for her to know them. As to point 3) and 4) – she tries to destroy that picture which Nikita created in last months with his “strange“ behaviour.

Another Zueva’s note: “They are behaving correctly to everybody and to everything.“ This is obvious attemp to show that Viki and Nikita don’t have any idea about incorrect behaviour. (I would like to hear a discussion between Zueva versus Lena & Ruslan on a topic of S&K’s correct behaviour…I am almost sure that in this case Zueva would lose a battle 2:0).

I can’t be surprised with this game which already tries to keep judges on Vika and Nikita’s side with that talent, kind and correct behaviour image. I would be much more interested if Zueva personally really thinks that the way which Nikita and Vika prepared and done all of this was really that kind and correct.

She makes it sound like S/K dropped from heaven.
She can talk the talk, but can she make them skate the talk too? :sarcasm:

 

[elif]

Zoueva takes over-hyping to another level Fastest team in the world (!?), working so much, polite to everyone, good-mannered (!?!), unlimited physical abilities, other skaters loves them so much they are fans of them (!?), everybody at the ring looks them as example even her and of course most important for ice dance ''amazing blue eyes''. Sorry for Shibutanis, they didn't got half of that hype in four years.

I had no idea about this. What's going to happen with the twizzles?

ISU now added difficult features to twizzles. Skaters must choose one of those and two other usual features (holding blade, hands above the head, jumping entry, three set of twizzles....) for level4. Everyone going to change something.

1. core of body is shifted off vertical axis*;
2. executing Twizzles with the head bent all the way back with the face to the ceiling*.
3. free leg crossed behind above the knee*;
4. free leg extended to the side or backward at least 45 degree angle from the vertical*;
5. sit position (at least 90 degrees between the thigh and shin of the skating leg)*;
6. changing the level of the skating leg (knee) with a continuous motion*.
7. clear change of side: both partners cross pattern at least once during the rotations*;
8. Set of Twizzles performed following one another face to face*;
9. Set of Twizzles performed following one another back to back*.

 

[Sandpiper]

So Zoueva's politiking heavily for S/K? Hopefully there's someone to answer from Elena and Ruslan's side. Bring on the drama!

 

[Alba]

and of course most important for ice dance ''amazing blue eyes''. Sorry

And don't forget "four blue eyes" please. You never know, there is a risk that other couples might have 3 eyes. :sarcasm:

This is all talk and it's normal when you want to coach a couple, or you are their coach.
You start to create their image and reputation.

You do remember what Zueva said about I&K a month ago right?

"Lena and Nikita left ​​the strongest impression. I would even say they were born to skate together. They have everything in common - speed, stroking, the emotions that arise from each common movement. Put any of them with another partner - it will be not the same. Note that I am not talking about Lena’s talent or Nikita’s talent. This is primarily the talent to be a couple. And it is a great luck that the skaters have coincided in time, and the team formed."

And she was not even their coach, or working with them, when she said that. She most probably wanted them though.

ISU now added difficult features to twizzles. Skaters must choose one of those and two other usual features (holding blade, hands above the head, jumping entry, three set of twizzles....) for level4.

I like hands above the head and I would love to see jumping entry.