2015-16 State of Russian Ice Dance

[NicolettaL]

I agree that this battle was already lost before beginning, but definitely not because of their inconsistency. I/Z's programs this season were risky. They tried to be different and to stand out and it didn't pay off. Unlike them, S/K played it safe with their program and it did pay off. But S/K are not any more consistent than I/Z. It is interesting how Elena's fall on nothing (while they did complete all their elements) set them so far back, while S/K messing the whole twizzle element made no much difference to their mark. I understand that I/Z's PCS was affected in the SP because of the fall, but their PCS in the FS was disgraceful. Anyway, Nikita can't twizzle to save his life, so maybe it will be a good experience if they go to Europeans/worlds. Let's see if the international judges will be as generous after he messes up the twizzle's again.

This twizzles are a joke. Base value for lvl4 twizzles is 6.60 and they've got for that +9.00... That's scandalous even if we are at nats

 

[whatif]

If I/Z had to change coaches to non-Russian ones, I would love to see them with D/L. Not Shpilband.

 

[whatif]

Idk about Ruslan being weaker but the work should be done by both just like Sinkats
A partner has to fit another. Mask the flaws & maximize the positives.

.

LOL, ITA, even here Katsalapov mistake on twizzle was because Viktoria messed up hers. You could just see how he tried too hard and failed spectacularly.

 

[Marta25]

If I/Z had to change coaches to non-Russian ones, I would love to see them with D/L. Not Shpilband.

I think the Fed sees Shpilband as Russian, although he is living in the US since over 20 years and I think he has also US citizenship. I don`t believe they would ever allow IZ to go to Canadian coaches.

 

[Sugarpova]

LOL, ITA, even here Katsalapov mistake on twizzle was because Viktoria messed up hers. You could just see how he tried too hard and failed spectacularly.

haha too true

no really they bring me entertainment
The gold was basically theirs & then they go & give it away & BOTH this time so you cant blame it only on Nick!

Happy the fed has B/S
these kids are way to unreliable for #1


I dont see how the Fed has any $$$$$ to get I/Z to train abroad... I vote for Platov though

 

[Abraxis12345]

I vote Lane and Razgulyaevs. Lane gets the levels, Razgulyaevs can count as Russian (although he is actually from Latvia), and Elena and Piper are friends. Linichuk would be good although she's made some horrific packaging choices.

 

[Bumdid]

If Elena has the will to continue after this massive decline in her standing within the skating hierarchy.

If she can skate through that awful Ghost's program, then she can do anything in life tbh.

 

[Mattieu]

If she can skate through that awful Ghost's program, then she can do anything in life tbh.

So true!! :agree:

 

[Watermelondrea]

I'm sorry and Victoria Sinitsina is a sweet girl, but she a very bad Ice Dancer, certainly not good enough for Nikita. But, they shipped them overseas and spent ALOT of money on them so there is no turning back.

The problem with her is that she's not very powerful. Look at her twizzles: Nikita starts behind her and then passes her as they happen. That means that Victoria is slower and not as steady as him.

 

[bekalc]

I'm sorry and Victoria Sinitsina is a sweet girl, but she a very bad Ice Dancer, certainly not good enough for Nikita. But, they shipped them overseas and spent ALOT of money on them so there is no turning back.

The problem with her is that she's not very powerful. Look at her twizzles: Nikita starts behind her and then passes her as they happen. That means that Victoria is slower and not as steady as him.

Read Zoueva's interview. Zoueva states that Nikita was the one who initially funded them. He took his own prize money. Nikita is a stronger skater yes but calling Viktoria a bad skater is frankly ridiculous. She was an Olympian without Nikita.

 

[NAOTMAA]

Read Zoueva's interview. Zoueva states that Nikita was the one who initially funded them. He took his own prize money. Nikita is a stronger skater yes but calling Viktoria a bad skater is frankly ridiculous. She was an Olympian without Nikita.

True although some people might say that's how low Russian ice dancing has fallen that a dancer like her would make the Olympics And to be honest I partly agree with that although I don't believe she is anywhere near as bad as some fans claim she is. She has gotten better.

Its rather ridiculous watching I/Z fans try and put down S/K every chance they get. They were jumping with joy and proclaiming them dead and buried after last season and even this season, after some major improvement and winning silver at nationals, their nit picking every little thing and acting as if there is no way things could possibly get better and that their still hopeless. All of this while they make excuse after excuse for I/Z They have Elena on such a high pedestal that she's perfect and all problems are the result of somebody else. First it was Morozov, then Nitika and now its starting with Ruslan and their coach :disagree:

 

[tvuckic16]

True although some people might say that's how low Russian ice dancing has fallen that a dancer like her would make the Olympics And to be honest I partly agree with that although I don't believe she is anywhere near as bad as some fans claim she is. She has gotten better.

Its rather ridiculous watching I/Z fans try and put down S/K every chance they get. They were jumping with joy and proclaiming them dead and buried after last season and even this season, after some major improvement and winning silver at nationals, their nit picking every little thing and acting as if there is no way things could possibly get better and that their still hopeless. All of this while they make excuse after excuse for I/Z They have Elena on such a high pedestal that she's perfect and all problems are the result of somebody else. First it was Morozov, then Nitika and now its starting with Ruslan and their coach :disagree:

I am an IZ fan, but I will admit that what you say is in part true...maybe some will say I not a true fan...but I don't believe being a fan must equal blind adoration... I also don't feel as hostile towards SK as much of the IZ fan base....maybe because I wasn't as emotionally invested in IK as some were. I feel SK have their qualities and IZ do to, just different.

I do agree that the core IZ fan base is very sensitive to praise of any other team and absolutely reject the possibility IZ are just not the best...

 

[Snow63]

The fact that some people say Ruslan is NOT weaker than Elena It's the same thing to say that Sinitsina is not weaker than Elena.

Anyway, as Tarasova said 'There is a good female partner... and there is a good male partner. See the difference? Male partner should be leading the dance' But in my opinion, that's NOT the reason for Ruslena's bad performances and low scores. Ruslan is progressing, and he will be there, just as Sinitsina with Katsalapov, we all just need to give them more time. Yes, momentum is lost for them completely, and they're quickly losing their reputation, but it doesn't mean they will not bounce back. But IMO, coach changing should be in order. Same for Yanovskaya/Mozgov, both teams can't afford such bad season again.
As for Bobrova/Soloviev, no matter what people say, but if they will skate like THIS and prove themself to reliable in different situations, the Federation will never discard them. They just can't afford such luxury. They needs Worlds spots back, they need Euros medals.

 

[Astrid56]

I am not really a fan but I know that I/Z are really great skaters _ particularly Elena. What they need is a really good coach who can be truly honest about their skating and programs. Their win in Mordovian Ornament sort of gave them false impression/feeling - made them too confident that they had not really bothered much to polish their programs. I hate to see talents like theirs wasted ... not develop to the fullest potentials. Also, I don't see any reason to change partners - Ruslan is quite good ... he just needs good coaching and a good choreographer. C/B are lucky to have Igor - not a great choreographer but he's a very good technician (as evidenced by their reworked FD to Rach Piano Concerto 2). Anyway, I think they will do well with a 'Zueva' or someone with her type of temperament and coaching style.

 

[whatif]

T it doesn't mean they will not bounce back. But IMO, coach changing should be in order. Same for Yanovskaya/Mozgov, both teams can't afford such bad season again.
As for Bobrova/Soloviev, no matter what people say, but if they will skate like THIS and prove themself to reliable in different situations, the Federation will never discard them. They just can't afford such luxury. They needs Worlds spots back, they need Euros medals.

Why? Really...it's not like they are going to place well at those comps. Even the all-mighty and "evil" Russian Fed can't lobby in every discipline. There needs to be some sacrifices made. Had I/K stopped being childish and stuck together, it would have been much easier but now I don't blame them for giving up and shifting their priorities elsewhere.

 

[Snow63]

Why? Really...it's not like they are going to place well at those comps. Even the all-mighty and "evil" Russian Fed can't lobby in every discipline. There needs to be some sacrifices made. Had I/K stopped being childish and stuck together, it would have been much easier but now I don't blame them for giving up and shifting their priorities elsewhere.

Why? Really? The more spots the better the Fed 'works'... or so it seems

 

[whatif]

Why? Really? The more spots the better the Fed 'works'... or so it seems

Simply nothing worthy the effort. It was evident from those extensive candid interviews Lakernik and Shekhovtseva have been given in the past year. That the Fed is just realistic and smartly placing their resources where they can see more assured results.

 

[Snow63]

Simply nothing worthy the effort. It was evident from those extensive candid interviews Lakernik and Shekhovtseva have been given in the past year. That the Fed is just realistic and smartfully placing their resources where they can see more assured results.

Not that I completely disagree with you, because I don't, but it seems to me that it's possible for teams to be good and take back the spots without much Fed's help.

 

[whatif]

Not that I completely disagree with you, because I don't, but it seems to me that it's possible for teams to be good and take back the spots without much Fed's help.

It always is BUT realistically statistically a very challenging task with the current crop. It's not just them, it's the competition which is tough.

 

[bramweld]

I/Z had the only real, memorable, intricate dance this year on the Russian team, IMHO. I hope I'm able to express that opinion. We say they could clean up their technique, did Mr. G. K. really invest himself in polishing their technique the way he did with S/K in Detroit? I really don't need an answer to that. But strategically does it make sense to put all your eggs in one basket? Soloviev complained of knee pain today, and those twizzles from S/K, oh whatever, and then you have paint by numbers S/B. I/Z had the most difficult material and their federation took from them even the opportunity to show that dance as it was meant to be. No problems this is a marathon not a sprint.

What I/Z need to do is choose something safe yet interesting enough to work on it for the whole off season, without nodding out during training, that will satisfy the conservative tastes of the Russian experts. Then they need to perform it consistently well so that they can get out of Russia and face the real heat. Do we recall how flat B/S looked at the GPF? Well that's just me. The biggest problem that I/Z face is their own federation, their unwillingness to be guided by fair play and their inability to embrace change. The other little things like lifts and ease of partnering will come, with time.