2017-2018 State of Russian Ice Dance

[LadyB]

So sad having to be around katsalapov is destroying bobrova spirit! It's always something! Bad coaching in Olympic year, bad injury to soloviev, bad doping rule, now bad training environment messing her mentally! So sad.

I don't think any of the above mentioned could 'destroy' Katia's spirit. Definitely not pretty boy Nikita. :handw: She's one of the strongest characters out there. The only thing that threw her was that rubbish doping decision, which is understandable. She's well and truly over that now. All they need is two decent programmes.

How could you possibly blame Katsalapov?

Ooooh, handbags!! Bless

 

[gmyers]

I don't think any of the above mentioned could 'destroy' Katia's spirit. Definitely not pretty boy Nikita. :handw: She's one of the strongest characters out there. The only thing that threw her was that rubbish doping decision, which is understandable. She's well and truly over that now. All they need is two decent programmes.



Ooooh, handbags!! Bless

I don't know! The rumors are out of control and blowing up! Zhulin camp on verge of collapse.

For programs that are loved by judges and IJS friendly she needs dubreil or zueva or canerlengo!

 

[Mattieu]

All they need is two decent programmes.

I'm afraid we are dreaming, this is Zhulin, when was the last time he produced 2 decent programs?

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

May I ask where are you guys hearing this? It's not that I don't believe the reports, but I would like to know what are the sources. You obviously don't have to name them, but are they reliable and have they been correct before?

 

[coldblueeyes]

I don't know! The rumors are out of control and blowing up! Zhulin camp on verge of collapse.

Yes, Russian ID in all is going to collapse on a heap and there will be explosions before the apocalyptic fall - that's all I'm getting from this.

Tomorrow we'll probably have the start of WW3 because of Katsalapov. And they are going to part Russia in two because Katia apparently can't even breathe the same air as him.

Is there anything I didn't cover? Maybe Stepanova will create an army of hunchbacks as a third force in the war while Elena sweeps Bukin in her white unicorn and run to NA to create a new sport: The Elena Dance, where you can drop a part of your costume and always end up in fourth place.

Now I guess I covered everything.

:agree:

Summer is always fun, I guess.

 

[Aqua Lady]

Cheering for Stepanova and Bukin! Drama free, improving, focused, and consistent. Hope Zahorski/Guerreiro smashes Zhulin and his teams... Also hoping to see Annabelle and partner beat S/K. As for Elena, she should not skate unless she finds a partner as capable as her.

 

[Mattieu]

you can tell this is the off season.

But seriously, there has to be something wrong with Zhulin.
First it is Monko/Khavalian who he trumpetted as the next saviours of Russian ID
Then there was Zahorsky/Guerrero who he said were 'Western' and were the future.
Now we have S/K who are his flavour of the month at the cost of B/S.
Third time lucky or another failure to add to the list?

 

[gmyers]

May I ask where are you guys hearing this? It's not that I don't believe the reports, but I would like to know what are the sources. You obviously don't have to name them, but are they reliable and have they been correct before?

It's all from the same people who gave reason why s/k suddenly and with no warning and really no explanation had to leave the United States and zueva and never return to canton! He can have surgery and train in United States until a totally arbitrary day in September when s/k had to leave canton! Never explained why he never returned.

Yes, Russian ID in all is going to collapse on a heap and there will be explosions before the apocalyptic fall - that's all I'm getting from this.

Tomorrow we'll probably have the start of WW3 because of Katsalapov. And they are going to part Russia in two because Katia apparently can't even breathe the same air as him.

Is there anything I didn't cover? Maybe Stepanova will create an army of hunchbacks as a third force in the war while Elena sweeps Bukin in her white unicorn and run to NA to create a new sport: The Elena Dance, where you can drop a part of your costume and always end up in fourth place.

Now I guess I covered everything.

:agree:

Summer is always fun, I guess.

Russia ice dance for first time ever did not medal before Olympics and doesn't have Maximum spots! It has collapsed and there are reasons.

 

[Mattieu]

It's all from the same people who gave reason why s/k suddenly and with no warning and really no explanation had to leave the United States and zueva and never return to canton! He can have surgery and train in United States until a totally arbitrary day in September when s/k had to leave canton! Never explained why he never returned.

And same people are saying S/K had to leave Volkov for the same reasons they had to leave Zueva, again with no warning. How long until history repeats itself with Zhulin?

 

[gmyers]

And same people are saying S/K had to leave Volkov for the same reasons they had to leave Zueva, again with no warning. How long until history repeats itself with Zhulin?

Yes there has been zueva, volkov, Tchaikovskaya, Zhulin. Something is happening! Something is going on! Everyone knows what it is. The main witness is sinistsina. She has all power. But she wants katsalapov. She has made that decision.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Yes there has been zueva, volkov, Tchaikovskaya, Zhulin. Something is happening! Something is going on! Everyone knows what it is. The main witness is sinistsina. She has all power. But she wants katsalapov. She has made that decision.

Maybe she wants not to end up like Elena? Without a partner or a future in skating for the moment.

Also, the forum is making a fuss, and living through rumours, or sly comments on photos, which could have nothing to do with this. I'm not saying things are perfect, but it could be interesting to wait and see what they will show us before dooming them.

No one remembers how much talk there was about I/Z turning a page, saving the Russian ID and whatnot by being the only team getting their chance out of the country? How well that turned out... What's clear is that Zhulin wants to monopolize both spots for the Olympics. Will he be able to do it? Only time will tell. S/B have been "the future of Russian ID" ever since they won their Euros bronze, but did they really stand out from the rest of the crowd since then? I don't need to answer that.

 

[nocturnalis]

And same people are saying S/K had to leave Volkov for the same reasons they had to leave Zueva, again with no warning. How long until history repeats itself with Zhulin?

If the rumored reason that they left Canton is true, why do you think it would be an issue with Zhulin given his history with Maya Usova?

 

[bramweld]

If the rumored reason that they left Canton is true, why do you think it would be an issue with Zhulin given his history with Maya Usova?

Exactly. We seem to be forgetting that the Russian ice dance establishment doesn't care what Katsalapov does unless it interferes with what he does on ice. They've invested a lot in him and they expect a return.

 

[Ice Dance]

S/B have been "the future of Russian ID" ever since they won their Euros bronze, but did they really stand out from the rest of the crowd since then?

Give them two more years.

Number of years it took the current medal-winning dance teams to reach their highest finish to date at Worlds following their highest finish at Junior Worlds:
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir 4
Gabrielle Papadakis & Guillaume Cizerone 2
Maia & Alex Shibutani 7
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje 7
Ekaterina Bobrova & Dimitri Soloviev 6
Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte 8
Madison Chock 6
Evan Bates 7

Longer is the norm.

It has currently been four years since Stepanova & Bukin won Junior Worlds in 2013. Let the Olympic turnover happen, and see what they can do with it.

 

[nocturnalis]

Give them two more years.

Number of years it took the current medal-winning dance teams to reach their highest finish to date at Worlds following their highest finish at Junior Worlds:
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir 4
Gabrielle Papadakis & Guillaume Cizerone 2
Maia & Alex Shibutani 7
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje 7
Ekaterina Bobrova & Dimitri Soloviev 6
Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte 8
Madison Chock 6
Evan Bates 7

Longer is the norm.

It has currently been four years since Stepanova & Bukin won Junior Worlds in 2013. Let the Olympic turnover happen, and see what they can do with it.

All of those couples weakest members were better than Stepanova though. And if V/M didn't suffer with the injuries/surgeries, they could have won Worlds in booth 2008 and 2009.

 

[bramweld]

All of those couples weakest members were better than Stepanova though. And if V/M didn't suffer with the injuries/surgeries, they could have won Worlds in booth 2008 and 2009.

I wouldn't agree with this.

 

[Mattieu]

Exactly. We seem to be forgetting that the Russian ice dance establishment doesn't care what Katsalapov does unless it interferes with what he does on ice. They've invested a lot in him and they expect a return.

It bothered Volkov enough to kick them out of his rink

I also agree about Stepanova, her weaker skating skills and the fact you could drive a truck between them when skating in hold, will be the reason they fail to crack the top level.

Though I must confess I enjoy watching her and Bukin.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think it's a lot less about any grudge people have against Stepanova, but the fact that Svinin and Zhuk are just weaker coaches in general. Shpilevaya and Smirnov have amazing potential too, but they suffer with the levels in the same way Stepanova and Bukin do - and that's saying something when the entire field of ID didn't get a level 4 in steps at big competitions in all of last season (the last time being B/S in Euros 2016). Unless they work on that, they surely will not surprise anyone in the field.

 

[Snow63]

I think it's a lot less about any grudge people have against Stepanova, but the fact that Svinin and Zhuk are just weaker coaches in general. Shpilevaya and Smirnov have amazing potential too, but they suffer with the levels in the same way Stepanova and Bukin do - and that's saying something when the entire field of ID didn't get a level 4 in steps at big competitions in all of last season (the last time being B/S in Euros 2016). Unless they work on that, they surely will not surprise anyone in the field.

I think Loboda/Drozd got level 4 for their not touching step sequence during one of their JGP events last season too.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think Loboda/Drozd got level 4 for their not touching step sequence during one of their JGP events last season too.

I was talking mostly about the seniors - L/D have been getting their fair share of level 4s in these last seasons, especially in the SD.