Alexander Petrov

[Sofia]

Galina Golubkova's (head coach of Russia's junior team) opinion on Sasha and Russian junior mens skating:

"We lag far behind in the men's figure skating. Last finals once again showed that today without a quad jump as a junior and already very difficult to win and compete for prizes. Yes, Sasha Petrov - well done. He did everything he could. However, to claim the medal highest dignity with such a set of jump elements, we can not, because there is no arsenal quadruple jump.

Of course, it is worth noting that Alexander only one of our singles made it to the final of the men's junior competitions. We have other abilities boys: Sasha Samarin, Dima Aliyev, Andrew Lazukin ... But they, unfortunately, can not compete on equal terms with the strongest foreign competitors. They lack what distinguishes Shoma Uno, Sota Yamamoto ... Japanese skaters perform all the elements at high speed with a large stroke, powerful. Plus multi-jumping. For example, the Chinese junior Jin Boyang includes any program three quads - triple toe and Salchow. So that our children have something to work with."

How encouraging of her. Sasha "did everything he could", as if he could do no better. -_-
And regarding her other comments. All Lazukin needed was a podium finish in the last JGP but he bombed it. And he bombed it partly because he was too tired after skating in his first GP only the week before. Rus Fed messed up the JGP assignments. They could have had 2 men in the final, potentially anyway.
https://translate.google.com.sg/tra...e-v-yuniorakh-uzhe-ne-vyigrat.html&edit-text=
http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/581-gal...yzhkov-dazhe-v-yuniorakh-uzhe-ne-vyigrat.html

I agree that Golubkova's words sound like a political statement, adelia. (In fact, I didn't expect her to take consideration of all those competition results too carefully, lol. ) Not only do I dislike her attitude towards Sasha's achievement at this JGPF, but I also dislike the message behind her review (something like "Our Fed can't take you too seriously because you don't have a quad"). Seems another example of RusFed's overemphasis on the importance of high-difficulty jumps.
She's right about one thing, though: that the Russian junior men do not have "excellent skating skills plus difficlt jumps" yet, which seems to be today's winning formula. Yes, the Russian men has improved a lot and it's exciting, but it's not like their international opponents have been standing still.
IMO, where the Russian junior men lag furthest behind their strongest opponents is skating skills, rather than technical elements or other four aspects in PCS scoring. In terms of skating skills, Russian men are not having a good reputation at this moment. And it doesn't look encouraging at junior or advanced novice level (with the exception of little Gumennik, maybe), which is really something for RusFed to worry about.

Anyway, I wish both Adian and Sasha would improve greatly over time, in skating skills and many other aspects, to become the face of Russian Men's figure skating. (No excitement over Kovtun playing this role, either.) Both have the potential, and I have to say both are very good-looking Maybe two good-looking boys at the same time is a little bit too much for me :

 

[adelia]

I agree that Golubkova's words sound like a political statement, adelia. (In fact, I didn't expect her to take consideration of all those competition results too carefully, lol. ) Not only do I dislike her attitude towards Sasha's achievement at this JGPF, but I also dislike the message behind her review (something like "Our Fed can't take you too seriously because you don't have a quad"). Seems another example of RusFed's overemphasis on the importance of high-difficulty jumps.
She's right about one thing, though: that the Russian junior men do not have "excellent skating skills plus difficlt jumps" yet, which seems to be today's winning formula. Yes, the Russian men has improved a lot and it's exciting, but it's not like their international opponents have been standing still.
IMO, where the Russian junior men lag furthest behind their strongest opponents is skating skills, rather than technical elements or other four aspects in PCS scoring. In terms of skating skills, Russian men are not having a good reputation at this moment. And it doesn't look encouraging at junior or advanced novice level (with the exception of little Gumennik, maybe), which is really something for RusFed to worry about.

Anyway, I wish both Adian and Sasha would improve greatly over time, in skating skills and many other aspects, to become the face of Russian Men's figure skating. (No excitement over Kovtun playing this role, either.) Both have the potential, and I have to say both are very good-looking Maybe two good-looking boys at the same time is a little bit too much for me :

Besides Gumennik, there is another good advanced novice from Mishin's camp, Semenenko. He reminds me a little bit of Sasha when he was that age, although Sasha was technically superior. You know, the irony about the Rus Fed is that they're sending the signal to young male skaters that "you're not good enough until you have the quad", resulting in promising skaters like Aliev (in his first season at the junior level) training for 4T and 4T-3T instead of spending more time working on stabilizing that 3A and improving SS.

Aha yeah, a rivalry between Sasha and Adian at the senior level would be exciting.

Edit:
I also had this suggested to me regarding Sasha's vastly inferior PCS:
"What Petrov could do is observe what helped skaters like Uno to get such high PCS----smooth runout on his jumps, superior musicality and attention to detail in the music, seamless transitions----and begin to work on those features in his own skating. Then judges from all regions [instead of just Eastern Europe] would reward him with high PCS scores."

 

[s_parks]

Edit:
I also had this suggested to me regarding Sasha's vastly inferior PCS:
"What Petrov could do is observe what helped skaters like Uno to get such high PCS----smooth runout on his jumps, superior musicality and attention to detail in the music, seamless transitions----and begin to work on those features in his own skating. Then judges from all regions [instead of just Eastern Europe] would reward him with high PCS scores."

I know Sasha is only 15(did they consider this?) and has a lot of room for improvment, but Sasha doesn't have smooth runout on his jumps? Um, that's not exactly his weak point. It's just that part that got me.

 

[Sandpiper]

I think Sasha does have smooth run-out on his jumps, good musicality (compared to other junior skaters), and visible transitions into a number of jumps. He could work on SS and (imo) getting a better LP next season, but the skaters around him aren't exactly flawless. Also, Shoma is older, more experienced, has more rep value, and skated one of his best performances ever at JGPF. Comparison is a bit unfair.

 

[adelia]

I think Sasha does have smooth run-out on his jumps, good musicality (compared to other junior skaters), and visible transitions into a number of jumps. He could work on SS and (imo) getting a better LP next season, but the skaters around him aren't exactly flawless. Also, Shoma is older, more experienced, has more rep value, and skated one of his best performances ever at JGPF. Comparison is a bit unfair.

I suspect that he will face such criticisms throughout his career. There is a stigma about Russian skaters that is hard to get rid of. Many people just refuse to look at the evidence before making such comparisons.


Edit:
Press conference: https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd...._=1430378907_fecb65b895f9b098e4ededbaad00716a
(not sure what is going on with the hand signs)

Sasha's Happy Birthday wishes to Liza: http://instagram.com/p/wsA1w6v9hn/
(he loves to tease her, lol)

 

[Sofia]

I think Sasha does have smooth run-out on his jumps, good musicality (compared to other junior skaters), and visible transitions into a number of jumps. He could work on SS and (imo) getting a better LP next season, but the skaters around him aren't exactly flawless. Also, Shoma is older, more experienced, has more rep value, and skated one of his best performances ever at JGPF. Comparison is a bit unfair.

ITA. For me, Sasha's musicality is impressive for his age, and the power and confidence he shows on ice is what sets him apart from other junior men (though I'm still not completely convinced by his presentation). Besides, his transitions are obviously superior to those of last season in terms of quantity, variety and complexity. His team has clearly put a lot of thoughts into his programs for this season. The comparison with Shoma IS a bit unfair, but comparison with other skaters, whether how fair it can be, is just inevitable. Virtually every skater has been dragged into this kind of unfair comparison hastily by people, more or less (BTW, perhaps you guys have seen more of this since you probably spend much longer time here than I), so I wouldn't mind too much about it. I just wish Sasha could develop in his own pace and make solid progress towards his goal.

Besides Gumennik, there is another good advanced novice from Mishin's camp, Semenenko. He reminds me a little bit of Sasha when he was that age, although Sasha was technically superior.

Just watched Semenenko's LP this afternoon. Huge talent:yay: IMHO the technical content may not be as impressive, but he has better basics than Sasha had at the same age. At this point he and Gumennik are in their own league respectively among their peers in the same age group, across Europe. Then again, one or two exceptions does not change the whole picture...

You know, the irony about the Rus Fed is that they're sending the signal to young male skaters that "you're not good enough until you have the quad", resulting in promising skaters like Aliev (in his first season at the junior level) training for 4T and 4T-3T instead of spending more time working on stabilizing that 3A and improving SS.

Guess the impression of Russian male single skaters' not so strong basics won't dissolve in quite some time unless there are radical changes in training methodology.

 

[adelia]

Warm moment with Mishin:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd...._=1425826078_fc0eb6248876acfc85b7b2121d45c075

Yesterday was the opening of Mishin and Moskvina's new school but from the opening ceremony video, it seems that Sasha did not skate. I hope this does not have anything to do with his fitness.

 

[silverfoxes]

Gazeta.ru has published a new in-depth interview with Sasha (with a nice photo as well).

Figure skater Alexander Petrov, a new generation of the Russian men's figure skating, which, after the statements in the junior Grand Prix Final in Barcelona did not hesitate to say that ahead of Plushenko spoke with "Gazetoy.Ru" about his attitude to his own award-winning predecessors and benchmarks in career and life.

"Russian figure skating in general is on the rise, but the boys are a little behind us. But we hope that in the near future and they will catch up, "- podnachivat colleagues face" new wave "in the Russian women's figure skating Julia Lipnitskaya. Among those who in the near future may try to answer her, 15-year-old Alexander Petrov - pupil Alexei Mishin and Tatiana, bronze medalist of the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final - 2014 and the same guy who said in Barcelona that schedule development difficult jumps ahead of Evgeni Plushenko.

"I have no Idols"

- Loud comparison with two-time Olympic champion attracted to you no less attention in the Grand Prix finals, than to win a medal. And maybe even more.
- Well, in fairness, I note that I'm not started this conversation. I was asked if I was ******** development quadruple jump. To which I replied in the sense that in 15 years it will no doubt need to try to jump in and try to insert in the program. However, only half of the back of the season. Ahead of the championship of Russia and the Junior World Championships, where I hope to be selected.

I do a quadruple toe loop in training. But the program inserting it only when I am completely sure that I am doing it consistently.

Also on summer training camp somewhere close was rittberger. But Salchow I somehow did not go with them still need to work on.

- What means to you personally won a medal in Barcelona Junior Grand Prix Final?
- This is my second final. Naturally, I set myself a serious purpose. Otherwise, why come to the event if you do not want them to win? Unfortunately, in the short program, not all turned out. Going to a greater extent on the stage, which during the season were always some problems, and summarized lutz. Wanted to do it very well, it did not work very much. Perhaps too happy after the stage. I have this competition once again taught that one can never relax. In the long program, I was going to. And for myself, I won.

- Do you work in a group of well-known expert Alexei Mishin and his wife Tatiana. Tell us how to build your relationship with each of them?
- With Tatiana Nikolaevna we mainly are working and accumulating, and with Alexey Nikolayevich we teach jumping. Not the number of repetitions, as is done in most cases, and gradually master the.

- Many Russian figure skaters are trying to get away from comparisons with Plushenko and find your own style. Including your former bandmate Arthur Gachinsky. And you tossed reporters this topic. While working with the same coach, are in the "risk group". And such comparisons, perhaps, will be inevitable. You are not afraid?
- Maybe me and begin to compare. But each person is unique. And I should be able to show his face. Yes, I respect Eugene, he's a great skater. But I told him not to imitate. He is not my idol. I generally stick to the position of "Do not make yourself an idol." If all the time try to follow someone's example, I do not know whether you can do something to achieve.

- And some of the skaters like? Not as an idol, and as an indicator of a certain professional level, or the personification of any unique qualities.
- In this sense, Plushenko may be an example because he never gives up. In general, I found myself in figure skating because of bronchitis. Doctors told either the pool or on the ice rink. In hockey I did not have, and did not want to give swimming mom. So I got in my sport. So, when a child I watched figure skating, the duel Plushenko and Yagudin more looked at Alexis.

- You can specify: in this famous confrontation Yagudin you rooting for?
- Not really. I was not for anyone. Just looked at the performance of Yagudin and admired in the aesthetic sense. It's been so great: two of our sportsmen - the best in the world, understand each other, and all the rest are fighting the most for the bronze.

If Yagudin remained in the sport, then it would be a landmark.

"My favorite subject - mathematics"

- Hockey did not take because of age? You do was just five.
- Yes.

- As a native of St. Petersburg, is a fan of the SKA?
- Of course.

- And in football - for the "Zenith"?
- Well, yes (laughs).

- Many believe that young athletes who came to St. Petersburg or Moscow from small towns, as Elizabeth Tuktamysheva example, in a sense, easier to break up, because away from home grow up faster, and better tempered character. You, as a person with an opportunity not to break away from home and family, ever felt it myself?
- Never really thought about it to be honest. But because the house and walls help, right? In fact, I think everyone has his own way, his own life. I do not know whether to output the pattern here.

- Do you ever have moments when I wanted to quit and go sport, for example, to play the guitar in a band? Or leave with his head in his studies?
- Sometimes, when it came to learning difficulties. Not in the sense of right throw, but rather to take a break. I think if people linked his life to the sport, he will never leave him for good. But this, of course, also the reasoning in the style of "if-then".

Incidentally, I'm not in a regular school and in sports. But I understand it, support and help for their studies. Although many friends tell us that in the specialized sports schools there are problems with it.

- Do you have a favorite subject?
- Mathematics, probably. If you do not run this thing and find out it is not so difficult. While I somehow obtained.

- Do you already have ideas for higher education?
- Awaiting go first to the University Lesgaft. If career will develop further, combine it with any other institution is unlikely to succeed. And then, at the end of a career, or when the time will be a little more, I want to get even some profession. What specifically have not yet thought about it.

- You debuted on the adult international competitions last year in Riga. Again, speaking at the same tournament with Plushenko. Remember your feelings from those of the competition?
- Everyone is whether jitters before Plushenko, or something else. But I have never been that way. Maybe because we trained on the same ice, and I'm used to. But in general, the transition to adult, feels, at that tournament I was not working. By the time I spoke to adults at Cup of Russia. Moreover, Riga is not so far away, go there - almost like at home.

- The inherent problem of soaring boys bothering you?
- I was probably lucky - I grow gradually. Per year, could be two inches. And no sharp jumps, as it happens.

- You did not try to persuade trainers early to throw you into the adult sea? Did not ask for more adult tournaments?
- No. By the start all turned out as something of itself. The main objective of this part of the season was to qualify for the Grand Prix Final. It's an experience you can not buy it, you can only buy.

- Debut in the adult Grand Prix - it's a matter of the next season?
- I think so. But you need to try to be in the championship of Russia and selected a number of candidates. I'll try.

- Julia Lipnitskaya Barcelona dropped that the Russian figure skating is now generally rise, not only in the women, except that boys lag behind. Although the final Grand Prix of the male singles this year selected more than, for example, dancers. There is no desire to answer anything?
- No. What we really need to catch up. Although this year we have juniors in men's tournaments smaller than adults. A rare case.

- How did this happen?
- I do not know. Maybe the guys somewhere did not have luck. Two of our spare was in junior finals. I think if I was in junior Adya Pitkeev, it absolutely would be in the final. It would be easier for me if the Russian participants in Barcelona was more? Hard to say. Maybe yes, maybe not.

"Plushenko wants to leave someone behind"

- How do you work in a group with Lisa Tuktamysheva?
- Yes, like all smoothly and well.

- It is somehow also asked about training near Plushenko what Lisa said that girls love Eugene, but with the boys, on the contrary, strict. Is that true?
- I think it's because he wants results, wants to leave behind someone. That were not only Maxim Kovtun and Sergei Voronov, but also others. I think that's why Plushenko and remains in the sport. And not only because he wants to prove to himself and critics.

- Do you think the experience of working together, it has the makings of a coach?
- I think there is, and good. He often tells me something in training, when I taught a triple axel or accumulating quad. When a man is jumping, it is easier to describe some things on your tongue. I, at any rate, it was clear.

- At one time the Frenchman Florent Amodio, rushed headlong into the elite men's skating with unusual programs and won the European championship, said that would very much like to bring in figure skating music of his generation: rap, hip-hop, r'n'b and so on. d. A Japanese Daisuke Takahashi skated under the hip-hop version of "Swan Lake". Do you have ideas to try something like that?
- As long as I am in this matter more trust in coaches and stick to the classics. While, for example, in any program I like the classics, but actually not. And in real life listening to rap, rock - helps to distract yourself back in tone.

Maybe one day something like that I would. The world evolves and is not static. A modern music helps to stand out from the crowd. But until we're guessing.

- What helps distract besides music?
- For me, the best way to break - it's sleep (laughs). Permanent move from school to practice and back to the end of the week, of course, exhausting. Plus at the end of the year I will have exams, so now additionally engaged with tutors.

- In football for the soul does not play?
- We sometimes play before workouts on the workout. Football - a great thing to warm up or lose weight. It's all a matter of Zhenya Plushenko. When I joined the group, he was just returning to the sport and losing weight. Well, in general it is hazardous.

- Alexey can connect to you?
- Sometimes.

- And Lisa would take if he asks?
- Yes. There are no restrictions, if you are a girl, then you can not play, go to paint and everything like that. If you wish, of course, take. If not - we will not make.

 

[plushyfan]

Gazeta.ru has published a new in-depth interview with Sasha (with a nice photo as well).

Thank you! He is a very smart guy. But you know, I hate some questions of the journalist. Plushenko...Plushenko... Plushenko... Why he wanted to compare them?
I really believe not Plushy himself was the problem of the Russian young skaters. The media wants to force the comparison .. they compare them constantly, ask about Plushenko. As with Artur. And this isn't Plushy's fault.

 

[silverfoxes]

I agree. It must be so tiresome for the young skaters to have to hear those questions all the time. I feel bad for all the Russian men who have come after Plushy and Yagudin because they can seemingly never get out of their shadow...but the ones coached by Mishin get it the worst, of course.

 

[plushyfan]

I agree. It must be so tiresome for the young skaters to have to hear those questions all the time. I feel bad for all the Russian men who have come after Plushy and Yagudin because they can seemingly never get out of their shadow...but the ones coached by Mishin get it the worst, of course.

Yes. But I like Petrov's kind words about Plushy. And I believe more and more Plushy will be a great coach.

 

[adelia]

I agree. It must be so tiresome for the young skaters to have to hear those questions all the time. I feel bad for all the Russian men who have come after Plushy and Yagudin because they can seemingly never get out of their shadow...but the ones coached by Mishin get it the worst, of course.

Thank you for posting the article.
Yes, it is rather annoying that more than half of the article was Plushenko-Yagudin related. I would have preferred that they skip most of those Plushenko-Yagudin questions and focus on Sasha as an individual instead.

Anyway, Sasha is an intelligent, thoughtful boy with a bright personality and it comes across in his interviews. Once again I am reminded of this.

And the picture is indeed quite lovely. One of my favourites. http://img.gazeta.ru/files3/145/6352145/IMG_1729-pic510-510x340-65223.jpg
Very sweet looking. <3

 

[LRK]

It sounded as if he wasn't fazed by the questions at all, but felt solid and secure in asserting his own individuality. That confirms the impression I've got from him on ice - I think he is open to learning, and taking what is useful to him, and turning it into his own thing. That's rare maturity in a 15 year old. But yes, I'd imagine the comparison questions must become rather annoying with time - not to mention the pressure they create. Hopefully he'll be able to continue to deal with it in the same calm fashion.

 

[adelia]

It sounded as if he wasn't fazed by the questions at all, but felt solid and secure in asserting his own individuality. That confirms the impression I've got from him on ice - I think he is open to learning, and taking what is useful to him, and turning it into his own thing. That's rare maturity in a 15 year old. But yes, I'd imagine the comparison questions must become rather annoying with time - not to mention the pressure they create. Hopefully he'll be able to continue to deal with it in the same calm fashion.

:yes: I have great confidence that he can handle the added pressure when he joins the senior ranks next season.

 

[Meoima]

:yes: I have great confidence that he can handle the added pressure when he joins the senior ranks next season.

hwell: Is he ready to join the senior rank next season? I next year he will be 16, might be old enough but IIRC Kovtun was 18 when he fully joined the senior rank, didn't he?

 

[adelia]

hwell: Is he ready to join the senior rank next season? I next year he will be 16, might be old enough but IIRC Kovtun was 18 when he fully joined the senior rank, didn't he?

I think he is ready. I don't think he call learn much more from another season of competing with juniors. In any case, Mishin said in an interview some months ago that he will be joining the seniors next season. So unless Mishin changes his mind, it's set.

Edit:
Sasha entered Juniors as soon as he was eligible so this is his 3rd season in Juniors. Kovtun started competing at a lot later age than that.

 

[LRK]

The funny thing is that I just took it for granted that he would turn senior next year - it took me some time before I realised that I had no basis for thinking so at all! And then came Mr Mishin's confirmation. So... that was nice. Honestly, I don't think there is any reason for him to remain junior longer than he needs to - he's already doing Senior B's after all...

 

[silverfoxes]

I think Sasha is about on par with Adian Pitkeev in terms of ability...Kovtun at 16 was a different story. By next season I would imagine Sasha's quad will be fairly stable as well. And he has already shown he can hold his own, beating most of his older competitors in the senior Bs.

 

[Sandpiper]

I would agree with everyone else that the journalist's questions aren't helping things. Maybe that's what sells? Using the name of a famous person for readers who don't follow juniors, ect... I dunno.

It's definitely unfair to the Russian skaters. I mean, if you're not Russian, you could skate to Tango Amore or do Biellmann spins and no one calls you a clone.

I would like Sasha to win Junior Worlds before he goes senior... but I trust Mishin's judgement. I think he will be ready for seniors. Imo, it's all in the head. Adian probably has better jump technique than Nam, but Nam's been doing better because he's got that extra bit of confidence that allows him to land the jump. I hope Sasha can combine the best of both worlds.

 

[adelia]

Sasha on the way to Sochi, with Liza, Andrey Lazukin and Artur Dmitriev Jr. Liza's choreographer Tatiana Prokofieva in the background.
http://instagram.com/p/w8KpIjzQXa