Efimova and Mitrofanov make their mark

[gsk8]

Efimova and Mitrofanov make their mark

Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov In a frank interview, USA's Alisa Efimova, 25, and Misha Mitrofanov, 27, shared their thoughts on their successful

www.goldenskate.com

In the high-stakes world of competitive figure skating, chemistry, dedication, and mutual respect are everything. For Efimova and Mitrofanov, their partnership has quickly evolved into something more than just a successful pairing—it’s a shared journey of passion, growth, and authenticity.

Looking back on the season, what are your thoughts about the progress of this team? What do you think of their programs? What would you like to see them skate to?

 

[Tutto]

Ahh I was hoping for the interview with Alisa & Misha, and here it is - thank you GS very much!
I will post tomorrow as busy now but can I express a hope that they will NOT leave Malade for next season? It did work great for them but to listen the second season in a row to the music I hate would be a big ask of even such an enthusiastic fan as myself! But very glad they are going to continue working with Renee Roca. I also hope Renee will pick some classical piece for them as these two are made for it.

 

[ladyjane]

How lovely, this interview. They both sound very mature (they have experienced a lot, so maybe not so strange), and lovely human beings with a lot of respect for each other.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Thanks for this interview with Alisa & Misha. It gives us more delightful insight into their personalities, connection, committment to the sport, to their goals, and to each other.

I'm not sure what E/M should skate to in the future. There's so much music out there. I hope they discover something special that further elevates their personal growth and their partnership. I'm happy to hear that Renee Roca initially reached out to them and that they have a creative bond with her. Renee is very special and its exciting to know she is inspired by something she sees in E/M together and desires to help them bring out on the ice. Yay! The sky's the limit!

 

[4everchan]

They had a good season. I think Alisa looks fabulous. Some of her positions are the best in the field, like her death spiral. I find him extremely bland and non-engaging as a performer. I don't know if he will be improving that side of his skating. Some do, some do not. For instance, I had the same feeling with Lloyd Eisler... and then, he started to show his own personality on the ice. He was never a passionate, classical style of a skater but it worked out for them. Considering Alisa's style, I have some doubts about them gelling artistically.
However, none of this will matter for them. What matters is that jumps are mastered and that citizenship is acquired.

 

[skylark]

This interview ... I've never read one like it. One of the big overcoming emotions I have reading it is how grateful they both are, to each other, their coaches and choreographers, their fellow skaters at Boston, and especially to the audiences at Worlds and how they've felt so much support.

Misha bringing up how thankful he is to his former partners was really something special, and Alisa echoed him from her experience in her own way.

Secondly, this article spells out something I've felt watching their performances ... and that is their ease and authenticity together as a pair. Having those qualities brings something quite extra, quite uplifting, and quite brilliant to their skating. Audiences feel it. Jean-Luc Baker mentioned at practice, speaking of Alisa and Misha, how awe-inspiring it is when you see a pair who were quite good with former partners, but when they come together their skating has progressed to a whole new level. That is more than technique or individual charisma. It's creating magic.

As Paula wrote, "it’s clear that for Efimova and Mitrofanov, success isn’t just about medals—it’s about the connection, the commitment, and the joy they find together."

Fascinating that Renee Roca was the one who approached them about working together. That tells me that she saw and felt some of the same things, some of the same potential, that I saw and felt when I watched them in their first season together. Their classic positions, the way they look at each other during the skates, their fluidity together ... it was there in the beginning, but their work with Rene has really refined and brought it all out. I'm so excited to see how they develop.

 

[Tutto]

This interview ... I've never read one like it. One of the big overcoming emotions I have reading it is how grateful they both are, to each other, their coaches and choreographers, their fellow skaters at Boston, and especially to the audiences at Worlds and how they've felt so much support.

Misha bringing up how thankful he is to his former partners was really something special, and Alisa echoed him from her experience in her own way.

Secondly, this article spells out something I've felt watching their performances ... and that is their ease and authenticity together as a pair. Having those qualities brings something quite extra, quite uplifting, and quite brilliant to their skating. Audiences feel it. Jean-Luc Baker mentioned at practice, speaking of Alisa and Misha, how awe-inspiring it is when you see a pair who were quite good with former partners, but when they come together their skating has progressed to a whole new level. That is more than technique or individual charisma. It's creating magic.

As Paula wrote, "it’s clear that for Efimova and Mitrofanov, success isn’t just about medals—it’s about the connection, the commitment, and the joy they find together."

Fascinating that Renee Roca was the one who approached them about working together. That tells me that she saw and felt some of the same things, some of the same potential, that I saw and felt when I watched them in their first season together. Their classic positions, the way they look at each other during the skates, their fluidity together ... it was there in the beginning, but their work with Rene has really refined and brought it all out. I'm so excited to see how they develop.

^A beautifully written post, thank you!
I agree that there is something so pure, so genuine & endearing about Alisa & Misha skating that as Chris & Kirsten commented 'it almost goes beyond skating'
Alisa is a visual delight, her lines, her posture, stretch, well turned out feet and pointed toes, every position she hits are perfection. Only Sasha Cohen gave me same pure aesthetic pleasure of just watching someone move on the ice (or in the air!). I admit I tend to look at Alisa more, but just lately I began 'notice' more of Misha and I feel that he is quite undervalued. His posture and lines are very good, his camel spin one of the best, he is incredibly reliable - I don't think he missed a single jump this entire season!
Whereas he might not possess that star quality Alisa has but he presents her perfectly. Their unison is already good but in time, the longer they skate together we might be treated to something on G&G level...
I very much hope for two new programs next season. Renee must have some ideas already. I wish I could send mine to them!
Skating aside, I admire Alisa's linguistic skills - she is fluent in Finnish, Russian, German, English and also studied French & Swedish. I watched her interview in German (with Ruben) and though she was not that long in Germany she spoke with very little accent. Some people just talented in everything it seems.
First Minerva/Nikita and now Alisa/Misha renewed my interest in pair skating (I literally had stopped watching it for a while as there was no one exciting) and now I can't wait for the new season.

 

[skylark]

^A beautifully written post, thank you!

I appreciate the validation

I agree that there is something so pure, so genuine & endearing about Alisa & Misha skating that as Chris & Kirsten commented 'it almost goes beyond skating'

Absolutely. That was a great comment from Chris and Kirsten, acknowledging the intangibles that play in the figure skating game.

Alisa is a visual delight, her lines, her posture, stretch, well turned out feet and pointed toes, every position she hits are perfection. Only Sasha Cohen gave me same pure aesthetic pleasure of just watching someone move on the ice (or in the air!). I admit I tend to look at Alisa more, but just lately I began 'notice' more of Misha and I feel that he is quite undervalued. His posture and lines are very good, his camel spin one of the best, he is incredibly reliable - I don't think he missed a single jump this entire season!
Whereas he might not possess that star quality Alisa has but he presents her perfectly. Their unison is already good but in time, the longer they skate together we might be treated to something on G&G level...

I completely agree with everything you said. And I remember that Katia was the "star" player of the G&G team too. Dick Button said just before their free skate at Calgary Olympics 1988 ... "And remember, keep your eyes on him (Grinkov), he always maintains the quality of the team."

I very much hope for two new programs next season. Renee must have some ideas already. I wish I could send mine to them!

I'd love for them to skate to Samson and Delilah, by Saint-Saens.

But I'm more in favor of skaters choosing music for their own reasons, their own ability to skate to it with emotion and fire, and their ability to skate to it for the whole year. In my opinion, judges very rarely penalize skaters for music choices that fans dislike. It's what the skaters do with the music, in that moment, that counts. Something about Je Suis Malade and that particular cover of it spoke to Alisa and Misha. If they want to stick with it, I'm for it.

Skating aside, I admire Alisa's linguistic skills - she is fluent in Finnish, Russian, German, English and also studied French & Swedish. I watched her interview in German (with Ruben) and though she was not that long in Germany she spoke with very little accent. Some people just talented in everything it seems.
First Minerva/Nikita and now Alisa/Misha renewed my interest in pair skating (I literally had stopped watching it for a while as there was no one exciting) and now I can't wait for the new season.

So happy for you! I'm also a huge fan of Minerva/Nikita!

 

[cailuj365]

^A beautifully written post, thank you!
I agree that there is something so pure, so genuine & endearing about Alisa & Misha skating that as Chris & Kirsten commented 'it almost goes beyond skating'
Alisa is a visual delight, her lines, her posture, stretch, well turned out feet and pointed toes, every position she hits are perfection. Only Sasha Cohen gave me same pure aesthetic pleasure of just watching someone move on the ice (or in the air!). I admit I tend to look at Alisa more, but just lately I began 'notice' more of Misha and I feel that he is quite undervalued. His posture and lines are very good, his camel spin one of the best, he is incredibly reliable - I don't think he missed a single jump this entire season!
Whereas he might not possess that star quality Alisa has but he presents her perfectly. Their unison is already good but in time, the longer they skate together we might be treated to something on G&G level...
I very much hope for two new programs next season. Renee must have some ideas already. I wish I could send mine to them!
Skating aside, I admire Alisa's linguistic skills - she is fluent in Finnish, Russian, German, English and also studied French & Swedish. I watched her interview in German (with Ruben) and though she was not that long in Germany she spoke with very little accent. Some people just talented in everything it seems.
First Minerva/Nikita and now Alisa/Misha renewed my interest in pair skating (I literally had stopped watching it for a while as there was no one exciting) and now I can't wait for the new season.

100% agree with this whole post!!

Minerva/Nikita and Alisa/Misha have re-invigorated my love for pairs skating. They both have old-school qualities to them. I find it fun to watch pairs again.