I saw the Saransk free skate yesterday and loved it! The speed, the choreography, their expressiveness, and absolutely magical lifts – so swift and visually effortless, as if they were floating in zero gravity! And it’s a unique kind of program, which is rare in figure skating. But then again, these are skaters who’ve managed to make a unique program to Carmen – the most commonly used music in figure skating, and in their first season together to boot!
And the SD waltz is something I could watch forever. For all their non-traditional choice of music, the performance itself looks like a waltz etalon to me – romantic, light-footed, joyful – exactly what every waltz should aspire to be. The amazing thing for me is that I’ve seen literally countless romantic programs, including from some of the best skaters ever, and yet I was completely mesmerized by IZ’s waltz – I felt like I’d never seen anything like it.
So I’m very happy for them that they’ve received high scores for both their skates. As far as my impressions go, they’ve deserved every hundredth of it!
I seldom watch award ceremonies, but I did watch this one – I couldn’t miss hearing the national anthem played in the honor of this team for the first time and seeing them glow. And she looked breathtakingly beautiful. I’m glad that they changed to their SD outfits too. I wonder, though, what music was played, as the medalists were being introduced and took their places on the podium? To me it sounded like Star Wars music, but I’m sure it wasn’t that
.
I loved both their interviews as much as everyone, of course, probably for the same reasons. Elena’s passion for her work, reasons for her fascination with Frida, her take on her life, past and present, and the way she can stand her ground with journalists, while remaining completely charming. As I was reading this I thought that Frida may have been an unusual person, but I happen to find Elena herself even more fascinating, and if somebody some day makes a true film about her, it’ll be one of the most memorable films ever – except that I can’t imagine anyone else portraying her convincingly, even apart from the skating. So I’ll have to live with the images from this interview in my head.
Ruslan’s interviews were equally interesting. I had no idea he was portraying anyone other than Diego in the FD, and I wonder how he manages to impersonate so many different characters in the span of a few minutes. I also wish he’d share more about what Najarro had told them about this program that he just hinted at in this interview. I live for the day when IZ are interviewed by somebody who can match their intellect and maturity. Like Elena, Ruslan also has no problem getting his point across effectively, but politely. And his inner strength is so obvious in these interviews, from his conviction that it’s up to him, as a man, to seek compromise, to how he brings up his mistake in an interview on his own initiative without a second thought, just thinking out loud, even to his ready admission that he watches other skaters’ programs at competitions, if he has a chance (it’s ridiculous, but how many skaters admit that?), to his equal readiness to accept his partner’s creative ideas and a starring role, if it leads to memorable programs. (It must be the first fs program I’ve ever seen in which a man portrays a woman’s muse/s.) Also loved his description of what goes through his head when he wants to “explode with pleasure” while he has to stay completely focused on every detail of their performance to get top levels for every element.
And, of course, everything they’ve said about each other reveals that theirs is a real partnership in the truest sense of the word, as each of them complements, and supports, and fully appreciates what the other brings to their partnership. Together with their coaches and Najarro they do indeed make what sounds like a perfect team. And I get the impression that, for all of them, instead of thinking how great they themselves are, they think, “How lucky I am to be working with these people!”
Interesting bits from the other articles I’ve seen:
A article from the Rus Fed press secretary about the first day of competition in Saransk reveals a brief summary of the IZ’s short dance: “Two young people after work come to a party. Part of the time they spend with their parents and guests, and the rest of the evening with their friends. That’s why classical waltz gives way to rock. That’s why they have traditional costumes, although there’s the emblem of “Queen” on the lady’s dress.
http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/1309-mordovskij-ornament-den-pervyj.html
Ludmila Sosnitskaya, who with her partner Pavel Golovishnikov also competed in Saransk, said in part in an interview: “Today before the skate Lena Ilinykh, with whom we train in the same group, came up to us and wished us luck. Lena and Ruslan in general greatly support us, while we wish to get a bit closer to their level.”
http://www.team-russia2014.ru/article/22636.html
And from Kustarova’s brief interview: “If one compares the two beginnings of the season, this and the previous one… they are completely different. Now all our team is one whole unit. And with Ruslan, we’re all like behind a stone wall, despite his youth. In this season we already plan to burst into the ID world elite.” (I must say I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised if Elena Ilinykh had said that she feels with her partner like behind a stone wall, but I think it’s very rare for a coach to say that about a skater.)
http://tass.ru/sport/2356284
I also want to thank Alba and Chameleon for explaining about IZ’s twizzles and Alithia for lots of great pics from Saransk on Twizzle on Ice – and to apologize for such a long post.
And besides which there are some here on GS whose stamina is legendary.
He (they) love Elena too. He just needs more time and some medals from IZ to get over it. 
but I think there is a fine line of writing criticisms/opinions on a forum when you are a parent of a skater who competes against the skater your are criticizing IMO. I think I may just be getting my panties in a twist over that and such a trivial thing it is; I'm working on letting it go obviously.
