Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[LisaM]

I'm not worried, honestly. I don't think a photoshoot, with or without an interview could have taken that much time, and I believe they have one day off a week anyway so they could have done it then. They're probably drilling with Ryabinina, who's a tech specialist at the National level. They were in a good place a couple weeks ago, they'll be in a better place at CoC.

Oh I din't mind the photoshoot, just at what happened at SA. Idk if I have reason to worry (I worry quickly) but I do.

 

[Marta25]

Oh I din't mind the photoshoot, just at what happened at SA. Idk if I have reason to worry (I worry quickly) but I do.

They had much more time to prepare this season and it`s clear that they get a lot of focus from Marina. A lot of people complained about I/Z`s overscoring in Saransk, but it at least shows that they have the Fed`s and judges´support.

S/K had a lot of luck with their assignments, SA and COR are known for their overscoring and IMO the technical panel wasn`t as strict in the FD as in the SD.

TBH, considering how much more compex I/Z`s programs are and that they had lesser time to polish them, I wouldn`t be surprised if they don`t score as high as S/K in SA, especially since COC seems to always have a stricter panel. The important question is how far they can develop these programs and in that regard I/Z`s programs have much more potential.

 

[uhh]

I'm actually kinda worried. :/

I'm swinging back and forth. But S/K skating well got PCS that was on a level with I/Z's bad skate at Worlds with a bad program, and I see no reason for I/Z's PCS to drop from last season, they've improved in every category. The TES is about what I/Z got last week when they messed up the twizzles, and the SD marks are still a long way off what I/Z can do. Their FD is nowhere near I/Z's choreographically. They got a big leg up from skating 2nd last in the FD - SS improves by 0.6 since the SD, riiight, and they also benefited I think from the rest of the field being weaker; when comparing to G/P or N/N, of course they are going to seem stronger. Lets see what happens when they go up against more top teams.

The thing that does concern me is that I/Z have such hard GP events. If they get 3rd at CoC, (and they could feasibly outscore what S/K got at SA and still lose out to C/L and C/B ) I can see S/K getting more of a push at CoR because they'll have a stronger chance to get to GPF. But if they beat C/L at least, I'd think they'd have the advantage. But then again, CoR has so many good teams it's impossible to predict what might happen.

But all they can do is get their heads down, keep working and perform to the best of their ability in China. There's no point worrying about what anyone else is doing & I expect that if I/Z are thinking about S/K at all, it's just driving them to work harder.

I keep editing because I'm convincing myself more & more that it's OK... Lena is always always at her best when people stop believing in her. 2010 Nats, people said she should have lost to K/A, came back to overtake R/T at Euros to get on the team for Worlds. 2013 NHK was terrible, then wonderful a week later in France, beating P/B on home turf. Sochi when everyone said the mistake on the twizzles at Euros meant no one would take them seriously as no.1 over B/S. Foot perfect at Worlds in 2014 when it looked like her whole career was falling apart. And Rus was the same at CoR last year when no one thought they would beat S/K, he gave the two best performances of his career so far. They won't go down without a fight.

 

[Marta25]

I'm swinging back and forth. But S/K skating well got PCS that was on a level with I/Z's bad skate at Worlds with a bad program, and I see no reason for I/Z's PCS to drop from last season, they've improved in every category. The TES is about what I/Z got last week when they messed up the twizzles, and the SD marks are still a long way off what I/Z can do. Their FD is nowhere near I/Z's choreographically. They got a big leg up from skating 2nd last in the FD - SS improves by 0.6 since the SD, riiight, and they also benefited I think from the rest of the field being weaker; when comparing to G/P or N/N, of course they are going to seem stronger. Lets see what happens when they go up against more top teams.

The thing that does concern me is that I/Z have such hard GP events. If they get 3rd at CoC, (and they could feasibly outscore what S/K got at SA and still lose out to C/L and C/B ) I can see S/K getting more of a push at CoR because they'll have a stronger chance to get to GPF. But if they beat C/L at least, I'd think they'd have the advantage. But then again, CoR has so many good teams it's impossible to predict what might happen.

But all they can do is get their heads down, keep working and perform to the best of their ability in China. There's no point worrying about what anyone else is doing & I expect that if I/Z are thinking about S/K at all, it's just driving them to work harder.

It`s a pity that they got such tough GPs, but if they manage to beat C/L and C/B that will mean much more in the eyes of the Fed and judges than beating G/P. If it comes really to the situation that I/Z don`t qualify for the GPF and S/K do, I/Z can focus on Nationals and getting a spot on the Euros and Worlds team. The way Karponosov talked about both couples to Vaitsovskaya, it seems to me that they want a S/K and I/Z rivalry. I think if S/K are pushed it`s bad news for S/B, B/S and M/K.

 

[tulosai]

I don't think it's any good to worry even if we should... the focus for Ruslena just has to be on doing the best they can do, not on what other teams are doing, and I think that's where their fans focus should mostly be too- on their improvements and awesomeness.

There is no use denying that S/K have improved greatly or that they were scored very well here, and that going forward, unlike last year, it seems they are going to be a factor, both in Russia and outside it. I think their LP is horribly generic but it's clear at least most judges are willing to eat it up. But I think what they offer is just fundamentally very different than Ruslena. They offer the generic, man and woman, romantic pretty love story thing. Whereas Ruslena offer fire.

Also never doubt that Nikita will make some stupid mistakes when it matters- not all time, but enough of the time that it will sometimes impact the results and keep him off the podium at events.

 

[chameleon]

Also, I'm not even sure S/K would get the push if I/Z "only" get bronze at CoC. Last season it looked like S/B would need at least a 2nd place finish at CoR to make GPF and that I/Z had little chance to make it, and ruslena still got the silver and S/B wound up 5th. And B/S are likely to make GPF anyway, with the fields they got, so it's not even as if S/K would be their only shot to have as Russian team in the final.

I think it's also important to note that scoring tends to be relative to the field. S/K honestly had the best skating skills at SA and were very fast, which made up for the emptiness of their programs to some extent. That doesn't really work as well against teams with comparable or stronger skating skills, especially with more sophisticated programs. Which I/Z happen to have.

 

[Marta25]

I have no idea how judges will score I/Z vs. S/K at COR. The judges seem to love I/Z`s fire and if they had managed to skate clean, they would have been rewarded last year, even with the bad FD they had. I agree that they are fighters and they are not handicapped by bad programs like last year. Now, I`m curious how B/S and M/K will be judged next week in Canada.

 

[uhh]

Lol I keep forgetting about B/S. They should be 2nd in Canada & I've heard P/C are not going to be ready for the GP, so they should also win NHK & make the GPF. Hopefully with B/S to rely on the fed will not push S/K or I/Z and will just let the judges do their thing fairly.

 

[LisaM]

Lol I keep forgetting about B/S. They should be 2nd in Canada & I've heard P/C are not going to be ready for the GP, so they should also win NHK & make the GPF. Hopefully with B/S to rely on the fed will not push S/K or I/Z and will just let the judges do their thing fairly.

Oh that would be too bad for P/C But good news for B/S, they could use some luck.
Thanks for everyone analyzing, I think it's mainly because we haven't seen I/Z judged at GP level this year yet that I'm like ahhh.

 

[tulosai]

Oh that would be too bad for P/C But good news for B/S, they could use some luck.
Thanks for everyone analyzing, I think it's mainly because we haven't seen I/Z judged at GP level this year yet that I'm like ahhh.

Honestly I think P/C should sit out the GP this year if there is any doubt at all in their minds. I've read a lot of the articles about her brain injury and it sounds very serious. Better to just sit this one out (especially in a relatively unimportant year) than risk further brain trauma. I do think it would be 'too bad' for them in a way in the short term,but thinking about their long term plans and health this year should take priority.

Either way yes, if they do end up skipping TEB, it should be a slam dunk win for B/S barring a meltdown from them or a true shock from another team.

 

[Alba]

What, in your opinion, it should have been, for technique and component scores? (I really liked it, especially in comparison with their "Dark Eyes," but I can mostly appreciate only the aesthetic aspect of ID.)

What I know for sure is that no program which is new and a month old can be scored +70 with high PCS marks. There is simply no time to make it your own, to feel it so comfortable, in order to get those marks. Those marks it's like saying there is no need for improvement which is not true, unless they intend to give them +76 or +78 as the season goes. I don't like their new SD, and this is my personal opinion, because I hate anything that comes out from Bocelli's mouth but I couldn't imagine that he was gonna be the best part of their program. It was the Unchained Melody which really killed me. I simply couldn't handle it. Cheesy to death. Yikes. They are in their comfort zone though. Les Mis, An American in Paris and now this, it's all about the same. It looks like one program.

 

[Marta25]

SA was really a high-scoring event. S/B won the Bronze at last year`s SA with a Total of 143.87. This year they would have been 5th. Now, I`m looking forward to SC and if these high scores will continue

I`ve to be honest. C/B never were one of my favorite teams. For me, there is nothing that stands out besides of having a coach who knows how to work the scoring system. I don`t see any chemistry, fire or even the attempt to create interesting programs. I think C/B are very result-oriented and just do what they need to do to win. Even if they become World and Olympic Champion, I think a team like I/Z will be remembered more than them, because unlike C/B people feel an emotional connection with I/Z.

 

[bramweld]

Why worry? No matter what happens on the GP for I/Z what is crucial is developing their craft. The race to 2018 is a marathon, not a sprint. They have prepared admirably given the little time they've had. They've also performed their programs twice, each time showing marked improvement for very sophisticated and dynamic programs.

Nikita's lack of interest in Lena even from the Olympic season, is proof as to why comparing these new teams with them is pointless. As Pechalat said previously everyone and their grandmother knew that Nikita was planning to dump Lena. I say this to say we might as well just forget about the past and the many snarky comments that will ensue in some quarters. Because as WeakAnkles, pointed out many times, I/K were not a team! I/Z are and an extraordinary one at that. S/K is just one of the many teams they need to learn to contend with if they want to have a shot at gold medals. Why worry when you can pray, I always say Oh yeah, and work like beasts Rarrrrr!!!

 

[tulosai]

Why worry? No matter what happens on the GP for I/Z what is crucial is developing their craft. The race to 2018 is a marathon, not a sprint. They have prepared admirably given the little time they've had. They've also performed their programs twice, each time showing marked improvement for very sophisticated and dynamic programs.

Nikita's lack of interest in Lena even from the Olympic season, is proof as to why comparing these new teams with them is pointless. As Pechalat said previously everyone and their grandmother knew that Nikita was planning to dump Lena. I say this to say we might as well just forget about the past and the many snarky comments that will ensue in some quarters. Because as WeakAnkles, pointed out many times, I/K were not a team! I/Z are and an extraordinary one at that. S/K is just one of the many teams they need to learn to contend with if they want to have a shot at gold medals. Why worry when you can pray, I always say Oh yeah, and work like beasts Rarrrrr!!!

 

[Alba]

S/K is just one of the many teams they need to learn to contend with if they want to have a shot at gold medals.

100 times this. :thumbsup:

I'm getting a bit fed up actually that even here, in this topic, there is often a little trust shown towards IZ. Few weeks ago it was all about BS, now the worry has shifted to S&K. What's next, should we be worried about SB, MK, ZG, YM, everybody? Don't we see IZ skating and their programs? Is it possible to have such little faith in these two. Why worry about what SK or BS does and not what CB, WP or PC do for example? Why are we still stuck in the past and fake drama? It's becoming really boring.

 

[Marta25]

100 times this. :thumbsup:

I'm getting a bit fed up actually that even here, in this topic, there is often a little trust shown towards IZ. Few weeks ago it was all about BS, now the worry has shifted to S&K. What's next, should we be worried about SB, MK, ZG, YM, everybody? Don't we see IZ skating and their programs? Is it possible to have such little faith in these two. Why worry about what SK or BS does and not what CB, WP or PC do for example? Why are we still stuck in the past and fake drama? It's becoming really boring.

I think the reason why people react so sensitive towards B/S and S/K is that they fear the Russian Fed won`t support I/Z as Russia`s #1 and will chose S/K or B/S over them. Besides that, Zueva and Zhulin have a stronger political pull with the international judges than Kustarova, who still has to prove that she can bring a couple on the World`s or Olympic podium. I hope that I/Z`s superior skating skills and programs will win the international judges over.

 

[MK's Winter]

So I am an awesome mom and took my older kids to a haunted Assylum last night and did not watch ice dance.

I did follow the results and watched the top 2 after coffee and nicotine. I don't know why there is worry. We watched Marina try to turn C/L into the Diet Coke of Tessa and Scott. Sinitsina and Katasalopov are the Coke Zero of that in terms of campiness. I can be dramatic and kiss my husband too. While they have improved there is still much to work on. I found it off putting that Nikita has to start his twizzles 2 feet behind Vika in order to twizzle with her and still finish ahead of her. That was the first set, and he stays ahead of her for the next two sets. They are still masking Vika's lack of edges. The music cuts are ehh. This is not a program of substance but pretty points.

I am not worried about COC. The judges placed I/Z above C/L at Euros and we're ready to make them silver medalist based on the fact that I/Z were stronger skaters even then. I think Ruslena can beat C/B. The judges love their skating as does the crowd. They have actual edges, expression, and emotion from a place of substance. More importantly they have fire.

Keep on keeping Ruslenaiacs!

 

[Alba]

I think the reason why people react so sensitive towards B/S and S/K is that they fear the Russian Fed won`t support I/Z as Russia`s #1 and will chose S/K or B/S over them.

Why is that? That's my question. Why would they think that? Let's see facts. IZ got high PCS with a crappy FD last season, even when they made mistakes. They scored high in CoR last season (a part from the TES they got higher PCS than SK there both in the SD and FD) and they won the RN at their first season together. The silver medal at Euros it was theirs for taking. They were the ones to lose it, not judges fault. They had high PCS at Worlds also and could have finished higher if not for the mistake in the FD. They god the B competition they wanted and got big scores this season. The head of ID in Russia had only good words to spent about them and they got very good feedbacks from other officials, like Alla, also.
They have two great programs this season and have improved a lot compared to last season. They have not competed yet in the GP so we have no idea how they will skate and how they will score, obviously.

So, on what bases this conspiracy theory that the Russian Fed will not support them and they will support SK or BS over them comes from? Certainly not on reality. Why would Russian Fed will not support IZ, if they skate well? When did they ever did that with any couple?

Besides that, Zueva and Zhulin have a stronger political pull with the international judges than Kustarova, who still has to prove that she can bring a couple on the World`s or Olympic podium. I hope that I/Z`s superior skating skills and programs will win the international judges over.

Zoueva and Zhulin existed last season also. Pity their famous reputation didn't help their couples.
Let's have some faith and wait to see IZ compete at least, before panicking. And please let's stop with this Nikita story because let's face it, this is all about him and Elena. Some are more eager to see IZ win in CoR rather than win a medal at Euros or World, as some kind of personal victory of Elena against him. Well, IZ won over SK already at CoR last season. Enough with this story already because it's really becoming like a soap opera not ID competition. The couples involved are many, starting with PC, CB, WP, CL, BS (only because of their past because I have no idea how they will be now), Shibs (which finished above them last season). S&K are the last in that list and all we do is panic about them? It's simply absurd.

 

[Marta25]

Why is that? That's my question. Why would they think that? Let's see facts. IZ got high PCS with a crappy FD last season, even when they made mistakes. They scored high in CoR last season (a part from the TES they got higher PCS than SK there both in the SD and FD) and they won the RN at their first season together. The silver medal at Euros it was theirs for taking. They were the ones to lose it, not judges fault. They had high PCS at Worlds also and could have finished higher if not for the mistake in the FD. They god the B competition they wanted and got big scores this season. The head of ID in Russia had only good words to spent about them and they got very good feedbacks from other officials, like Alla, also.
They have two great programs this season and have improved a lot compared to last season. They have not competed yet in the GP so we have no idea how they will skate and how they will score, obviously.

So, on what bases this conspiracy theory that the Russian Fed will not support them and they will support SK or BS over them comes from? Certainly not on reality. Why would Russian Fed will not support IZ, if they skate well? When did they ever did that with any couple?



Zoueva and Zhulin existed last season also. Pity their famous reputation didn't help their couples.
Let's have some faith and wait to see IZ compete at least, before panicking. And please let's stop with this Nikita story because let's face it, this is all about him and Elena. Some are more eager to see IZ win in CoR rather than win a medal at Euros or World, as some kind of personal victory of Elena against him. Well, IZ won over SK already at CoR last season. Enough with this story already because it's really becoming like a soap opera not ID competition. The couples involved are many, starting with PC, CB, WP, CL, BS (only because of their past because I have no idea how they will be now), Shibs (which finished above them last season). S&K are the last in that list and all we do is panic about them? It's simply absurd.

I think partly it still has to do with how I/Z were treated after they teamed up. S/K got the star coach and choreographer in the US and they got all the attention from the media, so maybe people had the feeling that I/Z already started with a disadavantage. Maybe people thought that Elena got the worse package with Ruslan and Kustarova, although they were both handpicked by Elena. I agree that we should wait how the season unfolds and it`s too soon to panic. I think they Russian Fed wants above all a team who can compete for the OGM in 2018 and it doesn`t really matter who that team is. The Russian Fed adored I/K, but they supported B/S for years as #1 when it seemed like they were the more reliable team and more likely to compete for an Olympic medal in Sochi. Russian Ice Dance is going to be interesting this year, that`s for sure

 

[MK's Winter]

I think partly it still has to do with how I/Z were treated after they teamed up. S/K got the star coach and choreographer in the US and they got all the attention from the media, so maybe people had the feeling that I/Z already started with a disadavantage. Maybe people thought that Elena got the worse package with Ruslan and Kustarova, although they were both handpicked by Elena. I agree that we should wait how the season unfolds and it`s too soon to panic.

You have to remember that if Elena contacted Marina first, Marina would have taken Elena. That was publicly stated by Marina. Marina was a never a coach for Elena anyway. The fed was against the split anyway so I don't think the were for Elena or Nikita but Elena and Nikita. We all saw the fans at COC and Rostelecom, the people are behind I/Z. That's even obvious on social media. I/Z are over a year ahead of them. They are up against stacked competition because it's believed they are world contenders. One good comp isn't going to solidify S/K. It's going to take a season to work their way into the good graces of the Fed.