Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin
- Thread starter OrdinaryDreamer
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I don't understand all of it, but she talks about how they are really feeling the music now and skating with it.
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- Nov 12, 2013
I agree, let this be the point their confidence can rebound from.
I liked IZ's performance today much better than that in China.
But I am confused about you guys saying their TES being where it should be - I know nothing about technique and such, but wasn't there talk at the beginning of the season about their dance being possibly the most difficult one this season? And they're said to be good technicians. They skated the FD cleanly here from what I've seen, and yet S/K TES score is a little above them? I'd be glad if someone could explain why that is, because I have no idea. [Well, I actually have one, and that is, I don't recall as many impressive lifts and such crazy speed from IZ - but that of course is my subjective impression and perhaps hazy memory.
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They're able to handle that complex FD (more complex than either of them have done before imho) with very good expression, so that's very good to see. They started a bit tense, but it was very good after the first minute. PCS were too low, but it doesn't matter much, they did very well.
What do you think, will they do another competiton before Nationals? Maybe they should, to get a good feeling for the SD again. And they have to polish that SD. I think the twizzels are slower in the FD, right?
What do you think, will they do another competiton before Nationals? Maybe they should, to get a good feeling for the SD again. And they have to polish that SD. I think the twizzels are slower in the FD, right?
She praised them a lot and she said she had never seen Elena perform so deeply before, and that Ruslan is very reliable. But she didn't say anything special she wouldn't say about other Russian skaters and didn't mention them after they left the ice. Well, at least she didn't compared them to S/K whom she praised a lot as well and I'm very grateful to her for it.
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- Apr 10, 2014
Thanks very much for the translation, Tanka. :thumbsup:
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- Dec 21, 2011
Regarding M/K there is now a link saying she has an injured hamstring that was aggravated during practice, so they felt they had to pull out to maximize their chances of being healthy at Nationals. http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20151121/880681501.html
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2014
Hope she'll feel better soon. Thanks for link, tulosai.I agree, let this be the point their confidence can rebound from.
I liked IZ's performance today much better than that in China.
But I am confused about you guys saying their TES being where it should be - I know nothing about technique and such, but wasn't there talk at the beginning of the season about their dance being possibly the most difficult one this season? And they're said to be good technicians. They skated the FD cleanly here from what I've seen, and yet S/K TES score is a little above them? I'd be glad if someone could explain why that is, because I have no idea. [Well, I actually have one, and that is, I don't recall as many impressive lifts and such crazy speed from IZ - but that of course is my subjective impression and perhaps hazy memory.
There's a difference between a "difficult" program and a program that gets high levels - although it is of course difficult to get level 4s. The thing that makes I/Z's program difficult is everything that goes on between the elements; there's a lot in hold, or in unusual positions and they go into some elements like the 2nd step sequence from nowhere - that then makes it harder to do the element because you haven't been using simple crossovers to steady yourself & pick up speed. So sometimes their execution of the elements suffers, especially for me the lifts, which don't have wonderful ice coverage compared to other top teams.
In contrast S/K's program is much more open - so hand in hand holds, simple stroking between the elements, little attempt to show a particular style of dance or capture a mood beyond soft & romantic. Because they aren't trying more things between the elements, they can maintain speed & do the elements mostly more securely, and so they get higher GOE & then a bigger TES overall.
In theory the difference between the two approaches shouldn't result in a big difference in scores, because the complexity in I/Z's program should give them higher PCS than S/K, particularly in TR, CH & IT. But because of things like skate order, fed favourites, the need to get a team to GPF, judges being swayed by speed more than anything, the need to stay in the PCS corridor etc etc it doesn't work out like that. Sometimes they recognise the difficulty and reward it, and sometimes they just go "eh not as fast as other teams" and mark you down, and there is no logic as to which way they go.
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- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
And this is my problem. People are saying change the SD because the judges are clearly saying they don't like it. Well, what about the FD? Should they change that too?
And this is my problem. People are saying change the SD because the judges are clearly saying they don't like it. Well, what about the FD? Should they change that too?
They've had good PCS on the GP with Frida. Skating in the first group here, they were never going to get the PCS they deserved.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2015
This is not a light program that can be seen once and just enjoyed. This is a program that should be watched over and over again. And the more you watch the more details and moods you see and the more in love with it you become. This is how it goes with me and Frida. I am sure that if those 6s 7s points judges see it and have to be honest with themselves they will be ashamed of the marks they have given, and they should be!
Looking at both their programs with fresh eyes, my gut feeling is, they shouldn't change a thing. Their twizzles today were phenomenal. Their skating skills are extraordinary. They should be left alone to polish their dances. This is a very high quality, CREATIVE, UNIQUE couple in the making. Those bogus scores are just that BOGUS. :luv17:
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I think they will be up to 11th in the World after this, although they could be overtaken again by S/B & B/S depending on results at NHK & if either team makes GPF. As things stand, it's enough for the 2nd to last warm up group at Euros. If they are keeping the SD, I'd like them to try to compete at Golden Spin (entries are technically in, but they always change last minute) - a chance for more ranking points and also to build on the confidence they must take from today.
Either way they are in a far better position than last year. I hope they just go to Nationals and skate well there, then go to Euros and do nothing in between. I just remember how well prepared they came to Euros last year and I hope that it will work the same this year.
Ok, let me play devil's advocate, so don't shoot me please, I am just thinking out loud.
QUESTIONS: What if the scores are not bogus? Are we being objective?
Hear me out, I must admit that Frida is not getting as much traction with the judges as I was expecting and hoping. Even with not a perfect skate, I was surprised with a score of only 95 at CoC. I thought a not perfect Frida skate would score 99 or 100 and a perfect skate like a 103. But..... the judges didn't think so.
Here at CoR they skated the FD very well and deservedly scored 3pts higher, a 98. What I would have expected for a much better skate starting with 95 as a baseline.
Now the SD, at CoC there was nothing wrong with their SD. It was skated very well, yet only a 63.
The judges just don't seem to be clicking with IZ... and maybe the scores are 'true' and reflect their view of IZ this year... if so, maybe we should think about what it is that they are not liking.
Just some thoughts....
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
They got lower PCS than in China (51.34 despite having 3 points less in TES 46.12, than in COR) with a much better performance. Yesterday some of you made comparisons with their scores last season. They did get high marks for their SD, their best program, despite skating in the first group all the time and being in their first season together. For you that meant the judges do not like the SD. Should I take it now that the judges do not like Frida also?
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
If we leave out the politicking - and I'm not referring inside Russia only - because it's too muddy and complicated, and in any case we're just gonna speculate and go nowhere, let's say the judges don't like either of the programs. In that case I really don't see what can be done. I can see why people might not like the SD, I have no idea why someone shouldn't appreciate Frida which I think it's WONDERFUL DANCE! Low marks for transitions for a program packed with transitions? It's just LOL and I give up!
