Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[Alba]

V/M actually received pretty good PCS for their Carmen. It was the TES that made problems, which a lot of people attributed to the absence of Igor after the split between him and Marina.

Let's not go there because I'm 100% convinced it was not about the TES, and most probably wasn't about not getting it either. But if I'm not mistaken at worlds it was the GoE's, which we know how they work when you want this or that couple to win or not. DW having a little margin on the PCS also (LOL) helped. But as I said, it's history now.

The one thing they have to improve are their GOE for their two step sequences, which are way to low.

That's exactly my point. Good luck with that.

 

[bramweld]

I hope they use this situation to their advantage. My hope is simply that they make the team to Europeans come nationals. If there's a fair panel and they give the performances they should they could actually make it to worlds. They should not give up.

 

[Marta25]

I hope they use this situation to their advantage. My hope is simply that they make the team to Europeans come nationals. If there's a fair panel and they give the performances they should they could actually make it to worlds. They should not give up.

They are both fighters, I`m sure they will give it their all.

 

[uhh]

The one thing they have to improve are their GOE for their two step sequences, which are way to low [...] because last year they were able to get a +2 for their sequences, now they barely crack the +1.

Which is SOME B****** because the second sequence in particular was stunning. Fast, complex, covering the whole rink, perfectly in synch, so musical... :disapp::dev2: lol I need to stop being angry at the judges who obviously were sleeping through the performance and pressed buttons at random to generate the score & just sit back an enjoy watching it.

 

[solani]

I've just read the lineup for NHK and the overall GP standings. B/S and S/K have good chances to reach the final. So let's say, if I/Z would have beaten S/K at COR the chances for S/K to make the final would be very very low. I don't want to assume anything, but this is Ice Dance. What I want to say is: stop worrying, their scores at COR might be low for not so obvious reasons and might have nothing to do with their future scores. I'm sure that the Russian Fed will want to send their best teams to Europeans and Worlds.

 

[Marta25]

I've just read the lineup for NHK and the overall GP standings. B/S and S/K have good chances to reach the final. So let's say, if I/Z would have beaten S/K at COR the chances for S/K to make the final would be very very low. I don't want to assume anything, but this is Ice Dance. What I want to say is: stop worrying, their scores at COR might be low for not so obvious reasons and might have nothing to do with their future scores. I'm sure that the Russian Fed will want to send their best teams to Europeans and Worlds.

For that to happen H/D has to fall behind S/S, B/S, C/B and S/B.

Anyway, it`s not the first time I/Z are underscored. At GPF where they had also a mistake in the SD, their scores were low balled in the FD. If politics are against them, there isn`t really anything that they can do, but skate perfectly. There is so much talent in this team, the question is how long the judges can deny them.

 

[bramweld]

For that to happen H/D has to fall behind S/S, B/S, C/B and S/B.

Anyway, it`s not the first time I/Z are underscored. At GPF where they had also a mistake in the SD, their scores were low balled in the FD. If politics are against them, there isn`t really anything that they can do, but skate perfectly. There is so much talent in this team, the question is how long the judges can deny them.

I highly doubt H/D will fall behind S/B and C/B. They looked much better than them at TEB. But who knows, ice can be slippery.

 

[Alba]

Which is SOME B****** because the second sequence in particular was stunning. Fast, complex, covering the whole rink, perfectly in synch, so musical... :disapp::dev2: lol

Precisely. There is always room for improvement and that is great but improve the steps compared to whom exactly? That's what I would like to know, for once. :sarcasm:

 

[solani]

For that to happen H/D has to fall behind S/S, B/S, C/B and S/B.

Anyway, it`s not the first time I/Z are underscored. At GPF where they had also a mistake in the SD, their scores were low balled in the FD. If politics are against them, there isn`t really anything that they can do, but skate perfectly. There is so much talent in this team, the question is how long the judges can deny them.

Yes, but at least one russian team will make it. And we knew after COC that this team wouldn't be I/Z.
I don't think their scores were low balled last season, a couple of little insecurities cost them and probably this whole Russian press thing about splitting/uniting again etc.. Judges shouldn't be, but are also influenced by things like that.
You could also say that P/C were underscored at the beginning of last season. New ice dance programs are a lot to take in for judges, complex programs even more so. I'm confident. Their FD could be magical by the end of the season.

 

[tulosai]

I dunno that I really buy into that judges were intentionally holding I/Z back so S/K could make the final. It's not a crazy idea but I think honestly that what happened is that the fall in the short put them out of contention plain and simple. Without the mistake I have no doubt the scores at a minimum would have been very very close.

 

[Alba]

Yes, but at least one russian team will make it. And we knew after COC that this team wouldn't be I/Z.
I don't think their scores were low balled last season, a couple of little insecurities cost them and probably this whole Russian press thing about splitting/uniting again etc.. Judges shouldn't be, but are also influenced by things like that.
You could also say that P/C were underscored at the beginning of last season. New ice dance programs are a lot to take in for judges, complex programs even more so. I'm confident. Their FD could be magical by the end of the season.

I'm not pessimistic at all about their season right now. I might be missing something and blissfully unaware of but I think they have absolutely everything to make the team for Euros and Worlds. However, I am disturbed with some of their GoE's both in CoC&CoR, and the PCS and I don't know what to think about it. Do they have to change the SD? Is that all the problem? Do they have time? Do judges like Frida? Was it really about the mistake? I even asked Pedrazzini in private too. I'm saying this because it's not like he told me any secret. In fact apparently he replied while commenting the gala but I don't watch the Gala so he got back to me in PM, but it didn't help solve the puzzle. :noshake: I guess we have to wait till RN but most importantly Euros. The only thing I know for sure right now is that I got the tickets.

 

[tvuckic16]

I dunno that I really buy into that judges were intentionally holding I/Z back so S/K could make the final. It's not a crazy idea but I think honestly that what happened is that the fall in the short put them out of contention plain and simple. Without the mistake I have no doubt the scores at a minimum would have been very very close.

Probably true.

 

[NanaPat]

I am one of those semi-fans who were mentioned in an earlier post. I became interested in Elena because of all the drama over the partner splits / realignments. In fact, that's what led me to this forum; I googled for information about the Elena / Nick split. I had a lot of sympathy for Lena because of the way things happened and was glad to see Ruslena do well last year.

I stopped reading this thread after the season ended in the summer because it was so full of "they should do this music", etc, and I never really got back into it (or them).

That said, I really don't like their short program this year. For me, the main (waltz) part is tolerable under "let's do something different so people won't get bored with all the similar programs", but the "We Will Rock You" part is just dreadful. There were other teams that took the "non-waltzy waltz" approach at the beginning of the year and then changed their dance when it didn't go over well with the judges. I think it's too late for Ruslena to replace their program entirely, but maybe they could redo the non-waltz part. Change the music, rhythm, etc. Don't shoot me. I wish them well; that's why I'd like them to change something that doesn't seem to be working.

 

[bramweld]

I am one of those semi-fans who were mentioned in an earlier post. I became interested in Elena because of all the drama over the partner splits / realignments. In fact, that's what led me to this forum; I googled for information about the Elena / Nick split. I had a lot of sympathy for Lena because of the way things happened and was glad to see Ruslena do well last year.

I stopped reading this thread after the season ended in the summer because it was so full of "they should do this music", etc, and I never really got back into it (or them).

That said, I really don't like their short program this year. For me, the main (waltz) part is tolerable under "let's do something different so people won't get bored with all the similar programs", but the "We Will Rock You" part is just dreadful. There were other teams that took the "non-waltzy waltz" approach at the beginning of the year and then changed their dance when it didn't go over well with the judges. I think it's too late for Ruslena to replace their program entirely, but maybe they could redo the non-waltz part. Change the music, rhythm, etc. Don't shoot me. I wish them well; that's why I'd like them to change something that doesn't seem to be working.

It's a bit too late to make drastic changes given the quality of competition at RN. They can chalk this season up to experience. They need to polish their programs and skate clean. That's all they can realistically do to finish well this season.

On another note, I love their SD just the way it is. They just have to skate it the way they did at COR without the fall.

EDIT: Elena's beautiful balletic line is in full display in this fan cam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=tpuSVwReRxM

For those who believe we're just talking smack about the unbalanced support for S/K and I/Z take a look at how chummy G. Karpanosov is with Zueva. I love how Elena just walks right past them though as if she couldn't care less. I think I'm gonna adapt the same attitude no matter how they're scored. Ha...this girl has pluck. Love her more.

 

[Marta25]

Skating can be so unpredictable. Maybe the Russian Fed thinks that S/K are their best bet. We don't know. It doesn't mean that Ruslena are doomed forever.

 

[bramweld]

Skating can be so unpredictable. Maybe the Russian Fed thinks that S/K are their best bet. We don't know. It doesn't mean that Ruslena are doomed forever.

Oh no I don't feel that way at all. In fact I think it could work out all the better this way. Just saying that a TEAM HEAD COACH should at least give the appearance of being equally invested in all Russian teams. Because as you said skating is unpredictable.

 

[Alba]

Oh no I don't feel that way at all. In fact I think it could work out all the better this way. Just saying that a TEAM HEAD COACH should at least give the appearance of being equally invested in all Russian teams. Because as you said skating is unpredictable.

TBH I saw nothing wrong in that video. Zueva talking with Gennady it's normal, and it was a second we saw. It is his job. I'm sure he speaks with all coaches and check on all skaters.

 

[bramweld]

TBH I saw nothing wrong in that video. Zouva talking with Gennady normally and it was a second we saw. It is his job. I'm sure He speaks with all coaches and check on all skaters.

One would hope so. But in the end, as I said before it doesn't really matter.

 

[tulosai]

TBH I saw nothing wrong in that video. Zouva talking with Gennady normally and it was a second we saw. It is his job. I'm sure He speaks with all coaches and check on all skaters.

I agree. To be honest something I don't like about this thread is the frequency with which 'conspiracy theories' pop up, when in reality, there are usually simpler and more realistic explanations which, because they are the obvious explanation, are probably the right one until we start seeing actual, consistent evidence to the contrary. Of course some of these theories might in the end be true, since ice dancing is still partly political, but it's not really necessary to cry corruption at every little thing. Like Alba says, it's Gennady's job to speak with the coaches, and all the coaches should in fact seek him out to speak to him- Zoueva was just doing her job too. Moreover all these people know each other and most of them are, if not friends, on friendly terms. It's natural they should speak to one another sometimes for that reason as well. If anything, Ruslena's team should be seeking him out like Zoueva is (and honestly, I'm sure they probably are, we just don't have it on camera right now). If they are not and I'm wrong then they are doing something wrong and need to get on that. But yeah, not every conversations should or needs to be analysed to death, of course these people talk, we all know that.

 

[tvuckic16]

TBH I saw nothing wrong in that video. Zouva talking with Gennady normally and it was a second we saw. It is his job. I'm sure He speaks with all coaches and check on all skaters.

I agree. Seems like a normal interaction at what is essentially for them a business conference.