Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin | Page 358 | Golden Skate

Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

Well, if you ask me, I am going to read into the instagram postings... I know these are wild assumptions but since the Fed almost never does anything without reason, this is my conspiracy theory ;) I couldn't help but notice that for pairs, they first posted Stolbova/Klimov (the most probably 2nd place) and then V/T (the most likely favorites). Men they posted Pitkeev first then Kovtun... same thing, I think the Fed favors Kovtun over Pitkeev for the championship and they may go 1st and 2nd respectively. And then ice dance. SK were posted first and today IZ, I think the Fed could be favoring IZ as the defending champions after all and then SK in 2nd, which would leave BS in 3rd? Anyway, all three are going to Euros, the only question is who will go to Worlds, but Karponosov seemed angry enough with BS that they might actually end up favoring IZ and SK. I guess we'll see, it is one thing who Russia favors and it can be a different thing who international judges favor... it will be interesting none the less!!! Anyway, it's fun to extrapolate...LOL
From Karponosov's comments that's how I see it. I really think if everyone is clean it's I/Z, S/K, and B/S. With I/Z and S/K going to Worlds.
 
Well, if you ask me, I am going to read into the instagram postings... I know these are wild assumptions but since the Fed almost never does anything without reason, this is my conspiracy theory ;)

I couldn't help but notice that for pairs, they first posted Stolbova/Klimov (the most probably 2nd place) and then V/T (the most likely favorites). Men they posted Pitkeev first then Kovtun... same thing, I think the Fed favors Kovtun over Pitkeev for the championship and they may go 1st and 2nd respectively.

And then ice dance. SK were posted first and today IZ, I think the Fed could be favoring IZ as the defending champions after all and then SK in 2nd, which would leave BS in 3rd? Anyway, all three are going to Euros, the only question is who will go to Worlds, but Karponosov seemed angry enough with BS that they might actually end up favoring IZ and SK.

I guess we'll see, it is one thing who Russia favors and it can be a different thing who international judges favor... it will be interesting none the less!!!

Anyway, it's fun to extrapolate...LOL
:) it is! So with two countdown pictures to go the Fed will post a picture of Medvedeva and Tuktamysheva (or Sotnikova? Radionova?) soon, because they already posted a picture of Lipnitskaya. But what if they post a picture of B/S? :devil:
 
:) it is! So with two countdown pictures to go the Fed will post a picture of Medvedeva and Tuktamysheva (or Sotnikova? Radionova?) soon, because they already posted a picture of Lipnitskaya. But what if they post a picture of B/S? :devil:

Well, I think they will post another lady tomorrow. Because that is what is missing in the cycle.

Then there is one more post for the 23rd, the day before. For the 23rd, they can either post another lady, or they can post a general poster with all sorts of different couples and single skaters.

I doubt their final post the day before will be another ice-dance couple. However, if it is BS, then we'll know the Fed favors the order of BS, IZ, SK... which I guess wouldn't be the end of the world.
 
This is THE NATIONALS of all nationals, and not only in ID. :hap57:
Yes, ice dance is interesting, especially for fans of one of the top three ice dancing teams, and men are also interesting, as it should be such a close competition, but I guess ladies and pairs are the most interesting for a wider/international public, as the competitors in those disciplines are also the competitors of the highest level internationally (meaning, they are among those who will fight for Worlds medals, including gold).
 
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Fingers crossed for Elena and Ruslan. Normally I'd add I wish them a clean skate, but since it appears I'd jinxed them instead by doing so, I'll keep my mouth shut this time, and silently hope for the best. :D
 
From the posts of their vk group and Elena`s tweet it sounds like the whole Kustarova team are travelling today to Ekaterinenburg.
 
Been away for a while!
Happy with the draw. Wished they were later but at least they're last out of the three frontrunners :)
 
Been away for a while!
Happy with the draw. Wished they were later but at least they're last out of the three frontrunners :)

I think it`s a good draw. They are in a group with B/S and S/K, who are their main competition. Kustarova will have a lot to do though, all of her teams are in the first group.

Edit: This is the technical panel:

TC: Julia Andreeva
TS: Denis Samokhin
ATS: Kristen FRASER

Samokhin also was on the technical panel in Saransk and CoR.
 
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I think it`s a good draw. They are in a group with B/S and S/K, who are their main competition. Kustarova will have a lot to do though, all of her teams are in the first group.

Edit: This is the technical panel:

TC: Julia Andreeva
TS: Denis Samokhin
ATS: Kristen FRASER

Samokhin also was on the technical panel in Saransk and CoR.

This is a horrible panel. Why not bring outsiders like last time? Samokhin is not partial as we saw from COR 2015. I think I will tune in after the competition. Disappointed in the Russian Federation, given how keenly contested this competition will be I thought they would have brought in unbiased eyes.:no:
 
This is a horrible panel. Why not bring outsiders like last time? Samokhin is not partial as we saw from COR 2015. I think I will tune in after the competition. Disappointed in the Russian Federation, given how keenly contested this competition will be I thought they would have brought in unbiased eyes.:no:

I/Z had good levels in Saransk and CoR with the exception of the elements where they had obvious mistakes and the lift deduction was the referee`s decision, not his.
 
I/Z had good levels in Saransk and CoR with the exception of the elements where they had obvious mistakes and the lift deduction was the referee`s decision, not his.

Still the panel is incestuous. Given what is at stake I expected more objectivity.
 
Doesn't Kristen Fraser also have ties to Zhulin (if that is indeed the former ice dancer)? So you have a TS and assistant TS who are close to one of the coaches? I'm not insinuating anything, it doesn't have to make them biased. But the optics of it are unfortunate IMO: Stacking the panel with associates of one coach.
 
Doesn't Kristen Fraser also have ties to Zhulin (if that is indeed the former ice dancer)? So you have a TS and assistant TS who are close to one of the coaches? I'm not insinuating anything, it doesn't have to make them biased. But the optics of it are unfortunate IMO: Stacking the panel with associates of one coach.

Zhulin trained her and Lukanin before they switched to Morozov. I read on different forums, that Samokhin is close to the Zhulin group. I`m not sure about Andreeva, though. I just hope that the scoring is fair and all the skaters can do, is staying focused and skate the best they can.
 
The draw is good but I was hoping that they would bring in outside judges. But then again coaches have ties to everyone..
 
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