- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
I don't think Canada will put VM and WP in the same GP event. I think VM will get SC and WP will be assigned else where.
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Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin
- Thread starter OrdinaryDreamer
- Start date
Elena celebrated her birthday yesterday
https://twitter.com/Shindlerlist/status/726583929877180416
https://twitter.com/Shindlerlist/status/726583929877180416
https://twitter.com/Shindlerlist/status/726586651640750080
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Thank you
Nice to see that Elena celebrates her birthday with Ruslan. On a shallow note, I prefer his hair when it`s combed back. 
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2014
Thank you
Agreed
but seriously, how precious are they? All the chaos of Russian ice dance has made me so glad that they at least seem to be able to work hard to climb back up the ranks and, more importantly, that they apparently have a genuinely happy and stable partnership.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Agreed
After seeing how the Y/M break up went down, I'm glad that I/Z' s partnership is so solid. It would be so easy for her to call it quits and just team up with Khaliavin or Mozgov. Instead, they are doing everything to become better, because they are a true team and in this together.
Neither Khaliavin or Mozgov have the total package that Lena needs. Just looking back at Ruslan's work with his former partner, I think he has the goods.
Both Lena and Ruslan are extremely charismatic, and competent as skaters. Of course not everybody can say that he likes them, like with every couple, and some people may even want to like them but something holds them back for various reasons, past present, future, personal or not, but nobody can deny that they have the goods. Not even Zhulin.
So when you have the goods, you have the basis to work upon it. And if you are in a professional environment that can provide more goods you just grab the chance.
It will be very interesting indeed)
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I forgot to quote you . LOL
So when you have the goods, you have the basis to work upon it. And if you are in a professional environment that can provide more goods you just grab the chance.
It will be very interesting indeed)
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I forgot to quote you . LOL
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Even Zhulin had to admit that their skating skills are great
But I don`t agree with his assessment that I/Z don`t match on an emotional level. It`s true that Elena is more expressive and that people tend to look more at her, but IMO this is not something that would change with a different partner. She would outshine everybody, because she is just that awesome 
Besides, Ruslan is improving every year and people tend to exaggerate when they talk about his weaknesses. They have the kind of charisma that is just captivating and I don`t believe that she could have this magic with anybody else. A magic that is completely different to the one she had with Nikita.Anyhow, on the Navka forum they mentioned that Elena wrote under this pic https://www.instagram.com/p/BE7ML3QqBku/?taken-by=blackswanei that she would return soon to Moscow. I don`t speak any Russian, so no idea if it`s true.
Even Zhulin had to admit that their skating skills are great
Anyhow, on the Navka forum they mentioned that Elena wrote under this pic https://www.instagram.com/p/BE7ML3QqBku/?taken-by=blackswanei that she would return soon to Moscow. I don`t speak any Russian, so no idea if it`s true.
She said her friends won't be missing her cause she will be flying for important events (along the lines) anyway)
Zhulin is not blind, but still a person in interest.If he doesn't like them, well just don't watch them, it's that simple. But yes they have a sofistication, and a palatable chemistry he's not used to, his couple lack this. It's a different style, different kind of magic as you said. I love this kind of magic, it lets you do all kind of different programs.I can see them going from Frida to classical , from classical to musical, from musical to balroom. They are versatile. And expanding their horizons as well, constantly.
When pairs are like this I don't care about their placings, or lack of them for a while,everything will come when it's time.
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- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
Popping in to share Elena's latest instagram post about Anna Yanovskaya: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE9kt-pqBpR/?taken-by=blackswanei
Via Google Translate:
It's very sweet. If there's anyone who knows what Anna's going through now, it's Elena.
Via Google Translate:
It's very sweet. If there's anyone who knows what Anna's going through now, it's Elena.
Indeed. What a lovely sentiment. Lena, is maturing into a very classy young lady.
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- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Aww, Elena`s message is so lovely. Anna should just join Elena and Ruslan in Novi and try to find a partner in the US or Canada. I think her options in Russia are rather limited. Besides, Igor has so many skaters and knows how to put together successful teams.
- Joined
- May 4, 2015
What did Zhulin say, please?
His girlfriend is a Bolshoi ballerina? Wow! Who is she?
Indeed! Moreover, I bet the nobody in Rus Fed is impressed by SK's "breakthrough" into the top 10, lol. (Also can't stop smiling, as I remember Katsalapov's indignation last year over only 2 spots won for Worlds: "When has it ever been like this?") I was actually very happy with how the Russian ID teams placed at Worlds this year. I hope that the Rus Fed has learned a lesson, that the pro-SK sell-out faction has lost again, and that all teams will get what they deserve next year - not more and not less. It's a pity IZ had to leave their home city and the coaches who've made them the most exciting ID team from year 1, but I hope they'll manage to do it both ways: spend most time in the US, but also some in Moscow, and sit with both Shpilband and Kustarova and Alexxeeva in kiss-&-cry. Shpilband has shared teams with their original coachers before, hasn't he, since he's a smart man and undertands that it will only enhance his reputation. I just hope that the Rus Fed will shell out for regular training in America for them, like they've done for SK these two years, because sponsors don't usually pay for regular training, do they?Z/G aren't guaranteed anything. I could see them doing some challengers or a senior B but they aren't GP ready, a lot to clean up there. I also don't understand why they should call 2018 a wash and move to KAZ.. IZ will probably end up getting 2 assignments. They had a break out first season and had to deal with unexpected pressure coming into this past season, not to mention some (imo) questionable decisions made by Aleexeva/ Kustrova. They lived and they learned and have a power house of a coach behind them now. They will come out fine as they did in the 14-15 season when everyone wrote them off.
As far as the Federation goes, they watch SB get dumped internationally at Euros and Worlds. I have no doubt the RUS Nationals panel is salty. Even with error Ruslena have a higher scoring ceiling. I highly doubt the Fed will make that mistake again. After worlds the Russian Fed should have been embarrassed. Dance needs a star and they are currently training in Novi. Happy off season everyone
What's the non touch step, please?
But won't the same teams who go to SC likely go to Autumn Classic as well, to test their programs before GP?
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
After what K/A pulled with Anna and Sergei, I`m not sure that I want I/Z to stay with Kustarova. I know that we haven`t heard yet Sergei`s side of the story, but is the way they behaved so much different to what Nikita/Morozov did 2 years ago?
IMO, what I/Z need is a training environment, where they can prepare peacefully and I see that rather happening in Novi. K/A seem to be rather focussed on saving their school whatever maybe the costs.
IMO, what I/Z need is a training environment, where they can prepare peacefully and I see that rather happening in Novi. K/A seem to be rather focussed on saving their school whatever maybe the costs.
- Joined
- May 4, 2015
I've read an insider who knows IZ say at a Russian forum that Mozgov just said it was the coaches' initiative to cover himself, and this seems very likely to me. Firstly, Mozgov has a history of frequently changing partners, often for trivial or made-up reasons (he'd had 4 partners before Yanovskaya, so Popova will be his 6th.) Secondly, Mozgov and Popova were trying out on Popova's rink, not in Medvedkovo, and Popova's coach was livid when they announced that they would be skating with KA, posting an extremely rude post on her social media account. Clearly, it was Mozgov's initiative, and he and Popova must have told her coach or at the very least insinuated that they'd be training with her. Thirdly, why on earth would AK want to split a team that had been together for 4 years for the sake of pairing Mozgov with a girl who was 4th at Jr GPF and 6th at Jr Worlds?
It seems to me that Mozgov was disappointed with how his first season in seniors had panned out and decided to change his partner, yet again, hoping that he'd look better with the passionate Popova. Maybe the example of Zhiganshin who clearly looks better with Ilinykh than with Sinitsina inspired him. But Mozgov must have realized that his coaches wouldn't approve the idea of wasting 4 years worth of work for the sake of a 4-6th place finisher in Jr. So he first tried skating with Popova at her rink, letting her coach Rumyantseva think that they'd train with her if they decide to become a team. Both Rumyantseva and Popova must have been happy with this idea because Mozgov is a more successful and higher-ranking skater (similar to Sinitsina's reasons for splitting her partnership with Zhiganshin to team up with Katsalapov). But once Mozgov decided that Popova would suit him, he must have gone back to his coaches and dropped the bombshell on them that he's splitting with Yanovskaya and pairing up with Popova and wants them to coach him and Popova. Why? Clearly, he thinks that KA are better coaches who'll make him and Popova look well together quickly (like with IZ); plus, AK have more of a name than Rumyantseva. Naturally, this about-face must have made Rumyantseva very angry (not that it excuses her post IMO). And what could AK have done in this situation? I think no more than when Sinitsina decided to skate with Katsalapov, except that Mozgov and Popova wanted to train with them. AK may have tried to reason with Mozgov, but if so, obviously to no avail: he must have already made a decision. They could, of course, refuse to train him and Popova and be left with hadrly anybody on a permanent basis, but what coach would do that and whom would it help? AK having been in the dark till the last moment would also explain why they hadn't let Yanovskaya know ahead of time, so that she could look for a new partner as well.
My guess is that Mozgov's new partnership will prove to be no more long-lasting than his previous ones, and that consequently he's not likely to achieve great success in sport. So I hope that AK are wasting no time in looking for a new partner for Yanovskaya, just as they didn't waste any time when Sinitsina had left Zhiganshin and immediately began looking for a new partner for him (he said he was surprised by how quickly it was all arranged). TBH, I personally like neither Mozgov nor Yanovskaya nor Popova - I find all three of them rather vulgar, but I think that Yanovskaya is more likely to achieve success with a different partner than Mozgov with Popova, because she seems to be more level-headed and more likely to stick with her new partner. For AK's sake I hope she'll find a compatible partner soon. Maybe she'll even look more classy with a different partner, who knows?
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- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Hmm, I guess we will never find out what exactly happened. But your version would explain why Yanovskaya is apparently still skating in Medvedkovo.
Anyway, going back to Ruslena, here is a new pic https://www.instagram.com/p/BFAEj4YvLCq/?taken-by=ilinykh_zhiganshin_official
I love all the Novi pictures we are getting from them.
Anyway, going back to Ruslena, here is a new pic https://www.instagram.com/p/BFAEj4YvLCq/?taken-by=ilinykh_zhiganshin_official
I love all the Novi pictures we are getting from them.
@Spiral Even if it was Mozgov's initiative, that L/A were apparently OK with him basically giving Anna a day's notice, and not going "hey I'm not happy with this any more, maybe we should end it and look for new partners" is pretty unforgivable, and I 100% got the vibe that Lena feels similarly from what she's been posting and liking on Instagram.
@Marta25 I don't think Anna is still at Medvedkovo
She hasn't posted anything from the rink or tagged herself there for ages, at least the beginning of April when all this went down. And apparently this was all kicked off because she wanted to change coaches and try something different, so I guess it's unlikely that she's still working there without a partner.
So this all just solidifies my hope that I/Z do not go back to K&A - I'm still thankful for everything that they did for I/Z in the first season, but it's been time to move on for a long while, & they need a stable training group with none of this messiness.
@Spiral Rus's girlfriend is Ksenia Zhiganshina - she's Elena's friend, they were all over each other's periscope & instagram when I/Z were in Moscow. She's been at the Bolshoi for a couple of years & is starting to get soloist pieces, not just work in the corps. People have been tipping her as the next big Russian star for ages, ever since she was in the Vaganova academy in St Petersburg.
@Marta25 I don't think Anna is still at Medvedkovo
She hasn't posted anything from the rink or tagged herself there for ages, at least the beginning of April when all this went down. And apparently this was all kicked off because she wanted to change coaches and try something different, so I guess it's unlikely that she's still working there without a partner. So this all just solidifies my hope that I/Z do not go back to K&A - I'm still thankful for everything that they did for I/Z in the first season, but it's been time to move on for a long while, & they need a stable training group with none of this messiness.
@Spiral Rus's girlfriend is Ksenia Zhiganshina - she's Elena's friend, they were all over each other's periscope & instagram when I/Z were in Moscow. She's been at the Bolshoi for a couple of years & is starting to get soloist pieces, not just work in the corps. People have been tipping her as the next big Russian star for ages, ever since she was in the Vaganova academy in St Petersburg.
