Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[Marta25]

I genuinely don't understand why the fed completely seems to have dumped I/Z, and in favor of S/K, no less, who seem like a ticking time bomb. Is it purely because of last season's inconsistencies?

What other countries could they skate for, though? Since they're both native Russians, are they not?

Elena was born in Kazakhstan and Ruslan`s sister has German citizenship, so maybe that could be an option. I mean if the Russian Fed isn`t interested in them anymore why not let them just go?

 

[Marta25]

I'm starting to agree, Marta. There's no point doing it now because Olympic eligibility rules mean they still wouldn't be able to go to 2018 for another country, but if nothing has changed by then and considering Lena said they want to go until at least 2022, they should switch to Kazakhstan. They both have ties to the country and they wouldn't be left at home for the 2nd half of the season each year.

Few months ago I read on FSO a rumor that Kazakhstan made an offer to them, but most posters made fun of it, so I didn`t believe it to be true. But I do think that they probably would not say no if they could get a team that is able to compete for the top 10 at Worlds and top 5 at 4cc.

 

[Spiral]

Well, will anyone tell me now that there is no conspiracy?

yeah i feel the same. looks like this is going to be like last year's nationals I hope Ruslena can have a clean free skate tomorrow and get started on their Olympic season programs ;_____;

Olympic? When their fed doesn't want to send them even to Euros?

I admire their guts to skate such a performance in such an atmosphere and to give such interviews:

Elena: “I think I was unquestioningly our best skate of the season. We tried to add artistically. I want emotions, drive. And here there was such incredible support, the stadium was fully filled. We’re extremely grateful for such an organization, just fantastic. We very much wanted to please the audience with our energy, the dance, not to be obsessed with glazed over eyes.”

Ruslan: “We certainly skated well, at any rate, definitely not worse than at practices, and maybe even better in some respects. We paid maximum attention to key-points and elements.”

Elena: “Such a stadium is not at all inferior to those of world and European championships. I think for those who get to qualify for the world and European championships it’s a good way to test oneself. It’s an additional experience for all of us.”

Link: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20161222/1114130315.html
ht tp://rsport. ru/figure_skating/20161222/1114130315.html

 

[uhh]

@bwayrose7 the maddening thing is that it was ONE mistake last year, the twizzles at CoR, and then they were completely dumped. Even without Lenas trip on nothing in the SD at nats last year they would have been off the team because the judges were going all out on S/B (although their FD at nats was a complete mess) All the other teams have made just as big errors multiple times in their careers, but they aren't still being punished for it a year later.

 

[Spiral]

I genuinely don't understand why the fed completely seems to have dumped I/Z, and in favor of S/K, no less, who seem like a ticking time bomb. Is it purely because of last season's inconsistencies?

Money talks.

Elena was born in Kazakhstan and Ruslan`s sister has German citizenship, so maybe that could be an option. I mean if the Russian Fed isn`t interested in them anymore why not let them just go?

Rus Fed is like a dog in a manger here. They definitely don't want IZ to go to Euros, Worlds, OG, not from Russia and not from any other country either, of course. Why would they let them beat their preferred teams and win medals for another country in the process? The question here is: can they change countries, if their fed doesn't want to let go of them? And how many years will it take, before they can represent another country at the top competitions?

 

[Marta25]

They were written off the moment they issued the statement that they were going to team up back in 2014. Does anybody besides of Kustarova and Alexeeva really believe in them? Because the way they are treated doesn`t make it look like it.

And yes I know that they have made mistakes in the past, nobody is denying it, but should I really remind people that Stepanova screwed up everytime she got to skate at a World Championship? But all we hear is how they are the future of Russian Ice Dance. Should we really remind people that it takes a near miracle for Nikita to not screw up his twizzles? But all we hear is how they are the royal couple of Russian Ice Dance.

I`m already angry, I can`t imagine how Elena and Ruslan must feel right now.

 

[bwayrose7]

@bwayrose7 the maddening thing is that it was ONE mistake last year, the twizzles at CoR, and then they were completely dumped. Even without Lenas trip on nothing in the SD at nats last year they would have been off the team because the judges were going all out on S/B (although their FD at nats was a complete mess) All the other teams have made just as big errors multiple times in their careers, but they aren't still being punished for it a year later.

This 100%. And it really makes no sense from a practical standpoint too, because let's be honest, Russian dance teams aren't exactly known for being stable partnerships (B/S aside), and I/Z seem like the ones most likely to stay together long-term, rather than split when the going gets tough. If Russia wants to get back to being a powerhouse in dance (and with the upcoming Canadian vacuum, they have an opening), they need long-term teams with healthy relationships. Ruslena being out of favor seems staggeringly arbitrary to me.

I'm starting to agree, Marta. There's no point doing it now because Olympic eligibility rules mean they still wouldn't be able to go to 2018 for another country, but if nothing has changed by then and considering Lena said they want to go until at least 2022, they should switch to Kazakhstan. They both have ties to the country and they wouldn't be left at home for the 2nd half of the season each year.

Given all that's happening, count me in this camp too. There was a time when I'd have said the Russian fed could offer them much more political clout for the top events, but at this point, Russia seems to no longer have pull in the dance world. Honestly, I can't see it being any worse results than they're getting in Russia, with no domestic support! They're young enough that I could see them staying in through 2022, if they have a chance at results, and Kazakhstan might be their best shot.

 

[Marta25]

The new powerhouse in ice dance is now the US. They had three teams at the GPF this year, both Seniors and Juniors. Zueva, Shpilband and the Wheaton team have created a whole generation of great teams and if the young teams keep improving, I don`t see USA`s success stoping if C/B and the Shibs retire after 2018.

I just want to see Elena and Ruslan to skate in the second part of the season, I don`t care for which country. And funding wise Kazakhstan doesn`t seem to have so many problems. They have Denis Ten training with Morozov, before that he was with Carroll for years and Tursynbaeva is of course with Orser. They seem to focus the funding more on the few talents they have in order to give them the best training possible.

 

[uhh]

Federations can't hold skaters for long periods any more, they have to give a legitimate reason for not releasing a team, and it can't be "we don't want to". They'd have to sit out a year from their last international competition. So if they switched now, they could compete again from the end of November 2017. But they couldn't go to then Olympics, because you can't have represented another country within 3 years of the games. Plus of course they'd need citizenship for the Olympics.

 

[Marta25]

Let`s see what happens tomorrow, maybe there will be a miracle. This all sounds so insane. They go from one of the most exciting and successful debut of a new team to maybe having to change country, so they can skate at Worlds. This is a team that looked like potential World medallists already in their first season together.

 

[Mattieu]

Let`s see what happens tomorrow, maybe there will be a miracle. This all sounds so insane. They go from one of the most exciting and successful debut of a new team to maybe having to change country, so they can skate at Worlds. This is a team that looked like potential World medallists already in their first season together.

 

[Abraxis12345]

Here's what they can do to gain the trust of the federation: show up prepared to their Grand Prix assignments.

 

[uhh]

Leaving aside how S/K have also been a mess on the GP and entirely due to Nikitas own issues, not injury or illness like I/Z before SA, they are being judged on the skate here, not what was done on the GP. And based on the skates here, they don't deserve to be in 4th.

 

[Mattieu]

Here's what they can do to gain the trust of the federation: show up prepared to their Grand Prix assignments.

I agree!

I feel they are letting the Fed down by showing up under prepared.
There is only so long I/Z and S/K will be held up as Olympic, they sadly both need to up their games!

 

[Ares]

Shibs, Muller/Dieck, Muramoto/Reed are her main senior teams I think, plus Patrick Chan & then Nathan Chen part time, and several junior teams. Then she also works with some of the Chinese teams in the off season, and does choreography for multiple singles skaters and dance teams. Massimo Scali who is part of the Arctic Edge team is still listed on C/L's profile as well. I've probably forgotten other teams; she doesn't have the big stars like she did with V/M & D/W, but she still coaches a lot.

I wish the ISU did coach profiles like the skater ones!

Yes ... ISU bios for coaches would be great! I could only recall Shibs and Patrick Chan among seniors off top of my head.

 

[Abraxis12345]

Leaving aside how S/K have also been a mess on the GP and entirely due to Nikitas own issues, not injury or illness like I/Z before SA, they are being judged on the skate here, not what was done on the GP. And based on the skates here, they don't deserve to be in 4th.

They are choosing a team for Euros and Worlds and the fed, after the whole Kovtun and Menshov mess, want to be able to say they went with the Nationals results. Is it fair that they are manipulating results so that they can have the team they want? No, but if I/Z finish third and get left off the team, you wouldn't think it was fair either.

And as big of a mess as S/K were, they were still scoring 70+ and 100+ in their assignments and didn't lose a free dance to Tobias and Tkachenko. Nor did either of them look like they didn't realize you could visit a gym while your partner was injured.

 

[madison]

I know it's off topic, but i was wondering what junior and even novice Russian ice dance teams did you notice as having potential?

 

[bwayrose7]

Leaving aside how S/K have also been a mess on the GP and entirely due to Nikitas own issues, not injury or illness like I/Z before SA, they are being judged on the skate here, not what was done on the GP. And based on the skates here, they don't deserve to be in 4th.

This is exactly what's infuriating here. I/Z and S/K got the same placements on the GP: one 4th place, one 5th place (and SK were expected to finish in 4th at that second one but were beaten by Hawayek/Baker, who are US #4). Nikita's issues are well documented and discussed; one would think, if nothing else, the Russian fed wouldn't want to court further controversy, if they're going to play politics and favor teams.

But I/Z did skate better than S/K today. I'm not expert enough to say if they were better than S/B, but they do not deserve to be in 4th.

 

[Ares]

I would really like to witness progress from Elena & Ruslan in ranks but there's stagnation instead. They should be higher in SD. I don't understand that preference for Stepanova / Bukin in scores either with that corny dance. 4 points is much.

 

[madison]

This is exactly what's infuriating here. I/Z and S/K got the same placements on the GP: one 4th place, one 5th place (and SK were expected to finish in 4th at that second one but were beaten by Hawayek/Baker, who are US #4). Nikita's issues are well documented and discussed; one would think, if nothing else, the Russian fed wouldn't want to court further controversy, if they're going to play politics and favor teams.

But I/Z did skate better than S/K today. I'm not expert enough to say if they were better than S/B, but they do not deserve to be in 4th.

the same placements, but still S/K scores were higher on both events (IZ had around 165 and 167 and SK around171 and 169) and no offence, IZ here looked slow and heavy.