- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
Me as well. Ruslena for the win at Europeans! For some reason I can't get that excited about Chock and Bates. I liked her better with Zuerlein; too bad he wanted to retire.
I also love the I/Z videos with Najarro.
Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin
- Thread starter OrdinaryDreamer
- Start date
Me as well. Ruslena for the win at Europeans! For some reason I can't get that excited about Chock and Bates. I liked her better with Zuerlein; too bad he wanted to retire.
I also love the I/Z videos with Najarro.
Good thinking. Thanks. :dance:
I posted the video on Elena's page on FB, if you don't mind.
Of course I don`t mind :yay:
Ruslan should get a medal for his effort.I put all four videos together because I needed to see them for more than just a few seconds
https://vimeo.com/117081365?from=outro-local
He looked unsure/awkward in last two videos. But now I like his interpretation better than Elena. :shocked:
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
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Even if they skate early if they nail, I truly believe they can score 70. Their SD is the best out there Imo. If they nail with their presentation it will be difficult to score them low. If you look at the seasons best and take out W/P and C/B that leaves P/C and I/Z at the top ( I don't count senior B's, they are kinda lower bar) I/Z are now Russia's #1 and I think scores are going to go up. They had some time off and a good amount of training time, I think they will be fresh the second half of the season
That's what I think too. In anycase, all I&Z could do is skate their best and that's all I want from them. After all they don't have the power on the judges, but if they continue to give their best their day will come very soon.
I heard they will make changes in free dance again. Probably they are working on this. I wish they were working on short dance more. It is best short dance of the season, deserves great scores. Papadakis/Cizeron only favorite who have ready programs. Capellini/Lanotte's free dance even worse than before and Bobrova/Soloviev is out. I don't expect gold medal from Ilinykh/Zhiganshin but any medal will be great.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I heard they will make changes in free dance again. Probably they are working on this. I wish they were working on short dance more. It is best short dance of the season, deserves great scores. Papadakis/Cizeron only favorite who have ready programs. Capellini/Lanotte's free dance even worse than before and Bobrova/Soloviev is out. I don't expect gold medal from Ilinykh/Zhiganshin but any medal will be great.
Well, Kustarova said in an interview after Nationals that they would make changes on both programms. I think, that both, SD and FD, are maybe becoming a little bit too easy for Ruslena. I guess, the coaches didn`t want to overwhelm them with too complicated choreography at the beginning,but Ruslena are improving on such a fast pace, that they are already outgrowing their programms.
I don't think they will be skating in the very first group - I can't find the ISU communication now, but they've made changed so unranked teams skate first, then the skaters are split more groups than just top & bottom - I think they will end up in the third group of six, so it's not as bad as it could be. Plus the reputation boost of being National champs and known to the judges already will help - skaters like Lambiel had to skate very early when they came back from a break & it never seemed to hurt to much. I think if they can nail the technical side like the did at Nationals, and get 32+ in PCS (which they did at GPF with a bad skate!) they'll easily have enough to be in the final flight for the FD.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I think they should save the more difficult lifts for next season, but they could maybe add some transitions in dance holds in the FD and of course change that one weird transition you mentioned. Kustarova doesn`t seem to shy away from changes in the middle of the season. I remember in 2011 she changed Bobrova/Soloviev`s SD music right before Euros and it was very successful, since they won silver that season, beating the Kerrs and F/S.
Lol i thought i was the only one who find that lift awkward and it seemed to distract the flow.
And after that F/S retired and didn't go to Worlds..
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
I never got on the Madison Chock train. She has great presentation but I am not in love with the skating skills. I would also love to throw her skates out a window. I do not love decals on on boots, especial a glaring red heart. It drives me insane.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
I agree. No one expected such a rapid descent and it's been a pleasure to watch. I am sure more transitions will be added. I am curious to see if they add the swan lift we have seen them practicing on Instagram.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Yeah, I never got the hype around her. IMO, Elena is much more expressive and versatile in her presentation. But I also don`t get Chock/Bates as a couple, they don`t do anything for me. I`m also secretely hoping for the Gold for Ruslena, but for their first year, I will be happy with a medal of any color.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
I think they could pull off gold, it will be tough but not out of reach. I feel their only challengers are P/C. I am not impressed with C/L this year, don't love their programs
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I think it was a mistake to leave Shpilband and their programs cannot compete with the best in the world.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
I'm not sure she said changes about both programs. I think they were thinking about FD only. Besides, that SD is perfect, and there is no need to add more work where isn't needed. They "just" have to be perfect in the SD and that's it.
Ilia Kulik at the Olympics in Nagano as well. He skated very early the SP, and he ended up leading that night. You never know what might happen so all you can do is be prepared. :yes:
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There are quite a few people wishing for the exact opposite ( and won't let go)
