Thank you very much for the heads-up about the interview!
Went to check V.'s blog right now. No quotes yet. She only writes in an entry titled “News from the Field” that IZ have been asking her to come in for quite some time, but she was too busy with trips to cover other sports. She wants to warn readers right away that she’s not fond of writing about summer training because it’s hard to see the finished product in these training sessions. As a result, readers take a quote or two and run away with them, taking them out of context, exaggerating, etc., which leads to baseless high emotions. So she’s happy to do this interview for the reading public, but she’s not going to draw any far-reaching conclusions based on what she’s seen. She thinks that it will be possible to draw any conclusions only at the September test skates, and even then only initial ones. Incidentally, she herself is not going to attend test skates this year, because she’ll be covering another sport at that time (she mentions this in the comments).
Also in the comments somebody reminds her how she said before, regarding IZ, that a lot will depend on the 2nd year, on whether they’ll be able to keep the same motivation and dedication when the obvious mutual admiration which was noticeable both on the ice and during the interview will begin to dull a bit from habit. This person would like to know how IZ overcome the deadening effect of routine and how their feelings about working together have changed. V. replies that she also find this interesting and will definitely ask them about it.
Personally, I also think it’s too early to draw any conclusions about the programs yet, since their first competition is in October. Two months is a long time, and whatever state IZ’s programs are in now, I bet it’s a long cry from what we’ll see in Saransk.
Reg. the question, all their communications up to date make it plain IMO that both their motivation and mutual admiration are still very much in place. In fact, I can’t think whom else in fs I’ve ever read express such enthusiasm about his/her work.
I had to say being fan of Ilinykh is too tiring until 2014. Almost all music choices were bad (Agony Waltz, Ghost, Ave Maria...) consistent bad performances not only in grand prix but worlds, trying to copy other teams twizzles, lifts and musics, never trying to correct weakness of the skaters (lifts or dance holds) I don't know how I survived 2010-2014 area.
I was optimistic every time I watch SD. It was good feel, strange. It is like watching D/W. Free dances was bad as I/K, agony.:disapp:
