Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[Alba]

I'm not Tanka, sorry Tanka for replying...
Vaitsekovskaya wrote that at the top of her interview. After Latvia with the programs already made they invited him to practice)

Oh thank you. That's not in the english translation.

 

[Basil]

Some were saying she was "fat" and needs to lose weight. This was last season after Euros. Fat...thin... a girl can't make all happy.

Never ever seen anyone calling her fat. Maybe you can give me an example?

 

[Tanka]

Really? I'm glad about it. When did this happened?

The interview has a small preamble that hasn't been translated by FSU.

"I met the Russian Ice Dance champions in Moscow: Ilinykh and Zhiganshin have returned from the camp in Latvia and are working on their new programs. They invited the Olympic champion Gennady Karponosov who is responsible for Ice Dance at the Russian figure skating federation to one of their training. After watching the new free dance "Frida" Karponossov concluded: "Last season I said that our couples will need one year to begin competing with the leaders. Now I see that I was right."

 

[solani]

I don't think this is about wanting to keep her and therefore make her happy. I think if Kostarova and Alexeeva don't like something they would say so. My idea is that sometimes even the most experienced people in the field needs new and fresh ideas. Working with new and different people - including choreographers - which offers you a new perspective helps a lot. Maybe they didn't have many chances before to explore themselves in that respect. Skaters who come up with ideas can help coaches as well. It's a collaboration and it's a creative work, not a school. Not every idea can be good but skater should never be afraid of coming up and proposing new ideas. You try something new and if it doesn't work, Amen. You go and try something else. Never stop or wait for others.

I agree. What I meant to say is that Elena is certainly treated differently than other skaters in the group, because she's coming from another group and she is a top athlete and probably her voice has better chances of being heard because of that.

 

[Meoima]

The interview has a small preamble that hasn't been translated by FSU.

"I met the Russian Ice Dance champions in Moscow: Ilinykh and Zhiganshin have returned from the camp in Latvia and are working on their new programs. They invited the Olympic champion Gennady Karponosov who is responsible for Ice Dance at the Russian figure skating federation to one of their training. After watching the new free dance "Frida" Karponossov concluded: "Last season I said that our couples will need one year to begin competing with the leaders. Now I see that I was right."

I'm so happy their program gets good comments from Karponosov. Can't wait to see it.

 

[Alba]

Never ever seen anyone calling her fat. Maybe you can give me an example?

I can give you three examples.

Maxim in this interview makes reference to her weight, when asked about his first impression of Elena and Ruslan: http://rsport.ru/interview/20150330/819203338.html

Rotislav Sinicyn here. Not quite as blunt as Maxim but they shared the same idea, or I should say visual, about her weight: http://rsport.ru/interview/20150328/818507531.html

and of course Natalia: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20150327/818296473.html

She couldn't miss the opportunity.

As for FS fans, there have been some comments about it but a very small minority and it's not that important really. Just saying that you can't make everybody happy. Some people will always see things as it fits them. You can't change that even if you want to.

 

[Alba]

I agree. What I meant to say is that Elena is certainly treated differently than other skaters in the group, because she's coming from another group and she is a top athlete and probably her voice has better chances of being heard because of that.

Sure, and maybe she isn't afraid of speaking about her ideas with them. Yulia as well came up with the SL idea while Eteri (and other choreographers) was against it. Sometimes it depends from the skaters as well or the relationship they have with their coach. Some might be too shy or insecure about their own ideas and give up. Some are totally dependent on their coaches/choreographers. Some too young to know. There are various reasons.

 

[alithia]

Sure, and maybe she isn't afraid of speaking about her ideas with them. Yulia as well came up with the SL idea while Eteri (and other choreographers) was against it. Sometimes it depends from the skaters as well or the relationship they have with their coach. Some might be too shy or insecure about their own ideas and give up. Some are totally dependent on their coaches/choreographers. Some too young to know. There are various reasons.

I/Z strike me as the perfect pairing.She's the creative mind, he's the one that makes things happen and gladly their coaches listen to their ideas. I agree that Kustarova never had such a gifted couple, technically and artistically. It's refreshing for a coach, it can give him/her a different working approach.

 

[MK's Winter]

I/Z strike me as the perfect pairing.She's the creative mind, he's the one that makes things happen and gladly their coaches listen to their ideas. I agree that Kustarova never had such a gifted couple, technically and artistically. It's refreshing for a coach, it can give him/her a different working approach.

I agree. I also think working with Kustarova has made her better. Elena has always had great skating skills but I feel she is so much stronger technically.

 

[Basil]

Hey, I remember two of those interviews. It's really bizarre to see Maxim bluntly saying that she has a gut, wow. However, these evaluations were made under impression after bad performance, which i also clearly remember. That's what some of them even say, "it looked like". I was also talking about fatigue, and those bad performances kinda prove that she was tired at the end of the season.

I'll be honest with you. I've noticed these changes when I realized that she no longer attracts me the way she did when I first saw her. She's also too thin/toned to be feminine, she looks boyish now. That's my male opinion based on the responses my male body gave me.

 

[Marta25]

I agree. I also think working with Kustarova has made her better. Elena has always had great skating skills but I feel she is so much stronger technically.

Kustarova`s teams had a few issues regarding packaging and choreography in the past, but she does know how to give them strong basics. We just have to look at the Russian National Team and how many of the ice dancers have worked or are still working with her. I`m just really excited for next season and the season can`t begin soon enough.

 

[chameleon]

You and I apparently are familiar with very different boys if you think she looks boyish. The only important thing is if she is healthy and in shape to execute the programs. Not to be rude, but trying to be attractive to you is not one of her priorities. Besides, everyone has different tastes.

 

[alithia]

Well I've seen things and things but that instead of skating I would be talking about male body functions I had never imagined



To talk facts, I liked that they didn't mention anything about upcoming competitions themselves and they seem to wait for the test skates first.I like how serious they are about everything and how they handle such things. Every thing at its own time.

 

[Alba]

Hey, I remember two of those interviews. It's really bizarre to see Maxim bluntly saying that she has a gut, wow. However, these evaluations were made under impression after bad performance, which i also clearly remember. That's what some of them even say, "it looked like". I was also talking about fatigue, and those bad performances kinda prove that she was tired at the end of the season.

Now let's be honest here, please. They were not talking about fatigue at all. Maxim saying she looked bigger than me. The other one she looks "big", "wide", same "weight" with Ruslan etc. Mistakes on twizzles and lifts has nothing to do with weight. Maxim more than anybody else knows this very well. These were very rude comments, especially when you think were made towards a new couple in their first season together. It's not fair criticism, it's intentional attack and trashing. Plain and simple. Coming from a fan it's nothing. Not nice thing to say but hey, it's not a big deal. Coming from "experts" and written in the press it's totally different.
I'm "glad" when they speak like this though. Usually it means these two are doing something good and some people are just s....their pants.

I'll be honest with you. I've noticed these changes when I realized that she no longer attracts me the way she did when I first saw her. She's also too thin/toned to be feminine, she looks boyish now. That's my male opinion based on the responses my male body gave me.

Well, that's your personal opinion/impression and that's fair enough. She looks stunning to me. So what? I don't think that's important. I like her as an Ice dancer, performer. I'm not marrying her. Maybe your "male body" has found out another dancer to respond to? The important thing is that your body responds to something/somebody.

 

[paravolar]

Maybe your "male body" has found out another dancer to respond to? The important thing is that your body responds to something/somebody.

Alba, you're my hero.

 

[alithia]

Well, that's your personal opinion/impression and that's fair enough. She looks stunning to me. So what? I don't think that's important. I like her as an Ice dancer, performer. I'm not marrying her. Maybe your "male body" has found out another dancer to respond to? The important thing is that your body responds to something/somebody.

I love you too

 

[Snow63]

Oh my God. I'm dying. This thread is the best, as always.
And for the record, my male body still likes Elena just FINE. Trust me

Edit: do not tell my wife, I'm to young to die!!

 

[Marta25]

Well, back to more important things than male body functions. I spend some time analyzing I/Z`s scores and went through every international competition they had last season. Nope, I`m not obsessed, just passionate. Anyway, I made a compilation of their season best scores for every element.


SD
Competition Element Total
EC NtMiSt 9,30
EC/WC STw 7,80
EC PD 6,94
EC PSt 6,77
WC SlLi 5,70
TOTAL 36,51



FD
Competition Element Total
EC RoLi 5,96
COR CiSt 9,30
GPF/COR STw 7,54
COR SlLi 5,44
COR DiSt 8,99
WC Sp 6,20
WTT CuLi 5,53
COR ChLi 1,24
TOTAL 50,20

What I found interesting was that their rotational lift was the highest scored through the season. If Elena was really so heavy, Ruslan shouldn`t be able to rotate her this fast. It seems to me that their problems with lifts is more a balance issue, which is normal for a new couple. But you can definitely see that the judges love their step sequences, which is good, because IMO it would be much more harder to fix their basic skating as we can see with so many other couples.

 

[alithia]

Well, back to more important things than male body functions. I spend some time analyzing I/Z`s scores and went through every international competition they had last season. Nope, I`m not obsessed, just passionate. Anyway, I made a compilation of their season best scores for every element.


SD
Competition Element Total
EC NtMiSt 9,30
EC/WC STw 7,80
EC PD 6,94
EC PSt 6,77
WC SlLi 5,70
TOTAL 36,51



FD
Competition Element Total
EC RoLi 5,96
COR CiSt 9,30
GPF/COR STw 7,54
COR SlLi 5,44
COR DiSt 8,99
WC Sp 6,20
WTT CuLi 5,53
COR ChLi 1,24
TOTAL 50,20

What I found interesting was that their rotational lift was the highest scored through the season. If Elena was really so heavy, Ruslan shouldn`t be able to rotate her this fast. It seems to me that their problems with lifts is more a balance issue, which is normal for a new couple. But you can definitely see that the judges love their step sequences, which is good, because IMO it would be much more harder to fix their basic skating as we can see with so many other couples.

I think their rotational lift is really strong, and fast. I always like the way Elena gets into it.
But it's interesting that their curved lift was best scored at WTT.I remember thinking it was exceptional there

 

[Basil]

They were not talking about fatigue at all.

I didn't say that.

Mistakes on twizzles and lifts has nothing to do with weight.

In general, weight is very important. Are you saying that in this particular case the weight has nothing to do with mistakes? What did cause them, then, in your opinion?