Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[Alba]

What makes me a little sad is the tepid reaction I/Z got from these experts from day one. They have huge potential and their Frida is amazing, but with the exception of Averbukh, nobody is publicly acknowledging it.

I'm not sure this is quite correct. Maybe I've missed somebody's comments but as far as I know the only experts that have spoken about the programs in general were Tarasova and Ilya till now and they both spoke very well. Granted, TAT is singing a different tune now but that's TAT for you. Next time if IZ skates well or win she will be like: Who me?! :scratch3::roll5:I was the first to say this program is a masterpiece.
The rest were the media, Simonenko and Vaicht., and they were very good with IZ and their programs. Even at CoC they were very warm and Simonenko even got angry with their scores after the SD, or so I'm told.
Gennady Karponosov also spoke very well. Maybe not directly so in public but Vaitch brought his words in August and if she did that I think she had his permission to do so.

 

[tvuckic16]

I wouldn't worry about it so. This is just how it is in Russian ID, the kids are used to it. There are certain prejudices and cliques that you can do nothing about. These things are beyond their control, what they can control is how they skate. They need to just focus on what they can do. Because the PR Zueva S/K campaign is going to hit high gear in about eight days. You see how quiet Zhulin and Kustarova are? In my wildest dreams the teams going forward are B/S, I/Z and S/B. Maybe that might teach them to have a bit more respect for fellow Russian teams. Did you not see the look of disgust when Bukin performed at test skates. Did you not see that those two (S/B) took back their split lift and used it a great effect to close their FD? It's going to be a blood bath come nationals, I'd say.

Sorry, but I cannot support any idea where SB go forward... LOL... I just don't like them as a team. I would rather have SK instead of SB, honestly I think SK are better... I know SB are seen as the up and coming kids but to me they are just not of that caliber as the other three pairs. Not that they are bad, but just not as good as the others... The only younger pair that is a good enough team to achieve good standings in the future are YM, assuming YM progress as planned. To me SB and MK just don't have it.

Anyway, Russian politics are always very interesting, so you never know what is going to happen, but if I had my say in terms of merit, I would say Russian Nationals is IZ, BS/SK (top three) and SB/YM 4th and then MK.

 

[tashata]

I'm not sure this is quite correct. Maybe I've missed somebody's comments but as far as I know the only experts that have spoken about the programs in general were Tarasova and Ilya till now and they both spoke very well. Granted, TAT is singing a different tune now but that's TAT for you. Next time if IZ skates well or win she will be like: Who me?! :scratch3::roll5:I was the first to say this program is a masterpiece.
The rest were the media, Simonenko and Vaicht., and they were very good with IZ and their programs. Even at CoC they were very warm and Simonenko even got angry with their scores after the SD, or so I'm told.
Gennady Karponosov also spoke very well. Maybe not directly so in public but Vaitch brought his words in August and if she did that I think she had his permission to do so.

Alba, you are right. Russian press was suprisingly positive after CoC, not only Simonenko and Vaicht, there were some other articles and all of them were OK.
To me TAT's words are not about the programs, but about performing. IZ said earlier in their interview that they were too nervous and we know why it happened. And I'm sure she was aware of that situation, she could mentioned about it, but she didn't and we can guess what stands behind that.

Thank you for welcoming me here

 

[Alba]

nothing too harsh, just realistic about where they are in their preparation.

I had little doubt and she praised the program so why try and make it look like she said something bad about it? Your hate towards Elena is so big that makes you even "forget" your own language?
Has she killed your puppies or something?

 

[MK's Winter]

I am taking Tat's comments with a grain of salt. Watch Ruslena be fantastic at Rostelecom and she will be in the press like "I knew it at all along". She really only touched on the performance aspect, which even we as fans know they can be better. We finished 4th at China last year and took bronze here so I take that as a positive. They will work hard these next 2 weeks and show up strong, they did last year and I think they got the nerves out. Onward and up!

 

[tulosai]

I am taking Tat's comments with a grain of salt. Watch Ruslena be fantastic at Rostelecom and she will be in the press like "I knew it at all along". She really only touched on the performance aspect, which even we as fans know they can be better. We finished 4th at China last year and took bronze here so I take that as a positive. They will work hard these next 2 weeks and show up strong, they did last year and I think they got the nerves out. Onward and up!

Yes onward and up!! I am already excited to see them again!

 

[cathlen]

Well, Polish ES comentators really liked Frida program and were praising Ruslena for their performance The also said the program has the potential to be better, and I totally agree with them :yes: But what I liked the most is that they did acknowledge Rusena as one of the top Ice Dance team :agree:

 

[Wanted girl]

Aleksander Gorshkov about I/Z (and other dancers) at CoC:
"It's only the beginning of the season, we have 5 months before World Championship. Our dancers (Elena&Ruslan) was trying hard to skate well, but they are still not in their best shape. They changed their dance(?), showed an interesting program. Tried hard, but had some small mistakes, for example, on the first lift.
Americans were technically good, but their program is not the best choice. The winners have a very lovely dance, and they also were clean and consistent"
http://www.stadium.ru/news/08-11-20...slednee-tri-nagradi-rossiyan-na-pekinskom-ldu

And Karponosov about I/Z:
"This year Elena and Ruslan became a real pair after their injury (psychological I guess). They have chosen a very professional choreographer, Antonio Najarro, to work with them for the second time. Their dance is very unusual for modern ice dance as it's more theatrical. I hope that ambitious Elena and Ruslan will be successful this season. All our dance team, not only them, have improved this season."
http://stadium.ru/news/06-11-2015-etap-gran-pri-cup-of-chine-chto-jdat-ot-rossiiskih-figuristov

 

[bramweld]

Aleksander Gorshkov about I/Z (and other dancers) at CoC:
"It's only the beginning of the season, we have 5 months before World Championship. Our dancers (Elena&Ruslan) was trying hard to skate well, but they are still not in their best shape. They changed their dance(?), showed an interesting program. Tried hard, but had some small mistakes, for example, on the first lift.
Americans were technically good, but their program is not the best choice. The winners have a very lovely dance, and they also were clean and consistent"
http://www.stadium.ru/news/08-11-20...slednee-tri-nagradi-rossiyan-na-pekinskom-ldu

And Karponosov about I/Z:
"This year Elena and Ruslan became a real pair after their injury (psychological I guess). They have chosen a very professional choreographer, Antonio Najarro, to work with them for the second time. Their dance is very unusual for modern ice dance as it's more theatrical. I hope that ambitious Elena and Ruslan will be successful this season. All our dance team, not only them, have improved this season."
http://stadium.ru/news/06-11-2015-etap-gran-pri-cup-of-chine-chto-jdat-ot-rossiiskih-figuristov

I don't think it was psychological. I think with all the hard work last year there was an injury ( overuse injuries maybe, together with mental fatigue), maybe to Lena and that is why they appeared a bit rough at worlds in comparison to EC. By the time they went to WTT she/they looked to be in better shape. That is what so infuriated me when Besti and Stavisky were criticizing her weight, I knew something had to be up. These two are fighters and they know how to suck it up. Love them even more after hearing this. Confirmed some of my suspicions.

 

[Wanted girl]

I don't think it was psychological. I think with all the hard work last year there was an injury, maybe to Lena and that is why they appeared a bit rough at worlds in comparison to EC. By the time they went to WTT she/they looked to be in better shape. That is what so infuriated me when Besti and Stavisky were criticizing her weight, I knew something had to be up. These two are fighters and they know how to suck it up. Love them even more after hearing this. Confirmed some of my suspicions.

But there wasn't any other information about her injury. Maybe it is my fault and I didn't translate this part correctly, but Karponosov said that they both have "an injury". He also may just called the whole situation with the split as "injury".

 

[surimi]

Well, Polish ES comentators really liked Frida program and were praising Ruslena for their performance The also said the program has the potential to be better, and I totally agree with them :yes: But what I liked the most is that they did acknowledge Rusena as one of the top Ice Dance team :agree:

You're lucky! Our commentator is in the Nikita camp, sadly. One of the folks who still bring up the split almost two years later, ugh. Wish I could hear what your folks said about Ruslena since that would combine my two hobbies, but I doubt I'd find a ES video on them in Polish online. :/

Uh, it's not even a week and I'm missing seeing these two already...

 

[bramweld]

You're lucky! Our commentator is in the Nikita camp, sadly. One of the folks who still bring up the split almost two years later, ugh. Wish I could hear what your folks said about Ruslena since that would combine my two hobbies, but I doubt I'd find a ES video on them in Polish online. :/

Uh, it's not even a week and I'm missing seeing these two already...

Same here. They kept on saying like, "Well there's nothing particularly interesting about the choreography, its just some normal passionate dance" Then at the end they say "You can't deny the details and it is a beautiful piece" blah, blah, blah. You just want to say "Get over it already"!!! Appreciate each new team for what they each bring to the table, its almost two years now :dumb:

 

[MK's Winter]

Well, Polish ES comentators really liked Frida program and were praising Ruslena for their performance The also said the program has the potential to be better, and I totally agree with them :yes: But what I liked the most is that they did acknowledge Rusena as one of the top Ice Dance team :agree:

I can always count on my heritage to see greatness

 

[Kittosuni]

some IG comments says Kustarova's group will decide the faith of I/Z and Y/M after this season. obviously this rumors are just not true because its too early to speculate this things but its hard not to wonder what happens if Elena and Sergei skate together. Lol

 

[uhh]

Comments where? It sounds ridiculous & like someone making crap up. Y/M are very happy together - just look at Anna's instagram for proof of that. Elena & Ruslan had one competition where they weren't at their best, but now that means they must be thinking about new partners? :disapp: Please. There is zero indication that they are anything other than happy with working with each other, and are fully aware that being in a team means that you go through good and bad times together. Plus, Elena always said after last year that she'd never want to split up someone else's partnership. I could see one team moving coaches because it's hard to get all the attention they might want, but more talk of partner swapping is ridiculous and we don't need it here.

 

[cathlen]

You're lucky! Our commentator is in the Nikita camp, sadly. One of the folks who still bring up the split almost two years later, ugh. Wish I could hear what your folks said about Ruslena since that would combine my two hobbies, but I doubt I'd find a ES video on them in Polish online. :/

Uh, it's not even a week and I'm missing seeing these two already...

Well, they did compare Ruslena to Vikita a little, but I think it was the SD, where Vikita was in favour, but no stupid comments about split, it was all about dance And it was more about Russian internal rivalary in general (IIRC they mentioned B/S too). And your doubts are justified, as I don't remember encoutering videos with Polish commentary like ever

 

[surimi]

Same here. They kept on saying like, "Well there's nothing particularly interesting about the choreography, its just some normal passionate dance" Then at the end they say "You can't deny the details and it is a beautiful piece" blah, blah, blah. You just want to say "Get over it already"!!! Appreciate each new team for what they each bring to the table, its almost two years now :dumb:

Yes, well, at least they talk the dance. Ours brings up gossip as well, and always with Elena as the main villain; about how she was bossing her former partner in real life and the like! Forum trolls are one thing and I ignore them, but I hate this kind of trash talk from commentators who I cannot turn off without turning off the music. I wish they'd kept tabloid nonsense out of Eurosport. :ddevil: But every cloud has a silver lining: listening to this rubbish makes me root for RusLena even more than before. In my dreams, they skate lights out and make this vile guy and his likes eat their words. :dev3:

 

[Tex]

So DWTS had a Paso routine to WWRY this week. http://youtu.be/GAKlLCdYLAY I couldn't help but think of Elena and Ruslan and their version of WWRY and how they make it their own. Can't wait to see them compete again next week. I loved the beginning of their exhibition routine; they've got chemistry up the wazoo.

 

[Alba]

But there wasn't any other information about her injury. Maybe it is my fault and I didn't translate this part correctly, but Karponosov said that they both have "an injury". He also may just called the whole situation with the split as "injury".

I don't know about an injury last season either. Are you sure he said "injured"? Maybe he said they got hurt because of the whole situation of the split.

 

[MK's Winter]

I don't know about an injury last season either. Are you sure he said "injured"? Maybe he said they got hurt because of the whole situation of the split.

I think that was a Google translate mix up. I think it said psychological injury- meaning the emotional impacts of the split and having such a short time to grow accustomed to a new partner. That's my take on it.