Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin | Page 335 | Golden Skate

Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

I just want I/Z to win it all, including OGM. Not out of revenge, but because I 100% believe that they would be worthy Champions.
 
I don't know people.

Yes, I think IK had an opportunity of a lifetime being handed to them in this new cycle... not that they would have necessarily have been winning everything like DW and VM, but I think they were solidly going to bring Russia to the forefront again... so, I do think they, or maybe Nikita, squandered that opportunity, but there is no sense crying over spilled milk now.

Now we have IZ and SK as a result of the split and neither are terrible, quite the contrary. Obviously SK were terrible last year, but seems like they have gotten their act together. IZ of course are IZ, they are very good.

Overall, I think both are in new, healthier partnerships with non-sexually harassing coaches (talk about a bad working relationship) and seem to be happier. That cannot be bad.

It is true that IZ and SK still have an uphill battle internationally, and neither are being crowned in glory yet (and are close in scores, in fact I think SK scored higher, but... different judges, so who knows).

CoR will be an exception obviously, it is in Russia after all, so results may be inflated for the Russian teams. CoR will be very interesting considering WP and CL will be there and it might take those teams making mistakes or some serious over-scoring for IZ to win, but I leave it to the Russians to figure out how they will swing that one. Personally, I think only one Russian team on the podium would be fair, they can't kick out WP or CL (if they skate cleanly) to make room for two Russian teams.

Other than that, on the international stage, I say, bring it on, it will be very interesting to see what Russian ice dance will be like in the next couple of years. I think there might be room for at least 3 Russian teams on the rise (IZ, SK and YM... I think MK and SB are reserves with not a lot of potential and BS, I don't know what their plans are).

... I think it will be exciting!!
 
Can I tell you guys how much I like the new emoticons, especially these; :bed::hap93::hijacked::ghug::otopic:. I think I'll try to use them more often.
 
CoR will be an exception obviously, it is in Russia after all, so results may be inflated for the Russian teams. CoR will be very interesting considering WP and CL will be there and it might take those teams making mistakes or some serious over-scoring for IZ to win, but I leave it to the Russians to figure out how they will swing that one. Personally, I think only one Russian team on the podium would be fair, they can't kick out WP or CL (if they skate cleanly) to make room for two Russian teams.

I don't think that any Russian team will be pulled ahead by judges. The Federation shows clearly that it's waiting and watching. New couples are still too risky to stake on, Soloviev is injured, other teams are either young or not experienced enough (or both). Russian skaters may have some small presentation bonus but the Federation won't interfere in place distribution this time, I'm sure in it.
 
I don't think that any Russian team will be pulled ahead by judges. The Federation shows clearly that it's waiting and watching. New couples are still too risky to stake on, Soloviev is injured, other teams are either young or not experienced enough (or both). Russian skaters may have some small presentation bonus but the Federation won't interfere in place distribution this time, I'm sure in it.

I have a good feeling though. Nothing about any judging but because Ruslena has such support from the fans and feel good when they are here. They can really make a statement with Frida here, as dance is so wide open at this point.
 
I have a good feeling though. Nothing about any judging but because Ruslena has such support from the fans and feel good when they are here. They can really make a statement with Frida here, as dance is so wide open at this point.

Yes o matter what I know they love preforming in Russia and that the fans are very good to them there, so I think no matter what this should be a good experience for them :love::hap10:
 
sugarpova jut posted thi in another thread but I don't think it's made it here yet: Lena and Ruslan 'dancing' on the ice after the CoC gala, with supporting appearance by Smirnov :) :love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__6d68GlVoA&feature=youtu.be
haha I honestly stated that I stole the vid from this very thread b/c it featured K/S :taunt::devil:

btw wow I'm surprised some tv commentators are on Nick's side (as per comments in this thread)... wherever I go online or not he's presented as a villain so I'm majorly surprised:scratch2:

Overall, I think both are in new, healthier partnerships with non-sexually harassing coaches (talk about a bad working relationship) and seem to be happier. That cannot be bad.
its hard for me to say this as a I/K uber but I start enjoying & seeing advantages in both teams more than I/K
 
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So, tomorrow they will have their first training at COR. I`m curious if we will finally see Elena`s original SD dress :biggrin:
 
Elena and Ruslan look so cute and playful in these photos. They are doing a great job of modeling because I want some of the clothes, and that's because I live in a semi-tropical area. I went to the company's website to look at the clothing and noticed that each of the pieces of clothing had a person's name. There was a pair of pants named Elena and pants named Frida too which is a funny coincidence. Drobiazko and Vanagas modeled for the company in 2014. This clothing company has really good taste in picking both these teams!
 
http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20151119/880329102.html
http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20151119/880331084.html

Interviews after practice
Everything is unclear about the tragedy in Paris regarding what will happen for GPF qualification, so they aren't even thinking about it. In any case, from Elena's experience getting or not qualifying to the finals doesn't always necessarily mean good or bad things for the rest of the season.
Glad to have strong competition in Moscow. Their task is always the same; to show clean & well skated programs, demonstrate the work that has been done over the summer and that they have been making progress. Reflecting on China they know they didn't show the quality that they had been producing in practice, but still in relation to what they had done the previous year there was improvement
They are coming to this event with a positive attitude. They've had a week to work on things since China & they love to skate in Moscow. Even just seeing the banners in training today is good. There is great support for them, but also for all the Russian athletes because it's a country that loves skating (Elena is always soooo classy about her competitors!)
Ruslan agrees, that he enjoys skating at home, somewhere that he's familiar with and it's always a help when family & friends are watching & supporting.
 
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