They are motivated because they plan to compete at the senior level in the upcoming season.
"We have to learn this most difficult dance, the Golden Waltz," sighed Katsalapov. "We've been working on it for a month now, and we have still so much work ahead of us."
They are fantastic. They have amazing leg line, speed and connection. It seems like they are right on track for a Gold in Sochi, just think where Virtue and Moir were in 2006 (won junior worlds, moved up the seniors that following season).
Golden Waltz will be a part of the new "short dance" for the next season.
I have never heard of this pair before, so by checking youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vjobRSN3Sk
Oh my, they are really amazing!!!
I have an opposite opinion on this point. It will be the easiest thing for them because usually it comes with years passing by. Don't forget they're still teenagers (BTW Elena was 15 during those competitions), what chemistry are you expecting from them now?The more significant issue that I see and this will likely be more difficult to address / breakthrough is the interaction and chemistry between partners. When I look at them, I see two skilled single skaters skating together, however, they haven't yet convinced me they know how to move together as a dance couple in their expression, use of subtle upper body movements and other attention to details and cues that would convey their chosen music.
This young team got higher scores at Junior Worlds than Bobrova/Soloviev at Worlds, their scores for the OD were higher than Knokhlova/Novitski's. I think it means a lot. They have all the chances not only make the top 2 at Nationals, but even win, beat B/S and K/A and become #1 Russian team. It will all depend on their consistancy and new programsWhere does that leave I/K? Can they gain enough exposure for Sochi if they miss the World team in 2011? I don't think anyone can conclusively predict who will make that 2011 Russian world team in Ice Dance, therefore, it seems to me, it's a little too speculative at this point to make any kind of prediction for this young team, who is the youngest of all 3 possible contenders in Russia and that generally means a slotted 3rd spot nationally.
I thought compulsories wouldn't be part of senior competition next year, no? If that were the case, why spend so much time perfecting the Golden Waltz, especially since it was just competed this season?
Zhulin, Ilinykh, Katsalapov in training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85TZMShjLBE
Is Ilinykh-Katsalapov FD- Don Quixote?
I have an opposite opinion on this point. It will be the easiest thing for them because usually it comes with years passing by. Don't forget they're still teenagers (BTW Elena was 15 during those competitions), what chemistry are you expecting from them now?
This young team got higher scores at Junior Worlds than Bobrova/Soloviev at Worlds, their scores for the OD were higher than Knokhlova/Novitski's. I think it means a lot. They have all the chances not only make the top 2 at Nationals, but even win, beat B/S and K/A and become #1 Russian team. It will all depend on their consistancy and new programs
Did they set a goal to win gold in Sochi?Since you want to set such a difficult goal, please forgive me for being demanding.
Let's talk about it when I/K at least have any experience in senior competitions.He is going to be 19 this year and only 1 year younger than Scott Moir when he and his partner, Tessa Virtue won Free Dance at the 2008 Worlds. Watch Scott Moir in this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBVl...BB76CB80&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=15
Not necessarily but for this couple it can easily be true. I see a lot of potential in Nikita on this point.As for your assumption that expression and chemistry necessarily improves over time, that's false.
I don't see anything in V/M's skating what would have been obviously better than I/K. But I clearly see in what things I/K are superior.Here is a clip from Virtue/Moir when they were 14/16 or about two years younger than I/K : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W02hROo1cXI
Did they set a goal to win gold in Sochi?
I don't see anything in V/M's skating what would have been obviously better than I/K. But I clearly see in what things I/K are superior.
They are fantastic. They have amazing leg line, speed and connection. It seems like they are right on track for a Gold in Sochi,
Let's talk about it when I/K at least have any experience in senior competitions.
Of course, I/K didn't win their own Russian Junior Nationals. Hell, you could point out that B/A outpointed D/W in 2009, but the reverse happened in 2010.
I think what startles me is not so much that people think they have potential,, but the apparent unanimity in that THEY will be the ones to beat in Sochi. Most people recognize that making predictions this early is a mug's game but it seems like so many already believe this narrative to be true based on what happened last time: Two talented junior teams make the leap to seniors, have a meteoric rise and one wins gold at the next Olympics. And that ignores all the things that allowed V/M and D/W to rise as they did beyond the sheer scope of their talents.
You might be right about predicting too much too soon, but I can say that this couple impressed me more than V/M or D/W (or any junior dance team) had ever done. Technical skills aside, their maturity and expression are completely beyond their years. Their OD is probably my favourite of the season. I find it so good that I actually worry if they will be able to top the dance next season.