Is Russian Men's Figure Skating dead?
- Thread starter volk
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
it's just a cycle. it happens to all of the federations... look at Russian pairs skating, and ice dance... they're already rebounding, but it will take a few years.
It is not in a good place right now! Only one Russian man Artur Gachinksi completed two grand prix events this season and he came in 7th and 6th place in those events. Voronov injured and Borodulin has "boot problems". Menshov came in last in the free skate at the cup of Russia. Tretyakov placed below Gachinksi at cup of Russia. But in the junior grand prix events Russian men won silver in most of them. The season before they mostly won Bronze medals. Gachinski seems to be the best and most consistent and he did pop a quad at the Cup of Russia! Two spots at Euros and one at worlds. There doesn't seem to be a male Sotnikova or male Tuktamysheva.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2009
But it will change, I'm sure. Maybe not soon and not for 2014, but it will. I saw some really promising boys at the Russian cup events, 15 y.o. Maxim Kovtun, who now has good 3A and overall package and will go to the JGP next year, and even younger boys (b. in 1997-1998) like Tarasenko and Samarin, I'm sure some of them can change the situation
I'm not so sure that Russian men's skating is dead. It might just be that Japanese men's skating is so much more alive than everyone else's. I've just seen Kozuka for the first time, and then there's Daisuke and also Oda, who with all his flaws is breathtaking when he's on. You'd have to be Yagudin and Baryshnikov rolled into one to stand out next to that group. And don't worry: one of those will probably come along eventually.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2009
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=532405
Yes, he did it in both programs at the Russian cup and it looked solid. I couldn't find video on youtube, but here is his 3A-3T at practice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCorRUGAExo
Yes, he did it in both programs at the Russian cup and it looked solid. I couldn't find video on youtube, but here is his 3A-3T at practice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCorRUGAExo
Yes, it's true, but not for Tarasova, for Buyanova (Vodorezova), Sotnikova's and Borodulin's coach. But Tarasova often helps Buyanova's students, she choreographed both Sotnikova's programs and Borodulin's FS
I just watched a few clips of him on youtube. I can't say he's has good overall package. He has good jumps and spins, but everything else needs work.
I am looking for the next Yagudin, but I don't thing Russia will ever get one. Maybe I'm asking for too much.
That was a good practice 3A-3T!
I had to look up where I read it but Borodulin as a result of breaking his foot twice takes a long time to adjust to new boots. So it's like almost a foot problem.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
No way is the Men's Division dead in Russia. There is plenty of talent that just has to get used to the current style of Men's skating. I do think the Soviet style is dead but the Russian style is beginning to take shape. Their Ice Dancers are now more versatile than before as are their Pairs. There is a decided difference between the Soviet style and the new breed of Russian male skaters. I think they should spend a few months with a coach/choreographer outside of Russia to put the finishing touches onto their excellent technique.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
I would like to see any country produce the next Yagudin!
I haven't seen the next Torvill & Dean yet either.
Some skaters are just super special instead of just special.
Some day we'll see the next international stars!
Figure Skating is on the rise now in Russia. All the ice-skating shows that have been on TV last 4 years (like 'Ice Age', 'Ice & Flame', etc.), and the tours of Olympics & World champions with shows across the country made figure skating more popular and attractive than ever before. More and more little children go into figure skating now. That should bring up new stars in men skating, no doubts.
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To answer the question posed in this thread, N-O, not after what I just read over on FSU! 
A Russian poster there said that yesterday the Russian media annouced that Evgeni is planning on taking a break this year from competition, but will stay in shape with shows in order to keep fit. That I already knew, but also Evgeni stated he plans on competing all three years up until Sochi, starting next season! 
And he & the Russian Federation will complete the paperwork at the end of this season, since he will not be competing this year. Totally understandable & makes perfect sense.
I've always had a great deal of respect for the Russian culture, history, people, et al, as I consider them the "real thing" when it comes to the arts, ballet, gymnastics, figure skating, royalty, etc. Everybody else is a pretender, they copy from them, but imho the Russians are the "real thing". And that includes Evgeni Plushenko.
http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta...o_Evgeniy-Plyuschenko-pristupil-k-trenirovkam
A Russian poster there said that yesterday the Russian media annouced that Evgeni is planning on taking a break this year from competition, but will stay in shape with shows in order to keep fit. That I already knew, but also Evgeni stated he plans on competing all three years up until Sochi, starting next season! And he & the Russian Federation will complete the paperwork at the end of this season, since he will not be competing this year. Totally understandable & makes perfect sense.I've always had a great deal of respect for the Russian culture, history, people, et al, as I consider them the "real thing" when it comes to the arts, ballet, gymnastics, figure skating, royalty, etc. Everybody else is a pretender, they copy from them, but imho the Russians are the "real thing". And that includes Evgeni Plushenko.
http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta...o_Evgeniy-Plyuschenko-pristupil-k-trenirovkam
That is a lot to ask for, given that Yagudin's considered one of the greatest male skaters of all time
Russian men hoarded the Olympic gold from 1992 to 2006. That's hard to match by any country. Like people have said, Russian male skating's going through a cycle. Given the numerous precedents, Russia's extensive skating infrastructure & the continuing interest in skating, I expect the hiatus to be short, though. Definitely not as long as, say, the gap between Yu-na and Korea's next super star. No worries. At least Russia has a growing crop of talent in the ladies division, a field in which Russia was historically weaker (although Irina and Maria held their own). While Russia's enamored by its exponentially developing ladies field, male talent will develop.Similar threads
