Mikhail Kolyada | Page 237 | Golden Skate

Mikhail Kolyada

coldblueeyes said:

Misha returns to the three-quad layout for WTT.
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Wow! I can honestly say I’m not even nervous for this because my expectations have been lowered. This is super ambitious given the problems on the axel, and I suppose he wants to get the salchow out of the way. He’s been reeling off those toe loops with great consistency even after messing up the salchow attempt. If it weren’t leading up to an Olympic year, I’d be really chill abt it.
 
Misha did pretty well in the SP. His scores, now... :scratch2:

But some points to consider:
- This SP is not doing him favors, I think the judges are pointing this internationally now, at Worlds and now here.
- Skating early is hurting him, but how much? Is he three points in PCS below Jason and four below Nathan and Yuzuru? Not that I don't think they didn't skate better, but that difference is getting a bit too much. Oh well.
- Even if he skated as clean as he could, I'd say he'd get something like a 96-97, which is just above Jason, who doesn't even have a quad. And then, he'd still be 12 points behind Nathan. You can't make up that kind of difference with just another quad.

Misha needs a program that plays to his "classical" style. Let's see how his PCS work tomorrow. Also, he needs that second quad, and he needs to compete more internationally, so his ranking points will put him higher in the standings.

Still, happy that he skated well and he seems to be having fun.
 
coldblueeyes said:
Misha did pretty well in the SP. His scores, now... :scratch2:

But some points to consider:
- This SP is not doing him favors, I think the judges are pointing this internationally now, at Worlds and now here.
- Skating early is hurting him, but how much? Is he three points in PCS below Jason and four below Nathan and Yuzuru? Not that I don't think they didn't skate better, but that difference is getting a bit too much. Oh well.
- Even if he skated as clean as he could, I'd say he'd get something like a 96-97, which is just above Jason, who doesn't even have a quad. And then, he'd still be 12 points behind Nathan. You can't make up that kind of difference with just another quad.

Misha needs a program that plays to his "classical" style. Let's see how his PCS work tomorrow. Also, he needs that second quad, and he needs to compete more internationally, so his ranking points will put him higher in the standings.

Still, happy that he skated well and he seems to be having fun.
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I won't rush to the conclusion that the judges suddenly gone cold, on this occasion the politics play a big part and it was clear that men are the weakest link in Russian team and the invitation to the judges to be 'creative' with the scores.
The most important is that he skated clean under a pressure and lets not forget last time he skated SP for Team Russia was Oly, need I say more. So I am proud of him! :cheer2::hap10:
 
Tutto said:
I won't rush to the conclusion that the judges suddenly gone cold, on this occasion the politics play a big part and it was clear that men are the weakest link in Russian team and the invitation to the judges to be 'creative' with the scores.
The most important is that he skated clean under a pressure and lets not forget last time he skated SP for Team Russia was Oly, need I say more. So I am proud of him! :cheer2::hap10:
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Totally agree. I don't think the judges are dumping him. Misha only has to help himself earn their trust, and with the way he competed this season so far, I think he's gaining that. It wasn't perfect, but all competitions he definitely gave close to the best he could.
 
Where’s the Kolyada love? Sure, it wasn’t perfect, again, but he HAS been nailing that loop. I’m seeing more celebration in the Jason and Shoma groups (I love Shoma nearly as much, but his smile and positivity makes me not worry, as I sure Jason does for his fans).

All in all, not a bad season for our guy. It was almost like pressing pause, as in early 2020. No giant shakeups, judges have shown their appreciation of Kolyada, and he seems to be in pretty good shape for Olys.

Just additional conditioning for stamina (I know, I know, age) and continuing work on the psychological part.

(I do agree with Tutto; that new top ought to be burned. The other shirt was so ethereal, so perfect. It could have been up there as iconic as Yagudin’s Winter one.)

Third place, you guys!
 
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Maybe not in the way of results, but this was by FAR, and I mean really far, the best season he's skated. Both here and at Worlds his 4Ts were valued the best in the world, and that has to count for something. And once again, he pretty much nailed the first half of the FS, in fact, people were worried about his 3A, and that also worked here. He didn't blackout in any program this season, and skated pretty well in all competitions.

And for someone who competed more than most, he fell twice the entire season. I'm not mad.

Stamina is an issue, and it's been for a long time, I'm not sure he'll ever get over it. We can only hope that they are working on it too. But I'm satisfied with his competition this season in a way I haven't been before. The scoring is something else, but I'm not gonna touch on that this time.
 
He was so happy when he nailed the triple axel, he broke out in the smile [eta: more like a choreographed fist pump]. The combination lutz + salchow at least wasn’t launch too close to the boards. But as we know, sometimes that helps with depth perception. He seemed to get almost vertigo toward the end, even falling off his edge near end (maybe going into spin?)

Well, it seems in the past I would wake up in the middle of the night and realize I could start watch the men’s in Russia or Japan. Invariably I’d start stream and there would a fall or a messup from Mikhail. This time when I opened, he had finished but he was in first Simon saying “a fabulous skate from Kolyada.”
 
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What is it about that first shirt that made it so perfect? It’s just heavenly. It’s weird that I couldn’t get into the skate as much with the new shirt. Who knew something so simple could influence? I really tried. I looked at his beautiful line, the perfection of his carriage, the height of his jumps, the extension to his fingertips. I’m not even sure if he had a perfect skate if it would have been as breathtaking, although I would have LOVED to see him smile and not grimace.

My husband hasn’t seen any skating this season (he’s STILL one of those who doesn’t understand skating happens EVERY YEAR—not just during Olys!). I showed him Mikhail’s WTT performance while I expounded about why it is superior, but I realize I wasn’t feeling the same magic.

I think what also added to the earlier programs is the enthusiasm of the Russian crowd realizing they were witnessing something special.

At Worlds and WCC, it didn’t have same electricity for any of the skaters/performances because of COVID.

I also noticed a lot of performances of Mikhail’s have reappeared on YouTube (or the algorithm finally figured out what a stan I am, lol). I now understand more about his struggle and finally saw the Oly team event, so I am more empathetic about him and people who have followed him for more years. Before it was only showing triumphant performances like Cup of China. (Don’t even remember who I was rooting for at last Olys, probably Shoma, but I had a miserable job where I couldn’t watch Olys.) He really wasn’t on my radar until Carmen. Then ofc he didn’t complete.

So, I’ve looked through the programs again and I’m going to that Rostelecom was most magical for me.
 
I feel Iike I’m harping on the costume, but I read a little further the interview with Mikhail after Minsk where he talks about the second costume: “I actually have a second costume that is ready. I skated in it in practice but Alexei said no, we would need to do something else. It has black pants and a black top. I feel very comfortable in it and I really like it. One part is close fitting and one part is loose fitting, and it has a collar, which is a nice addition. However, from a distance of 10 meters it just looks like a black practice outfit. It lacks ethereality, romanticism.”

Exactly.
 
RoundedBackCamel said:
However, from a distance of 10 meters it just looks like a black practice outfit. It lacks ethereality, romanticism.”
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That's interesting...and sort of annoying? Like if they knew this why the change? Did Misha find the blue one uncomfortable or something?

Providing it's not we should start a petition for it to come back ASAP!
 
Late to chime in as usual still catching up with WTT, haven't watched pairs & ice dance yet!
Congrats Mika on the great competition! Not perfect but both programs are really solid and it means a lot to him and to us of course.

The first thing I noticed, however, was (so petty of me - I know!) that the dreadful white cuffs were gone!!! (a thousand of pities the collar was still there... sigh...) - who knows he or his family might read us here after all! :)
I so agree with you and especially with all the points you, RoundedBackCamel, made - the blue shirt was heaven itself and it was a crime against humanity to remove it from us. If there is a petition - count me in please.
Not only it was the colour (which happened to be my absolute favourite), the cut, that open chest was sooo Nureyev:


Arrr... if thats the case they will keep the program for the next season WE WILL campaign and petition YES we will!
I don't remember ever before when a change of costume influenced my perception of the program that much - it's frankly ridiculous but here it is we can't help how we feel, can we? It's like a soul has gone from the program. And by the way, after re-watching again - my favourite skate will remain forever at the test skates - there was such freedom & lightness in every move, and many little choreo touches which gone since. I wonder by the way how Averbuch feels about all the changes they made to the program?

But back to the stuff that really matters- the loop karma or whatever it is strikes again (for the first time this season lets be fair), how I hate this jump, on this particular occasion at least it didn't cost him a medal or placement, just an opportunity to improve SB substantially. The 3lz-3sal combo - it suddenly occurred to me that maybe it is not a mental block of the sort which I attributed all his mistakes on this combo this season to but another reason altogether - maybe his timing on 3sal messed up because of working on 4sal?
The most worrying thing for me was to see that wobble on the step seq. - God, I hope his sinusitis problem is not back :pray:

As much as I love this program on the whole I think he needs something new for the next season and maybe skate the White Crow as EX occasionally. And I feel the time has come for classical music - preferably not a warhorse, he is ready I think.
 
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Tutto said:
I don't remember ever before when a change of costume influenced my perception of the program that much - it's frankly ridiculous but here it is we can't help how we feel, can we?
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Ha ha, oddly enough the only occassion I can think of is with another Mishin student with another program dedicated to famous ballet dancer. When Plushy changed his Tribute to Njinsjky costume not only did the magic of said program lessen, more and more mistakes crept into it! Hopefully this won't happen to Misha!

Not sure about getting new programs, as I really like both, although in my typically questionable way I'm more drawn to the SP :laugh:

But I guess we have to follow the advice of the hashtag Liza Tuk always uses #trusttheprocess
 
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