Mikhail Kolyada

[Tutto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdMuIFtYt2M

Mikhail has his old SP cause he was told to do it by Russian Federation 2 weeks before test skating
He had the new SP but ...
We are shocked!

You are not alone! I am so sad and worried about how this season will go for Mika. It is not a good start to have all your pre-season work destroyed. I trust his and Olga's taste and believe his new sp was good.

But unfortunately this is the price one has to pay for success - a loss of artistic freedom. 12 months ago nobody at Russian Fed gave a damn about Mika's programs. However if they did I am sure his Nu Pogodi (and Nightmare before Xmas probably too) would have been laughed at and sent directly to the bin. Luckily we were able to enjoy it.
Mika and his team need to learn how to stand their ground. A better known choreographer would help.
Hope against hope that they might still change the SP - I am very fond of it but it looks outdated now.

I recall how Yulia's long program was changed by the Fed in 2014-2015 though Yulia believed in it and how badly the whole story reflected on her whole season. I pray the same won't happen to Mika!

 

[LRK]

I don't know if the SP looks outdated to me, exactly - but... there are already people saying how similar the SP and the LP are. This is not good. After having seen the LP I'm truly miffed at the Russian fed. What were they thinking? People are going to blame Mika for not being versatile, only being able to skate in one style &c, &c, &c - whilst I don't doubt the now ditched new SP would have been more of a contrast.

 

[Tutto]

I don't know if the SP looks outdated to me, exactly - but... there are already people saying how similar the SP and the LP are. This is not good. After having seen the LP I'm truly miffed at the Russian fed. What were they thinking? People are going to blame Mika for not being versatile, only being able to skate in one style &c, &c, &c - whilst I don't doubt the now ditched new SP would have been more of a contrast.

Yes, it is not going to do anything for his PCS that's for sure. I also don't like the LP costume - it looks a bit provincial like his last season's costumes were (IMHO).
Ohh could you imagine what someone like Brian Orser could do for Mika in terms of overall packaging?!

News: Mika is on the list of Finlandia Trophy:
http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028780.htm

 

[Li'Kitsu]

I don't know if the SP looks outdated to me, exactly - but... there are already people saying how similar the SP and the LP are. This is not good. After having seen the LP I'm truly miffed at the Russian fed. What were they thinking? People are going to blame Mika for not being versatile, only being able to skate in one style &c, &c, &c - whilst I don't doubt the now ditched new SP would have been more of a contrast.

As someone who already said the SP and LP look to similar now... I feel the same regarding the ditched SP.
I'd be perfectly fine with Mika staying close to his comfort zone for one of his programs, it's an important season, he ups his tech... but this program combination might hurt his PCS I think. I wished the russian fed would have let him go with what he wants

 

[cathlen]

Fortunatelly, Mika goes to Finladnia before the GP Series. Hopefully when Fed will see that last season SP won't work well for him, they let him go back to orgiinal SP for this season.

 

[LRK]

But will they, though? I mean, it's not like it's likely that Mika's PCS will drop like a stone - or something truly abysmal would happen to make them change their minds. I don't think any effect is going to be that sudden or noticeable. I have little confidence that they'll ever realise they made a mistake.

 

[cathlen]

But they can still get negative feedback or hints form judges, even if Mika's PCS won't drop. I think feedback is one of these things that better skaters/couples are doing Challengers for.

 

[vorravorra]

The real pity is that Misha not only can, he actually has skated different things in the past (though few have seen them). He is musical, artistic, he can perform relatively complex choreography - a treasure for any choreographer (and choreographers appear to fully realise this judging by the offers). And yet we have to have these problems I wonder if after this debacle the Fed will tell them to get a different choreographer next season, or they will decide to do so on their own.

 

[Sugarpova]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKSb_KLj0BX/?taken-by=mihail_sharov




unfortunately I dont see him getting back to the skrapped SP
maybe next year

 

[LRK]

The real pity is that Misha not only can, he actually has skated different things in the past (though few have seen them). He is musical, artistic, he can perform relatively complex choreography - a treasure for any choreographer (and choreographers appear to fully realise this judging by the offers). And yet we have to have these problems I wonder if after this debacle the Fed will tell them to get a different choreographer next season, or they will decide to do so on their own.

Why should they go to another choreographer when she does such a great job for Mika? I don't think for a moment she made a bad SP for him.

Also, remember, the Rus fed apparently had zero problems with Titanic - so I'm not going to take their word for it when it comes to good taste.

 

[vorravorra]

Why should they go to another choreographer when she does such a great job for Mika? I don't think for a moment she made a bad SP for him.

Also, remember, the Rus fed apparently had zero problems with Titanic - so I'm not going to take their word for it when it comes to good taste.

Well, the Fed is much less likely to throw out a program by a famous choreographer, for one. And simply for more variety. Klyushnichenko could do one program, another choreographer the other. Misha himself is quite keen to try working with other choreographers too, I gather.

 

[LRK]

Well, the Fed is much less likely to throw out a program by a famous choreographer, for one. And simply for more variety. Klyushnichenko could do one program, another choreographer the other. Misha himself is quite keen to try working with other choreographers too, I gather.

Perhaps so. Obviously if he himself wishes to work with another choreographer, then he should - it's he who's going to be out there performing after all. Which is another reason why the Rus fed decision... well, not to put too fine a point upon it... angers me. As I said, had he himself and his team decided that it wasn't working for whatever reason, that would have been another matter entirely.

Still, I simply don't think that all choreo should be done by the same handful of "big name" choreographers - if we need variety for skaters, then we also need variety in choreographers, and up-and-coming creative choreographers should be encouraged not discouraged.

Well, it matters not. It's not like we have any say in the matter. What's done is done.

 

[Li'Kitsu]

Still, I simply don't think that all choreo should be done by the same handful of "big name" choreographers - if we need variety for skaters, then we also need variety in choreographers, and up-and-coming creative choreographers should be encouraged not discouraged.

This so much. And I'm sure there are so many talented choreographers who just never get the change to proof themselves.

That said, if Mika wants to try out new choreographers, there would be enough well enough known ones aside from the uber overused ones. How about Stephane Lambiel, who said already that he really likes Mikas skating? Or Kenji Miyamoto, or Tom Dickson? I think Mika would do best with someone who allows him a big say in how things should be done. So someone who could put more time into working with him would be better than Lori or David anyway. There would be so many great possibilities.

 

[vorravorra]

What Misha essentially said in his last interview was "I'd love to work with other choreographers but I do not want to offend my regular choreographer" (and this is exactly the impression the interviewer got after a much lengthier conversation than what was published). I am sincerely hoping this is not where the problem lies, because however commendable remaining faithful to the team is, it is Misha's career and he only has one of it.

 

[Tutto]

What Misha essentially said in his last interview was "I'd love to work with other choreographers but I do not want to offend my regular choreographer" (and this is exactly the impression the interviewer got after a much lengthier conversation than what was published). I am sincerely hoping this is not where the problem lies, because however commendable remaining faithful to the team is, it is Misha's career and he only has one of it.

Loyalty is rare virtue in this world and I can't help admiring Mika even more for that. But he needs to look after his own interests - life in sport is so short and unpredictable, you have to grab every opportunity to succeed. As you said before, he could have done one program with a new choreographer and another one with Olga to keep everyone happy.
My guess is that the programs for this season were more or less ready in March as if you remember it was mentioned that Mika started working on them straight after Boston. Nobody expected him to finish in 4th at Worlds. He then probably wanted to go elsewhere but the programs being already done at that point meant a bit of confrontation with Olga and he didn;t feel comfortable about it. Just my speculation.
With the Fed I think it is a dark story. What I really don't understand is that some specialist looked at the programs as early as mid August and it was okay presumably as Mika was going to compete at St Petersburg's Cup. Then suddenly 2 weeks later just before the competition he was called to Novogorsk and ordered to go back to the old sp? Something doesn't add up.
I still hope that we might see that program as an ex at Finlandia Trophy (the curiosity is killing me to know what could have caused such reaction from the Fed!). And then if people like it maybe it could be reconsidered? Oh I don't know...

 

[Sugarpova]

Or Kenji Miyamoto

being a fan of Japanese skating Im sad that our sportsmen dont work with Japanese specialists
Imo it could be a great mixture of talent & could produce nice results!

 

[vorravorra]

Also I found it interesting that Misha's 4T now appears more stable than even his 3A. Last season it was always the first to go. And I am hoping his 3L is coming back. I know the loop has always been a problem jump for him, but with no flip he cannot afford to lose it as well.

 

[Tutto]

Also I found it interesting that Misha's 4T now appears more stable than even his 3A. Last season it was always the first to go. And I am hoping his 3L is coming back. I know the loop has always been a problem jump for him, but with no flip he cannot afford to lose it as well.

I agree a missing loop is a concern. I just hope that what we've seen so far is not a final layout yet. Nobody is 100% ready in September. But I am worried about the sp with a new jump layout it might not work as well as it did last season. Damn the fed! Surely any new program already prepared would be better than chopping and changing the old one?
Did you notice that Dmitriev is replaced by Kovtun for Finlandia Trophy? Now its the whole Russian Nat podium - vs Patrick. Going to be interesting...

 

[Tutto]

being a fan of Japanese skating Im sad that our sportsmen dont work with Japanese specialists
Imo it could be a great mixture of talent & could produce nice results!

It would be interesting. But you need a skater with an open mind - so different cultures, mentality... In Mika's case it would be probably wise to go first to someone who speaks Russian - Morozov maybe or Misha Ge?

Edit: Just read my own post thanks to Li'Kitsu's reply and saw it sounds like I think Mika is narrow minded or something, what I meant was that Mika never worked with outside choreographer and he doesn't speak English very well so to ease his first experience would be better to go someone who at least speaks same language.BTW I read Yulia's account of working with Lambiel - it was a bit crazy - definiately would not suit everyone!

 

[Li'Kitsu]

It would be interesting. But you need a skater with an open mind - so different cultures, mentality... In Mika's case it would be probably wise to go first to someone who speaks Russian - Morozov maybe or Misha Ge?

I would love that!