Mikhail Kolyada

[vorravorra]

On Misha's new Metallica EX. a) Why is it so short?; b) It is still a bit rough around the edges, need more work; c) He can skate around the entire rink in spread eagles! And not lose speed! Misha can hold an edge forever, I wish that could be properly demonstrated in his competition programs. I don't care if his EXs have only triples or no jumps at all for that matter, I am just so happy to look at all the other things he can do. He is the right skater to give powerful music to for interpreting, he has enough power in his skating to carry it and blow everyone off their seats.

 

[GGFan]

Today was the most committed and engrossed I have seen Mikhail in forever. The program was sincere to him and in a couple minutes showed off so much of his insane talent . He flies around the ice but he's so light on his feet. He had some beautiful and very centered spins in the program: I think he should incorporate some of those positions into his competitive programs. He's so talented on skates that I pray it all comes together for him.

 

[vorravorra]

Today was the most committed and engrossed I have seen Mikhail in forever. The program was sincere to him and in a couple minutes showed off so much of his insane talent . He flies around the ice but he's so light on his feet. He had some beautiful and very centered spins in the program: I think he should incorporate some of those positions into his competitive programs. He's so talented on skates that I pray it all comes together for him.

Yes, Misha moves around the ice like he was born in skates and it takes him zero effort. He uses the same spin positions in each of his competitive programs so in the Hallelujah EX they decided to show off what he can do, and you got the impression that wasn't all by any means. In Metallica they had to cut the number of spins from three to two, which is a pity (why is this program so short?). I believe that in competitions they go for what gets the most points and he feels most confident in. In general, I think the biggest problem with competitive programs for Misha is the tech, too much of him is pulled into it and away from his performance.

Medvedeva is another "Why doesn't she skate a competition program like that and not weird stuff about hopscotch and clinical death?" for me. It was obvious she had fire inside her (that look of a tigress that was caught on camera before she went out on ice). I want her to stay and show us what she can do in the future. I believe she got a lot of flack for things which were not really her decisions (like program choice).

I think both Misha and Zhenya will be more open to experimentation once the Olympic season is over. Misha has said a number of times that he gets a lot out of working with outside specialists and that it can give you an entirely new way of looking at things, and that he wants to continue expanding his outlook. Going to Lambiel was his idea, and according to Lambiel he didn't try to simplify the steps and transitions that Stephane gave him, so he isn't looking for an easy way out so he can just concentrate on the jumps.

 

[coldblueeyes]

What I want for Misha is that he keeps doing his thing. The Fed already pushed him the most they could so he would get the quads, and now he can only build up from the basics, because there's nowhere else for him to run to - which I think will be the wall Dmitri will have to overcome soon, for example, since I don't think they gave him a place over Samarin and Voronov so he could skate with a lower tech content.

And Misha is not giving up on going the hardest way, which sometimes I think he should. It's obvious the lutz in itself is already a big jump for him, so the quad sal is another problem to overcome in his programs. If he's ready or not, only he and Valentina can say. Hopefully he can get to the max of his potential in the coming competitions. Even if this is an Olympic year, I think this is just a growing time for him. No reason to expect him to achieve the peak of his career now.

 

[vorravorra]

What I want for Misha is that he keeps doing his thing. The Fed already pushed him the most they could so he would get the quads, and now he can only build up from the basics, because there's nowhere else for him to run to - which I think will be the wall Dmitri will have to overcome soon, for example, since I don't think they gave him a place over Samarin and Voronov so he could skate with a lower tech content.

Oh, definitely not. Dima wasn't planning to skate with a low tech content even at this competition, it's just that he ended up not doing the 4Lz in the short because he is obviously not up to it yet. But the Fed isn't going to let its young hopefuls get away with doing just quad toes. I mean, Voronov can do that and they emphatically chose not to go with him. There is in fact nowhere to run for any of them. Sasha Samarin has already crashed into that wall head first. I hope Dima is luckier. But the Fed seems to find "give someone time to develop at their own pace" a hilarious joke.

And Misha is not giving up on going the hardest way, which sometimes I think he should. It's obvious the lutz in itself is already a big jump for him, so the quad sal is another problem to overcome in his programs. If he's ready or not, only he and Valentina can say. Hopefully he can get to the max of his potential in the coming competitions. Even if this is an Olympic year, I think this is just a growing time for him. No reason to expect him to achieve the peak of his career now.

Maybe they will end up taking the quad sal out for the team event. But imagine if they do that and he decides to screw up 4T. It's so hard to say. A lot of people seem to think they know the right way and are rushing to give advice, but...
Misha literally is a skater without weak spots, he's been given so much - if he could only manage to pull together all he can do more often. So far he's done it once a season. I wonder what competition that will happen at this time.

P.S. A video of the Gala rehearsal from Ari Zakarian's Instagram stories, at 02.42 - apparently Dmitri Soloviev is also a fan of what Misha can do on skates

https://vk.com/video-24618099_456239530

 

[Tutto]

I feel that maybe Mikhail is a bit burned out. He had like 7? competitions and maybe it's a bit much.

You could be right. I was hoping that he would get a week off after the Russian Nats so when I heard that instead it was again a non-stop go - Germany, Finland, Novogorsk - I started to feel really uneasy - Mika is not made of steel and his chronic back problem is not going away (unfortunately), the best way to deal with chronic issues is to give you body enough rest now and then, otherwise you pay for it. If it was a virus/flu again it only shows that he was overtired t o catch it in the first place.
Novogorsk, especially I question the necessity of going there (yes I am aware of problems with ice during the public holidays yet I think Aliev stayed put) unless that's was an invite one can not turn down. But I suspect that it could have been a big pressure cooker for Mika psychologically and not so effective training wise compared with St Petersburg. No wonder he didn't preform his best. But it was not a disaster either as some claim.
It shows the level Mika's reached when a bronze at Euros regarded as a failure
Another guess this is all TAT's fault since that mysterious conversation and handshake at the Russian Nats' draw, Mika has no luck....

Maybe they will end up taking the quad sal out for the team event. But imagine if they do that and he decides to screw up 4T. It's so hard to say. A lot of people seem to think they know the right way and are rushing to give advice, but...
Misha literally is a skater without weak spots, he's been given so much - if he could only manage to pull together all he can do more often. So far he's done it once a season. I wonder what competition that will happen at this time.

I am not sure it is an option now if it was that easy just to take a sal out but the whole layout has to be changed too. I am all in favour really but they should have tried a new layout at Nats maybe to see how it would work. To make Oly a test skate is too risky IMHO.
The drop in PCS is a bit worrying, do the judges hint that they want to see some cleanish skates with landed quads?
It could be also that simply the draw was unlucky for Mika and all the 'reserve' went to Dima who was in my opinion overscored - not taking anything away from the fact he skated really well at this comp. I personally feel he lacks speed and ice coverage to warrant such PCS at the moment (sure he can and will improve in these areas)
A great new EX - surprised they still find time to work on new programs! :luv17:

 

[Tutto]

What I want for Misha is that he keeps doing his thing. The Fed already pushed him the most they could so he would get the quads, and now he can only build up from the basics, because there's nowhere else for him to run to - which I think will be the wall Dmitri will have to overcome soon, for example, since I don't think they gave him a place over Samarin and Voronov so he could skate with a lower tech content.

And Misha is not giving up on going the hardest way, which sometimes I think he should. It's obvious the lutz in itself is already a big jump for him, so the quad sal is another problem to overcome in his programs. If he's ready or not, only he and Valentina can say. Hopefully he can get to the max of his potential in the coming competitions. Even if this is an Olympic year, I think this is just a growing time for him. No reason to expect him to achieve the peak of his career now.

As Valentina mentioned in the interview that year he lost due to injury was really unlucky and that he is really 'missing' that extra time. If this season was not Olympic one, they could probably leave the 4Sal out and work on making 4Lz consistent first. But the time is not on Mika's side, the next Oly he will be 27 he might be still competing but with the crazy tech the guys are doing it is a bit doubtful how much their bodies can take aand there is always someone younger on the scene. So it well could be that his only chance is NOW, I can well understand they want to do the max.
Plus the pressure from the Fed, thats what many here on GS do not realise that Russian skaters are effectively the state employees. You can't really say no to the boss ... it is a different situation from lets say USA

 

[vorravorra]

You could be right. I was hoping that he would get a week off after the Russian Nats so when I heard that instead it was again a non-stop go - Germany, Finland, Novogorsk - I started to feel really uneasy - Mika is not made of steel and his chronic back problem is not going away (unfortunately), the best way to deal with chronic issues is to give you body enough rest now and then, otherwise you pay for it. If it was a virus/flu again it only shows that he was overtired t o catch it in the first place.
Novogorsk, especially I question the necessity of going there (yes I am aware of problems with ice during the public holidays yet I think Aliev stayed put) unless that's was an invite one can not turn down. But I suspect that it could have been a big pressure cooker for Mika psychologically and not so effective training wise compared with St Petersburg. No wonder he didn't preform his best. But it was not a disaster either as some claim.

Aliev also went to Novogorsk. All of the Russian Euros team did. Novogorsk has the best training facilities in Russia, people actually want to go there (and yes, I am pretty sure it's not the sort of thing you say no to). They had all the ice they wanted just for Misha, Aliev, Samarin and Voronov. What Aliev did when Misha was in Finland I don't know but everyone had to go somewhere since there wasn't ice available.

 

[Tutto]

Aliev also went to Novogorsk. All of the Russian Euros team did. Novogorsk has the best training facilities in Russia, people actually want to go there. They had all the ice they wanted just for Misha, Aliev, Samarin and Voronov. What Aliev did when Misha was in Finland I don't know but everyone had to go somewhere since there wasn't ice available.

Ah, thanks for correction! I don't doubt for a moment the quality of training base in Novogorsk but in the end it didn't work really well for Mika did it? And in a few days the whole team is going to Japan for training I gather. It is a packed schedule.

 

[lost3iron]

I actually think that Mikhail should have skipped Europeans. Even though he seems to struggle this season he is still at least in my opinion the No one in Russia and the fed should have supported him.

 

[vorravorra]

I actually think that Mikhail should have skipped Europeans. Even though he seems to struggle this season he is still at least in my opinion the No one in Russia and the fed should have supported him.

I would say he struggled less this season than in any previous season (he could certainly only dream of struggling like this in 2016-2017). He had exactly one competition where he didn't get a medal (Finlandia) and he set a few National score records. Euros is a competition that he never does well in. I don't know what it is about it, maybe bad timing, but that's how it is. But Euros also isn't something you get to skip since it's another round of selection for Olympics/Worlds. As long as you don't drop below #2, you pass. And I am pretty sure the Fed hasn't withdrawn its support, they don't have a memory that can only hold a single competition at a time. They did want to build up their number two as much as possible in preparation for the Olympics (and not just in men). They almost certainly expected it to be Samarin, but went with what they got.

 

[vorravorra]

As Valentina mentioned in the interview that year he lost due to injury was really unlucky and that he is really 'missing' that extra time. If this season was not Olympic one, they could probably leave the 4Sal out and work on making 4Lz consistent first. But the time is not on Mika's side, the next Oly he will be 27 he might be still competing but with the crazy tech the guys are doing it is a bit doubtful how much their bodies can take aand there is always someone younger on the scene. So it well could be that his only chance is NOW, I can well understand they want to do the max.
Plus the pressure from the Fed, thats what many here on GS do not realise that Russian skaters are effectively the state employees. You can't really say no to the boss ... it is a different situation from lets say USA

But if you are a valuable employee they can't easily replace, you get bargaining power. You can negotiate and demand things. There is a two-way street. Of course, you can't just tell your employer to get lost if you want to continue being employed. Or expect your employer to pay for you realising your dreams if there is no profit in it for them. Also, it's not entirely fair to blame the Fed for everything, since a lot of what e.g. Samarin and Aliev did was their own team's initiative since they wanted that Olympic spot and knew they had to beat the competition. They both ended up going too far and injuring themselves and nearly taking themselves out of the running altogether at a number of points.

 

[Tutto]

But if you are a valuable employee they can't easily replace, you get bargaining power. You can negotiate and demand things. There is a two-way street. Of course, you can't just tell your employer to get lost if you want to continue being employed. Or expect your employer to pay for you realising your dreams if there is no profit in it for them. Also, it's not entirely fair to blame the Fed for everything, since a lot of what e.g. Samarin and Aliev did was their own team's initiative since they wanted that Olympic spot and knew they had to beat the competition. They both ended up going too far and injuring themselves and nearly taking themselves out of the running altogether at a number of points.

I don't try to blame everything on the RusFed but the pressure is undeniable there and Mika's team may lack en experience of someone like lets say Mishin. No doubt they have to learn fast all the tricks of the 'trade'
What is this talk that skaters for the Team event will be announced only on the 6th February? Mens SP is on the 9th? Surely the decision has to be made earlier than that?

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

With all the drama surrounding Russian skating right now, i hope Mikhail can keep a cool head. And that he won't have problems to be cleared. He will so need it at Oly when he was not in such a great form at EC. I cannot think what must be right now in all Russian skaters and athletes hearts and mind. The pressure will be right now even bigger.

I won't watch the Oly, i still wish everybody to give their best.

 

[Tutto]

According to the info in Russian media, 169 athletes have been approved, Mika and Dima are amongst the ones who got the 'invitations'.
Gorshkov said that the team event is now problematic due to S/K and S/B being out and that the names of skaters for the team event will not be revealed for as long as possible.
Before I was certain that Mika will be skating in both segments of the team event but now I am not so sure.
They are leaving for Japan tomorrow I understand. We only can wish the best of luck, to try and keep cool about this horrible situation and just to do the best they can.

 

[evanescence9696]

A short interview taken when Dmitry and Mikhail came home from Moscow after the Europeans
(wtih subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r0KhxrcsQo

 

[vorravorra]

According to the info in Russian media, 169 athletes have been approved, Mika and Dima are amongst the ones who got the 'invitations'.
Gorshkov said that the team event is now problematic due to S/K and S/B being out and that the names of skaters for the team event will not be revealed for as long as possible.
Before I was certain that Mika will be skating in both segments of the team event but now I am not so sure.
They are leaving for Japan tomorrow I understand. We only can wish the best of luck, to try and keep cool about this horrible situation and just to do the best they can.

i doubt it was planned to include S/B in the team event, but for S/K there probably were such plans.

But to be honest, I don't think I even care any more. They have done everything possible to poison these games. The athletes are the only ones for whom going to the Olympics matters enough no matter what, so I am all for them going for their own sake, but only for their own sake.

 

[Tutto]

A short interview taken when Dmitry and Mikhail came home from Moscow after the Europeans
(wtih subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r0KhxrcsQo

Thanks for the link!

Am I imagining it or Mika did look rather unwell and the fact he was dressed so warmly (have we ever seen him in a hat?) points to the simple explanation of his not so good performance at Euros, he must have had a cold or flu, the poor thing...
Another (shallow) note: Dima is taller than Mika - I'd never thought, on the ice it looks reverse to me (at least on TV)

 

[Tutto]

i doubt it was planned to include S/B in the team event, but for S/K there probably were such plans.

But to be honest, I don't think I even care any more. They have done everything possible to poison these games. The athletes are the only ones for whom going to the Olympics matters enough no matter what, so I am all for them going for their own sake, but only for their own sake.

Yes a lot is done to spoil the mood of the Olympics, also the whole season has been so far weird & unfortunate with so many injuries, changes of programs etc. But my favourites will be there so I am going to support them no matter what.
So worried about the team event, such a pressure on Mika, and skating first of the whole team is not going to be easy.

They arrived to Niigata safely - we know that much and were greeted very warmly by the locals - so nice of the Japanese!

 

[yude]

Hi, I found the news clip of arriving at the airport of Russian team, Mikhail is at the very end of the video. I hope he'll be able to have fruitful training in Niigata!

https://twitter.com/tomo37782998/status/957925777177157632