Mikhail Kolyada

[Tutto]

Well, he was unlucky in the SP at CoR and had to dig himself out in the FS, but he accomplished it successfully. Let's hope it works this time too.

On a less miserable note, Misha's hands The ballet lessons did not go to waste, thank you Olga. I don't always like his arm choreography, but I don't remember his hands being off.

https://pp.userapi.com/c824700/v824700182/88bad/GpPz_K_5CqI.jpg

Also, can he please bring back the GPF haircut? Apart from suiting him much better, I think it was luckier than this one.[/QUOTE]

I can second this!
TBH I am upset but not surprised. I really believe he would have done better if the comp was anywhere else in the world but Russia. The pressure in Moscow with all the Fed present must be absolutely crushing. Some skaters thrive on home ice but not many. Javi was hardly able to jump at the first GPF in Barcelona it was heartbreaking (he did better the second time though)
But I so love when skaters skate well at home and have that Slutskaya's at Worlds 2005 moment...
What worries me and have been worrying for a while now is that Mika seems so surprised at his mistakes - is he really believing that the pressure would not get to him? Or it is just a ready line for the media?
Sometimes I wonder what role it could play that Valentina herself never was a competitive skater unlike some other coaches who understand exactly what their charges deal with there on the ice?

 

[vorravorra]

I can second this!
TBH I am upset but not surprised. I really believe he would have done better if the comp was anywhere else in the world but Russia. The pressure in Moscow with all the Fed present must be absolutely crushing. Some skaters thrive on home ice but not many. Javi was hardly able to jump at the first GPF in Barcelona it was heartbreaking (he did better the second time though)
But I so love when skaters skate well at home and have that Slutskaya's at Worlds 2005 moment...
What worries me and have been worrying for a while now is that Mika seems so surprised at his mistakes - is he really believing that the pressure would not get to him? Or it is just a ready line for the media?
Sometimes I wonder what role it could play that Valentina herself never was a competitive skater unlike some other coaches who understand exactly what their charges deal with there on the ice?

I am not surprised he was baffled by that particular mistake - he'd never doubled the 4T in the SP before, it was a total fluke. But he always says he is not sure right after a skate, he needs time to figure out what went wrong. Plus I think he simply doesn't like talking about psychology in such circumstances. If he says "maybe the pressure got to me", it is usually in interviews after a competition is over. As for Valentina, she is the one who talks about pressure and expectations affecting Misha's performance, so I don't think she doesn't get it.

 

[vorravorra]

One more thing is that Misha could have tried to make that pop into some sort of a combo, but he seemed to be too in shock to gather his wits quickly. This is something he needs to work on. He can usually get around expected mistakes, but unexpected ones just take him out of it too much.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Well, if it serves to anything, better deal with these mistakes now than later - the Olympics.

 

[vorravorra]

Well, if it serves to anything, better deal with these mistakes now than later - the Olympics.

Yes, Euros seem to be an unlucky competition for Misha. Especially the SP, there hasn't been one that he didn't screw up.

 

[vorravorra]

Yes please! What I miss in Mikhail's skating this season is this kind of quirkiness and particularity imprinted i his material, getting out more his personality and being so genuine and plainly likeable as a performer. This season they have groomed him with those programs to appear more like Russian no. 1, having supposedly more 'sophisticated' and streamlined, universally appealing programs, but it all looks kinda artificial for me... He seems to be sometimes chocked up and restrained performance-wise over this status he got and that affects his skating in many areas I feel. I don't expect him to do Baba Yaga type of program in competition, but something more personally-fitted, more related to his aesthetic could be beneficiary than those posh programs that are supposed to do Mikhail favours and 'elevate' him, style him to appear mature and as a real contender. Thing is that as SP can be defended to some extend by his skills, FS is a total misopportunity for me; Mikhail is a skater with ability to elevate and enrich the program, if allowed to, not the other way around in my opinion.

To be honest, I don't think I could have stood another "quirky" program from him in the style of his SP from last and 2015-2016 season. Watching it got as hard as skating it for him was in the end. He was sick of that program and sick of that kind of quirkiness at that point. It took an effort of will to squeeze that joy and charm out of himself and act out that character at every competition. Being cute and silly can quickly become a chore especially if you are not exactly in the mood for it. You can hardly blame him for not wanting to go there this season. And it isn't like it showcased all his strengths. If you want him to show beautiful lines and flow you need a program more in vein of the Hallelujah EX.

Trying something different like Mozart was an interesting direction. He said he wanted to stretch himself artistically. An I don't think he was unsuccessful in doing it (I am not saying that particular program is the best that he could be given). As for Elvis, the biggest problem is that it needs to be skated in a different mood. Skating to Elvis was Mikhail's idea and he loved that program when he first started skating it, but he was just skating it for the fun of it at that point. The quads and the responsibility and the pressure ended up taking the joy out of it. Maybe he'll manage to rediscover it. But it just shows you that the skaters may not be the best judges of what to skate and it is dangerous to have programs that rely on the skater having fun while skating them.
Also, I think we've had enough programs that require Mikhail to elevate and enrich them, shouldn't he get programs that are at least at his level?

I am curious about what people here think about "Misha should be given programs that are more related to his aesthetic" and what those would be like. As for Baba Yaga, I've had enough of it as an EX, it is of the variety that quickly gets old. Plus, make Misha skate that type of character in competition after competition under pressure while doing all the elements, and it'll end exactly where that SP did. He won't feel free and start enjoying himself just because you give him a comedic character.

 

[vorravorra]

Ok, I was worried about worse. Congratulations on the bronze! But I am coming to the conclusion that Misha should be forbidden from competing at Euros. He traditionally screws them up and then starts eating himself from the inside out.

On a lighter note, I am happy that it is Aliev and Misha who are going to the Olympics after all (or at lest I hope so! Depends on how evil CSKA is, I suppose).

 

[beki]

I still think Misha is the best Russian man. But I am concerned that he won't keep his PCS in the future if the fed decides to promote someone else. I was overjoyed to see Aliev over Samarin though.

 

[vorravorra]

I still think Misha is the best Russian man. But I am concerned that he won't keep his PCS in the future if the fed decides to promote someone else. I was overjoyed to see Aliev over Samarin though.

He isn't Kovtun who only got high PCS because he was #1. His job is to skate well. And we have to remember Aliev skated more or less Voronov's content. The Fed would wait for him to show other quads before pinning their hopes on him.

Plus Misha always screws up Euros. He was never the first Russian man at any of them.

 

[ejnsofi]

I'm sad for Misha because I expected a fall on 4Lz but I didn't expect losing lvls on stsq. But I understand that he was already nervous and prone to make mistakes. On the other hand his marvellous 3A received the highest GOE among all 3A we saw today

 

[vorravorra]

I'm sad for Misha because I expected a fall on 4Lz but I didn't expect losing lvls on stsq. But I understand that he was already nervous and prone to make mistakes. On the other hand his marvellous 3A received the highest GOE among all 3A we saw today

He lost a level on a spin too. Kind of a wobbly skate all the way through. But it was the SP where he lost silver, you can't afford to give away that many points with one mistake.

 

[vorravorra]

Interview with Valentina saying Misha lost a week due to being sick - sounds like with the flu or a bad cold rather than his back. Probably played a role because people are saying he did not jump as much as usual both during the official practices and warmups, as if he was trying to conserve energy.

https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20180119/1131352802.html

 

[coldblueeyes]

He lost a level on a spin too. Kind of a wobbly skate all the way through. But it was the SP where he lost silver, you can't afford to give away that many points with one mistake.

And let's be real, if the judges really wanted to put him in second they would - but I'm glad they didn't.

 

[vorravorra]

And let's be real, if the judges really wanted to put him in second they would - but I'm glad they didn't.

No, Misha did not get too much in the way of what Russians refer to as "mushrooms", his PCS could have been a couple of points higher based on past scores. While the judges were really generous to Aliev. 87 PCS for someone virtually out of nowhere? Not saying he didn't deserve it, he pretty much had the skate of his life, but it's usually not how things work. There have been a variety of theories of what the Fed is up to regarding it's top three men, but I am not sure too much should be read into it. I am glad for Aliev because I doubt those who sent him actually wanted him to take the spot, and nobody believed in him, but he has proven himself.

The one I really don't envy right now is Samarin, since a lot of people were obviously counting on him (like, the entire CSKA). I am now wondering if Misha and Samarin somehow caught that bug together in Novogorsk, since something was obviously not right with Sasha. He barely lasted till the end of the FS. But he is not of the complaining kind so we probably won't know. I am not the biggest fan of his skating style but it's hard not to like him for his character.

And Misha and Euros just don't mix for some reason. He has never been the first Russian at them. (I think I am going to start betting against him at Euros in the future :dev3 I hope he doesn't take it too hard, at least not as hard as last time.

 

[cathlen]

I watched his program today, and I was suprised how good it was despite mistakes. Judging by scores and some comments I thought it was much worse. Anyway, I love how Misha almost always gets all levels. Most guys, when the program doesn't go well, will start loosing levels on spins or StSq, but not Misha Generally, happy I could see his pretty 3A again :luv17:

 

[lost3iron]

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

 

[vorravorra]

I watched his program today, and I was suprised how good it was despite mistakes. Judging by scores and some comments I thought it was much worse. Anyway, I love how Misha almost always gets all levels. Most guys, when the program doesn't go well, will start loosing levels on spins or StSq, but not Misha Generally, happy I could see his pretty 3A again :luv17:

Some people in the audience said he didn't quite look like himself from the very beginning of the FS and could have skated worse considering. Also he didn't appear engaged in the program as much till close to the end. And Misha does lose levels on step sequences relatively often. It's simple enough to do. Lambiel's step sequences look impressive but are not exactly easy to skate. He doesn't usually lose levels on spins though.

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

Yes, and he may end up with three more big competitions to skate. It would be nice for him to have some rest. Someone even had previously suggested he shouldn't be sent to Euros at all for that very reason. But of course that wasn't going to happen.

 

[vorravorra]

I am so sick of people complaining Misha is being too easy on himself because he is not publicly tearing his hair out after his FS and he said that he sees some positives in it. He's had worse skates, for crying out loud (like, you know, Finlandia?). And they are already making it sound like his entire season has been a failure and will continue to be so. He said this competition would be a lesson for him, that he is unhappy with his skate, and after the SP that making such a mistake on the 4T is not acceptable. But that's not enough. The guy was freaking crying in the K&C after his FS at last Euros. And then he had a breakdown in front of witnesses saying he has failed everyone and should never be sent to represent the country anywhere again, and Valentina had to snap him out of it. And then he had to spend a lot of time with a psychologist to make sure that doesn't happen again. Yes, this is a guy who goes too easy on himself and is delusional about the quality of his performances. I'd much rather this doesn't happen again. I don't care if he says in interviews he is happy with his skate. And if he says he doesn't know yet what happened, it doesn't mean they won't figure it out after doing some thinking. And is he under some kind of obligation to publicly explain it anyway?

Sorry for the rant, this just really got to me, and nothing at this Euros seems to be going my way. I think I officially hate Euros now.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think Misha is just way too easy a target. He's very soft spoken, never seems to complain about things, people really have to go out of their way to criticize him when all he does is skate as he can and then compliment his competitors, and also, find a way to answer questions without putting himself too much in the spotlight. Yet, here we are. Even Plushenko in his comments, and everyone else, they want Misha to take that #1 spot and conquer all the titles he can, but he's not that kind of skater, at least not yet. Hopefully, his bronze against Aliev's silver will lay off the pressure on him, but I don't see that happening. Soon enough he'll be back to first place and things are going to start the same way again.

Then again, this is his best season yet, in terms of medals, which is not to say he doesn't have to get a lot better.

 

[vorravorra]

I think Misha is just way too easy a target. He's very soft spoken, never seems to complain about things, people really have to go out of their way to criticize him when all he does is skate as he can and then compliment his competitors, and also, find a way to answer questions without putting himself too much in the spotlight. Yet, here we are. Even Plushenko in his comments, and everyone else, they want Misha to take that #1 spot and conquer all the titles he can, but he's not that kind of skater, at least not yet. Hopefully, his bronze against Aliev's silver will lay off the pressure on him, but I don't see that happening. Soon enough he'll be back to first place and things are going to start the same way again.

Then again, this is his best season yet, in terms of medals, which is not to say he doesn't have to get a lot better.

Misha is someone who tries to keep his negative emotions out of the public space as much as possible (I can understand this very well because I was brought up to do the same). So people just assume he doesn't have any. And if these emotions show through in his interviews or in some other way people immediately start saying "This is so unlike Misha!" As if they think Misha genuinely never feels upset and frustrated and angry.
I think Misha is simply not motivated by "I want to go out there and rip apart all my competitors!" I've thought many times that he would benefit from discovering his inner Plushenko Maybe Plushenko could help him with that? He seems to be a fan of Misha from everything he's said.