Russian Nationals, Jan. 4-7, 2008

[netnuts]

Just watched K&S' programs. I don't understand how the hell they were able to beat M/T in short program by 4 points. You could justify the LP win since they could rack up lots of tec points even falling on a quad, their 3t+3t+seq was also very difficult.

But in short program, they were quite shaky. Kawamachi barely landed her sbs 3t, and their throw jump was also not on par with M&T's standard. Simirnov also made a huge mistake in sbs spin.

I guess M&T are not the favorite of Russian federation, at least not for the time being.

I'm more impressed with the 4th place finishers. They are very innovative. Can somebody shed any light on who they are??

 

[Hsuhs]

What was said, I'm curious.

I just saw Kawaguchi and Smirnov's program and the part where she dislocated her shoulder was kind of scary because I would not have skated on. She had guts but after that they skated quite well. Congrats to them.

Maybe someone from this board will be willing to make a full transcript of the interview, and to translate it to those who don't speak Russian yet interested. I know it's not going to be me. It's available on fsvids though.

Anyways, MMMT don't talk about K/S in terms of guts and courage. Neither does their coach. Those three have a quite different opinion. This attitude will take them far, I'm sure.

 

[piano4112000]

Maybe someone from this board will be willing to make a full transcript of the interview, and to translate it to those who don't speak Russian yet interested. I know it's not going to be me. It's available on fsvids though.

Anyways, MMMT don't talk about K/S in terms of guts and courage. Neither does their coach. Those three have a quite different opinion. This attitude will take them far, I'm sure.

Thanks anyway, I hope their remarks were at least sort of kind and not over the top because it would be considered disrespectful to the skaters.

I saw both K/S and M/T short program and I perfer K/S because to me it was more polished and flowed better as well as the difficulty, I guess everyone has a difference of opinion.

 

[Morgane]

Excerpts from the interview (sorry, this is a very rough translation):
- How do you feel, what happened?
Maxim: we were a little unlucky with the starting numbers, we were the second pair in SP and then the last ones.
Maria: these things happen...
Max: It's a pity some mistakes were not forgiven to us whereas some bigger mistakes were forgiven to the other couples. But we skated our free program as a whole
- Did you see how Yuka fell? Did you feel some hope at that moment?
Max: We were ready that we won't be allowed to get the first place because our last season was a transition, but we've been stable this season..
Maria: We've done a lot of work, we're pleased with ourselves. European and world championships are most important. That we are not first here does not mean anything.
-Were you disappointed with your marks?
Max - 3s was not decisive, there was a difference of 10 points...The other couple was rested before their combination of jumps. This is politics, maybe some strategy.. We were not happy to lose 10 points...
Maria -we got what we skated, we have to work our way up on our own.
Maxim - we're ok with our points, we were just a little surprised with the first pair's marks, we could lose but not with such a big difference.

 

[Morgane]

Overall, nothing bad was said. Max was a little bitter (and honestly, I totally agree with him - the difference in marks is too big, no clue how this happened.. Kawaguchi-Smirnov got almost 10 points more than their marks at the Cup of Russia while they made even more mistakes).. And Maria seemed quite ok with the situation, very nice, just saying that's how things are, we have to work etc. :thumbsup:

 

[Jasper]

Maxim had a surgery in his meniscus, in theory they should be out of Euros too but it seems they will try to come back for Euros.

OMG I'd be so happy if they withdrew and allowed Delobel/Schoenfelder to dominate the field and win a 2nd European title.

 

[Morgane]

OMG I'd be so happy if they withdrew and allowed Delobel/Schoenfelder to dominate the field and win a 2nd European title.

Max has been training since a few days already (as Piseev told in his interview after the Russian championship). And I wish him and Oxana all the best and the gold medal at the Euros

 

[Hsuhs]

Overall, nothing bad was said. Max was a little bitter (and honestly, I totally agree with him - the difference in marks is too big, no clue how this happened.. Kawaguchi-Smirnov got almost 10 points more than their marks at the Cup of Russia while they made even more mistakes).. And Maria seemed quite ok with the situation, very nice, just saying that's how things are, we have to work etc.

What should the difference in points be then? The 'other couple' didn't 'rest', Yuko got injured, had to decide whether to continue or not.

Last year, at Worlds, K/S got 13 points more.

 

[piano4112000]

What does he mean by

"Max - 3s was not decisive, there was a difference of 10 points...The other couple was rested before their combination of jumps. This is politics, maybe some strategy.. We were not happy to lose 10 points..."

I hope he didn't mean that Yuko dislocated her shoulder on purpose. I saw the interview, he did seem bitter and they did not look happy one bit.

Next stop European.

Thanks Morgane for the translation

 

[netnuts]

I think K&S should have beaten them in long program at a narrower margin. A fall on a quad under CoP is equal to a good throw triple, so their only major deduction based on CoP is a step-out-of a 2A. M&T had a major mistake on 3S/2S.

Not sure why they even beat M&T in short program by almost 4 points.

 

[piano4112000]

What should the difference in points be then? The 'other couple' didn't 'rest', Yuko got injured, had to decide whether to continue or not.

Last year, at Worlds, K/S got 13 points more.

Exactly, Maxim admitted himself that they needed to improve their tech. scores and one of the reason is that K/S have them. I'm just hoping Yuko can get the rest she needs.

I know what it is like to dislocate your shoulder because once it happens it will happen again and it's painful to get it to pop back in. My shoulder was killing me when it popped back in so that was why I said I wouldn't continue to skate if I was Yuko but for a skinny person she has more guts than I have and I take my hats of to her. Some people might say that it was no big deal but people who have experience this kind of thing will know what I mean.

No one would put this incident down as being a strategic move on K/S part to have rest.

Sorry about the rambling but I felt I needed to say that since people seem to doubt their win and the incident.

 

[Morgane]

I don't think Max meant she did it on purpose or whatever, maybe he meant the politics of the federation. which clearly prefers one pair over the other.. They were clearly and understandably disappointed and Max did notappear fair play but Maria did (and I am pleased about that). I don't doubt neither Kaw/Smirnov win, nor the incident but I still think they should've won by a narrower margin. And I don't think last year's results are relevant- they got much lower marks for the same program performed a few weeks ago with less mistakes... Such high marks for their performance at the Nationals do not do them any good, IMHO.

 

[Morgane]

What does he mean by

"Max - 3s was not decisive, there was a difference of 10 points...The other couple was rested before their combination of jumps. This is politics, maybe some strategy.. We were not happy to lose 10 points..."

Thanks Morgane for the translation

You're most welcome. I didn't translate everything word by word. The interviewer actually asked smth like whether the 3s was the reason for what happened and Max replied that this would not have changed anything, the difference was too big etc..

 

[Hsuhs]

Max - 3s was not decisive, there was a difference of 10 points..

He fell on the triple sal, but that doesn't explain the 10-points difference.

understandably disappointed

I for one didn't understand.

 

[Morgane]

Hsuhs, I think that's exactly what he meant- that they woul've lost even with a perfect 3s

 

[Hsuhs]

Hsuhs, I think that's exactly what he meant- that they woul've lost even with a perfect 3s

I too think they would have lost even with a perfect 3 sal. I just disagree with the reasons.

 

[piano4112000]

But we have to remember that K/S program was tech. harder than M/T. I just don't like the fact that people refer to the win as favortism(sp?) because that pretty much says that K/S don't deserve anything they win at because they are favored and that is unfair.

 

[netnuts]

He fell on the triple sal, but that doesn't explain the 10-points difference.

I for one didn't understand.

He fell on the 3S, but Maria only did a 2S. They got zero for this element. There's no 10-point difference in LP. The total difference is 10 points, but they lost by 4 points in SP.

 

[Jasper]

I also prefer M/T as a pairs team. They have such speed and quality, and are classically trained.

 

[Hsuhs]

K/S program was tech. harder than M/T

Yes. K/S are better skaters, too.