Urmanov's Assessment of St. Pete's Skaters

[maureend]

http://sportsdaily.ru/issue.aspx/598/17573
Aleksei Urmanov’s assessment of St. Pete skaters at the start of the season

Plushenko[/U
]“It’s difficult to comment on his chances. He sort of seems to plan to return to ISU competition, but so far it’s just talk. A fair amount of time has passed since the Olympics in Turin. If Zhenya really wants to come back, he needs to decide soon. He has to return to full-out training and competing. He can’t just go to worlds on his experience and get the gold.”

Andrei Lutai (b. 1986 in Belgorod)
“Of all Petersburg single skaters, he’s the most promising right now. He skated well in Perm at the Russia Cup competition, with a quality quad and 3 axel. This is a serious declaration for the lead in singles skating, at least in Russia.”

Sergei Voronov (b. 1987 in Moscow)
“At last year’s worlds Sergei got hurt and it’s still a problem. Voronov finished treatment in Moscow, but only started jumping 1 week ago. He isn’t allowed to do more than 11 jumps per practice. It’s 99% sure that he won’t be at Skate Canada and may not get to Lalique either. There is hope that by nationals, Euros and Worlds he’ll be fully recovered.”

Nikita Mikhailov (b. 1989 in Moscow)

“Nikita is extremely inconsistent. He can jump well, but then miss elementary things. I think it’s mainly mental. And it could only get worse as he ages. He risks being unable to handle the competition from the teenagers, who are improving.”

Pairs

Mukhortkova and Trankov
“Recently, they won in Finland. This is good for self-confidence. I know they used to fight a lot. But I haven’t heard anything about scandals lately and it means Vasiliev found a way to work with them. I think they can do well internationally.”

Kawaguchi-Smirnov (b. 1981 in Aichi, 1984 in Tver)
“Tamara Nikolaevna is working quite seriously with this pair, so I think they can become team leaders with M-T. As for the world level, it will be heard, but I think they can make the top 10.”

Obertas-Slavnov (b. 1984 Dnepropetrovsk, 1982 Leningrad)
“There’s nothing to say because they are skipping the season due to her health problems. If they will finish their career that way isn’t clear yet.”

Totmianina-Marinin“
Officially, they’re on the team and people are still talking about them coming back. But they have so many other concerns now! Maxim’s son was just born, for example!”
Women

Ksenia Doronina (b. 1990 in Moscow)

“Three weeks ago Ksenia changed coaches. She left the Mishins for Alla Pyatova. I don’t know the exact reasons, but I think the new coach can inspire new life into her skating. But it’s a long way off to international achievement.”

Katarina Gerboldt (b. 1989 in Leningrad)

“Katarina didn’t do a bad job at the Petersburg Cup. She used to have jump problems, often not completing the rotations. Now it seems that deficiency has been eradicated. She also has endurance issues: she just “died” toward the end of the program. But that is also fixable.”

 

[rain]

Interesting assessment.

Some things of note: sounds like he's not convinced Plushenko is serious about a return. The more time that passes without him seriously competing, the more I agree.

Plus, it sounds like they've got a couple of up-and-coming men — Andrei Lutai sounded especially promising.

He sounded quite cautious, I thought, about Kawaguchi/ Smirnov as well. A big challenge to crack the top 10? A lot of people were measuring them as a possible medal threat.

I'm not holding my breath on Tot/Marinin. They always struck me as perfectly happy to retire, and they have to be looking at how Pet/Tik were treated last season.

Russian ladies sounds almost more grim than Canadian ladies. At least we have Rochette.

 

[feraina]

I found it interesting that the doctor ordered Voronov to do no more than ELEVEN jumps per practice session. That's a very precise number! How could a doctor possibly predict the impact of ten versus eleven versus twelve jumps??

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I happen to like Lutai, but he is not up and coming. Saw him in Tokyo last March.

Urmanov's assessment is more like an 'idunno'.

Joe

 

[hockeyfan228]

I saw Lutai at Warsaw and was very suprised at his performance in Tokyo, because he had been so promising at Euros. I don't think he should be written off after two competitions.

 

[Dodhiyel]

Thank you, maureend. It is always interesting to read Aleksey Urmanov's views. I would say that he has expressed himself cautiously but thoughtfully.

Regarding the newer Russian Single skaters, the problem has seemed to be nerves, with most of the young talent. Many can do the jumps, but need seasoning in the pressure cooker of the major international competitions, so that they can do the jumps when the pressure on them mounts. In the end, it is not necessarily the best skater (best stroker, best jumper, etc.) that competes most effectively; it is often the skater whose confidence can carry them successfully through a program when it matters most. Sometimes a method of coaching or type of system which brings the skater along from childhood, can produce this confidence; sometimes it is more a matter of personal emotional chemistry. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of the amount of time itself, spent under that pressure, that ripens the skater's confidence. When Plyushchenko won at the most recent Olympics, he seemed to have developed that kind of confidence; it showed in his manner. He seemed to be "throwing down the gauntlet". It remains to be seen which of the younger skaters will be able to reach that point. As for Plyushchenko himself, he has skated successfully without much seasonal participation in the usual GP contests, and perhaps he thinks he can do this again. Lambiel did well at a Worlds after his knee surgery, having had to stay out of competition for some time. He seemed "fresh" and enthusiastic, as opposed to emotionally or physically exhausted, so it seems there are advantages to competing early and throughout the season, but also advantages to competing only late in the season...I think it depends upon the variables.