2002 Olympics silver medalist in ice dancing, director and producer of ice shows Ilya Averbukh spoke about the specifics of the competition in the context of the exclusion of skaters from international competitions, competition among coaches and the cynicism of the media inventing news about Roman Kostomarov.
– Do you keep a record of the programs that you have put on for the leading Russian figure skaters?
– This year the number is small, but all the performances, in my opinion, are successful. He staged free programs for three students of Alexei Mishin: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Mikhail Kolyada and Evgeny Semenenko. The experience of cooperation with Mark Kondratyuk was very interesting. His «Jazz» in the short program is our joint work.- This season, Russian athletes did not participate in international competitions. Did this somehow affect the requirements for productions?- There were no concessions. Everyone was striving for the maximum complexity of the programs. I have the impression that the leading Russian figure skaters compete in absentia with their foreign rivals. Yes, and the competitive season of our athletes was very busy, for which we must say many thanks to the FFKKR. Although no all-Russian tournament can fully replace the World and European Championships, stages and the Grand Prix Final, the sanctions still affect Russian skaters to a lesser extent than representatives of other sports.
— If the level of the Russian Championship and the Grand Prix Final is even higher in the three types of the program than at the corresponding international competitions, then in dancing we are seeing a certain decline.
I cannot agree with this statement 100%. We haven't seen our best young duo Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin this season. They took a break, but did not announce the end of their careers, the long-term leaders of the national team Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov and Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin. Of those who competed this season, I would single out the winners of the Russian Grand Prix Final Vasilisa Kaganovskaya and Valery Angelopol. The students of Angelica Krylova literally broke into the Russian elite. It's a pity that they missed the Russian championship in Krasnoyarsk because of their partner's illness. If the guys continue in the same spirit, they will be able to express themselves at international competitions. Although in ice dancing you need to constantly be in the top in order to have the necessary authority. It will be more difficult to return positions in this form after the lifting of sanctions than in other disciplines of figure skating. Is there still the proverbial queue for the podium, like back when you danced?
— A certain rating of duets still exists. Although now the criteria by which refereeing is carried out are much more transparent than in my time. Coaches understand how, by putting on a dance, you can beat your opponents.
– Together with Elena Maslennikova you work with the junior duo Alexandra Shinkarenko/Vladislav Mikhailov . Sometimes it seems that not all coaches want to see Ilya Averbukh and his team as colleagues.
— I would not speak so categorically. In the coaching shop, as well as among the figure skaters, there is serious competition. We need to acquire experience and gain authority in the professional circle. I have good relations with all the coaches who work in figure skating. Of course, they are not going to give up their positions just because Ilya Averbukh decided to work as a coach.
– Are you satisfied with the performances of your players this season?
– The duet Shinkarenko/Mikhailov is developing. Yes, the guys do not beat everyone in a row, but they progress during the season. The boy is only 16, the girl is even younger. The duo is now in the making. This is a long process.
— This season, many dance duets, which had just reached a serious level, broke up. How do you explain this?“The trend is very worrying. For some reason, many have decided that in one season you can conquer all the peaks. This has never happened in dance, and I'm sure it won't happen. Champions are those duets that have come a long way together, in which partners feel and understand each other. I would like these words to be heard by those who have been skating together for a long time.
– The winner of the Junior Grand Prix Final Arseniy Fedotov and the champion of Russia Sofya Akatieva recalled with great warmth their experience of participating in the Ice Age. Children project. Will it continue?
— I think that this project has become a real event both in figure skating and on television. It is a pity that there are no plans to continue it yet. Not only Akatieva and Fedotov went through the «Ice Age. Children», but also Nikolai Kolesnikov, Veronika Zhilina, Anastasia Zinina, Maria Kulikova, dancers Kaganovskaya and Shinkarenko/Mikhailov. All these guys are on the line right now. There were many skeptics who argued that children who got a taste of success in a television show so early could become a star. It seems to me that the current successes of the graduates of the project have answered the critics. Everyone gratefully remembers the project, which helped to reveal many facets of the guys' talent. Especially the artistic part. A project like this should return to the screens.
— How difficult is it for you to switch from Ice Age productions to sports programs, from coaching to organizational work?
— I am interested in everything! Everything related to the Heritage school is very important. Now three branches are open: in Essentuki, Simferopol and Stavropol. About 1,500 children are engaged in figure skating and hockey there. Literally in a month we open a skating rink in Evpatoria. Next in line is the opening of another site, in the city of Balabanovo, in the Kaluga region. I try to visit all branches, paying attention to the trainers working there. More recently, he was the director of the Olympic ball. Television projects take a lot of energy. The load is big, but life is very interesting. Of course, it is overshadowed by the sad news about Roman Kostomarov.
— Since we have touched on this topic, is it necessary to speculate on it by publishing unverified information?
br>- Some journalists and bloggers heard the request of Oksana Domnina. I would like to appeal to them once again: the situation is now very difficult. Roma is struggling with a serious illness, and there is no need to escalate passions by publishing 90% invented information. Apart from doctors, parents, Oksana and partly me, no one has accurate information. Only Domnina communicates with the doctors, who decides for herself what to share. We wait and hope that there will be an improvement. I want to say to everyone: think about how the flow of information that has spilled into the public space can affect Roma's family and his children. If you really empathize, go to church and light a candle for Roman's health. season, and suggestions from top coaches?
– So far 100% immersed in work on productions for the upcoming show tournament -programs. It's nice that a quarter of the 24 participants will demonstrate my productions. It's too early to talk about competitive programs.
— Didn't you have a desire to shake the old days yourself and perform in the show programs tournament?
— In depth I wanted my soul, but I'm not the world champion among single skaters! I can’t pull it in a pair.