#ushakova/nekrasov

[figureskatingcostumes]

Arina Ushakova and Maxim Nekrasov skating to Libertango and a flamenco for their rhythm dance at the 2019 World Junior Championships.

(Source: David W. Carmichael)

[beautifulstorms]

not the russian ice dance switcheroo. classic

[figurelifeflirt]

Rostelecom Stage 5 Entry #9

Senior Free Dance

Pasechnik/Blinov

Thoughts: I’ve seen worse combinations but that being said, I don’t think these outfits matched very well. Liza makes wonderful facial expressions though with her pretty eyes.

Ushakova/Nekrasov

Thoughts: two tears in Arina’s stockings, poor dear. She is such a bright star though. Senior level has dialed Maxim down though. The energy beacon I remember from Junior level is long gone. He’s not boring but he’s not what he used to be either.

Senior Women Short program

Ksenia Guschina

Thoughts: Lots of traveling in the layback. Speed was decent though.

Daria Lopandina

Thoughts: she seemed to be fighting a losing battle with the music

[findthatsynchronicity]

Junior Worlds Ice Dance: Top 10

[twistandtwizzles]

jgpf and russian sweeps | ice dance

2010 | 🥇Monko/Khaliavin 🥈Sinitsina/Zhiganshin 🥉Stepanova/Bukin

2011 | 🥇Sinitsina/Zhiganshin 🥈Yanovskaya/Mozgov 🥉Stepanova/Bukin

2014 | 🥇Yanovskaya/Mozgov 🥈Loboda/Drozd 🥉Popova/Vlasenko

2018 | 🥇Shevchenko/Eremenko 🥈 Ushakova/Nekrasov 🥉Khudaiberdieva/Nazarov

[mimib101]

Junior Russian Nationals 2020 - Ice Dance preview

Picking the three teams who will represent Russia at the Junior World Championships in Tallinn in ice dance is going to be a tough decision. There are so many high quality junior dance teams in Russia this season that is impossible to predict who will come out on top. Here is a preview of some of the teams who will be battling it out for the podium at this event:

*disclaimer: of course scores cannot be accurately compared across competitions - I have put the teams in order of their seasons best, however I think scores on the JGP/F are slightly less lenient than at Junior B competitions, so take the scores with a grain of salt.

1. Arina Ushakova / Maxim Nekrasov

SB: 173.20 at Mentor Torun Cup

Despite being injured for the first half of the season and not having competed on the JGP, Ushakova and Nekrasov go into Nationals with the highest SB of the competitors here. The 2018 JGPF silver medallists looked as strong as they have ever been in Poland last month and aren’t going to give up a JWC spot without a fight. Their greatest strength is their speed and power - they have the fastest twizzles I think I have ever seen, as well as some incredibly fast rotationals lifts.

2. Elizaveta Shanaeva / Devid Naryzhnyy

SB: 171.07 at JGP Russia

Shanaeva and Naryzhnyy have had a really good season. They won both of their JGPs and were the top Russian ice dancers at the JGPF, taking home the bronze medal. However, they haven’t competed in two months unlike a lot of their competitors so it remains to be seen how they will stack up against the rest of these teams. My favourite aspect of their skating is their quirkiness - their free dance is in my opinion one of the most creative of the season, including a really cool choreographic slide.

3. Diana Davis / Gleb Smolkin

SB: 167.17 at Volvo Open Cup

This team has improved a lot over the last couple of seasons. I’m not sure if they are technically as strong as some of the other teams here, however they really do perform. They won the silver medal at both their JGPs, becoming one of the three teams to qualify for the final. Finishing sixth overall there, they are not a lock for the world team, however if another team makes mistakes, they could definitely be on the podium. I really enjoy the softness of their skating in their free dance.

4. Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva / Andrey Filatov

SB: 165.59 at JGP Riga

Elizaveta and Andrey have done extremely well this season considering they have only been skating together for a few months. Qualifying to the JGPF in your first season together is no mean feat, and to be honest, I think they were hurt at the final by skating in the first flight. Elizaveta is the reigning JW silver medalist and is one of the most talented junior ice dancers in the world right now. It has been almost 2 months since we last saw them skate, and with that extra time to gel as a team, I reckon they will be even more improved when we see them next week. The highlight of their skating for me right now is their twizzles - fast, controlled, and perfectly in sync!

5. Irina Khavronina / Dario Cirisano

SB: 164.63 at the Youth Olympic Games

The surprise of the season; Irina and Dario went from not even getting a Junior Grand Prix assignment this season to winning gold at the Youth Olympics with two really great skates. I hadn’t known anything about them before this event but with the momentum from their win there, they could certainly play spoiler at Nationals. They are definitely a more junior team - their programs are very youthful and character driven - which certainly isn’t a bad thing. They are another team with lots of speed; including in their rotational lift.

6. Ekaterina Katashinskaia / Aleksandr Vaskovich

SB: 162.19 at JGP Gdansk

Katashinskaia and Vaskovich did well at their JGPs, finishing on the podium at both events and were alternates for the final. Ekaterina is so young but she has personality for days, which does wonders in helping to sell their programs. They have a way to go in terms of growing in maturity and with each other, however they have a lot of potential as a team. They have a really fun Latin free dance which I can’t help but smile at every time I see it.

7. Sofia Tyutyunina / Aleksandr Shustitsky

SB: 159.15 at the Youth Olympic Games

Another team who will be looking to build on their recent succes are Tyutyunina and Shustitsky. They came second behind their teammates at the Youth Olympics and were also alternates for the JGPF. Unlike the team who placed ahead of them, these two skate with a lot of maturity and I really enjoy both their programs, but especially their free dance. They clearly have a good connection with each other that they are able to portray on the ice, and it really helps to transform their programs. I think they are ones to watch for the future for sure.

[figure-skating-confessions]

“ Loved the dedication Arina Ushakova, Maxim Nekrasov, Avonley Nguyen, Vadym Koleshnik, Yana Buga and Georgy Pokhilyuk had when taking that selfie on the podium in Kaunas. “

[icedanceupstarts]

Arina Ushakova & Maxim Nekrasov || 2021 Russian Junior Nationals

[figureskatinggifs]

Favorite ice dance lifts of the 2018-2019 figure skating season (so far)

[thefinersports]

2019 World Junior Championships Preview: Ice Dance

2019 World Junior Championships Preview: Ice Dance

VANCOUVER, BC – DECEMBER 06: Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva and Nikita Nazarov of Russia compete in the Rhythm Dance portion of the Junior Ice Dance competition at the ISU Junior and Senior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, December, 6, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam – International Skating Union (ISU))

We’re less than a week away from Junior Worlds, and if you…

[figureskatingcostumes]

Arina Ushakova and Maxim Nekrasov's Cha Cha costumes at the 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final and 2018 World Junior Championships.

(Sources: 1 and 2)

[beautifulstorms]

Arina Ushakova/Maxim Nekrasov, FD White Cat, JGP Armenia 2018

[figurelifeflirt]

Rostelecom Stage 5 Entry #4

Senior short dance

Ushakova/Nekrasov

Thoughts: and I thought they would be a little rougher because I think this competition happened right around the time Maxim got covid. They were so good. I have always loved these 2 so very much.

Kirillova/Chegodayev

Thoughts: Mark has had a run of bad outfit choices. Liza is graceful and she has this Chanel Oberlin look to her eyes, just stunning.

Kartashova/Karpov

Thoughts: Ilya’s twizzles were wobbly. And I rarely find Sophia attractive.

Pavlenina/Aleksanian

Thoughts: eek, the lacing on the back of Vlada’s shirt came undone. That must’ve have ben awkward. They handled it well though.

Junior Free Dance

Rusakova/Gagarin

Thoughts: I didn’t know Taisiya had this in her. This was fun. Can I see more?!

[findthatsynchronicity]

Arina Ushakova/Maxim Nekrasov + One Foot Step Sequence

Ushakova: RFO-Rocker⟶RBO to RBI Change of Edge⟶RBI-Counter⟶RFI-Bracket⟶RBO to RBI to RBO Change of Edge⟶RBO Twizzle

Nekrasov: RBI-Rocker⟶RFI-Counter⟶RBI to RBO Change of Edge⟶RBO-Three Turn⟶RFI-Twizzle⟶RBO-Three Turn⟶RFI Bracket

[twistandtwizzles]

Arina Ushakova / Maxim Nekrasov | free dance | russian junior nationals 2020

[mimib101]

I've been missing these two on the JGP this season - looking forward to seeing them (hopefully) at junior nationals ☺️