“It is difficult to say whether the club will become a panacea”: what will the creation of the Global Skating Academy give Russian figure skating

“At least something in terms of international activity”

Under the conditions of a complete ban on participation in international competitions, domestic skaters have to be content with domestic starts.

But a possible way out of the situation in the foreseeable future may be performance at the club level.

Similar tournaments have long been organized both in Europe and North America.

Now Russia has taken this path as well.

ISU Honorary Vice President Alexander Lakernik announced the creation of the Global Skating Academy, one of the co-founders of which was himself.

Many other well-known functionaries were among the leaders.

Rita Sonnekein, a member of the ISU technical committee, was appointed president, and Evelyn Rossouchy-Schneider, vice president of the Austrian Figure Skating Federation, was appointed her deputy.

But much more attention was drawn to the composition of the coaching staff, because it included Eteri Tutberidze, as well as her entire team: Sergey Dudakov, Daniil Gleikhengauz, Alexei Zheleznyakov and others.

The main goal of the project is the further development of club figure skating.

“The basis of competitive figure skating are clubs.

They produce skaters, as well as coaches and even judges.

This means that the work of the clubs is extremely important for the development of our species, ”the organization’s official website says.

The Global Skating Academy intends to organize both training camps for skaters and master classes for coaches and judges.

The first two camps for children will take place in Turkey in April and May.

Participants will be divided into four categories based on age and possession of double and triple jumps.

In particular, the latter will include athletes from 10 to 15 years old, capable of performing at least two triples.

Depending on the category, the cost of classes varies: it starts from $800 and ends at $1500.

It is noted that young skaters will have the opportunity to improve their skills, improve the technique of jumping, and also work out rotations.

In addition, choreography lessons and general physical training are provided.

However, Lakernik calls organizing camps for children only the first step.

In his opinion, in the future, thanks to the Global Skating Academy, Russian athletes will again have the opportunity to compete with foreigners, since ISU restrictions do not apply to holding club tournaments.

“The athlete does not represent a country, but a club, and such competitions can be held according to ISU rules.

If the suspension situation continues, this option will become more relevant.

This is not a solution to the problem, but at least something in terms of international activity, ”TASS quotes the honorary vice president of ISU.

He also told how he agreed with Tutberidze and her team on cooperation.

“Before, I would hardly have approached Eteri Georgievna with such a proposal - she had enough international activity in terms of competitions, but now we need to come up with activities outside the country,” Lakernik added.

Finally, he explained the choice of Turkey for organizing the training camp for two reasons: logistical, since Istanbul is connected with many cities of the world by direct flights, and financial: they managed to find an ice rink with reasonable prices there.

Nevertheless, it is still difficult to imagine the participation of figure skaters from other countries in the project.

For example, even the appearance of Sonnekain in a leadership position, according to R-Sport, caused an angry reaction at home.

The experienced functionary, who for 16 years was a member of the ISU technical committee for pairs and singles, was supposed to become the "team leader" of the Belgian team at the 2023 World Championships.

But after it became known about the connections with the Global Skating Academy, they began to consider the option of removing her from her position.

"Opposition can be much stronger"

RT experts spoke cautiously about the innovation.

Olympic champion Maxim Maxaim Trankov expressed the hope that the project would attract the attention of fans, although in figure skating everyone is used to the competition of national teams.

“It is already becoming a reality.

Now we see the creation of the first such club in Russia.

Perhaps this will generate interest.

Times change.

Once upon a time, domestic figure skaters could safely perform at all international competitions, but now this is impossible to imagine.

I perceive such experiments as absolutely normal.

But it is still difficult to say whether the club will become a panacea for our guys, ”said the coach.

And he called participation in the Tutberidze project a huge plus, since everything connected with this mentor is of great interest.

At the same time, Trankov still had questions about how exactly the specialists would work with a large number of wards at the same time.

“I had no contact with the Global Skating Academy.

Nobody called anywhere.

And yes, I wouldn't go there.

I just don't see myself as a club coach who has to work with a number of couples at once.

I have neither experience nor opportunities, ”Trankov added.

In turn, three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina recalled that both European and North American figure skaters have been competing at the club level for many years.

“We are still, in a sense, in the tail.

Of course, our skaters will be able to safely skate in such tournaments without violating the ISU rules, because they do not have an official status.

But the question is: what other clubs will they invite?

Or will we again stew in our own juice?

asked Rodina.

Moreover, she has big doubts about the participation in the competitions of the domestic club of foreigners.

“I cannot call the creation of the Global Skating Academy a way out of this situation.

As you know, changing the places of the terms does not change the sum.

The figure of Tutberidze is certainly capable of attracting athletes from other countries, but it is possible that in the case of cooperation with a Russian coach, they will simply cease to be financed at home, ”complained the three-time Olympic champion.

RT columnist Elena Vaytsekhovskaya fully agreed with her.

She compared Lakernik's project with training camps, which were previously regularly held by many domestic specialists, adjusted for logistical difficulties.

“In essence, this is a solution by Russian coaches of their own problems, no matter what signboard you cover it with.

The first of them to follow this path was the well-known dance specialist Alexei Gorshkov, who in January actually relocated with his entire group from Odintsovo near Moscow to Dubai, ”Vaitsekhovskaya wrote in the Telegram channel.

However, she doubts that the creation of the Global Skating Academy will enable skaters to compete with colleagues from other countries.

“Opposition from the most diverse organizations may be much stronger than it seems now.

At one time, FINA supported the idea of ​​​​creating an international diving center in Kazan, and many developing countries really began to send their athletes there.

But last year, the project was completely curtailed due to sanctions: FINA made it clear that it does not welcome such contacts with Russian specialists.

Accordingly, the center ceased to exist, ”Vaitsekhovskaya summed up.