#shpilevaya and smirnov

[figureskatingcostumes]

Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov's short dance costumes at the 2016 Junior Grand Prix Final, 2017 Junior Russian Nationals and 2017 Junior Worlds.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3 and 4)

[figurelifeflirt]

2022 Junior worlds entry #15

Pairs free Program

Safina/Berulava(GEO)

Thoughts: these two need death spiral lessons, like now

Short dance

Bitadze/Parkhomenko(GEO)

Thoughts: Yulia is so cute. The way her hair just flew around with reckless abandon.

Simova/Aksenov(SVK)

Thoughts: was I supposed to take this program seriously? Because I didn’t.

Kida/Morita(JPN)

Thoughts: there is something so wonderful about Cathy Reed coaching. I think I fell in love with the Reeds even before Shpilevaya/Smirnov, so a really long time ago.

Tkachenko/Kiliakov(ISR)

Thoughts: I don’t remember Liza going blonde. When did she go blonde? It looks adorable

Prever/Dortkol(TUR)

Thoughts: at least Jillian’s sparkles distracted me so I didn’t have to look at Agahan's suspenders.

[thefinersports]

Semi-Recent Developments in Ice Dance

Semi-Recent Developments in Ice Dance

CHELYABINSK, RUSSIA – SEPTEMBER 12: Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen of the United States compete in the Junior Ice Dance Rhythm Dance during day 1 of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating at Traktor Arena on September 12, 2019 in Chelyabinsk, Russia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson – International Skating Union (ISU)/International Skating Union via Getty Images)

If you’re a devoted…

[icedanceupstarts]

Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov

Age: 19/21

Country: Russia

Coach: Alexander Svinin and Irina Zhuk

Began skating together: 2012

Achievements: 2017 Russian Junior National Champion, 2016 Youth Olympic Champion, 2016 Junior Grand Prix Finalist, four time JGP medalists, two time Junior World competitors(5th in 2016, 4th in 2017)

Anastasia was born in Ukraine but has competed for Russia. She has a younger brother, and Grigory has a younger sister. As far as ice dance teams go Anastasia and Grigory are on the shorter side though they do have a decent height difference.

A promising junior team last quad, Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov made their Junior Grand Prix debut at the start of the 2014 JGP season in Courchevel where they captured the bronze. While they failed to medal on the JGP the season after, they rallied in the second half of the season, medaling at Russian Nationals, winning the Youth Olympics, and placing 5th in their debut at Junior Worlds. They followed that with their most successful junior season, winning silver at both of their JGP assignments, qualifying for the JGP Final, winning Russian junior nationals, and finishing 4th at Junior Worlds. Unfortunately their last junior eligible season was cut short after one JGP event due to injuries and several months off the ice, so their debut in the senior ranks is also a comeback.

Shpilevaya/Smirnov are dynamic performers who have already attempted and pulled off a wide range of styles in their programs. While they sometimes struggle to skate big enough to overcome their small size, there is never a lack of commitment to the characters they are portraying. In a field of highly watchable teams, they might have the most charisma of all. They also have a strong, versatile chemistry that shines through all their programs regardless of genre and keeps them connected no matter how much they project to the audience.

As great twizzlers, Shpilevaya/Smirnov are capable of hitting unique, difficult positions and transitioning easily between sets. While their creativity has sometimes led to level trouble in the past, they are always a pleasure to watch. Their lifts are great too, utilizing his strength and her flexibility to create eye catching lifts that are always a highlight. They are also very good at finishing all of their movements and performing their elements to the music.

Senior debuts in ice dance are tough and coming into one having missed an entire year of competitions only makes things tougher. But Shpilevaya/Smirnov are an extremely talented, fun-to-watch team, and worth paying attention to regardless of what results they might see this season. We are absolutely thrilled to have them back on the ice! Keep an eye out for them this weekend at Finlandia!

Watch List:

2014/15 SD- Samba

2014/15 FD- “Out of My Mind”

2015/16 SD- “Somewhere My Love”

2015/16 FD- Umbrellas of Cherbourg

2016/17 SD- “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Air Mail Special”

2016/17 FD- Tarantella

2017/18 SD- “Kiss”

2017/18 FD- Love Story

[findthatsynchronicity]

Welcome to Stationary Lift Heaven...

[figureskatingconfessions]

“Shpilevaya/Smirnov will have far better careers if they represent another country. Anastasia is originally from Ukraine. They can definitely compete with Nazarova/Nikitin and get a world spot in the near future. Otherwise, wasted talent, no chance for Championships and Olympics - which is a shame because they are one of the very few teams who do innovative elements.“

[anewbeginningagain]

Evdokimova/Bazin pattern was so off I was fully expecting them to make a mistake on it... But why did they both looked down at the end of their program?

[ohtheseskaters]

(c)

[figure-skating-confessions]

“ Anastasia Shpilevaya/Igor Smirnov are great and cool “

[wanderlustinwonderland18]

Petition for Shpilevaya/Smirnov to be the replacement at NHK. They truly deserve a spot. Despite finishing more than 8 points ahead of Evdokimova/Bazin at Finlandia, their own fed invited E/B over them... And invited Morozov/Bagin over them ☹️

[figureskatingcostumes]

Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov's rhythm dance costumes at the 2018 Finlandia Trophy and 2019 Russian Nationals. They skated to Tango Amore by Edvin Marton.

(Sources: zhem_chug and veravalenta)

[figurelifeflirt]

Olympics Short Dance

You know, I wanted to take the Russian selection committee and shake them. The hole that has been left in my heart by the greats like Bobrova/Soloviev(RUS) and Shpilevaya/Smirnov(RUS) is not going to be filled by middle of the pack embarrassments like Davis/Smolkin(RUS). Sinistina/Katsalopov(RUS) were gorgeous. Komatsubarra/ Koleto(JPN), even though they are not technically the best, they are so fun in their bright pink outfits. Giles/Poirier(CAN) were my surprise like. The bright orange and the feathers. Oh my dears😊

[peacocksonice]

@rogonov_alex Провели свои контрольные прокаты в школе Натальи Бестемьяновой и Андрея Букина на новом катке в Домодедово. Спасибо за уникальную возможность обкатать программы!

[icedanceupstarts]

2018 Russian Test Skate Free Dances

Stepanova/Bukin

Sinitsina/Katsalapov

Popova/Mozgov

Shpilevaya/Smirnov

Evdokimova/Bazin

Morozov/Bagin

[figureskatingfanblog]

A couple of new pairings! 

It is official - Avonley Nguyen is confirmed to now be paired with Grigory Smirnov, and the two will represent the United States.

Nguyen was previous paired with Vadym Kolesnik, with whom she won the 2020 Junior World title. Smirnov was previously paired with Anastasia Shpilevaya, with whom he was partnered for several years before an injury left her unable to practice.

Another new pairing (in Pairs this time) is that of Russian Maria Pavlova and Hungarian-born Balazs Nagy, who will be competing for Hungary. 

Nagy previously represented the US with Kate Finster.

[findthatsynchronicity]

Remember that time 200+ days ago when I finished a response to an anon by saying “I’m very interested in seeing who ends up with Avonley N” and then my next post was a reblog of Shpilevaya/Smirnov?