“Until the basic cost of quads increases, there is no point in including them in programs.” Interview with Khabibullina and Knyazhuk

Greenhouses from last season Natalia Khabibullina And Ilya Kniajouk won two medals at the Grand Prix stages and also finished fourth at the Russian Championship and the Spartakiad of the strongest. At the end of the season, the duo decided to change the coaching team of Sergei Dobroskokov, where they spent five years, and join Nina Moser.

In an interview with , the guys explained how their training process changed after joining the Moser group, the new competition formats and their desire to return to the international scene.

— You just came back from vacation, how did you spend it?

Natasha: The vacation went well, I managed to change the subject a little. We went to Egypt and Izhevsk. We don’t really like big companies, but it so happened that we ended up in the same hotel with Dasha Savkina. We planned to go to Egypt with our families, but it also turned out to be a very friendly vacation. I prefer a mixed pastime: lying and sunbathing in the first part of the day, and activity in the evening.

There is: I like measured and calm holidays: sunbathing on the beach by the sea, doing nothing. Natasha loves walking. We never get tired of each other; apart from training, we have a lot in common. We always have a great time.

— Did you do any sports?

Natasha: Honestly no.

There is: We only had two and a half weeks off. We devoted them to complete relaxation. We got away from all our thoughts for a bit and just rested mentally and physically.

— Your last season was quite successful, but during the main season starts, not everything went well. Maybe after a while you can tell me what went wrong?

⁠Ilya: There are always starts that are not very successful, we will continue to work so that there are the best programs during the main starts of the season.

— Your main goal for last season was to enter the top three couples in the country. Do you think it is realistic for you to compete with Mishina/Gallyamov and Boykova/Kozlovsky at the moment?

Ilya: Nothing is impossible.

Natasha: We need to work hard and move forward. We will compete with all the couples of the national team.

— Last season you participated in team and show jumping tournaments for the first time. Did you like the new competition formats?

Natasha: We participated in similar tournaments only this year; last year it didn’t work out. It’s a very interesting experience for us, indescribable emotions, very cool!

— At the team tournament you were part of Alina Zagitova’s team. What kind of captain is she?

Ilya: We enjoyed participating in this tournament. All the teams supported each other. We ended up being part of Alina Zagitova’s team and we are very happy about it. She was always encouraging and supportive. Our team cared about each other, these are indescribable emotions.

— What memories do you have of the show jumping tournament?

Natasha: We didn’t do very well in the show jumping championship. We hope to do better at the start of next season.

— What do you like most about pair skating: the jump or the pair elements?

Natasha: We like to jump. Not even in the program, but in training, when we have time. We really like to try something new, something that is not in the programs. Support too. All elements are favorites.

— Is there any plan to complicate the content?

Natasha: We don’t plan on making the content more complicated for the next two seasons. We want to focus on stability. The rules aren’t changing – and we don’t have much to change.

– You have made big changes in your life – you moved to the headquarters of Nina Mikhailovna Moser. Has the training process changed much?

There is: Radically changed. A completely different approach to training.

Natasha: We have two to three hours of ice time a day and there are choreographies almost every day. At the training camp we had quite unusual training sessions for figure skating. We did surfing and rock climbing. We are very interested in trying new things. The training process is very interesting, we like it.

— How is Nina Moser as a coach?

There is: Really like. A completely different approach to training, routines, different exercises, a lot of creativity, choreography. I really like working with Ramil Mehdiev.

Natasha: It’s all new for us, because we’ve been skating elsewhere for a long time. Now everything is new, we have a new life.

— Have both programs been installed?

Natasha: Yes, both programs are ready. The short program was choreographed by Anzhelika Alekseevna Krylova, the free program by Anzhelika Krylova and Maxim Stavisky. The programs lasted three days, but we are still working on the short program. We are working on some details.

There is: Ramil Mehdiev and our entire coaching team also contributed to the choreography of both programs. We enjoyed working with all the specialists; it was a very interesting experience.

— Could you tell us about the program ideas?

There is: We will not reveal the music, we will leave it until the screenings.

— What is special about working with Anzhelika Krylova?

There is: Anzhelika Alekseevna has very interesting ideas in terms of transitions and supports. She trains the dancers and offers us interesting transitions. This is not trivial for us. Of course, it was not easy, but we tried.

— This spring you took part in Ilya Averbukh’s tour. Are you very nervous before performing in the show?

Natasha: This is our second year in a row on this tour and we really enjoy putting on a show. We don’t worry too much during the shows, we just try to have fun.

— How do you choose the programs for the show?

There is: The music for the show program was chosen by Ilya Izyaslavich himself.

— How is he as a director?

There is: As we have said more than once, Ilya Averbukh is a genius. When you work with him, ideas come by themselves.

– Don’t you want to take part in a fairy tale show?

There is: The desire is still there. We would really like to play the leading roles. There would be time.

Natasha: While we are competing, the sport comes first and the show is a secondary activity. We love it. As soon as I have more time, I will do it with pleasure.

— Many skaters are now trying their hand at roller shows, would you like to take part in something like that?

There is: Starting next week, we will start roller skating lessons. We will practice some elements of figure skating. For example, todes. Very varied work.

Natasha: We have never skated professionally, so we can’t say what our level is. Let’s try, maybe post something on social media.

— Will you only have such varied training during training camps?

Natasha: We had three weeks of main training camp, where we tried a lot of new activities. Surfing and climbing remain in the training process, and rollerblading will make an appearance.

— Recently, more and more couples have started to try ultra-si elements and have even started to insert them into programs. What do you think about it?

There is: It seems to us that until the basic cost of quadruple elements has been increased, there will be no point in introducing them into the programs.

— Have you tried a quadruple throw or a twist?

Natasha: We haven’t tried the quadruple elements yet, there are many other works besides them.

— What did you think about the simplification of the rules in pair skating?

Natasha: There won’t be any simplifications for the next two seasons, so we’re not thinking about it for now.

— Do you miss international competitions?

There is: We miss you. Of course, I want to show Russian pair skating to the world, visit different countries and travel. But thanks to our federation for not letting us get bored and holding such diverse tournaments.

— Do you follow foreign couples?

Natasha: We only follow competitions where our athletes, acquaintances and friends perform. But no. We love Maria Pavlova and Alexey Svyatchenko, we always support them at competitions.

— Are you friends with many people in the figure skating world?

There is: We communicate with a lot of guys, but it probably can’t be called friendship. We treat everyone with respect.

— Are there any athletes you admire?

There is: For us, these are Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov. Aesthetics of classical pair skating.

Natasha: It seems to us that every couple aspires to this. The way they handle the skate, the way they interact, their coupled elements…

— Where do you study and for whom? Do you want to associate your life with sports in the future?

Natasha: We study together at GCOLIFK. I finished the second year. We are studying to become figure skating coaches. We don’t know yet whether we will continue working in this field. Time will tell. I would probably like to try it, it’s interesting.

— What are your hobbies besides figure skating? What do you do in your free time?

Natasha: Besides figure skating, I enjoy going out with friends, spending time with my family, and I really enjoy shopping and going to cafes.

There is: I like to spend my free time with my brother, sometimes we go to barbecues and play Dota 2.

— What goals will you set for next season?

There is: Skating only according to our programs, showing ourselves completely different: new and mature.

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