This weekend a new test skate session for the Russian national team candidates was held in two localities near Moscow. On Saturday Russia’s best skaters performed their Olympic season programs at the Katok.ru skating rink in Gorki-2 (a suburban settlement) and on Sunday at the Ice Palace in the town of Odintsovo. The admittance was granted to a select audience of coaches, judges and a number of guests who were given invitation cards.
On the first day ladies performed their free programs. Alena’s performance was not at all good, as she made quite a number of mistakes on the jumps. One of the reasons for the failure was an unusual decision made by the organizers on Saturday. Though in the morning skaters had been training for the short program, shortly before their departure from Novogorsk ladies were told that they would perform free skating.
Next day, though, the gloomy mood and the strain were completely gone. Alena skated her short program clean to the applause of the audience. She did not only avoid any mistakes but also succeeded in expressing the spirit of the upbeat Russian folk dance and conveying her emotions to all those present.
In the end of the second day skaters were given Russian Olympic Team Nominee’s certificates and badges.
Here are some photos taken during the first day of the session. (Pictures of the short program are coming soon).
And here are pictures from the Cup of St. Petersburg. Better late than never!
Alena's interview given to the All Sport news agency is coming soon, too. Follow the updates!
