Team we're fewer but still good!

[Xen]

7 hours ago, Altie said:

I think Ghaillaguet has singlehandedly killed figure skating in France (well, with nelson montfort on the media side.. ). We used to be so passionate about figure skating. Now our successful skaters all skate abroad. And I don't think Brian Joubert got a lot of help to build his skating school. Surya Bonali was a star and now lives in the us. Candeloro seems quite bitter about the french fed too in interviews.

So sad.

Reading the replies for that tweet, Gwendel Peizerat tried to run for President of the French Fed, and lost? How the heck did that happen?

Honestly, good for Bruno that he did manage to finally move to a fed that bothers to feed him. How do you expect your skaters to skate if you starve them? o_O

[Altie]

I've just read on a french forum (passion-patinage)

 

"Si un concurrent essaie de monter un staff, il coupe les subventions à ceux qui se sont associés et empêche ceux qui ne sont pas en club d'exercer des fonctions de juges ou d'être dans le panel technique."

 

Which roughly means that when someone else tries to build a team to become president of the federation, he cuts their subventions, and forbids people who are not in clubs to become judge or tech specialists...

 

 

Then later : peizerat has paid for his fight since he's lot invited anymore in club's galas because the fed pressurizes clubs...

 

Candeloro has talked openly against gailhaguet in the past. 

But that's about it...

 

[Xen]

50 minutes ago, Altie said:

I've just read on a french forum (passion-patinage)

 

"Si un concurrent essaie de monter un staff, il coupe les subventions à ceux qui se sont associés et empêche ceux qui ne sont pas en club d'exercer des fonctions de juges ou d'être dans le panel technique."

 

Which roughly means that when someone else tries to build a team to become president of the federation, he cuts their subventions, and forbids people who are not in clubs to become judge or tech specialists...

 

 

Then later : peizerat has paid for his fight since he's lot invited anymore in club's galas because the fed pressurizes clubs...

 

Candeloro has talked openly against gailhaguet in the past. 

But that's about it...

 

...I'm honestly amazed France has any skaters skating for them. That's patriotism on a whole different level. But if this continues too long, I can see a lot of french ice dancer or pairs men trying to get out of the system, and where will that leave French ice dancing?

 

So in short, unless ISU steps in and does something, DG is set for life. This I guess, explains a lot about the issue with the coffee coaster medals and stars at competitions in France. Gods, I feel bad for france, and it's a miracle there are still good skaters from there. A part if me finds it super hard to believe DG used to do figure skating. Really, as someone who has gone through the system, how hard is it to understand the athletes who compete in the same area as him, and what support is needed? And really, if I were a corporate sponsor, why would I want my brand to be associated with this type of person? No need to ask about why funding is a problem.

 

I was wondering why I barely hear anything of Peizerat anymore, not even on coaching which I thought would have been natural considering how good he and Anassina were. Well that explains that.

 

I guess non of the French skaters are allowed to do individual gofundme campaigns? Because I won't mind handing money directly to them, but really don't want to hand it to DG and Co.

[Altie]

2 hours ago, Xen said:

...I'm honestly amazed France has any skaters skating for them. That's patriotism on a whole different level. But if this continues too long, I can see a lot of french ice dancer or pairs men trying to get out of the system, and where will that leave French ice dancing?

 

So in short, unless ISU steps in and does something, DG is set for life. This I guess, explains a lot about the issue with the coffee coaster medals and stars at competitions in France. Gods, I feel bad for france, and it's a miracle there are still good skaters from there. A part if me finds it super hard to believe DG used to do figure skating. Really, as someone who has gone through the system, how hard is it to understand the athletes who compete in the same area as him, and what support is needed? And really, if I were a corporate sponsor, why would I want my brand to be associated with this type of person? No need to ask about why funding is a problem.

 

I was wondering why I barely hear anything of Peizerat anymore, not even on coaching which I thought would have been natural considering how good he and Anassina were. Well that explains that.

 

I guess non of the French skaters are allowed to do individual gofundme campaigns? Because I won't mind handing money directly to them, but really don't want to hand it to DG and Co.

 

Well, skaters are usually children or teenagers when they begin to need serious training, and leaving family and country is not something everybody is ready to do. It's a big sacrifice. And, well, France is a good country to live in, appart from that

 

I don't know if a gofoundme campain would work ? Would it be allowed by the french fed, Idk... I think they still finance some of their champions (too few) - as far as I know, Gabriella, Guillaume, Vanessa and Morgan must get some real help from the fed, still. The most shocking for me in Bruno's story is that he was treated as a "property of the french fed" - while they did nothing for him (and even prevented him to compete in Sochi when they screwed up with his partner's papers).

 

And it's telling than none of the former french champions became a coach in France once they had retired from competitive skating - except Brian Joubert, who'se trying to open his own skating school, but it's not easy. A little voice in my head tells me that Bruno could be the best person to change things, since he's totally independant from the french fed foundings, and knows very well of all the issues. A girl can dream

 

That's why I'm usually quite bothered by the french-bashing you can read about the "french planning event" while, really, it's just people doing their best with litterally no money. As far as I've heard, yes there were plastic stars at TdF last year (and plastic medals at skate america too but nobody never nmentions that), but people at the venue were very nice and enthusiastic and the atmosphere was very warm - which is the most important, I think ?

[Xen]

1 minute ago, Altie said:

 

Well, skaters are usually childs or teenager when they begin to need serious training, and leaving family and country is not something everybody is ready to do. It's a big sacrifice. And, well, France is a good country to live in, appart from that

I don't know if a gofoundme campain would work ? Would it be allowed by the french fed, Idk... I think they still finance some of their champions (too few) - as far as I know, Gabriella, Guillaume, Vanessa and Morgan must get some real help from the fed, still.

But it's telling than none of the former french champions became a coach in France once they had retired from competitive skating - except Brian Joubert, who'se trying to open his own skating school, but it's not easy. A little voice in my head tells me that Bruno could be the best person to change things, since he's totally independant from the french fed foundings, and knows very well of all the issues. A girl can dream

 

That's why I'm usually quite bothered by the french-bashing you can read about the "french planning event" while, really, it's just people doing their best with litterally no money. As far as I've heard, yes there were plastic stars at TdF last year (and plastic medals at skate america too but nobody never nmentions that), but people at the venue were very nice and enthusiastic and the atmosphere was very warm - which is the most important, I think ?

Thanks for the clarifications Altie!

 

I am guessing that the gofundme campaigns would not be allowed. And well, coasters or stars or not, a first place is a first place. I also don't doubt the enthusiasm of the volunteers. But bashing aside, I'm wondering if DG is part of the reason why sponsorships and funding is an issue? I mean, if I were going to be a corporate sponsor, and I knew some of the information just floating around, and the fact the guy who runs this fed was involved in the 2002 scandal, I'd have second doubts about my sponsorship. This is in addition to the issue where they didn't get back to sponsors to explain the cancellations last time which I've heard about. Which was why I was really surprised he's still in.

 

Anyways.....I hope things change. I really loved french skaters growing up. They are probably one of the last remaining powerhouses in western europe.

[Lyyli]

On 21.3.2018 at 11:12 AM, Altie said:

And it's telling than none of the former french champions became a coach in France once they had retired from competitive skating - except Brian Joubert, who'se trying to open his own skating school, but it's not easy. A little voice in my head tells me that Bruno could be the best person to change things, since he's totally independant from the french fed foundings, and knows very well of all the issues. A girl can dream

 

 

Altie, I remembered that Florant Amodio has also started coaching in France. I heard about it when a Finnish skater Sofia Sula started to work with him. I´ve seen him at some competitions too. Olivier Schoenfelder also coaches in France but Fabian Bourzat works with Igor Shpilband in US. Those names came to my mind now.

 

I also read about Bruno´s struggles and his financial problems recently but already seeing his heartbreaking reaction after the final results came out in PC I realized that his journey to Olympic Gold has been extremely hard. Happy that he will be surely be better from now on. Don´t know how much is the reward for the Olys and Worlds champions and medalists in Germany but usually they are notable amounts of money and he will get them for sure. 

 

I heard recently also about some costs of FS for parents. Two synchronized skating coaches were here on TV lately. Both of them have daughters who skate in teams. The other one told that she pays for her own daughter´s skating in top level about 1000 euros a month. The other one said that she pays for her three little girls altogether about 800 a month. 

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[kaeryth]

Fire on the Ice (Fuoco sul Ghiaccio)

• Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte pre-Olympics documentary with translations!

[SparkleSalad]

14 hours ago, ralucutzagy said:

 

 

Kinako tea? Where to get such a thing?!

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[kaeryth]

 

[kaeryth]

To Malaysian fans (or anyone traveling to Malaysia)

 

[ralucutzagy]

 

[ralucutzagy]