Ilia Malinin Fan Thread!

[Sylvia]

While in COS [Colorado Springs in May] he worked with Drew Meekins on a program (possibly for one of his upcoming show appeearances in Japan?).

Ilia also debuted his exhibition program to "Tout l'univers" by Gjon’s Tears at the Dreams on Ice shows in Shin-Yokohama this weekend.

Some of his DOI pics: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuHoYcArOWh/

He's featured in People Magazine's "100 Reasons to Love America": https://www.instagram.com/p/CuFHufrL85H/

 

[Frau Muller]

…

@Frau Muller - do you approve of this music selection?

Yes - especially if it’s the original Lecuona version (all instrumental/composer in piano solo); total elegance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM1J82ryTtg&pp=ygUeTWFsYWd1ZW5hIExlY3VvbmEgaW5zdHJ1bWVudGFs

NOT some wild vocal version from a cave in Andalucía!!!! Such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4DPEEQZagM&pp=ygUVTWFsYWd1ZW5hIGd5cHN5IHZvY2Fs

Or nutso electronic medley:

Malagueña Salerosa

Provided to YouTube by TuneCoreMalagueña Salerosa · CHINGONMexican Spaghetti Westernâ 2010 Rocket Racing Rebels PublishingReleased on: 2010-08-31Auto-generat...

www.youtube.com

 

[Sylvia]

Dreams on Ice in Japan, June 30-July 2 (4 shows)
The Ice tour in Japan, July 22-Aug. 4 (12 shows in 4 cities)

Ilia has been in Irvine, California since he returned from Japan last week - clip of his "easy" looking 4A (from an OSE entry) there today ("Having fun. Part 2"): https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cuc3cI9NOWx/

ETA that Ari Zakarian shared a clip from a different angle (in the stands): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CudzWSSAo4X/

 

[Sylvia]

Can someone ID this version of “Malagueña” performed by Ilia in the Dreams on Ice” broadcast?https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cue5SMXs9LR/

 

[Karen-W]

Can someone ID this version of “Malagueña” performed by Ilia in the Dreams on Ice” broadcast?https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cue5SMXs9LR/

Oh, thank goodness a video of this finally surfaced! I can't identify the version, but maybe @Frau Muller will know?

I know I'm a total Ilia-fangirl, but I really like this music choice and the program so far for him. I can't wait to see it with some more mileage and time to develop.

 

[tony]

Can someone ID this version of “Malagueña” performed by Ilia in the Dreams on Ice” broadcast?https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cue5SMXs9LR/

It's by Benise

Benise - Malaguena

Ole! Filmed at the oldest Bullring in Spain. BENISE, and his Emmy Award Winning cast, returns to PBS with a new World Music and Dance Production 'THE SPANISH...

www.youtube.com

 

[orbitz]

I like that it's not the usual version of Malaguena that we often hear in skating. The choreography itself looks generic to me at this point; There's nothing memorable about it. Hopefully it'll improve.

 

[Frau Muller]

Oh, thank goodness a video of this finally surfaced! I can't identify the version, but maybe @Frau Muller will know?

I know I'm a total Ilia-fangirl, but I really like this music choice and the program so far for him. I can't wait to see it with some more mileage and time to develop.

Seeing my three potential choices in Post 362 above:
It’s not my fave - the soft piano version played by composer Lecuona…but it’s my choice #2 - the high-voltage traditional Andalusian flamenco version that I linked earlier (by Benise)

Benise - Malaguena

Ole! Filmed at the oldest Bullring in Spain. BENISE, and his Emmy Award Winning cast, returns to PBS with a new World Music and Dance Production 'THE SPANISH...

www.youtube.com

…but NOT choice #3 - the wacko hip hop electronic version that I also linked (hurrah for that!).

So Ilia went with my 2nd choice…which has been used in skating before…by USSR-related pairs, I think. (Recently, by US pair, The Mokhovs.) It moves well. I’m sure that he’ll grow with it.

 

[Sylvia]

Fan Zone article by Rachel Lutz (July 18) - we already know his SP music :

Quad God Ilia Malinin Delivers in History-Making Season - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Ilia Malinin, the self-proclaimed "Quad God," made history last season when he successfully landed figure skating's first-ever quadruple Axel in competition.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Malinin is keeping next year's programs close to the vest, but he did reveal he worked with Bourne again. This season, she choreographed both of Malinin's programs.
"They're pretty out of my range, both of them," he said. "I feel like people wouldn't expect me to skate to this type of music or this way, the way the program is built. I think it's very different from what I've done. I think it possibly might be different from what other people have done as well."

Ilia is off to Japan for The Ice, July 22-Aug. 4 (12 shows in 4 cities).

 

[Frau Muller]

Ilia is off to Japan for The Ice, July 22-Aug. 4 (12 shows in 4 cities).

Ah, home away from home!

 

[Sylvia]

Info & updates on THE ICE are being posted in this GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...w-boi-faoi-the-ice.110514/page-3#post-6449492

Ilia's agent Ari Zakarian also is in Japan now and posting clips & pics via his Instagram stories.

 

[Sylvia]

Just a casual 4A+1Eu+3F in practice before his season debut at this week's CS Autumn Classic International in Pierrefonds: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxIq7-TrlTM/

 

[Sylvia]

Forgot to mention that Ilia is attending college classes on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA per his Instagram stories (also in his Team USA bio): https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/ilia-malinin/846
ETA that his 2023-24 program music has been updated at this link now.

His program music is updated in his ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00108049.htm
SP: Malaguena by Roni Benise
FS: Succession (soundtrack) by Nicholas Britell
Choreographer: Shae-Lynn Bourne

 

[barbk]

Just a casual 4A+1Eu+3F in practice before his season debut at this week's CS Autumn Classic International in Pierrefonds: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxIq7-TrlTM/

Just gorgeous!

 

[Sylvia]

Here a clip from Ilia's SP footwork at Autumn Classic International (100.87): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxQBpx4JhPN/

Quotes after his SP: https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/1702711435539763497

Judges sent Ilia Malinin a message loud & clear at worlds: quads are ok, we want more. So his Malaguena (Benise) SP, by Shae-Lynn Bourne & inspired by ballroom dance, has "steps people aren't used to seeing from me."
Will we see the quad axel this season? TBD. "I think last year it was good I went for it .... If things are going well maybe I'll do it the next few events....I'm focusing on artistry."

After his FS: https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/1703225922923438520

Ilia Malinin is happy with the debut of his Succession FS: "It's a unique style for me, out of my comfort zone...If I hear (criticism) that is true and it's something I need to work on, I'll take it and put more effort into working on it, and see how it fits me."
Off-season focuses for Malinin: "Spins were not that great last season. Over the summer, we put a lot more time & effort into spins, into choreo, even the jumps to get them more solid so they have better landings and flow...Took what I had & gave it detail & finish."

ETA that Ilia's FS starts here in the replay: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8o47f2?start=6632

ETA #2 - Ilia posted this photo with Jimmy Ma, Edrian Paul Celestino (PHI) & Ted Barton at ACI ("First competition of the season Reunited with my amazing friends Ready to crush the rest of the season!"): https://www.instagram.com/p/CxTVOekR-E8/

 

[orbitz]

The lateral twist thing-y Ilia did towards the end of his LP looked insane. The move should be called The Malinin from now on.

I like the SP. The LP might grow on me as the season develops.

 

[Sylvia]

Quote from Ilia in the Autumn Classic mixed zone: https://twitter.com/ClaireCloutier/status/1703119576899440670

Ilia Malinin says he wants "to be seen as an innovator & a game-changer within the skating community." Another signature move for him: The final leap in his FS (a butterfly jump with a twist). He calls it the "raspberry twist," because Malinin means "raspberry" in Russian.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting this article link from the U.S. Men's news thread in GSD:

Ilia Malinin: New Look for a New Season

A year ago this month, Ilia Malinin jumped into figure skating history when he landed the first-ever quadruple Axel in Lake Placid, NY. The skating world was stunned by his feat, which made interna…

adivinesport.com

Excerpt from informative new article on Ilia Malinin by @clairecloutier, reporting from Autumn Classic in Montreal:

"... Malinin is now taking college classes at George Mason University in Virginia. This semester, he has an online math class and an on-campus dance class.
“It’s thirty minutes away from my house, so it’s pretty convenient for me,” Malinin said. “I go to school in the morning. The class I’m taking is a modern and contemporary dance class. So it’s also helping me with skating, learning how to improvise a lot better, and with flexibility, balance, and coordination.” "

Falls Church (Virginia) News-Press article by Lynn Rutherford (Sept. 21):

F.C. Area’s Budding Super Star Figure Skater Shines - Falls Church News-Press Online

By Lynn Rutherford Who is this skater, crisply executing staccato steps, hitting musical crescendos with finesse and finishing nearly every movement? He looks familiar, but he’s not the self-proclaimed “quad god.” That was last season. From now on, you can just call the Falls Church area’s Ilia...

www.fcnp.com

Excerpt:

Malinin, accompanied by his father and coach, Roman Skorniakov, was as relaxed as the ambience. He freely mixed with the crowd at Sportplexe Pierrefonds and posed for selfies with excited fans just a half hour before taking the ice for his programs, something that would be distinctly frowned upon at a Grand Prix event or U.S. Championships.
“For the first competition, we wanted to really just see how the programs look overall under pressure, how I am keeping up with stamina,” he said. “We can then go back to practicing and see what small things we need to work on, and from there we can add more challenging technical content.”

All this talk of working on presentation and artistry does not obscure the teenager’s jumping prowess, very likely the greatest the sport has ever seen. His practices in Montreal included quad loops, the only four-revolution jump he has not yet landed in competition. He tried it in his free skate, but opened up and did a double.
“I find it really cool that I’ve landed (five different) quads in competition so far,” Malinin said, resurrecting a touch of last season’s swagger. “Another goal for me is to try this loop, because it’s kind of challenging for me but also because it’s the last one I have left to do. I want to do it, because that way I can put my name out there as landing every quad in competition.”

 

[Sylvia]

Ilia's pre-Skate America media call happened earlier today (Oct. 12) - copying out Figure Skaters Online's 8 consecutive posts on X - link to the first post: https://twitter.com/fsonline/status/1712605225545330870

Taking two courses at George Mason University right now. The family is considering moving to California, which is where choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne is.
"Going to the Olympics is always one of my goals, but I always try to keep it real with my health going into each competition." He likes to focus on each competition.
"When I get on the ice, I just want to get into that zone," (In regards to all of the eyes/pressure being on him at each competition.
He wants to attempt a quad loop and quad Axel in the future, but not during the Grand Prix series. His goal is to make the Final, where he could perform them.
He is also taking a dance class at GMU for his artistry/ trying to make it cleaner. Looks forward to adding a quad loop some time.
"It makes sense to keep doing triple Axels for the base value, but for me, I like to take risks (with the quad Axel). I am going to keep practicing and maybe some day bring it to the long program."
"All of the traveling I have done has opened my eyes. It shows who I am as a person, and it opens my personality in my skating. I put more time and effort in the smaller details."
Still thinks the 'Quad God' is an appropriate nickname. If his body is healthy, he would like to defy physics with his jumping. He wants to try unique jumps and rotations towards the end of the season.

ETA link to Ilia's updated Team USA profile:

Ilia Malinin - Figure Skating - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Ilia Malinin (74) He/Him - CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS World champion (2024) World bronze medalist (2023) World Junior champion (2022) Grand Prix Final champion

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Nick McCarvel's Sept. 20th article after Ilia won his season debut, CS Autumn Classic International in Pierrefonds QC: https://olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-ilia-malinin-comfort-zone-shae-lynn-bourne-choreography

Ilia shared 3 on ice photos from his first day on Japan Open practice ice in Saitama: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyDYOhlrxOw/

A copy of Ilia's Japan Open FS (Oct. 7) video was uploaded yesterday (watch while you can?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpOUxh-10OM

 

[Sylvia]

Posted on USFS' YT channel yesterday (1 min. video) - "Hear from Team USA's own Ilia Malinin on his goals for the 2023 season and what new elements fans can expect to see from him on the ice!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYULI57nqNE

 

[Sylvia]

Copying out the quotes transcribed by @clairecloutier from Ilia's media call in her Twitter/X thread: https://twitter.com/ClaireCloutier/status/1712621031142076848

Ilia Malinin spoke with reporters tonight prior to Skate America. He said his goal at Skate America will be to skate clean, probably without a 4A or 4Lp, with the goal of making the Grand Prix Final. /thread
Malinin's main focus right now is working on the second mark. His family is considering possible relocating to CA (although they haven't decided yet); if they do, the main goal would be to work more often with Shae-Lynn Bourne.
He prefers working with Bourne in person, as he can see her movements & understand her directions better that way. He finds working on choreography over Zoom to be less than ideal.
"Over the next couple of years, I think I'll be able to show more & more of my personality in my skating. Before I was afraid in a way, because of those big elements I had to put a lot of energy into." With those elements now becoming more routine, he can focus on performance.
On his raspberry twist move: "I have it in my long program specifically because it adds that cool vibe and, again, that personality of mine, being sort of chaotic, but in a controlled way."
Despite his current focus on artistry, Malinin remains as committed as ever to upping the ante technically. He aspires to do two quad Axels in a free skate.
Malinin also mentioned trying "a couple new jumps," "a couple combinations," or "more rotations," possibly toward the end of the season, or after this season is finished.
"I want to elevate that jumping aspect. I feel like there's really no limit for me. With, of course ...making sure that everything's healthy. I think that I can push myself in a way to basically defy physics, with all the quads that I'm doing."

 

[aml78]

When did ilia get bad highlights?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

When did ilia get bad highlights?

lmao I texted @SidelineSkater exact same question

 

[Sylvia]

Ilia's not planning to do the 4A in his FS at Skate America but here's the one he landed in practice today as filmed by Johnny Weir rinkside:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715083852119761095

 

[DreamSkates]

Ilia's not planning to do the 4A in his FS at Skate America but here's the one he landed in practice today as filmed by Johnny Weir rinkside:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715083852119761095

Smart choice as he explAined in an interview. He’ll add it later when his goe’s are up. He’s planning a quint also. His eye is on the golden prize -OGM!

 

[tony]

Smart choice as he explAined in an interview. He’ll add it later when his goe’s are up. He’s planning a quint also. His eye is on the golden prize -OGM!

No point to 'plan' a quint at this point. It's not in the code system and would receive 0 points.

For fun? I guess, but then you risk a very severe career-altering injury.

 

[Sylvia]

Ilia's post-SkAm photos ("Fun times at #SkateAmerica. thanks everyone for your messages and support. ") - fun team photo pic here (#2 of 8): https://www.instagram.com/p/CyvuiutrG51/?img_index=2

His interview with Andrea Joyce after his Skate America FS on Saturday (ISU PBs of 310.47 total & 104.06 in SP): https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cys9e7FrDUs/

This fan account posted his interview with Gannon/Weir/Lipinski in the NBC booth (2 clips): https://twitter.com/TheIliaSociety/status/1716268408185192586

Clip of Ilia attempting a lift with Max Fernandez backstage: https://twitter.com/TheIliaSociety/status/1716102772473651385

 

[dinakt]

It is a real joy to watch Ilya. The energy and charisma are infectious and the jumps are pieces of art.

 

[Sylvia]

Ilia was confirmed yesterday for his second Art of Ice tour, February 8-17, 2024 in Switzerland: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyvnK6poVfP/
Link to the thread in GSD: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...-skating-awards-on-sunday-feb-11-2024.111141/

CNN published an article about Ilia's Skate America win: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/22/sport/ilia-malinin-personal-best-skate-america-spt-intl/index.html

NBC Sports' video of his Skate America SP for which he scored 104.06 (geoblocked outside U.S.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHLZ91AqQIA

ETA link to NorthernVirginianMag's recap article:

Vienna Figure Skater Ilia Malinin Wins Skate America Title Again

Ilia Malinin, an 18-year-old figure skater from Vienna, won first place at ISU Grand Prix Skate America this weekend.

northernvirginiamag.com

This publication had a very good feature article on Ilia before 2023 Nationals that I posted in this thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/ilia-malinin-fan-thread.109289/page-8#post-6364127

 

[DreamSkates]

No point to 'plan' a quint at this point. It's not in the code system and would receive 0 points.

For fun? I guess, but then you risk a very severe career-altering injury.

He has had stated he is practicing, and to include in a program. Not “for fun.” Welcome to competitive figure skating at the highest level where dangers lurks at every curve of the blade. See the post in ice dancing and comments about dangerous moves at SA. Nate’s lifting and holding Chock erect from one foot/ankle.