http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/325 ... test-eventSkaters Strut Their Stuff at Russian Test EventBy Tatjana Flade
Published: 10/10/12The Russian Federation held its annual test event in mid-September and while many current stars were featured a few were missing due to injuries.
The official test event, which is open to the public and the press, is a smart move drawing attention to the sport at the beginning of each new season.
This year the trials were held over four days. Skaters performed at four different ice rinks; two in Moscow City and two in the Moscow region. Some skaters performed all four days.
MENWhenever Evgeni Plushenko takes to the ice it is news in Russia. The three-time Olympic medalist presented his new free program to three different pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns. For the first time in many years, the 29-year-old went for a quad Salchow in his routine set to “Rondo Capriccioso,” “The Swan” and “Danse Macabre.”
Even though he stepped out of the landing of the quad jump the message was clear: Plushenko means business. He landed seven triples including two triple Axels and is still by far the most consistent competitor among the Russian men. Obviously the program was still new and thus a little slow, but the potential is there.
Plushenko is going for a different look and style this season and it will be interesting to see how this program develops.
He was critical of his performance at this event. “It wasn't my best, obviously. The most important thing for me was to do the quad Salchow. I still have to work a lot on my program. What I showed today was just a draft of what it should be,” the seven-time European champion said. “I've worked a lot on dance elements with (Pasquale) Camerlengo, (Kenji) Miyamoto, David Avdysh and Sergei Petukhov.”
Plushenko will not compete in the Grand Prix Series this season as his main goal is the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
His wife, Jana, who is pregnant, attended the test skate.
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