Nina Mozer confirmed the Russian Figure Skating Federation has approved Maxim Trankov, the 2014 Olympic pairs champion with Tatiana Volosozhar, as the coach of Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov in her absence.
“I announced that I’m taking a break and will not work until September of this year, but that does not mean that I throw my athletes to the mercy of fate,” said Mozer. “We are starting a joint collaboration with Maxim Trankov, who will train Tarasova and Morozov in the daily regime in the summer. I will be connected from the second half of August, when the athletes begin training in Sochi. If necessary, I will be more actively connected, ie, we have such a tandem that reveals Maxim in a new role.”
Mozer also confirmed that Robin Szolkowy, who has worked with the team for four years, will remain a member of the coaching team for Tarasova and Morozov. “Robin will continue to work with them and will train the pair together with Maxim. They will find a common language and form of teamwork,” Moser said.
“Robin will take over the technical aspects as he is more of a technical coach. He spent almost four seasons with the team and knows them very well. He can properly motivate them so his task will be the same as before,” Trankov explained.
Mozer said that two more pairs will continue to be trained in the group. “The individual plan of the couple Natalia Zabiyako and Alexander Enbert was also approved,” Moser said, “Apart from them and Tarasova and Morozov, Lina Fedorova and Maxim Miroshkin will continue to train in the group. It’s too early to talk about the future of Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov. We will still have 6-7 juniors and, in general the group, of course, can be replenished during the Olympic cycle, which is just beginning.”
Tarasova and Morozov have decided on their Grand Prix events Trankov said: Skate America and Rostelecom Cup. “We would love to have performed at the Moscow Grand Prix stage, the first couple of countries that love to perform in Russia. The guys say that this is a comfortable and good option for them,” Trankov told reporters. “First, we want to skate early, so that already calmly prepare for the season, so it will be Skate America.”
“We really understand that since the guys are now ranked first in the world, it’s their choice,” added Mozer in reference to Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot not competing next season.
No decision has been made with respect to the Challenger Series.
Sources: TASS, RSPORT.RIA, TASS