One of the benefits of being on the local team is the familiarity with the territory. The Small Sports Arena has any number of training and conditioning rooms for the athletes and trainers and coaches that are based there, and a quick word in the right ear is all that's required for Yuri and Lilia to secure the use of one of the conditioning rooms for a few hours while the first two groups of skaters go through their warm-ups. It may not be Lilia's own studio space, with a piano and a proper barre, but it has exercise mats and a full-length mirror and a floor that is forgiving enough for dance, and it will do for their purposes this morning.
It is during the pause that follows, as Yuri sits on the floor to drink more water and stretch his legs again, that Lilia speaks words beyond instructions for almost the first time that day. 'You were testing different arm positions on your jumps, in the days before we left,' she says, a neutral observation that is anything but neutral. 'Are you intending to use them to increase your technical difficulty points?'
At her question, Yuri freezes in mid-stretch. He recovers in the next second, though he knows immediately that his pause was a second too long. 'If I have to,' he says, without looking up.
'Hesitation.' Lilia shakes her head. 'You must commit to them fully, without reserve, if you choose to do them. It will throw off your balance if you change your mind at the last second.' But today is not a day for criticism alone, which is why she does not leave it there. 'The program is strong enough without them. You've improved it since we returned from Canada; that much will be evident from the moment you step out onto the ice.'
It had been a very long series of plane rides between Kelowna and St. Petersburg. Plenty of time (save it for Moscow) to think about what he could have done better. 'I won't change anything unless I have to,' Yuri says, drawing his legs up under him in order to get to his feet. 'But if I have to,' he adds, more firmly, as he stands, 'I won't hesitate.'
It's enough of an answer to end their practice on. And it is also nearly time for the men's first warm-up session, so without another word they leave the conditioning room and head down to begin the first day of the Rostelecom Cup.
no subject
For more an hour, in the quiet of their improvised studio, Yuri might as well be in another ballet lesson. Full, deep stretches, some light calisthenics, and a simple set of turns and jumps counted out in the 6/8 time signature of Agape. A pause for some water and additional stretching, and then a set of slow, deliberate adagio movements -- the fondu to rehearse the act of sinking into a jump landing or a sit spin, the devéloppé for strength and control and balance over his working and supporting legs, and others, all counted out to the same time signature as before. In this windowless room they might be anywhere in the world, or nowhere at all; for Yuri, all his focus is bent on his reflection in the mirror, searching for the vision of strength and beauty that Lilia demands of him.
It is during the pause that follows, as Yuri sits on the floor to drink more water and stretch his legs again, that Lilia speaks words beyond instructions for almost the first time that day. 'You were testing different arm positions on your jumps, in the days before we left,' she says, a neutral observation that is anything but neutral. 'Are you intending to use them to increase your technical difficulty points?'
At her question, Yuri freezes in mid-stretch. He recovers in the next second, though he knows immediately that his pause was a second too long. 'If I have to,' he says, without looking up.
'Hesitation.' Lilia shakes her head. 'You must commit to them fully, without reserve, if you choose to do them. It will throw off your balance if you change your mind at the last second.' But today is not a day for criticism alone, which is why she does not leave it there. 'The program is strong enough without them. You've improved it since we returned from Canada; that much will be evident from the moment you step out onto the ice.'
It had been a very long series of plane rides between Kelowna and St. Petersburg. Plenty of time (save it for Moscow) to think about what he could have done better. 'I won't change anything unless I have to,' Yuri says, drawing his legs up under him in order to get to his feet. 'But if I have to,' he adds, more firmly, as he stands, 'I won't hesitate.'
It's enough of an answer to end their practice on. And it is also nearly time for the men's first warm-up session, so without another word they leave the conditioning room and head down to begin the first day of the Rostelecom Cup.