Stephen Gogolev - a preview of the new season

[Elizabeth]

Stephen has changed coaches and is now training in Irvine, CA, USA under Rafael Arutyunyan but apparently also continues to work some with Lee Barkell who is now at the Granite Club in Toronto.

Stephen made his season debut at a summer competition in the USA - here is a video of his short program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-mzuKwOb64

[Elizabeth]

Stephen's free skate is to a Peter Gabriel medley (The Rhythm of The Heat/Darkness/Red Rain) with choreography by Shae-Lynn Bourne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe8rZ5dlHdA

With a 1st in the SP and a 3rd in the FS, Stephen finished 1st overall in this event.

[kittykins]

Thank you!! Wow, impressive as usual!! This young fellow is going to break through in the near future as one of the best in the world and then there will be no stopping him. He has it all...technical and artistry! His new coaching arrangement is interesting. The Canadians are going south the Americans are going north for coaching it seems, lol. I guess Rafael is the best overall in terms of reputation...in front/behind Brian Orser?! I hope we get a chance to see him at Worlds in Montreal. Somehow I think it is very likely to happen.

[Elizabeth]

<snip> I hope we get a chance to see him at Worlds in Montreal. Somehow I think it is very likely to happen.

I'm afraid that Stephen is only old enough to compete internationally in the junior ranks this season.

[kittykins]

<snip> I hope we get a chance to see him at Worlds in Montreal. Somehow I think it is very likely to happen.

I'm afraid that Stephen is only old enough to compete internationally in the junior ranks this season.

Oh RIGHT! Wow, that slipped my mind...this was called wishful thinking, lol! Thx for the info.

[Kevin]

He appears to have grown a bit since I last saw him. I wonder how that will translate into his jumps and speed? Hopefully it won't be a setback.

[kittykins]

He appears to have grown a bit since I last saw him. I wonder how that will translate into his jumps and speed? Hopefully it won't be a setback.

Oh boy, I see what you mean. He's been so small so he'll have to adjust to this transition. Hopefully he doesn't get TOO tall like Emanuel Sandhu.

[happyheini]

Apart from having grown he also seems to have more confidence, which translate into his powerful performance. That and nice California tan. Way to go Stephen.

[Elizabeth]

A Rafael Aryutunyan Interview [ https://soundcloud.com/user-983930015/n ... -arutunian ] where he talks about Stephen Gogolev (starts around the 51 minute mark):

• very impressed with him overall.
• notes that the biggest unknown is managing growth/injuries over the next few years.
• conditioning is the main thing he wants to work on, but notes that Stephen only came in June, so he hasn't had much time to work on that. Would have preferred if he had come in April, but his parents wanted him to finish out the school year.
• plans to attend at least some of the JGP with him in order to see how he handles it.

[kittykins]

Ok, that's good, but a part of me wishes he'd stayed in Canada to train. I think his parents made the right choice in terms of letting him finish his school year! There are things more important than skating and it sounds like their priorities are right on (speaking as a retired teacher, haha).

[happyheini]

Still the kid to watch and a good hope for the future of Canadian men skaters.

[kittykins]

He definitely is! I imagine he was able to graduate with his peers for grade 8 grad. It's unfortunate kids have to leave home at such a young age, but I know it's so often necessary. Perhaps he'll have family with him...that often happens too.

[fred]

It's hard to leave the safety of Home for he first time. I found I got over it in just a couple of days.

[fred]

It's hard to leave the safety of Home for he first time. I found I got over it in just a couple of days. He's still younger than I was though.