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Sergey KorolFirst Vice President of the Russian Freestyle Federation, General Director of the Association of Ski Sports
Date of Birth: 01.01.1956
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Early Career
- Swiss Border Incident
- The Role of the Ski Association
- Sanctions and Challenges
- Addressing the Doping Problem
- Collaboration with Anti-Doping Agencies
- The FLGR's Response
- The Case of Nikolai Pankratov
- The Rise of Freestyle Skiing in Russia
- Relocation to Russia
- Assessment of Russian Freestyle Skiers
- Olympic Hopes
- Plans for the Future
- Balancing Traditional and New Disciplines
- Ski Cross Development
- Challenges and Opportunities with Foreign Coaches
- Departure of Former Coach
- Training Facilities and Infrastructure
- Attracting Belarusian Acrobatic Skiers
President of the Russian Freestyle Federation and General Director of the Ski Association
Early Career
In the past, Vladimir Pankratov was a member of the Moscow region federation. Elena Vyalbe, an advisor to Boris Gromov, is known to be a key figure in the federation.
Swiss Border Incident
Pankratov attempted to cross the Swiss border with intravenous infusion equipment, an act that violated international anti-doping regulations. This incident raised many questions and concerns about Pankratov's actions and the overall handling of the situation.
The Role of the Ski Association
The Ski Association, led by Andrey Bokarev, is responsible for facilitating communication between FIS and Russian federations. It also coordinates international calendar submissions. However, until recently, the association maintained a relatively low profile.
Sanctions and Challenges
In June 2011, FIS imposed financial (194,000 Swiss francs) and administrative sanctions on the Ski Association due to multiple doping cases. FIS expressed significant concern and stated that Russia risked disqualification if the issue was not addressed promptly.
Addressing the Doping Problem
The Ski Association launched an investigation and identified several challenges, including a lack of regulatory documentation and poor understanding of international rules among Russian federations. The association collaborated closely with FIS, participating in meetings and submitting written reports.
Collaboration with Anti-Doping Agencies
The Ski Association joined the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and partnered with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to develop a comprehensive anti-doping program. The association also requested the Ministry of Sports to withdraw accreditation from the Russian Ski Federation (FLGR), but this request was not supported.
The FLGR's Response
The FLGR, despite receiving clear instructions from FIS, refused to postpone their conference to address the doping issue. Current FLGR leaders faced scrutiny for their handling of the crisis.
The Case of Nikolai Pankratov
Pankratov, who was not a member of the Russian national team at the time, attempted to change his sporting citizenship to Belarus. However, the FLGR did not approve this request, raising further questions about the federation's cooperation.
The Rise of Freestyle Skiing in Russia
Doping in Freestyle SkiingAleksandr Kavunov, the head coach of the Russian freestyle team, claimed that doping has not been an issue in his experience. However, isolated incidents have been reported in the past.
Relocation to Russia
Kavunov relocated from the United States to Russia after receiving a promising job offer. He believes that Russia offers greater opportunities than he had in America.
Assessment of Russian Freestyle Skiers
Kavunov has a good understanding of Russian freestyle skiers. He acknowledges that some athletes are returning from injuries and that proper rehabilitation is crucial. The team's young skiers are also progressing.
Olympic Hopes
Kavunov and the Ski Association do not have a specific medal target for the Sochi Olympics but aim for a strong performance.
Plans for the Future
Introducing Ski Half-PipeThe Ski Association plans to introduce ski half-pipe, a new discipline that will be featured at the 2012 Youth Olympic Games and may be included in the Olympic program.
Balancing Traditional and New Disciplines
FIS's expansion of freestyle skiing and snowboard events has raised concerns about managing the workload and adequately preparing athletes. The Ski Association aims to prioritize traditional disciplines while exploring new ones.
Ski Cross Development
Ski cross, a relatively new event, requires significant training and coaching. The Ski Association recently hired Austrian coach Mario Reifeltshofer to enhance Russia's performance in this discipline.
Challenges and Opportunities with Foreign Coaches
The Russian Ski Association believes that foreign coaches can bring valuable expertise. However, the association also recognizes the need to retain and develop domestic specialists.
Departure of Former Coach
Andrey Grebennikov's departure as head coach was reportedly due to multiple factors, including difficulties in managing relationships with athletes.
Training Facilities and Infrastructure
Russia currently lacks adequate winter training facilities. The Ski Association is working on building a pool in Novogorsk and exploring other locations.
Attracting Belarusian Acrobatic Skiers
The Ski Association is interested in recruiting Assol and Timofey Slivets, two prominent acrobatic skiers from Belarus. Negotiations are underway, and the athletes may be eligible to compete for Russia after a two-year "quarantine" period.
