Lobacheva and Averbukh

Ilia started skating because of his mother at the age of 5. Ilia rather wanted to be a tennis player and said that kids nowadays in Russia learn how to play tennis instead of skating. When Ilia was growing up Russia didn't have any famous tennis players but definitely excelled in skating (Pakhomova/Gorshkov, Rodnina /Saitzev). Irina started skating when she was 6 years old.

Irina and Iia were skating in one group until she was 10. Then she started singles skating and Ilia went into dance.

Ilia Averbukh had previously skated with Marina Anissina and together they won 2 Junior World Championships ( 1990, 1992). He then wanted to skate with Irina, to whom he was married on March 10, 1995.

Irina Lobacheva had skated with Alexei Pospelov finishing 1st in the Nebelhorn Trophy in 1991 and 6th in the Russian Nationals in 1992 before teaming up with Ilia. Together they skate for the club "Twizzl Moscow".

After the Goodwill Games in the summer of 1994 their trainer team moved to Delaware/USA with all of their students to train at the Universiy of Delaware. Irina and Ilia did not want to leave their families in Russia and decided to stay in Moscow. After one year they followed Linnichuk & Karpanossov to once again train with them because they just did not progress in the placements.
Their costumes are made in Russia and designed by a Russian costume designer. They have a tailor's dummy there and once the costumes are finished they are sent to them. Ilia's mother helps with the sewing.

With the busy schedule in Delaware they have a hard time finding friends. Therefore, they miss their families and friends back in Russia a lot. Both have a brother of which Ilia's is 17 years.

They train from 9 -11 am and 10 pm - midnight plus approximately 2 hours off ice with only Sunday off. Since they are wound up after their midnight practice, they divide their sleep between the two practice sessions. So they feel tired quite a bit.

Irina is a great housewife (this is what Ilia said) and likes to keep things in order. On her day off she prepares all the meals for the whole week while Ilia rather relaxes, watches TV and uses his computer. He also bought one for his family, so they can stay in contact easier with Email. He also likes to play tennis and soccer. She enjoys to read and do ballett. In the fairly small town of Newark they miss cultural events. They appreciate New York with its big variety of theaters, to give them new innovation and impulses. For their vacation they try to go to Russia, but also love sunshine and beach. In the summer of 99 for example they enjoyed a 2 week vacation in Egypt.

They only want to continue skating amateur till 2002 or 2004 and then return to Russia because they believe life cannot just be skating. Irina might seek a career in coaching while this will not be an option for Ilia. He would rather go into TV commentating or journalism and use his experience in this field.
Favourite Compulsory Dance: Golden Waltz

Least favourite Compulsory Dance: Paso Doble

Coaches: Natalia Linnichuk & Gennadi Karpanossov (Olympic champions 1980)

Former coaches: L. Kabanova, N. Dybinskaya

Choreographers: Sergei Fokin - Irina Butskova - Nikolay Androsov - Natalia Linnichuk