Taavi Rand

Taavi Rand

Shtork and Rand in 2011.
Personal information
Full name Taavi Rand
Country represented Estonia
Born (1992-07-17) 17 July 1992
Tallinn, Estonia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Partner Irina Shtork
Former partner Kristin Vaha
Coach Lea Rand, Elena Kustarova, Olga Riabinina
Choreographer Elena Kustarova
Skating club Jääkild FSC
Training locations Tallinn, Moscow, Ventspils, Novogorsk
Began skating 1998
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 132.90
2013 Europeans
Short dance 53.88
2014 Europeans
Free dance 82.39
2013 Europeans

Taavi Rand (born 17 July 1992) is an Estonian ice dancer. With partner Irina Shtork, he is the 2013 International Cup of Nice bronze medalist, the 2013 Ukrainian Open silver medalist, and a four-time Estonian national champion.

Career

Early in his career, Rand skated with Kristin Vaha.

He began competing with Irina Shtork in the 2004–05 season. They debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit in 2006 and placed 22nd in their first appearance at Junior Worlds in 2007. The following season, the duo again finished 22nd at Junior Worlds. They parted ways at the end of the season.

Prior to the 2009–10 season, Shork and Rand decided to re-form their partnership. They competed on the junior level in the first half of the season. At the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, Rand's brother Kristjan Rand and his American partner Caitlin Mallory earned a spot for Estonia in the Olympic ice dancing event. Mallory/Rand ultimately decided not to use it because she would have to renounce her U.S. citizenship in order to receive Estonian citizenship (required only at the Olympics).[1] Estonia gave the spot to its second ice dance team, Shtork/Rand. Making their senior international debut, they placed 23rd at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Shtork/Rand returned to the junior level for the first half of the 2010–11 season, placing 6th and 8th at their two JGP events. They also appeared at one senior event, the 2011 European Championships, finishing 21st. They ended their season at the 2011 World Junior Championships where they placed 10th.

In the 2011–12 season, Shtork/Rand continued to move between the junior and senior levels. They won the silver medal at a JGP event in Estonia. They then placed 14th at the 2012 European Championships, 11th at the 2012 World Junior Championships, and 22nd at the 2012 World Championships.

In 2012–13, Shtork/Rand won their first senior international medals—bronze at the 2013 Cup of Nice and silver at the Volvo Open Cup. They placed a career-best 11th at the 2013 European Championships before finishing 25th at the 2013 World Championships.

Personal life

Taavi Rand's elder brother, Kristjan, is a former ice dancer. Their mother, Lea Rand, is a skating coach in Estonia.

Programs

(with Shtork)

Season Short dance Free dance
2013–2014
[2]
  • Booty Swing
    by Parov Stelar
  • Sixteen Tons
    by Paul Robeson
  • Do You Thing
    by Basement Jaxx
2012–2013
[3]
  • Polka: Cotton Eyed Joe
  • Waltz: Old Country Waltz
  • Polka: Cotton Eyed Joe
  • A Los Amigos
2011–2012
[4][5]
  • Cha Cha: El Diablo anda Suelto
  • Samba: Mujer Latina
    by Thalía
2010–2011
[6]
  • Waltz: Once Upon a December
    (from Anastasia)
Original dance
2009–2010
[7][8]		 Estonian folk:
  • Pärnu Polka
  • Waltz
    by Erni Kasesalu
  • Pärnu Polka
2007–2008
[9]		 Irish jig:
2006–2007
[10]
  • It's a Dog's Life
    by Charlie Chaplin
  • City Lights
    by Charlie Chaplin
  • The Gold Rush
    by Charlie Chaplin

Competitive highlights

(with Shtork)

Results[11]
International
Event 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15
Olympics 23rd
Worlds 22nd 25th 23rd
Europeans 21st 14th 11th 14th 13th
Cup of Nice 3rd
Finlandia 5th 6th
Ice Challenge 6th
Nebelhorn 19th
Ukrainian Open 2nd
Volvo Cup 2nd 5th
MNNT Cup 5th
International: Junior
Junior Worlds 22nd 22nd 10th 11th
JGP Austria 10th 8th
JGP Czech Rep. 11th
JGP Estonia 10th 2nd
JGP Germany 17th
JGP Great Britain 6th
JGP Hungary 18th
JGP Norway 13th
JGP Romania 7th
NRW Trophy 9th J.
Pavel Roman 1st N.
National
Estonian Champ. 3rd 3rd 1st J. 1st J. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
JGP = Junior Grand Prix; Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior

References

  1. ↑ Clarey, Christopher (27 January 2010). "Switching Nations to Find New Skating Partners". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 23 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.
  10. ↑ "Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 5 March 2007.
  11. ↑ "Competition Results: Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND". International Skating Union.

External links

Media related to Taavi Rand at Wikimedia Commons

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