Golden Skate interview: Ted Flett talks with Rafael Arutyunyan on coaching Ashley Wagner
Do you take the stairs or the escalator?
Do you take the stairs or the escalator?
Oh...it might be difficult for Ashley...good, that she has a strong personality, and that she is used to difficulties... Arutyunyan seems not to be, as to say, not a psychologist...it is amazing that Ashley takes the best what he can offer/teach to her, and that she has ability to forget/ignore what he cannot offer. It certainly is some kind of maturity, and, yes, determination as well as... it seems to be a good tandem. Amazing, just amazing. I wish there would be someone in her team, who can open her gentle side. She may try classical music. She may to bring out that hidden gentle and subtle side, which is there, in her...
I did hear Ashley say once that at the end of her program she is so tired she doesn't even want to skate to the boards and the kiss and cry. But I also think she is very strong and of course extremely fit. If she is tired towards the end of her program she certainly doesn't show it.One thing I notice about Ashley, probably more than any other current woman skating, is that she never looks tired at the end of her programs. Rafael has her exceptionally fit and well-trained. I think this characteristic really helps her PCS scores in the LP because although other skaters might have better SS or more TR, most of them fizzle out at the end of their long programs. Ashley always looks strong from start to finish.
What's there to be confused about? The message is clear: he's always searching for challenges in his life and would like his top student to do the same. Tough and competitive guy.Well props to the interviewer for nodding his head in agreement instead of my reaction which would have been "what the ???" Elevators vs escalators and couches vs benches, I'm confused.
What's there to be confused about? The message is clear: he's always searching for challenges in his life and would like his top student to do the same. Tough and competitive guy.