- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
This is a very interesting interview with Angelica.
http://winter.sport-express.ru/figureskating/reviews/51790/
She speaks about a lot of things. W&P, V&M and D&W.
The aspect of choreography and coaching, weight etc.
Some extracts:
The complete interview here: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...-team-abroad-is-difficult.94171/#post-4407315
Thanks to quiqie for the translation.
http://winter.sport-express.ru/figureskating/reviews/51790/
She speaks about a lot of things. W&P, V&M and D&W.
The aspect of choreography and coaching, weight etc.
Some extracts:
It is always difficult to skate when you are second in your own country. But paradoxically, it is even more difficult when you're the first. This year, when we arrived at the first Grand Prix event in Canada, Kaitlyn and Andrew were stiff as never before. I didn't even quite know what to do when I saw it. But the experience was useful. You need to psychologically cross the line that separates you from the leader, if you are planning to become a long time leader.
I always knew that while Tessa and Scott were natural born dancers, Meryl had never mastered such skating skills and never had such natural talent. Behind her achievements in ice dance, there is a tremendous amount of incredibly hard work, iron discipline and determination. No one else had ever executed such complex elements with such ease. And year after year, they kept working even harder. As a coach, I was amazed. The Canadians had relaxed when they won the 2012 World championships. They decided that they were always going to be first. I think, it was mostly Tessa who had relaxed.
Q: How difficult is it to say to the American or Canadian athletes that he or she has gained weight?
A: Of course, it's a littlle bit easier in Russia. But I say that to my skaters openly. And immediately. If an athlete is going to fight for medals, he must be aware from the very beginning what elite sport is. That there should be discipline, strict control and so on. That the right attitude is a very big part of success. If a skater is not able to control his condition himself, I resort to tough measures.
It is much harder to train a Russian pair abroad. And I would be very cautious considering such proposal.
Q: Why?
A: Russian figure skating federation always tries to control everything. It is understandable, but it creates too many problems for a coach: you need to bring athletes for assessment, and it entails big financial expenses, loss of time.
Before, a program originated from an idea. And choreographic decisions were wrapped around that idea. Sometimes the dance became properly polished only by the end of the season.
Now, you do the elements layout first, and then you start to invent transitions. But the athletes have to be in a good shape already by the time of their first competition. Therefore, you try to set the program in such a way that even without much mileage it looks as a complete program and not a set of elements.
The complete interview here: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...-team-abroad-is-difficult.94171/#post-4407315
Thanks to quiqie for the translation.
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