TAHbKA
01-02-2011, 01:48 PM
About Gerboldt/Enbert, Arthur Drmitriev jr. (http://www.rian.ru/interview_sport/20101230/315531159.html) By Andrey Simonenko
The main sensation of the Russian nationals in Saransk were the Gerboldt/Enbert's making it to the team. The pair was created from the ex single skater and the Universiade 2009 medalist managed to come 4th and will participate the Europeans in Bern. The success doesn't make their coach - the two time Olympic Champion Arthur Dmitriev over optimistic. In the interview by Andrey Simonenko from r-sport he is quite strict about his son's leaving the coach
AS: Arthur, about two months ago you said you understand Katarina and Alexandr's odds to make it to the team are close to nill.
AD: And I stand behind my words. We are going to the Europeans only because our rivals skated badly. That's it.
AS: So strict? How about the progress in their elements? The throws? In Saranks Katarina landed much more than she did at the Autumn.
AD: It's not about the throws. By the way, technically she've been ready for a while. Just that they lacked experience, so she failed them. Towards the Nationals the guys were in a much better shape and gained some experience. On the other hand she failed the 3S. Landed the throw but missed the jump. I mean - everything is freshly sued and tears all the time. And of course, we have to admit - had the others skated clean we would be 5th. But we were given a chance to be higher and we took it.
AS: Think you are underestimating - it was a different skating they showed here and before. Isn't it?
AD: Well, we were working all the time, of course. So the hard work payed off.
AS: How important the Europeans are now? It would be a shame not to use the chance and during the 1st year of the pair's existence.
AD: Ironically, the Europeans will be much easier for them than the Nationals. There will be less strong rivals than in Russia. And they have nothing to loose in Bern, while in Saransk there was quite alot at sake.
AS: What do you mean nothing to loose? What about a chance to participate the worlds? Don't you assume for a second if they skate well in Bern they might be sent to Japan?
AD: No, I don't. I don't think their skating in Bern will change the Federation's decision.
AS: Even if they beat Bazarova/Larionov?
AD: Well, I do believe in miracles, but not to such an extent. I mean - if Bazarova/Larionov will fail all of their elements and my pair will do everything clean, then may be, otherwise - no chance.
AS: The timing of Enbert's army service is really bad - it falls on their Europeans. When was he drafted?
AD: At the Autumn. He is serving in the inner forces (am not sure what exactly is it). He spent several days in the army barracks. Thanks to the St. Petersburg sports committee support he was able to take his oath as a team member of the country and then was released to train. He has to serve on 30/12-4/1 and be there for at least another week, but we don't know for sure yet.
AS: Wasn't it possible to release him during such an important stage of his career?
AD: There is a chance. We sent the letters to the Ministry of Defense signed by ministry of Sports, the heads of Figure skating Federation etc. I hope they will take things into an account. Besides, their qualifying to the Europeans should be counted as well.
AS: I'd like to hear your thoughts on the skating of another pair from your group - Yuko Kawaguti/Alexandr Smirnov. Do you think their not so brilliant skates are due to all their summer injuries?
AD: Yes, of course. They are still not in their usual shape. And my personal opinion they'll only gain the shape towards March and the Worlds. Of course they are getting better with the season, they are better, I can see that, but they are still far from being 100%.
AS: Will the more or less failure in Saranks spoil Kawaguti/Smirnov's chances to be judged fairly at the Worlds? I mean the known fact the pair n.1 title now belongs to Volosozhar/Trankov, though the difference between them is not that huge...
AD: Everything will depend on how ready they are. Volosozhar/Trankov will not participate the Europeans, while Kawaguti/Smirnov will gain the experience and participate in Bern. We'll see how things go towards the worlds.Most importantly now there are many interesting and very different pairs in Russia. And all of them are top class.
AS: 7 pairs.
AD: And it's wonderful. I always said it's nice winning when the field is strong. Especially when so much work is done - am talking now about Gerboldt/Enbert. It's just that we were given a chance a bit earlier than we expected.
AS: Are you worried they might get star-sickness?
AD: No. What am I here for? If needed - I can put them back on the ground and fast. Within half an hour, I'd say
AS: Did you ever have to?
AD: No, not yet.
AS: Another issue I'd like to talk about - your son's Arthur Dmitriev jr. participation in the Nationals. After the SP he was 2nd with a minor difference from the leader, but he didn't hang on at the LP. Was it the pressure?
AD: No. I think it's the coaches switch he went through recently - switching from Alexey Mishin to Elena Buyanova-Vodorezova. Of course it's all very complicated. Arthur've been skating with the new coach for just three weeks. He still skates the same programmes choreographed by Mishin. They didn't even come up with the common language with the new coach yet, and it's very important. It's a process that takes at least half a year. Besides, Arthur is not yet the top class skater, who can change things so rapidly. We'll see how things work out, but right now the lack of communication between the skater and the coach is obvious.
AS: How did you take his parting with Mishin and moving to Buyanova?
AD: Badly. Really badly. I think one doesn't betray his coach, especially such a coach as Mishin. But that's my personal opinion.
AS: Did you try to talk him out?
AD: Yes, I did, but, unfortunately, it was too late. It was decided by my ex-wife (Tatiana Druchinina) and him. I couldn't defer the decision.
AS: Arthur jr. explains his switch by the lack of attention: Mishin is mainly working with Gachinsky...
AD: You know, you can explain anything. When I will try to explain you something I'll come up with a million of truthful reasons, and they all will be truthful. Again, not the truth, but truthful.
AS: I.e. they will sounds plausible?
AD: Yes.
AS: Another question I can't avoid: six years ago you organized an ice show in St. Petersburg. Do you think of going back to producing shows?
AD: No, I have the followers - Ilya Averbukh, Zhenia Pluschenko. Many guys who skated in my shows remember those days with warmth. It was cool to organize shows on such a high level after the long break.
AS: Why wasn't it successful? Was it not yet the time for `The Ice Age'?
AD: No, I just didn't have money for it. Am a poor man. It's as easy as that
AS: Does your work make you happy?
AD: Yes, I'm glad I work as a coach and indeed happy. I've been doing it my whole life.
AS: Do you see your coaching future in Tamara Moskvina's team?
AD: Yes, absolutely. There are no other options. Our team is really strong and it's not only my opinion. Our rivals agree.
The main sensation of the Russian nationals in Saransk were the Gerboldt/Enbert's making it to the team. The pair was created from the ex single skater and the Universiade 2009 medalist managed to come 4th and will participate the Europeans in Bern. The success doesn't make their coach - the two time Olympic Champion Arthur Dmitriev over optimistic. In the interview by Andrey Simonenko from r-sport he is quite strict about his son's leaving the coach
AS: Arthur, about two months ago you said you understand Katarina and Alexandr's odds to make it to the team are close to nill.
AD: And I stand behind my words. We are going to the Europeans only because our rivals skated badly. That's it.
AS: So strict? How about the progress in their elements? The throws? In Saranks Katarina landed much more than she did at the Autumn.
AD: It's not about the throws. By the way, technically she've been ready for a while. Just that they lacked experience, so she failed them. Towards the Nationals the guys were in a much better shape and gained some experience. On the other hand she failed the 3S. Landed the throw but missed the jump. I mean - everything is freshly sued and tears all the time. And of course, we have to admit - had the others skated clean we would be 5th. But we were given a chance to be higher and we took it.
AS: Think you are underestimating - it was a different skating they showed here and before. Isn't it?
AD: Well, we were working all the time, of course. So the hard work payed off.
AS: How important the Europeans are now? It would be a shame not to use the chance and during the 1st year of the pair's existence.
AD: Ironically, the Europeans will be much easier for them than the Nationals. There will be less strong rivals than in Russia. And they have nothing to loose in Bern, while in Saransk there was quite alot at sake.
AS: What do you mean nothing to loose? What about a chance to participate the worlds? Don't you assume for a second if they skate well in Bern they might be sent to Japan?
AD: No, I don't. I don't think their skating in Bern will change the Federation's decision.
AS: Even if they beat Bazarova/Larionov?
AD: Well, I do believe in miracles, but not to such an extent. I mean - if Bazarova/Larionov will fail all of their elements and my pair will do everything clean, then may be, otherwise - no chance.
AS: The timing of Enbert's army service is really bad - it falls on their Europeans. When was he drafted?
AD: At the Autumn. He is serving in the inner forces (am not sure what exactly is it). He spent several days in the army barracks. Thanks to the St. Petersburg sports committee support he was able to take his oath as a team member of the country and then was released to train. He has to serve on 30/12-4/1 and be there for at least another week, but we don't know for sure yet.
AS: Wasn't it possible to release him during such an important stage of his career?
AD: There is a chance. We sent the letters to the Ministry of Defense signed by ministry of Sports, the heads of Figure skating Federation etc. I hope they will take things into an account. Besides, their qualifying to the Europeans should be counted as well.
AS: I'd like to hear your thoughts on the skating of another pair from your group - Yuko Kawaguti/Alexandr Smirnov. Do you think their not so brilliant skates are due to all their summer injuries?
AD: Yes, of course. They are still not in their usual shape. And my personal opinion they'll only gain the shape towards March and the Worlds. Of course they are getting better with the season, they are better, I can see that, but they are still far from being 100%.
AS: Will the more or less failure in Saranks spoil Kawaguti/Smirnov's chances to be judged fairly at the Worlds? I mean the known fact the pair n.1 title now belongs to Volosozhar/Trankov, though the difference between them is not that huge...
AD: Everything will depend on how ready they are. Volosozhar/Trankov will not participate the Europeans, while Kawaguti/Smirnov will gain the experience and participate in Bern. We'll see how things go towards the worlds.Most importantly now there are many interesting and very different pairs in Russia. And all of them are top class.
AS: 7 pairs.
AD: And it's wonderful. I always said it's nice winning when the field is strong. Especially when so much work is done - am talking now about Gerboldt/Enbert. It's just that we were given a chance a bit earlier than we expected.
AS: Are you worried they might get star-sickness?
AD: No. What am I here for? If needed - I can put them back on the ground and fast. Within half an hour, I'd say
AS: Did you ever have to?
AD: No, not yet.
AS: Another issue I'd like to talk about - your son's Arthur Dmitriev jr. participation in the Nationals. After the SP he was 2nd with a minor difference from the leader, but he didn't hang on at the LP. Was it the pressure?
AD: No. I think it's the coaches switch he went through recently - switching from Alexey Mishin to Elena Buyanova-Vodorezova. Of course it's all very complicated. Arthur've been skating with the new coach for just three weeks. He still skates the same programmes choreographed by Mishin. They didn't even come up with the common language with the new coach yet, and it's very important. It's a process that takes at least half a year. Besides, Arthur is not yet the top class skater, who can change things so rapidly. We'll see how things work out, but right now the lack of communication between the skater and the coach is obvious.
AS: How did you take his parting with Mishin and moving to Buyanova?
AD: Badly. Really badly. I think one doesn't betray his coach, especially such a coach as Mishin. But that's my personal opinion.
AS: Did you try to talk him out?
AD: Yes, I did, but, unfortunately, it was too late. It was decided by my ex-wife (Tatiana Druchinina) and him. I couldn't defer the decision.
AS: Arthur jr. explains his switch by the lack of attention: Mishin is mainly working with Gachinsky...
AD: You know, you can explain anything. When I will try to explain you something I'll come up with a million of truthful reasons, and they all will be truthful. Again, not the truth, but truthful.
AS: I.e. they will sounds plausible?
AD: Yes.
AS: Another question I can't avoid: six years ago you organized an ice show in St. Petersburg. Do you think of going back to producing shows?
AD: No, I have the followers - Ilya Averbukh, Zhenia Pluschenko. Many guys who skated in my shows remember those days with warmth. It was cool to organize shows on such a high level after the long break.
AS: Why wasn't it successful? Was it not yet the time for `The Ice Age'?
AD: No, I just didn't have money for it. Am a poor man. It's as easy as that
AS: Does your work make you happy?
AD: Yes, I'm glad I work as a coach and indeed happy. I've been doing it my whole life.
AS: Do you see your coaching future in Tamara Moskvina's team?
AD: Yes, absolutely. There are no other options. Our team is really strong and it's not only my opinion. Our rivals agree.