Vaitsekhovskaya's interviews from CoC

[TAHbKA]

I have a feeling Lipnitskaya was kind of making fun....
Lipnitskaya: The real Asada is just like in the TV Vaitsekhovskaya speaks to Lipnitskaya for Sport-express.ru

Julia Lipnitskaya debuted in the seniors GP on Friday winning the SP in CoC, leaving the two times world champion and the favourite Mao Asada behind with 63.03 points vs Asada's 62.89.

EV: A year ago you won the JGPF in Quebec. Now it's your first ever seniors GP. Does it feel different?
JL: Not at all. Guess except for the combination (3lz/3t) - am more confident landing it now.

EV: Were you nervious at all?
JL: No, what for?

EV: It is your first serious competition, there are so many people in the crowd, Mao Asada in the same dressing room....
JL: Asada, by the way, is just like in the TV. Nothing special.

EV: I.e. you don't care at all who to compete with? You come to such an event for the first time in your life and you don't even look around?
JL: I do look around on the ice. Don't want to collide with anyone.

EV: You seemed not satisfied with the marks after your skate.
JL: I think the marks for a clean skate could be higher. In Finlandia Trophy in October I got -2 for the combination yet the overall mark was 64.05. It's 63.06 now.

EV: Are you satisfied with the way you executed the elements?
JL: Absolutely. Everything went just as I wanted.

EV: I know you had some problems with the pushing leg at the beginning of the season. Is everything ok now?
JL: Let's say the doctor and the masseur did everything they could.

EV: Was it a lot of work?
JL: It was...

[TAHbKA]

Voronov: the past Voronov was skating in a verge of an injury, the present Voronov skates after recovering from the injury Vaitsekhovskaya speaks to Voronov after the SP for sport-express.ru

The only Russian man to participate the CoC Sergey Voronov finished his SP 3rd. It's quite an achievement as is, though there was a reason to be annoyed: while he managed to land the quad he only added a double to it instead of a tripple. Sergey looked unsatisfied in the mixed zone.

SV: During the step seq the belt went so high that I was afraid it'll tear and will remain on the ice. The thought of a sure deduction crossed my mind.

EV: Nevertheless, you landed the quad
SV: Right. Guess I have started the season. Though I couldn't add the 2nd jump as planned - the landing was a bit shaky.

EV: How do you decide to change one jump with another?
SV: Just like everything in life - spontaneously. I didn't feel the landing. I just felt my body was in a wrong position, which was not comfortable for the jump. So I didn't attempt a tripple.

EV: Comparing your last skate in the previous season and the first this season - what's the difference?
SV: The past Sergey was skating on a verge of an injury, the present - after the injury. That's the difference.

EV: Does your leg bother you now?
SV: Sure it does. The doctors were talking about a surgery and then a possible come back. Yet here I am, standing in the mixed zone talking to you after a not so bad skate. I like the process of overcoming. It became part of my life.

EV: Is it a painful process?
SV: You know, I recently read in a book: there are no results that would make you feel satisfied if you didn't overcome pain and loss gaining it.

EV: I.e. you started to be satisfied with physical pain?
SV: No, I'm not a masochist, I just always keep in mind there are other ways to make a living. I could be a taxi driver for instance...

EV: Does the time difference in China bother you?
SV: Ever since I switched to Morozov's group I stopped paying attention to such things as the time of the practice. So the time difference is not important. I guess it's all in our heads.

EV: Back to your injury: were you doing something about it or it just healed itself?
SV: I went through some procedures. But I think all and all the support of the relatives and my gf helped the most. They made a huge effort to make sure I'm not down. After all it's the 5th time the injury becomes worse again.

EV: What's the gf's name?
SV: Let's not talk about my private life.

EV: I'm asking because I can see a tattoo on your arm saying `Lady D'
SV: I'm not a fan of the Lady Diana, so you can guess what's the gf's name...

[julieann]

EV: What's the gf's name?
SV: Let's not talk about my private life.

EV: I'm asking because I can see a tattoo on your arm saying `Lady D'
SV: I'm not a fan of the Lady Diana, so you can guess what's the gf's name...

That's awesome!

[Kasey]

Well done Voronov!

[TAHbKA]

Bobrova/Soloviev - skating here was harder than in Skate America

The two time European silver medalists in ice dance Bobrova/Soloviev became the first ice dancers to qualify for the GPF: in China, just like in the USA they became 2nd gaining 26 points out of the possible 30. They finished just 1.39 points ahead of their main rivals Weaver/Poje. They were interviewed by Elena Vaitsekhovskaya for sport-express.ru right after their skate.

EV: How much effort did you put in this skate?
DS: It was harder than in the USA. Perhaps because in the USA we had nothing to loose, while in China we realized we might qualify for the GPF. It was hard not to think about it, those thoughts crossed my mind all the time and it bothered the skating. I guess it prevented us from skating completely freely in the SD.

EV: What about the FD?
DS: I disconnected from everything in the morning practice and it worked.

EV: Katia, what about you?
EB: There were several reasons why this competition was hard for me. I will not go into them, but our coach Zhulin after seeing me on the ice realized my state and said : `Katia, you skated that programme so many times that you can relax, put no effort and don't even think it's a competition. Just a regular practice, all is normal'. Those words calmed me.

EV: Was the CoC harder than SA for you too?
EB: Yes. We were skating freer and easier in the USA. We were more emotional there.
DS: I think we'll do better from now on. Those 2 competitions were too important.

EV: Were you taken aback by the 3rd place after the DS?
DS: No.
EB: By the way, it's our 3rd competition with just one week between. In the 13 years we've been skating I can't recall ever having such a tight schedule. On the other hand it disciplines, you stay in a good shape. But it was quite an effort: Finland, USA, now China - there were so many flights and time zones... Good experience though.

EV: Your marks for the FD in China were lower than in the USA. What do you feel about it?
DS: I thought it will be the case before the marks showed on the screen

EV: Did you have doubts about beating the Canadians the 2nd time this season?
DS: I didn't.
EB: I did, but decided not to mind it anyway. I was satisfied with the skate, everything worked, the coach said all was fine, which, if you think of it, is no less important than the placement.

EV: What did you feel when you first started training for the season? After all you received quite a blow in the worlds placing 7th.
EB: It was my fault in Nice. I gave a reason.

EV: Yes, but it's not what I mean: ice dance is a sport where you give a reason just once but you pay for it for the rest of your career. When you decided to leave Kustarova/Alexeeva's group to Zhulin did you have a feeling it was too late?
DS: I did. After all that was said about us last season I realized we were written off. I really wanted to prove it was premature, that we won't give up no matter what.
We had our doubts when we started training in Zhulin's group. On one hand I realized we are a high quality pair and some things should come easy to us. On the other we had to change so much. We were afraid our attempts will not be taken seriously.

EV: When you switched you were a pair with medals and knowing what you worth. On the ohter hand you were offered `to change everything'. Did you mind?
DS: No. We relied completely on Zhulin and Volkov. On our free will.
EB: After the first couple of practices I realized it's a different level of work we never saw before. Our previous coaches Kustarova and Alexeeva gave us so much and I'll always be grateful to them. But we joined a different team and the goals were different, everything was different. I was having so much fun coming to the practices - I can't describe it with words. I wanted to skate so much. It compensated all the doubts. I'm thrilled we made that change. We learned so much.

EV: During the last 2 seasons I had an impression you didn't want to change anything. Everyone were criticizing you. Did you yourself realize you were not progressing?
EB: We spoke to our coaches a lot of times about it. Told them we want to change the style, the image. And it must be said Kustarova tried to do everything she could - she sent us to St. Petersburg, she invited new choreographers.
DS: But it was happening from time to time. In order to make visible changes we had to work differently all the time, every day. Only then we could change enough for the others to see.

EV: Katia and you are quite brave - you switch to a new coach, you are so beautiful and the coach offers you to depict mad people in the programme. Did you agree immediately or did you hesitate?
DS: Zhulin made it sound so interesting that we agreed immediately.
EB: First Shasha offered us 2 variations. We liked the one we are skating now. The dance was right for our emotions. The work was a lot of fun.
DS: Even when something didn't work out during the practice we didn't stress. Zhulin is good in taking the stress off. Like: `It does't work? Really? For Monday you skated quite decently'

EV: Katia, in dance usually the female partner should have a `small' head with an accurate hair style - a low bun. You are skating with a loose hair. Does it get in the way?
EB: Not at all. I wanted to get rid of the bun for a while now. And the make up.

EV: Wait, what about the known fact among the fans you just love the fake eyelashes and all that eye shadow?
EB: I was never really asked whether I like it or not. When the new costumes were brought to the rink I just had to stand still and wait till the try out was over. It never crossed my mind to say `no'. Long skirt? Fine, long skirt. High collar? Fine, high collar. Feathers in hair? Fine, feathers in hair. Just now I realized how great it is when the coach takes your point of view into an account, whatever it is about.

EV: In diving the athletes hold their hands so tight that they cut their fingers with the fingernails. You hold quite tightly in ice dance as well. Yet you, Katia, have long fingernails. How do you deal?
EB: No idea. Many girls do cut their fingernails out of fear cutting their partner. I never scratched Dima even on the practice. Not even when I was skating with the fake fingernails which were twice longer than the current.

EV: If Zhulin offers you to cut your hair next season - will you?
EB: No problem. It'll grow back anyway.

EV: YOu mentioned in the press conference there wasn't enough time to really work on the errors between the competitions. Now you have a whole month. What will you be working on?
DS: The polka. It's kind of nonsense: we get level 4 and 3 in the USA and then in China for the very same elements we get level 3 and 2. The work on the steps seq should be very serious. And the speed. Indeed we'll have now enough time to add some things and take some things away.

EV: During the competition do you know which level you'll get for the steps?
DS: I do. Of course the referees teams are different, but I think we just have to skate in a way that doesn't leave any space for interpretation.
EB: I was upset to see the steps were marked level 2. I was putting so much effort in every move and kept in mind all that was said about hte steps after the SA. We were said we missed just one step to make it level 4 rather than 3. I thought we did all the steps just fine and... level 2. But it happens.

EV: Did you ever cry after seeing the results?
EB: Many times. I'm a very emotional person. I think if I'm really upset about something - not necessarily the marks - there is nothing wrong with showing your emotions.

[Cherub721]

EV: Wait, what about the known fact among the fans you just love the fake eyelashes and all that eye shadow?
EB: I was never really asked whether I like it or not. When the new costumes were brought to the rink I just had to stand still and wait till the try out was over. It never crossed my mind to say `no'. Long skirt? Fine, long skirt. High collar? Fine, high collar. Feathers in hair? Fine, feathers in hair. Just now I realized how great it is when the coach takes your point of view into an account, whatever it is about.

That is awesome. Poor Ekaterina!

[IDC a.k.a. Ritti]

Kudos for saying no!

[TAHbKA]

Lipnitskaya: I can't land doubles
The debut of the 14y.o. Junior world champion in the seniors Grand Prix finished with silver.

The Russian skater lost 4 points to the 2 times world champion Mao Asada. Nevertheless the Russian was unsatisfied with her skate. It was obvious from her facial epxression, but I asked:

EV: Bummered?
JL: Of course.

EV: What happened?
JL: My legs started shaking all of a sudden. It's the first time in my life such thing happened to me.

EV: You have nerves?
JL: I'm not a robot, am I? The practice was fine, so was the warm up. When the music started I felt weird. I couldn't gain speed, couldn't jump. In general I failed in first 2 combinations only, but the rest of the jumps were not like they usually are. I just made myself skate till the end of the programme.

EV: Were you so shaken by the mistakes?
JL: It's not that. Usually if I fail my jumps at the practice my spirits go low and it's hard for me to continue the practice. But I can't walk out in the middle of the competition, can I?

EV: It's an experience though.
JL: Yes, and a needed one.

EV: Mao Asada was skating right before you. Did you see her skate?
JL: No. I never watch the competition if I compete myself.

EV: Was it hard skating last?
JL: I'm used to it. I'm almost always the last to skate.

EV: What about your injured foot?
JL: It didn't bother me.

EV: Your coach Eteri Tutberidze mentioned you started the season with problematic boot. What was it about?
JL: I have a costume made boot this year: I asked it to be bendy, but not breakable. They were too hard. I couldn't move much in them. It took me a while to break them till they were bendy. And I'm used to tie the shoes very tight, otherwise I can't skate. So in the end I broke the boots, but hurt my legs in the process. So one foot was in pain.
I also have trouble with my legs when flying. First time I saw it when was flying to a juniors event in Poland. It's just 1.5 hours flight, but I couldn't put the skate on after - the foot didn't fit. I had to re-tie. In the end of the season was my first long distance flight - Thailand. After a couple of hours in the plain my legs became so big it was scary to watch. It was almost the same now in Shanghai.

EV: Have you ever skated in China before?
JL: No.

EV: What about the jet lag?
JL: It never bothers me. No matter what is the time difference I sleep well.

EV: What is the most important experience you gained on your first senior GP?
JL: YOu have to go on skating even after failing the elements.


EV: I think it's a bit too harsh. Even if the second jump in the combination was double it's not something to worry about so much.
JL: The thing is that I have no idea how to jump the doubles. When I started training in Eteri Tutberidze's group we started with the tripples. So I just go on doing the doubles lik I used to. I'm all over the place on the doubles.

EV: What do you mean?
JL: It's when the free leg is bended too much and as if pulled up. It still happens when I do a 3-2-2, that my free leg in the double is not where it should be or something.

EV: After you won the SP did the thought you might win the whole competition cross your mind?
JL: I never think about it. What if you set yourself for a win and you loose? I just try to think that if I skate well the marks will be high.


EV: Congratulations again for your first seniors competition. You probably really looking forward for your marks to become `seniors'?
JL: I'd have to skate differently for that. If I go on skating as I did today it's a long way till my components will become `senior'

[Domshabfan]

Julia is awesome, her interview does not look like an interview given by 14 year old. I also like how honest she is in these interview.

[Cherub721]

Great attitude from Julia. Her jumps were shaky, but other skaters would've turned that into a popfest or splatfest. Love that she recognizes she has work to do on the components.