TAHbKA
Cats and garlic lover
- Messages
- 22,188
Andrey Simonenko's interview with Dmitrii Aliev for ria.ru (click on the article if you are not using chrome. If you are using chrome - don't click the article, your computer will use 100% cpu while running it...)
AS: Dmitrii, last season ended with your confession how badly you need a vacation. Had your dream come true?
DA: Yes, it was indeed a dream, I needed some son and a dose of vitamin D. After the Russian cup, which, frankly, I'd rather not even think about, I skated a bit and then took a break and I went to Paris for a couple of days. Just to hang out. In May I went with my team mates Sokolov and Ignatov to Egypt and had a great vacation. Then I had some time off left, so my parents invited me to join them in Turkey. So I had a family vacation as well.
AS: So May was literally hot.
DA: True, in Egypt I didn't want to leave the beach and wanted to spend 24 hours there. Turkey was warm as well, I liked it.
AS: Ok, so the beach, but do you do sports while in vacation?
DA: My dad and I played table tennis a lot. We brought our own rackets and were playing every day.
AS: The youth won?
DA: Yes. But it was a great practice. Of course I also like swimming. If I have a chance I don't leave the pool or the sea. I can't really do without the sports.
AS: and then the training camps began...
DA: Yes, we had 3 - Italy, Kislovodsk and Latvia. In Fondo, Italy we were breaking the new boots and thinking about the new programmes ideas. We ended up doing the SP there. Worked on getting the jumps back - after a long break you need to get in shape and then work with it. Then we moved to Kislovodsk. Like the camp in Italy we shared it with the group of Svetlana Sokolovskaya from TSKA, so there was a competition and sharing the experience. It was a fun interesting work, we had a great friendly environment.
We started working on the new SP, working on the elements. We also worked on the shape and choreography. I loved that there were people from different sports in Kislovodks. For example the break dancers, which is now an Olympic sport. We took some breakdancing lessons. Thanks to our coaches, who we the first to get interested and pass it to us.
AS: Have you tried break dancing before?
DA: I was dancing as a kid, but it was just a hobby. I would perform at my dad's corporation parties, for the fun of it.
AS: But the sports break dance is probably much harder than what you used to do?
DA: Of course it is, so much harder. The coach gave us a master class, it was interesting. And really tough. I didn't even expect it when we first started working on the combinations. But the moves are really interesting and develop one's body.
Also in Kislovodsk we needed to decide on the LP. We started working on one option, we did half a programme and gave it up. I was not enjoying what I was skating. It was too heavy, not my music, not my programme.
We ended up with no LP after Kislovodsk and were panicking slightly. But as it happened just as we came to Latvia we quite spontaneously found a music and started working on the LP. We did all the jump entrances, steps, now we have the details to work on: arms and legs. Then in Latvia the serious work began and I was ready - was skating both programmes, including a full runthroughs, with the jumps and all the elements. At the end of the camp we had the test skates - just like a competition.
AS: If am not mistaken it's the first time your group went to Kislovodsk. Did you feel the altitude?
DA: Yes, it was the first time in Kislovodsk for me. As for the altitude - in Latvia I went through the first two cycles easily and understood the mountains role. I can feel the energy inside my body. Frankly I don't really want to focus on that too much - things go well, it's enough
AS: You are competing with the TSKA guys, especially with Samarin. But it sounds you are good friends off the ice?
DA: We don't mind each other during the practices at all. But there are some interesting competitive moments. For example when in Fondo we were working on the jumps there was a slight competition between us - I think Samarin felt it as well. But being against each other - that's not our story.
AS: Were you spending your days off together?
DA: Of course, we were also sharing a hotel room.
AS: Do you compete with each other except for figure skating?
DA: The games- we like FIFA. Samarin likes playing FIFA a lot. We were holding tournaments.
AS: Who was playing what?
DA: I can't recall everyone, but I played the Madrid team. Am not sure why. In real life I don't really like playing football and don't support any teams.
AS: But you are from St. Petersburg, the city where Zenit became a champion. No emotions about that?
DA: Am really glad for St. Petersburg and I enjoyed watching Zenit games, but I don't follow it closely enough.
AS: your SP music is `Mozart the Rock opera'. Where did the idea come from?
DA: The initial idea was something classical - Nuriev perhaps, a ballet. But then I had an idea to do something classical with a bit of rock. Our choreographer Olga Glinka advised me to watch `Mozart'. I did. Frankly, at first I didn't care much for that music. But then it grew on me and I said let's do it. The theme of the programme is exactly the same as the rock opera. The more I skate it the better I like it, feel the programme.
AS: What is there more of - classics or rock?
DA: First the slow classical part, then rock
AS: Is the LP completely different?
DA: Completely. It took us a while to pick it. First we wanted to try a new theme, perhaps something dancy. We tried and it didn't work. But then we thought - why not use my advantages? I will probably do better with a lyrical theme, will be able to show the gliding. Of course I want to develop and try new styles, but it didn't work this season. The beauty of the skating was gone.
AS: Are you working with the choreographers from your group?
DA: Yes, Olga Glinka and Valentin Molotov.
AS: So how many quads will you do in the SP and how many in the LP?
DA: It's 2 in the SP and 3 in the LP. We want to make it 4 in the LP, but we'll have to work on the entrances.
AS: Which quads do you do?
DA: We first were planning a lutz and a sal in the SP but in Kislovodsk I had a trouble with a blade and was not catching the Salchow, hence for now we removed it. We are working on the programmes with a 4T and a 4Lz. There is no 4S for now in the SP as well.
AS: There was a video in the internet where during one practice you land all quads. Can you repeat it now?
DA: I guess, though it've been a while since I tried the 4F and a 4Loop. The 4T, 4S and a 4Lz I do every practice. Though my boots just broke down, so I have to break a new pair, which, unfortunately, will take a while
AS: Anything crucial?
DA: Don't think so. Just that it happened all of a sudden. After the training camps, just a couple of days ago. Perhaps because I was jumping lots of 4Lz the boot didn't hold. But I already have a new pair and started breaking them, so hope it will be done soon.
AS: What will be your first competition?
DA: Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo. Before that the skates in Moscow.
AS: It seems figure skating is in focus now - the internet is full of topics, discussions and fights. Do you feel any pressure because of that?
DA: No. Perhaps I did a bit last season. Now I gave up the media and the social networks. It all comes from there. Lately I hardly see any headlines or comments. I also try to focus on the positive things.
AS: Is it easier not being in the social networks?
DA: I think so. After all things to tend to influence. People who mind are influenced more. I'm kind of 50/50, so sometimes it would break me down. Now I try not to follow anything. I work, I practice, all goes as it should.
AS: Dmitrii, last season ended with your confession how badly you need a vacation. Had your dream come true?
DA: Yes, it was indeed a dream, I needed some son and a dose of vitamin D. After the Russian cup, which, frankly, I'd rather not even think about, I skated a bit and then took a break and I went to Paris for a couple of days. Just to hang out. In May I went with my team mates Sokolov and Ignatov to Egypt and had a great vacation. Then I had some time off left, so my parents invited me to join them in Turkey. So I had a family vacation as well.
AS: So May was literally hot.
DA: True, in Egypt I didn't want to leave the beach and wanted to spend 24 hours there. Turkey was warm as well, I liked it.
AS: Ok, so the beach, but do you do sports while in vacation?
DA: My dad and I played table tennis a lot. We brought our own rackets and were playing every day.
AS: The youth won?
DA: Yes. But it was a great practice. Of course I also like swimming. If I have a chance I don't leave the pool or the sea. I can't really do without the sports.
AS: and then the training camps began...
DA: Yes, we had 3 - Italy, Kislovodsk and Latvia. In Fondo, Italy we were breaking the new boots and thinking about the new programmes ideas. We ended up doing the SP there. Worked on getting the jumps back - after a long break you need to get in shape and then work with it. Then we moved to Kislovodsk. Like the camp in Italy we shared it with the group of Svetlana Sokolovskaya from TSKA, so there was a competition and sharing the experience. It was a fun interesting work, we had a great friendly environment.
We started working on the new SP, working on the elements. We also worked on the shape and choreography. I loved that there were people from different sports in Kislovodks. For example the break dancers, which is now an Olympic sport. We took some breakdancing lessons. Thanks to our coaches, who we the first to get interested and pass it to us.
AS: Have you tried break dancing before?
DA: I was dancing as a kid, but it was just a hobby. I would perform at my dad's corporation parties, for the fun of it.
AS: But the sports break dance is probably much harder than what you used to do?
DA: Of course it is, so much harder. The coach gave us a master class, it was interesting. And really tough. I didn't even expect it when we first started working on the combinations. But the moves are really interesting and develop one's body.
Also in Kislovodsk we needed to decide on the LP. We started working on one option, we did half a programme and gave it up. I was not enjoying what I was skating. It was too heavy, not my music, not my programme.
We ended up with no LP after Kislovodsk and were panicking slightly. But as it happened just as we came to Latvia we quite spontaneously found a music and started working on the LP. We did all the jump entrances, steps, now we have the details to work on: arms and legs. Then in Latvia the serious work began and I was ready - was skating both programmes, including a full runthroughs, with the jumps and all the elements. At the end of the camp we had the test skates - just like a competition.
AS: If am not mistaken it's the first time your group went to Kislovodsk. Did you feel the altitude?
DA: Yes, it was the first time in Kislovodsk for me. As for the altitude - in Latvia I went through the first two cycles easily and understood the mountains role. I can feel the energy inside my body. Frankly I don't really want to focus on that too much - things go well, it's enough
AS: You are competing with the TSKA guys, especially with Samarin. But it sounds you are good friends off the ice?
DA: We don't mind each other during the practices at all. But there are some interesting competitive moments. For example when in Fondo we were working on the jumps there was a slight competition between us - I think Samarin felt it as well. But being against each other - that's not our story.
AS: Were you spending your days off together?
DA: Of course, we were also sharing a hotel room.
AS: Do you compete with each other except for figure skating?
DA: The games- we like FIFA. Samarin likes playing FIFA a lot. We were holding tournaments.
AS: Who was playing what?
DA: I can't recall everyone, but I played the Madrid team. Am not sure why. In real life I don't really like playing football and don't support any teams.
AS: But you are from St. Petersburg, the city where Zenit became a champion. No emotions about that?
DA: Am really glad for St. Petersburg and I enjoyed watching Zenit games, but I don't follow it closely enough.
AS: your SP music is `Mozart the Rock opera'. Where did the idea come from?
DA: The initial idea was something classical - Nuriev perhaps, a ballet. But then I had an idea to do something classical with a bit of rock. Our choreographer Olga Glinka advised me to watch `Mozart'. I did. Frankly, at first I didn't care much for that music. But then it grew on me and I said let's do it. The theme of the programme is exactly the same as the rock opera. The more I skate it the better I like it, feel the programme.
AS: What is there more of - classics or rock?
DA: First the slow classical part, then rock
AS: Is the LP completely different?
DA: Completely. It took us a while to pick it. First we wanted to try a new theme, perhaps something dancy. We tried and it didn't work. But then we thought - why not use my advantages? I will probably do better with a lyrical theme, will be able to show the gliding. Of course I want to develop and try new styles, but it didn't work this season. The beauty of the skating was gone.
AS: Are you working with the choreographers from your group?
DA: Yes, Olga Glinka and Valentin Molotov.
AS: So how many quads will you do in the SP and how many in the LP?
DA: It's 2 in the SP and 3 in the LP. We want to make it 4 in the LP, but we'll have to work on the entrances.
AS: Which quads do you do?
DA: We first were planning a lutz and a sal in the SP but in Kislovodsk I had a trouble with a blade and was not catching the Salchow, hence for now we removed it. We are working on the programmes with a 4T and a 4Lz. There is no 4S for now in the SP as well.
AS: There was a video in the internet where during one practice you land all quads. Can you repeat it now?
DA: I guess, though it've been a while since I tried the 4F and a 4Loop. The 4T, 4S and a 4Lz I do every practice. Though my boots just broke down, so I have to break a new pair, which, unfortunately, will take a while
AS: Anything crucial?
DA: Don't think so. Just that it happened all of a sudden. After the training camps, just a couple of days ago. Perhaps because I was jumping lots of 4Lz the boot didn't hold. But I already have a new pair and started breaking them, so hope it will be done soon.
AS: What will be your first competition?
DA: Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo. Before that the skates in Moscow.
AS: It seems figure skating is in focus now - the internet is full of topics, discussions and fights. Do you feel any pressure because of that?
DA: No. Perhaps I did a bit last season. Now I gave up the media and the social networks. It all comes from there. Lately I hardly see any headlines or comments. I also try to focus on the positive things.
AS: Is it easier not being in the social networks?
DA: I think so. After all things to tend to influence. People who mind are influenced more. I'm kind of 50/50, so sometimes it would break me down. Now I try not to follow anything. I work, I practice, all goes as it should.
