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Vaytsekhovskaya's interview with Chebotareva for ria.ru (please click the original link...)
EV: Your pupil Stanislava Kosntantinova became 4th at the nationals which were the Olympic team qualifier, and that after getting 0 points for one of her jumps in the LP. Did you imagine she could have made it to the top 3 and the team?
VC: Of course we dream of the highest results and work to make them come true. I’m the first one to have those dreams. But before the Nationals I knew how hard it would be and the goal I set to Konstantinova was to be top 6. She did even more, which is a great new years’ present for me.
EV: She was not upset realizing how close she got to going not only to the Europeans but perhaps the Olympics?
VC: I don’t think it could upset her at all - we both were thinking of top 6. Hence her 4th place is a great result. Being the first alternative in the Olympic season is great.
EV: The new fashion in the ladies skating is not the best for the senior skaters: when the bet is set on the little girls who can do the jumps in the 2nd part of the programme. Your athlete is 17y.o. Did you slow it down on purpose so Konstantinova would not switch to the seniors at the age of 15 or it just happened?
VC: I never rush things when it’s about my pupils. I don’t let them train too much. Hence at the age of 13-14 they simply can’t skate like, say, Eteri Tutberidze’s girls do. They need more time.
EV: Aren’t you afraid their time may never come?
VC: And yet that’s my point of view. I think the big sport should not begin when the athletes are too young. I want my skaters to be healthy when they get to that level and show their best results when they are adults. Figure skating is a huge stress on the spine and the legs. When the kid is too tired with too much skating and working off the ice the possibility of an injury increases.
If the injury happens it takes a long time to recover and all the work that was done is wasted – they have to re-learn everything. I put a lot of effort on preventing and avoiding the injuries, I love my skaters and cherish them. Am sometimes scorned for that. But I don’t have skaters to spare. Those who I do are precious. Hence I will never let them work more if I see the kid is tired.
I know that in Moscow a lot of parents are eager to see how their 15y.o becomes a world champion and would do anything to achieve it.
EV: Does it happen in St. Petersburg as well?
VC: Thank god, no.
EV: I think it’s hard setting the highest goals knowing the base conditions for the adults and the kids are not equal.
VC: I’m motivated by that. When Konstantinova was little she was much behind the other kids her age. But I saw the potential and knew I’d get it out of her. It’s a game. And, as far as I can tell, Stanislava believes the same.
EV: How did you get through the puberty with her? It’s a harsh thing both for the athlete and the coach.
VC: It was tough, just like for anyone else. We spoke a lot, including talking to the parents and there were things I made Stanislava do.
EV: Such as?
VC: Running, checking her weight, eating right, and talking talking, talking….
EV: The physical activity at the practices was not enough? She had to run?
VC: Except for the ice time there is gym two times a week and choreography 4 times a week. I.e. every weekday the athlete does something off the ice. But if I see Stanislava gained a bit of weight I add the running. 40 minutes running a day and problems solved.
The most important during puberty is keeping the weight stable. If you gain too much working on getting back to the right condition becomes harder. You can see now – being 166cm tall Konstantinova weights 51kg. She is not thin and she can take the stress perfectly – her muscles are in perfect conditions.
EV: Two years ago, when we spoke in Bratislava Europeans your pupil Kolyada became 5th and you said you don’t always have an opportunity working with the needed specialists. Have it changed?
VC: It did. Thank our St. Petersburg FS federation and the national one. We got a great specialist on the general strength Mikhail Semenenok, a gliding specialist Alexey Kozlov. Tatiana Kositsina helps me working with the kids and our choreographer Olga Klushnichenko is always here.
This summer she went with Mikhail to Switzerland for a couple of days to work with Lambiel and think they did a wonderful job on the steps. I.e. everything in our group is great and I can’t wish for better conditions.
EV: Mishin said he doesn’t believe the ladies skating will progress towards the quads, but more like the ladies will be landing a 3A. What do you think?
VC: I think the female skating should remain female. It’s hard enough as it is to try to make it even harder.
EV: Does Konstantinova say herself she’d like to attempt a new jump?
VC: We did try a 4S and we do it. Perhaps it’s not doomed, we’ll see. It’s not just about learning a jump. You have to land it in the competitions. It’s hard. Besides, the ladies are competitive without the quad.
EV: do you plan changing Kolyada’s programmes before the Europeans? The jumps, their order?
VC: We will discuss it. Right after the Nationals Mikhail went to Germany to consult the doctors about his back.
EV: What happened?
VC: Nothing major. His back hurts from time to time, like all the skaters’, hence we try not to let it become worse. We didn’t even have time to discuss the nationals. Before thinking of some changes we have to analyze what didn’t work and why. My athletes and I love discussing things.
For example, I see nothing wrong with him falling from the 4S. Yet him missing a 3A and a loop is bad. Everyone knows he has these jumps, yet for some reason he popped the jumps
EV: Do I understand it right that Kolyada’s missing the 4S for the second time is not a big deal?
VC: If it was a jump he can’t do I would have replaced it long ago. But he has no troubles with the 4S in the practices – he lands it confidently. Hence when there is a mistake at the competition it’s a shame. Yet he can’t not jump at the competitions. Where would the polish the programme?
EV: I.e. you’ll risk again at the Europeans putting 3 different quads in the programme?
VC: That’s right
EV: Excuse me if I offend you, but for the last year I keep hearing talks about Kolyada needing to work with a more experienced coach and perhaps choreographer in order to improve. What do you think of these talks? It must reach you as well.
VC: Sure. First I was upset, because as far as I’m concerned those talks behind the coach’s back are not nice. As you can imagine those people tell me different things face to face: that Mikhail’s jumping technique is the best in Russia, his spins are the best, his gliding. Now I stopped paying attention – I have a wonderful pupil with whom we are working together and trust each other. That’s it.
I spent my whole life following the `don’t look for something even better from the good’. If Mikhails’ programmes are different, suit him well why would I doubt my choreographer’s work? Klushnichenko is a huge talent with an unusual approach, the athletes are interested working with her. I would never change her for any other choreographer.
EV: But there is an opinion you should change the `ruling hand’ from time to time so the athlete would have a chance to develop in different directions. It’s what everyone else are doing.
VC: Well, I did tell you about working with Lambiel, who we asked to work in order to add some new energy and we plan continuing the collaboration.
EV: Including choreographing the programmes?
VC: No, that we can do ourselves.
EV: I can’t help thinking you are kind of defending even though am not attacking. Don’t you want to see what would say, Lory Nicol be able to do with your athlete?
VC: If we get such a chance it’ll be Mikhail’s decision. But analyzing Kolyada’s sating I can tell you one thing for sure: all the current mishaps are not about the choreography, but about the jumps. I.e. it’s my work that is lacking, not the choreographer’s. And that’s what we’ll work on. What works least well.
EV: In our first conversation you admitted you were dreaming about the Olympics. Now your pupil is a 2 times National champion, the team leader. Do you have any new worries, fears – feelings you didn’t have before?
VC: Not yet. Perhaps I just didn’t have time to think of it. We’ll celebrate the new year, on 2/1 go to a week long training camp in Finland and on 8/1 move to Novogorsk to prepare to the Europeans. That’s all we are thinking about right now.
EV: Your pupil Stanislava Kosntantinova became 4th at the nationals which were the Olympic team qualifier, and that after getting 0 points for one of her jumps in the LP. Did you imagine she could have made it to the top 3 and the team?
VC: Of course we dream of the highest results and work to make them come true. I’m the first one to have those dreams. But before the Nationals I knew how hard it would be and the goal I set to Konstantinova was to be top 6. She did even more, which is a great new years’ present for me.
EV: She was not upset realizing how close she got to going not only to the Europeans but perhaps the Olympics?
VC: I don’t think it could upset her at all - we both were thinking of top 6. Hence her 4th place is a great result. Being the first alternative in the Olympic season is great.
EV: The new fashion in the ladies skating is not the best for the senior skaters: when the bet is set on the little girls who can do the jumps in the 2nd part of the programme. Your athlete is 17y.o. Did you slow it down on purpose so Konstantinova would not switch to the seniors at the age of 15 or it just happened?
VC: I never rush things when it’s about my pupils. I don’t let them train too much. Hence at the age of 13-14 they simply can’t skate like, say, Eteri Tutberidze’s girls do. They need more time.
EV: Aren’t you afraid their time may never come?
VC: And yet that’s my point of view. I think the big sport should not begin when the athletes are too young. I want my skaters to be healthy when they get to that level and show their best results when they are adults. Figure skating is a huge stress on the spine and the legs. When the kid is too tired with too much skating and working off the ice the possibility of an injury increases.
If the injury happens it takes a long time to recover and all the work that was done is wasted – they have to re-learn everything. I put a lot of effort on preventing and avoiding the injuries, I love my skaters and cherish them. Am sometimes scorned for that. But I don’t have skaters to spare. Those who I do are precious. Hence I will never let them work more if I see the kid is tired.
I know that in Moscow a lot of parents are eager to see how their 15y.o becomes a world champion and would do anything to achieve it.
EV: Does it happen in St. Petersburg as well?
VC: Thank god, no.
EV: I think it’s hard setting the highest goals knowing the base conditions for the adults and the kids are not equal.
VC: I’m motivated by that. When Konstantinova was little she was much behind the other kids her age. But I saw the potential and knew I’d get it out of her. It’s a game. And, as far as I can tell, Stanislava believes the same.
EV: How did you get through the puberty with her? It’s a harsh thing both for the athlete and the coach.
VC: It was tough, just like for anyone else. We spoke a lot, including talking to the parents and there were things I made Stanislava do.
EV: Such as?
VC: Running, checking her weight, eating right, and talking talking, talking….
EV: The physical activity at the practices was not enough? She had to run?
VC: Except for the ice time there is gym two times a week and choreography 4 times a week. I.e. every weekday the athlete does something off the ice. But if I see Stanislava gained a bit of weight I add the running. 40 minutes running a day and problems solved.
The most important during puberty is keeping the weight stable. If you gain too much working on getting back to the right condition becomes harder. You can see now – being 166cm tall Konstantinova weights 51kg. She is not thin and she can take the stress perfectly – her muscles are in perfect conditions.
EV: Two years ago, when we spoke in Bratislava Europeans your pupil Kolyada became 5th and you said you don’t always have an opportunity working with the needed specialists. Have it changed?
VC: It did. Thank our St. Petersburg FS federation and the national one. We got a great specialist on the general strength Mikhail Semenenok, a gliding specialist Alexey Kozlov. Tatiana Kositsina helps me working with the kids and our choreographer Olga Klushnichenko is always here.
This summer she went with Mikhail to Switzerland for a couple of days to work with Lambiel and think they did a wonderful job on the steps. I.e. everything in our group is great and I can’t wish for better conditions.
EV: Mishin said he doesn’t believe the ladies skating will progress towards the quads, but more like the ladies will be landing a 3A. What do you think?
VC: I think the female skating should remain female. It’s hard enough as it is to try to make it even harder.
EV: Does Konstantinova say herself she’d like to attempt a new jump?
VC: We did try a 4S and we do it. Perhaps it’s not doomed, we’ll see. It’s not just about learning a jump. You have to land it in the competitions. It’s hard. Besides, the ladies are competitive without the quad.
EV: do you plan changing Kolyada’s programmes before the Europeans? The jumps, their order?
VC: We will discuss it. Right after the Nationals Mikhail went to Germany to consult the doctors about his back.
EV: What happened?
VC: Nothing major. His back hurts from time to time, like all the skaters’, hence we try not to let it become worse. We didn’t even have time to discuss the nationals. Before thinking of some changes we have to analyze what didn’t work and why. My athletes and I love discussing things.
For example, I see nothing wrong with him falling from the 4S. Yet him missing a 3A and a loop is bad. Everyone knows he has these jumps, yet for some reason he popped the jumps
EV: Do I understand it right that Kolyada’s missing the 4S for the second time is not a big deal?
VC: If it was a jump he can’t do I would have replaced it long ago. But he has no troubles with the 4S in the practices – he lands it confidently. Hence when there is a mistake at the competition it’s a shame. Yet he can’t not jump at the competitions. Where would the polish the programme?
EV: I.e. you’ll risk again at the Europeans putting 3 different quads in the programme?
VC: That’s right
EV: Excuse me if I offend you, but for the last year I keep hearing talks about Kolyada needing to work with a more experienced coach and perhaps choreographer in order to improve. What do you think of these talks? It must reach you as well.
VC: Sure. First I was upset, because as far as I’m concerned those talks behind the coach’s back are not nice. As you can imagine those people tell me different things face to face: that Mikhail’s jumping technique is the best in Russia, his spins are the best, his gliding. Now I stopped paying attention – I have a wonderful pupil with whom we are working together and trust each other. That’s it.
I spent my whole life following the `don’t look for something even better from the good’. If Mikhails’ programmes are different, suit him well why would I doubt my choreographer’s work? Klushnichenko is a huge talent with an unusual approach, the athletes are interested working with her. I would never change her for any other choreographer.
EV: But there is an opinion you should change the `ruling hand’ from time to time so the athlete would have a chance to develop in different directions. It’s what everyone else are doing.
VC: Well, I did tell you about working with Lambiel, who we asked to work in order to add some new energy and we plan continuing the collaboration.
EV: Including choreographing the programmes?
VC: No, that we can do ourselves.
EV: I can’t help thinking you are kind of defending even though am not attacking. Don’t you want to see what would say, Lory Nicol be able to do with your athlete?
VC: If we get such a chance it’ll be Mikhail’s decision. But analyzing Kolyada’s sating I can tell you one thing for sure: all the current mishaps are not about the choreography, but about the jumps. I.e. it’s my work that is lacking, not the choreographer’s. And that’s what we’ll work on. What works least well.
EV: In our first conversation you admitted you were dreaming about the Olympics. Now your pupil is a 2 times National champion, the team leader. Do you have any new worries, fears – feelings you didn’t have before?
VC: Not yet. Perhaps I just didn’t have time to think of it. We’ll celebrate the new year, on 2/1 go to a week long training camp in Finland and on 8/1 move to Novogorsk to prepare to the Europeans. That’s all we are thinking about right now.
