TAHbKA
Cats and garlic lover
- Messages
- 20,839
Elena Vaytsekhovskaya's interview with Alexandra Trusova for rt.com `It would be cool to land a 4loop'
EV: Alexandra, your first world championship is behind you. How will you remember it?
AT: A weird competition that looked nothing like the Worlds I was imagining. First there were no audience, hence the feeling it's the main competition of the year was kind of smeared. On the other hand I kept reminding myself it's not just any competition but one of the bests of the best. That made me a bit nervious. Last year I was waiting for it, wanted to compete so badly and it was cancelled. Hence now I was just happy to have a chance to skate.
EV: I was present in the practice where you landed all 5 quads from your LP and thought that perhaps it was a mistake putting so much energy in a warm up.
AT: I didn't think so. That practice was no different from the others. I always warm up that way, always do the jumps. I understand I have to skate clean in the competitions and in order to achieve that I have to jump all the time no matter whether it's an official practice or just any practice.
EV: The skaters like saying the fight for the medals on the major competitions begin during the official practices. Did you feel it in Stockholm?
AT: Guess not. Though I was more nervous than normally. But all and all I felt comfortable. I already competed with all these ladies last year, hence knew what will be happening and what should I be prepared for.
EV: With one small difference: previously you always had your mom by your side. Now was the first time you attended a competition without your parents' supervision. Was it hard?
AT: Very unusual. I missed mom a lot. And Dmitrii Mikhailov and even the dog. I really never spent so much time alone in my life. It's a weird feeling. On one hand I was communicating all the time, calling Moscow between the practices and the competitions, spoke to my parents, the coach, but once you hang up - you feel how alone you are. Though I can't say I wasn't ready - I was told only one coach will be able to travel with me to Stockholm.
EV: Were you upset when you learned that?
AT: Yes very. I really wanted not only Evgeni Pluschenko but Dmitrii Mikhailov as well there - that's what I'm used to.
EV: What was the first feeling after the SP where you failed the combo - a shock?
AT: I was telling before the Worlds both the coaches and the parents should I remove the ultra C elements from the programme I'll certainly make a mistake on something easy. I know myself very well in that. It never works that I take out all the ultra C and then skate clean. It's easier for me to set myself for a skate when the programme is harder.
EV: When did you first learn that?
AT: Since I was a kid: if the coaches make my task easier I start making mistakes. It was the same when I was 10 and later. Then I learned more or less how to skate a clean programme with the triple jumps. When we began integrating the quads it all came back: the complicated programmes were better.
EV: After you learned the quads had executing the triple became easier or harder?
AT: I actually recall quite well once I learned the triples I stopped understanding how to land the doubles. When I first landed a 4lz with my hands up I almost lost my triple and started overotating it quite often.
EV: Is it more comfortable jumping rippon?
AT: Lutz and Flip - yes. I think the rippon hands help you getting into the right rotation position. It as if pulls your body up thus making the landing easier.
EV: Compared to how you skated at the beginning of the season had the feeling changed?
AT: It's hard comparing the competitions, it always feels different. I did become much more consistent in the practices. I understand better what am I doing, I feel the programme and the music better. Of course it's a shame not all I planned worked in Stockholm, but think it will one day.
EV: What were you thinking before the LP?
AT: Nothing much, I was just curious. I had a good sleep, did not dream of figure skating, though I do sometimes. I was setting myself, wanted to skate as well as possible.
EV: What do your coaches usually tell you before the skate?
AT: Different things. In general we don't talk too much - my content is quite complicated, hence the coaches are trying not to bother me and not interfer.
EV: When you start skating do you hold the whole programme in your head or go step by step - from one element to the next?
AT: The latter. You don't even have time to be happy when you landed a jump - you need to set up for the next. The emotions are after the skate.
EV: What do you want the most when the competition is over?
AT: Also depends. This competition I really wanted to see the guys skating live. Fortunately we had an opportunity -we were allowed to see the competition from the stands. So I did.
EV: And?
AT: Was impressed. It was cool. And I want to go home. Especially now.
EV: How would you like to be remembered?
AT: Well, wanting to win the Olympics is not worth mentioning - everyone wants it. But I often think it would be so cool to land a 4loop and become the lady who not only attempted all the quads but actually landed them
EV: Alexandra, your first world championship is behind you. How will you remember it?
AT: A weird competition that looked nothing like the Worlds I was imagining. First there were no audience, hence the feeling it's the main competition of the year was kind of smeared. On the other hand I kept reminding myself it's not just any competition but one of the bests of the best. That made me a bit nervious. Last year I was waiting for it, wanted to compete so badly and it was cancelled. Hence now I was just happy to have a chance to skate.
EV: I was present in the practice where you landed all 5 quads from your LP and thought that perhaps it was a mistake putting so much energy in a warm up.
AT: I didn't think so. That practice was no different from the others. I always warm up that way, always do the jumps. I understand I have to skate clean in the competitions and in order to achieve that I have to jump all the time no matter whether it's an official practice or just any practice.
EV: The skaters like saying the fight for the medals on the major competitions begin during the official practices. Did you feel it in Stockholm?
AT: Guess not. Though I was more nervous than normally. But all and all I felt comfortable. I already competed with all these ladies last year, hence knew what will be happening and what should I be prepared for.
EV: With one small difference: previously you always had your mom by your side. Now was the first time you attended a competition without your parents' supervision. Was it hard?
AT: Very unusual. I missed mom a lot. And Dmitrii Mikhailov and even the dog. I really never spent so much time alone in my life. It's a weird feeling. On one hand I was communicating all the time, calling Moscow between the practices and the competitions, spoke to my parents, the coach, but once you hang up - you feel how alone you are. Though I can't say I wasn't ready - I was told only one coach will be able to travel with me to Stockholm.
EV: Were you upset when you learned that?
AT: Yes very. I really wanted not only Evgeni Pluschenko but Dmitrii Mikhailov as well there - that's what I'm used to.
EV: What was the first feeling after the SP where you failed the combo - a shock?
AT: I was telling before the Worlds both the coaches and the parents should I remove the ultra C elements from the programme I'll certainly make a mistake on something easy. I know myself very well in that. It never works that I take out all the ultra C and then skate clean. It's easier for me to set myself for a skate when the programme is harder.
EV: When did you first learn that?
AT: Since I was a kid: if the coaches make my task easier I start making mistakes. It was the same when I was 10 and later. Then I learned more or less how to skate a clean programme with the triple jumps. When we began integrating the quads it all came back: the complicated programmes were better.
EV: After you learned the quads had executing the triple became easier or harder?
AT: I actually recall quite well once I learned the triples I stopped understanding how to land the doubles. When I first landed a 4lz with my hands up I almost lost my triple and started overotating it quite often.
EV: Is it more comfortable jumping rippon?
AT: Lutz and Flip - yes. I think the rippon hands help you getting into the right rotation position. It as if pulls your body up thus making the landing easier.
EV: Compared to how you skated at the beginning of the season had the feeling changed?
AT: It's hard comparing the competitions, it always feels different. I did become much more consistent in the practices. I understand better what am I doing, I feel the programme and the music better. Of course it's a shame not all I planned worked in Stockholm, but think it will one day.
EV: What were you thinking before the LP?
AT: Nothing much, I was just curious. I had a good sleep, did not dream of figure skating, though I do sometimes. I was setting myself, wanted to skate as well as possible.
EV: What do your coaches usually tell you before the skate?
AT: Different things. In general we don't talk too much - my content is quite complicated, hence the coaches are trying not to bother me and not interfer.
EV: When you start skating do you hold the whole programme in your head or go step by step - from one element to the next?
AT: The latter. You don't even have time to be happy when you landed a jump - you need to set up for the next. The emotions are after the skate.
EV: What do you want the most when the competition is over?
AT: Also depends. This competition I really wanted to see the guys skating live. Fortunately we had an opportunity -we were allowed to see the competition from the stands. So I did.
EV: And?
AT: Was impressed. It was cool. And I want to go home. Especially now.
EV: How would you like to be remembered?
AT: Well, wanting to win the Olympics is not worth mentioning - everyone wants it. But I often think it would be so cool to land a 4loop and become the lady who not only attempted all the quads but actually landed them