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Post by reut on Jan 23, 2018 7:39:30 GMT 1
Hi all, I'm back and will have some photos, news, updates, quotes, etc. But will need time to arrange all that, especially because I have a lot of "skating" work to do towards Olympics. So (just like Stephane during the meeting, when he talked about "Ice Legends" ) I will need to ask you for patience. pianomaya, thank you SO MUCH for that audio! Still didn't have time to listen to it, but I actually saw Stephane commentating with Cédric and Pascal. And I thought what a pity, we probably won't be able to watch Swiss TV afterwards and won't know what he said. But we can now thanks to you! And thank you to jomeku for translation, of course! (Both your French AND English are better than mine, that's for sure ) tisha, just to clarify, I didn't organize that meeting, I was only a "messenger", but was not involved in any preparations at all, Nadia (you could see her on video) did all the hard work and some girls helped her. Lady translator is helping us every meeting, so it became a nice tradition, Stephane knows her and feels comfortable with her. She is also a fan and she writes here on the board sometimes, so I hope she'll see this. And me too, I'm always grateful to Stephane for finding time for meeting fans, this is not obvious at all, his schedule is crazy packed and he could use this hour even just for additional hour to have a rest (and it was more than an hour this time!). He was in a super wonderful mood that day, he was relaxed and felt comfortable and it shows. (And me too, I agree he looked good that day There are photos on lambiel_ru already and there will be more soon: lambiel-ru.livejournal.com/1081343.html ) Diana's SP was not really "officially" discussed. I asked Stephane in the mixed zone (after Deniss FS) about her, but he didn't say much. He only mentioned that her goal for this competition was also to get technical minimum score for the Worlds. Her practices went well, at least the one I saw was really good. So it's definitely not because of her shape. Hopefully she'll do better at Olympics. I was supposed to have an interview with her that day, after SP. I came earlier to the arena only because of her, but alas. When they came from K&C they didn't even approach the mixed zone area (where I was the only journalist waiting for them, so not a big deal; but she will need to learn how to handle journalists even after such disastrous skates, if she plans to stay in skating).
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Post by reut on Jan 23, 2018 7:41:40 GMT 1
Reut, thanks for all the photos! I'm glad you had an opportunity to go to Moscow for Europeans as well as to Bellinzona for Music on Ice - busy January for you, which is lucky for us! Looking forward to reading your interview with Deniss, who was wonderful at Europeans, even with the mistakes. Hopefully he'll land that quad and rotate all his jumps in Korea - everything else is there, so I guess Stephane did teach him "how to count to eight"!! Thank you! Me too, I'm glad I had that opportunity although it was a bit too close, the timing for the events was not the best. So it was busy January but will be even busier end of January-February for me now, to process all the material I gathered.
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Post by jomeku on Jan 23, 2018 23:25:35 GMT 1
Diana's SP was not really "officially" discussed. I asked Stephane in the mixed zone (after Deniss FS) about her, but he didn't say much. He only mentioned that her goal for this competition was also to get technical minimum score for the Worlds. Her practices went well, at least the one I saw was really good. So it's definitely not because of her shape. Hopefully she'll do better at Olympics. I was supposed to have an interview with her that day, after SP. I came earlier to the arena only because of her, but alas. When they came from K&C they didn't even approach the mixed zone area (where I was the only journalist waiting for them, so not a big deal; but she will need to learn how to handle journalists even after such disastrous skates, if she plans to stay in skating). Thank you for the info! Pity she did not come for the interview. But somehow understandable, right after the SP disaster. She will learn ... (at about her age, Stéphane even run away from K&C once, I remember from old videos )
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Post by reut on Jan 23, 2018 23:39:49 GMT 1
Yes, completely understandable, I wouldn't have wanted to make a long interview with her when she was so very upset. But to give short comment, something, a quote is a simple courtesy, towards a journalist who came especially for her to the mixed zone and towards her fans who didn't know what happened. Maybe we'll do this interview some time later next season(?), maybe we won't. At this point of her career she must be more interested in this interview with me than I am with her.
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Post by reut on Jan 25, 2018 0:53:57 GMT 1
I'm transcribing my mixed zone talk with them now. Here is a little example of how impossible it is to deal with them both when they are in a good mood This part won't be used anywhere, so I can already share it with you. --- I wanted to ask you about the free skate. You change the layout of jumps there constantly. D: It depends on the mood. (Steph laughs) S: We don't need to be that organized. I hope you're joking. S: I am (laughs) No, but seriously... Each competition this season you're trying something else. S: Yeah! Why not? D: We're doing our best to get the maximum... S: Can I answer? OK, I'll just explain you. When you're smart you can use many versions, we know the versions that he can use and it will be, like he said, up to the mood. So how many version do you have? D: We have plan B... S: We have plan B, C, D... We have a couple of them. D: Which was D? Ah, the one which has triple toe not with the triple Axel. S: We have a couple of versions that he knows... D: ...or he can create one in the middle of the program... S: Yes, he is also free to create a new version. D: It's up to the mood... S: So don't expect anything specific and BE READY!
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Post by jomeku on Jan 25, 2018 10:53:41 GMT 1
sounds all very easy ...D:... or he can create in the middle of the program... Actually I think this approach can help, as they sometimes have to change the program, for example after a fall in a combination. But they must be smart, not to repeat a jump. Deniss is ... and he trains for such cases, obviously. Or just for fun. Thank you Reut for the fun story !
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Post by reut on Jan 28, 2018 11:26:09 GMT 1
I was catching up on what was published during Euros. A few things about Deniss & quotes from Stephane. web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/01/17/264814988/fernandez-in-position-to-win-sixth-european-titlegoldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-european-figure-skating-championships-men/Little details I recalled which in my opinion show really well Stephane's attitude as a coach. In Bellinzona he mentioned that at that moment we were talking Noah was competing at Swiss Junior Nationals (and it's his second time there but he is still too young to compete as junior on international level). Then I asked why he decided to take Noémie to Senior Nationas this season, and he answered: "But she already won Junior Nationals" Meaning she needs to do next step, winning title for just winning the title doesn't have any meaning. Another small detail. Deniss was second after his FS with two more skaters to go. Theoretically if one of them failed he could be on the podium. When I came to the mixed zone I asked Stephane if they plan to wait there till the end to see the result and maybe Deniss getting bronze. He said it doesn't matter, he is very glad with how Deniss skated and that was what was the most important.
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Post by maritotoshka on Jan 28, 2018 19:09:14 GMT 1
I was catching up on what was published during Euros. A few things about Deniss & quotes from Stephane. Thank you very much!
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Post by jomeku on Jan 30, 2018 0:32:23 GMT 1
I was catching up on what was published during Euros. A few things about Deniss & quotes from Stephane. web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/01/17/264814988/fernandez-in-position-to-win-sixth-european-titlegoldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-european-figure-skating-championships-men/Little details I recalled which in my opinion show really well Stephane's attitude as a coach. In Bellinzona he mentioned that at that moment we were talking Noah was competing at Swiss Junior Nationals (and it's his second time there but he is still too young to compete as junior on international level). Then I asked why he decided to take Noémie to Senior Nationas this season, and he answered: "But she already won Junior Nationals" Meaning she needs to do next step, winning title for just winning the title doesn't have any meaning. Another small detail. Deniss was second after his FS with two more skaters to go. Theoretically if one of them failed he could be on the podium. When I came to the mixed zone I asked Stephane if they plan to wait there till the end to see the result and maybe Deniss getting bronze. He said it doesn't matter, he is very glad with how Deniss skated and that was what was the most important. " Vasiljevs created sensation when he delivered his beautifully chiseled program, set to 'Recondita Armonia' from Giacomo Pucini's 'Tosca'." I must admit that in the beginning of the season I was a bit ...sceptical with this program, to classical music. I thought it was a bit too much 'Stéphane'. But when Deniss skated it during Euros, it was like a revelation to me: He skated it so strongly, with so much personality and passion like never before, in my opinion. He completely owns this program by now. It created sensation on me too, I had goose bumps. ... (+ thank you, Stéphane, for the beautiful choreography! ). Before next season Deniss "wants to have three quads in FP and two in SP", he says during his Fan Meeting in Moscow. Transcript and translation from Russian here: www.vk.com/@denissvasiljevs_fanpage-fan-meeting-in-moscow-20-january-2018(many thanks for sharing it!!) If Deniss reaches this goal, he will certainly create more sensation soon, I think. (P.s.: In this meeting Deniss also reveals, for example, some peculiarities of 'Team Champéry's cooking habits ) ... " Little details I recalled which in my opinion show really well Stéphane's attitude as a coach (...)" Such nice examples. Great attitudes of a thoughtful coach . I wish "Latvian Team Champéry" all the best in Pyeong Chang. Inspiring times and lots of fun.
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Post by reut on Jan 30, 2018 10:47:52 GMT 1
Let's be realistic, at the moment he doesn't have even one quad in LP, so this plan is ambitious but not possible. You don't wake up one morning with 5 quads in your programs. One goal he achieved currently is that after unsuccessful attempt of quad he is able to continue his program and doesn't fall apart, something which often happens to skaters when they start adding quads to their programs. So it's a nice step forward, but quite a small one. Yeah, that was really funny!
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Post by reut on Feb 4, 2018 12:54:04 GMT 1
A few more "gifts" from my recent travels, all about Deniss. First, some quotes from the mixed zone, questions were asked by a girl from the "quick quotes" team (QQ are the quotes "gathered" in the mixed zone and then distributed to journalists - now also published on ISU page - so that they can use them in their reports, very convenient if you don't want to spend the whole competition in the mixed zone yourself ). She was prepared well and had many questions to Deniss but in the end only short part was used in QQ. So this is their full conversation, the talk was in Russian, brief translation is mine. D: In general I’m very pleased that everything worked out, that I got, finally, level four for all elements, I was doing my best and working hard - and here’s the result. I’m glad with how my jumps went too. This season is special because it’s an Olympic season. Is it special for you too? D: For me every competition is similar to an Olympic one. Bt I’m looking forward, impatiently, to see how it will be to take part in the Olympic Games, what is Olympic spirit. I'm very excited. Games are going to be my next competition so here it was a good opportunity to check for the last time all the elements, to see that we get maximum from the technical point of view. Many skaters are under pressure to qualify to their national team, you are the only one in Latvia, so your situation is different. Does it make things easier for you? D: I try to think about as little as possible. My every performance, my every program they are for the audience, for people who came to watch figure skating. Even if there was some kind of selection/qualification process, it wouldn’t have big influence on me, because I have different goals. You’re the first representative of Latvia who was successful both on juniors and seniors levels. How much your success, the fact that you already made history in your own country is important for you? D: I don’t think about it. I enjoy immensely from the fact that I’m skating, from all those people who come to enjoy figure skating. My main goal is to give them as many positive emotions as possible and to get back as much energy, “recharging” myself for my future skating. Many figure skating specialists say that you’re very talented and very creative skater. How much those words are important for you? Do they give you additional motivation? For example, Tatiana Tarasova was complimenting you. D: It’s nice to hear that. And it reassures my mom, and if she is happy this means I can continue skating in peace. This season your [training] group became bigger. Were there any changes in your training sessions because of that? D: No changes in particular. Figure skating becomes more and more technically complicated, what exactly are you working on now? Maybe on quads? D: Currently I work on quads more than I work on the rest of things. And it is going on for quite a long time already. --- Another thing - our talk with Deniss about shows, was published today on AS: absoluteskating.com/interviews/2018musiconice.html--- Also, something which was not included there in the end. I asked about Deniss' EX programs being both seasons in the theme of "Villars on Ice" shows and how, why this happened. So Chris explained (he was present during the interview and Deniss preferred him to answer this question) that both times Céline Meilleurat, creator of the show in Villars, was contacting them with specific piece for Deniss (for "They live in you" there were some back and forth discussions with Stephane also), and in the end it worked so well and Deniss enjoyed it so much that they decided to take it as an EX for the whole season. So our guess was correct: it was connected to Villars. And also Deniss was not the one who chose the piece.
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Post by maritotoshka on Feb 4, 2018 13:20:57 GMT 1
Also, something which was not included there in the end. I asked about Deniss' EX programs being both seasons in the theme of "Villars on Ice" shows and how, why this happened. So Chris explained (he was present during the interview and Deniss preferred that he will answer this question) that both times Céline Meilleurat, creator of the show in Villars, was contacting them with specific piece for Deniss (for "They live in you" there were some back and forth discussion with Stephane also), and in the end it worked so well and Deniss enjoyed it so much that they decided to take it as an EX for the whole season. So our guess was correct: it was connected to Villars. And also Deniss was not the one who chose the piece. Thank you, I was wondering all the time what was the first )))
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Post by reut on Feb 10, 2018 17:05:33 GMT 1
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Post by reut on Feb 10, 2018 19:07:08 GMT 1
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Post by tisha on Feb 11, 2018 22:22:44 GMT 1
Thank you for posting the interviews, reut. I wonder what "misunderstanding" Diana had that led to her disastrous SP at Europeans.
The red and white Latvian hat is more becoming to Stephane than that black knit thing he's taken to putting on his head the last several months! It's nice to see him so joyful about being at the Olympics with his students. Good luck to them (especially Deniss!) ... and hope for some fun videos of the coach dancing at the boards!!
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