Figure Skating in Scandinavia

It started like it usually does…When I was 5 my mum took me to the ice rink to follow my sister who already had skated few years. The main goal was just to learn to skate.

Do you remember your first competition, how was it?

Yes, I didn´t want to compete at all but somehow I went there. I was a bit angry and scared before it and you can guess how it went, not so successfully.

How much time per week do you train?

During the season I normally practice about 10 hours on the ice and 6 hours off- ice per week, I also do stretching almost every evening about half an hour.

In summer camps I have almost 20 hours ice and 10 hours off- ice practice per week

Tell me about your coach and people who work in your team.

My coach is Estonian and he has devoted himself to figure skating almost his whole life. At first he represented Soviet Union in competitions and then he was in shows several years and now he has been coaching long time. He has been my coach since I started doing single jumps. Our relation is quite close and we respect each other. I wouldn´t change him to any coach here in Finland.

At the moment my sister is my choreographer. She has also skated but most of her life she has danced. I like working with her cause that way I always have possibility to make changes in my programs without going abroad to some choreographer.

My mum has always supported me in skating. My dad has showed his interest when he noticed how I was developing.

What is your best result in competitions?

I´m most proud of placing 20. in Junior Worlds 2005. I broke all my records every time I skated, first in qualification (FP), then in SP and finally in FP. Moreover I was only about 2 points behind 17.

What do you like to do in your free time? Any special interests?

Being with friends every time when it´s possible, but otherwise when I´m staying at home I like cooking and just listening to music.

Until what age are you planning to skate or it’s difficult to say now?

My next big goal is Olympic Games 2010 and then if it still going well I would like to continue until next Olympics. So then I would be 26 years old.

What kinds of sport are your favorites, except skating?

Football is number one of my favorites. I also like watching and playing tennis. Overall I like all kinds of sports but those two are my favorites.

Do you have any favorite skater, idol for you?

Alexei Yagudin used to be my idol but at the moment I like the style of Daisuke Takahashi.

What element in figure skating is the most difficult for you?

When I was younger it was hard to make the camel position to look like it should but at the moment I sometimes struggle with lutz and flip.

If you could change in judgment system some rules, what would you change?

Basically it´s better than the old one but still there is lots of things to make better. Especially I would like to see technical specialist looking more closely skaters who cheat in the take offs of lutz and flip.

What is your main goal in figure skating?

My main goal is to become so great skater that it´s a pleasure to watch it and I also want to land triple axel and quad in competitions.

What you would like to do, when you finish your skating career. Maybe you want to become a coach? Or other profession?

I´ve decided that I won´t continue with figure skating after I´ve finished my career. But almost all other options are still open. I´ve thought about becoming surgeon but I don´t know yet cause medical studies is a bit difficult to put together with figure skating.

What kind of thoughts do you usually have before competitions? Are you nervous or what do you feel?
I´m always a bit nervous but I think that it´s a part of competitions. Now it´s better cause I can control my feelings more than before. As a child I sometimes overstrained and I couldn´t skate as usual.
Finland has pretty good female skaters. Whose style of skating you prefer more? (Susanna, Alisa or Kiira).