Interview Alexander Uspenski
NHK Trophy 2006, Nagano (Japan)

Q: Please tell us about your experience at your first two senior Grand Prix events.

A: I really enjoyed competing in the senior Grand Prix. The atmosphere is very different from the junior events. To a certain degree it is more interesting and it feels more important. The field is stronger and you can gain experience from watching them (the other competitors), how they warm up, how they prepare, and you can try to use the positive examples of the leaders for your own preparation. You can learn from them and experiment. The organization is, in my opinion, better, of course, more professional and gives you the feeling of a big competition. There is an audience in the rink, there are even fans. There aren’t many spectators at Junior events, probably because there is no advertising, and then the festive mood that a competition should have in my opinion is missing. But here - maybe I’m exaggerating – everything is so sparkling and I like to compete in such events as the Grand Prix.

Q: You said that you want to learn from others. Whom were you watching in particular?

A: In China for example I was looking at Evan Lysacek and how he prepared before the competition. His calmness inspired me. I saw how serious his attitude towards his work was. He comes to competition, doesn’t let himself being distracted by anything, and does his job from the beginning to the moment when he is finished. I would say there was nothing unnecessary but just the essential. This is helping (me) of course, when I’m going through a learning process, experimenting and finding out what is best for me. If you want or not, you’re paying attention to the competitors and to the best ones in today’s figure skating. You understand the most positive qualities of the leaders of skating today. I’m looking at what happens at the warm up. In juniors, it’s usually like this: We get out on the ice, with wild eyes and short of breath. There is always the feeling that there is not enough time. But in China , once again, I was watching Evan, how calmly he goes out, skates around, finds his balance and then starts his actual warm up. I liked it a lot to be in one competition with him in China .

Q: Were you able to use the experience from China in Japan at NHK Trophy?

A: I’ve always known myself and my coach (at the time of this interview: Natalia Dubinskaia) has been telling me that it should be like this, but there he (Evan) served as an example that demonstrated how everything really looks like. I’m getting calmer, I see progress in my training, I’m stronger and therefore I’m progressing compared to last year. I think that’s an objective observation. I think my performances in the Grand Prix this year were adequate.

Q: In China you made a mistake in the short program.

A: But then I pulled myself together in the short program here and I’m basically very pleased with it. Of course, there still were little errors and I think I could have skated with more emotion, but what happened, happened and you have to draw your conclusions and to try to show yourself from you best side with each new competition.

Q: You said after the short program that it wasn’t so easy because the practice was early in the morning at 7 am .

A: Yes, but it was hard for everybody. Everybody had to get up at 5.45 in the morning, and some came even earlier. Actually it would have been ok if I hadn’t fallen asleep only at 2 in the morning. I had only three hours of sleep because of the time change, but it still wasn’t a big problem. Yes, it was difficult, but you can deal with it and I think I did that. I completed all elements and I analyzed my mistakes. Everything depends on my work, my training and on how well I am prepared.

Q: In what respect the performances here are giving you confidence for the next event, probably the Russian National Championships?

A: It is difficult to talk about this topic as I think our sport has a lot to do with subtle feelings and fine coordination. There are factors that can help or disturb, and it is difficult for me to say what will be in one month, but I’m feeling good now. I want to continue training, competing, and emotionally I’m ready for the battle at Russian Nationals. I think I’m judging everything in a reasonable and adequate way, I will hope for the best, but there I may not thing about anything, I just have to do my job on the ice in the given moment. (He eventually didn’t compete at Russian Nationals due to illness)

Q: Like always, actually.

A: Yes, like always.

Q: You tried the quad toeloop in Finland , but not in the Grand Prix. Why?

A: We decided this together with my coach. I wasn’t prepared to show the quad and so we decided not to risk it. My back problem is still bothering me and we decided that I first have to get it consistent in practice, and so far, unfortunately, the rate of success, isn’t very high.

Q: How high is it?

A: Considering the fact that I didn’t train it so much since we decided not to risk it in the Grand Prix this season it didn’t work more than once a week. So far, I’m saying honestly, this jump is not consistent for me.

Q: Anyway, there aren’t so many skaters who do it at this point in competition.

A: Not so many, yes, but I’ve landed it in practice, even very well, and there were practice sessions when I did three of them and in combination with double toe, but it’s just not consistent yet.

Q: Will you now continue working on it?

A: Of course. I’ll try to get it more consistent until Russian Nationals and I hope that I can allow myself to try it in the free skating. But I’m not predicting anything, you just have to work and when it (the quad) is working, why not, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t make sense. You have to look at this question reasonably.

Q: Was this your first trip to Japan ?

A: Yes, it was my first time in Japan . I have been to China twice.

Q: And how did you like it?

A: I really liked Japan . In general, the countries of the far east, their culture and their cuisine are close to me. I like the way how people are interacting with each other. I wasn’t able to get a deeper understanding in this short time, but my first impressions are very positive and nice.

Q: What did you see in Nagano?

A: In Nagano , I was impressed by the mountains, of course. I never was that close to mountains that high. I like mountains in general. I would have liked to go high up in the mountains just to be there for a while. I like mountains, I don’t know why, but for some reason I feel drawn to them. Each morning, when I wake up in Nagano , have a look out of the window and see these mountains, then I’m just feeling the joy of life and skating.

Q: So you prefer the mountains over the sea?

A: Mountains and sea are completely different things. However, mountains impress me more. The sea is impressive when you are just watching into the far distance and don’t see an end. That’s also a strong feeling.

Q: Thank you very much for the interview and all the best for your next events!