Interview Ari-Pekka Nurmenkari
Oberstdorf, July 2007

Q: How did you get into figure skating?

Ari-Pekka: I was four. My mum and dad asked me if I wanted to try skating. So I said yes, of course, because my big sister was skating. Now I have been skating almost for 20 years. For me now it’s my life style. It’s to honour skating.

Q: When did you realize that figure skating is something serious for you?

Ari-Pekka: I think I was 15 when I realized it. I was playing ice hockey at the same time. When I was 15 I quit ice hockey and I started training really hard figure skating. When I was 18, I realized I had a chance to achieve something in figure skating.

Q: What would you be if you not had become a figure skater?

Ari-Pekka: (laughs) I really don’t know! Maybe I would do some other sports, because I have so much energy. Not ice hockey, because I was really small. It was fun just to play, but no… I can’t answer this question.

Q: Who were your idols in skating when you were younger and why?

Ari-Pekka: (Viktor) Petrenko of course, because my (former) coach was Ukrainian and came from the same place where Petrenko has been skating ( Odessa ). Now I have a Finnish coach.

Q: Ladies figure skating has become strong in Finland in the past few years with skaters like Susanna Pöykiö and Kiira Korpi, but the men seem to lack behind a little bit. Why?

Ari-Pekka: Oh, yes, because in Finland we don’t have so many male skaters to help us. Here (in Oberstdorf during the training camp) it’s so easy. Here are Tomas (Verner) and Kristoffer (Berntsson) and they land already all triples, triple-triples and quad toes. So it’s easy to watch them and to try to do the same thing, but in Finland , we don’t have so many (make skaters). It’s really sad, because I am the oldest skater in Finland in Mens’ singles. I’m trying to help the young kids to get into skating, but it’s really hard in Finland . I think in maybe four or five years it will become better. It’s a good question, I don’t know why (the men lag behind). Our Federation doesn’t help the men so much. They think about girls, girls, girls, not so much about the men. So it’s really hard for us men in Finnish figure skating. We hope that something will happen.

Q: Can you analyze your 2006/2007 season, please? 

Ari-Pekka: Last season was actually quite good. I did well at Nationals, and I improved my personal best. But the European Championships were horrible. I don’t know what went wrong. I was in very good shape. At Worlds, I did a clean short program, but I didn’t have such a good placement. Maybe I would have gotten higher marks in another competition, but not there.

Q: What are your plans and goals for the next season? Are you making any changes in your training and if so which ones and why?

Ari-Pekka: My goal is of course to be in the top ten at Europeans. It’s very hard, but I will try, and to make the top 20 at the World Championships, and landing a triple Axel in competition and triple-triples. Of course, my spins and steps have to be good, too. Maybe I come here (to Oberstdorf) during the year, because I need practice with good skaters. My choreographer is new. I have a new person doing the step sequences. I think it’s going to be good, because last year I was in the army and it was really hard. Next year will be much easier for me. 

Q: What are you doing except skating?

Ari-Pekka: Maybe I’ll work. I was in the army for one year, now I’m maybe doing some work. Maybe I’ll study later, but I’ll try to get a coaching licence in Finland next year. It will be fun.

Q: What has changed for figure skating in Finland after the recent success of Susanna and Kiira?

Ari-Pekka: Those two girls get more sponsors than I’ll ever have! For me it changes nothing. I am just watching. I hope, maybe later, but now it doesn’t help male skaters in Finland .

Q: What do you want to do after you finished your active skating career?

I think I’ll be coaching. I’ll take a big holiday in the summer time, really long, because (as an athlete) you have to train all the time during the summer.

Q: Thank you very much and all the best for you!