Interview Kristoffer Berntsson
July 2009, Oberstdorf

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Kristoffer Berntsson (26) is Sweden's top skater since many years. In this interview, he talks about the

upcoming season, his new programs and future plans.

Q: Unfortunately, you were handicapped by injury last season. What exactly happened and how are you feeling now?
A: After or during Europeans in Zagreb, I got some pain inside my right hip. It continued the entire season and they said, the only way to fix it is by surgery. So I decided to do the surgery in April (2008). It was a pretty big surgery and I was in rehab for three months. I couldn’t skate for over three months and then slowly getting back. Unfortunately I then continued to have some problems with my back. Maybe I was rushing the training a little bit. It felt good, I was training hard and then I started getting trouble with my back. But this is the life of an athlete (smiles). Now it’s ok. I still have some issues with my back and I have to work for maintaining it in a good condition and sometimes it gets worse, but I can train.

Q: What did you do since Worlds?
A: Since Worlds, well, not so much. Training. I stayed for one week in Los Angeles, so this was my vacation. Then I came home and I started slowly off ice training. We didn’t have much ice, just a couple of times a week, but I did a lot off ice, running, everything just to get ready for the season.

Q: Where do you like to go for vacation and why?
A: (thinks for a moment) This is difficult, I like to go to many places. Some time I want to go on some kind of adventure to see the Amazonas or something like this, but maybe this would be too warm for me. I don’t like it when it’s too warm. L.A. was good, really nice. I think it was perfect timing, not too warm and not too cold.

Q: Which place you never have been to but really would like to go?
A: Australia. I want to see Australia. I’ve never been there and it sounds like a very nice place, exciting. It’s different. It has a different nature.

Q: So far you have been selected for NHK Trophy as a Grand Prix event. What other competitions would you like to participate in?
A: I plan to go to Finlandia Trophy and .. (thinks for a while) I don’t really know.

Q: Maybe Graz or Bratislava?
A: I know it’s a new place. I’ve never been before (in Graz). But maybe I’ll do Ondrej Nepala (Trophy). I hope to get another Grand Prix event.

Q: Most skaters really like the NHK Trophy. What is your opinion?
A: Yes, I was there one time and it was a really good event. The Japanese are really good at organizing and figureskating is very, very popular. There are a lot of fans. It’s a really good audience with a very good atmosphere in the rink. It’s a really good competition.

Q: Which competition of your career was the most emotional for you so far?
A: Probably Worlds in Sweden last year. It was so much building up tension, excitement. This was a very special event.

Q: This is not your first time at the IceDome. Do you enjoy the summer camps?
A: Yes, I really like coming here, skating and meeting other skaters and friends. It’s good training. It’s fun to come here and to skate here with Tommy (Tomas Verner), Anton (Kovalevski) and the other guys. It is an inspiration.

Q: You have two new programs. What can you tell us about them?
A: It was the idea of my choreographer (Zerjon Abebe). We tried many different ideas. It takes a lot of time and it is very difficult to find always a good idea and a good music. Everything should fit together. I think now it feels good. The short program is something different from what I’ve done before. It’s “Conan the Babarian” and in the free it’s more baroque, more style, more classic (music selection: “Nocturne” by Secret Garden and “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics). It’s very different. It’s going to be fun. I try every year (to do something different). It’s really two different programs; I don’t think anybody has seen me like this before.

Q: What are your plans and goals for the upcoming season?
A: I’ve been skating for long time now and this is the Olympic season. So Europeans, the Olympic Games and Worlds of course (are important goals). The Olympic Games are a big highlight this season. There is only one place (for Sweden), but as I said I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve been working hard. I was at the Olympic Games and I was 23rd (in 2006). I don’t skate this much just to represent Sweden (at the Games). I work hard to reach my goals which arevery high. If I will be this good as I want then

the fact that we have only one place will not matter.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: In five years I will probably have finished school and started working. Maybe I’ll even have a family.

Q: Will you not be connected to figure skating at all in the future?
A: No. Maybe (I still will be connected) in three years, but in five years maybe not.

Q: What about your studies?
A:  Now I have my summer break. I hope to be ready in one year with my studies.

Q: What do the Olympic Games mean to you? Do you have any special memory of the Olympic Games in Torino?
A: Of course, for an athlete this is the biggest event you can take part in. Your represent your country

at a big competition and it’s only every four years. This makes it much more interesting and much more difficult. It’s also hard to qualify. Torino was very special. I didn’t skate my best, but anyway it was fun

to be there and to represent Sweden.You live in this village with all the other athletes and it’s a special feeling and different from normal competitions. It was a lot of fun.

Q: Your 27th birthday is coming up soon. What do you envision for your career at this time?
A: It’s true, I’ve been around for many years now. I have been skating for my whole life and I see the

end. So we’ll see. For sure, I will do everything this year to be as good as I can be and then we’ll have to see if I still enjoy skating, stillwant to compete, still want to put all this effort into it. It takes a lot of effort and money. If everything works, maybe (I will continue for) one more year, but maybe not.

Q: What kind of hobby do you have?
A: I don’t know if I have a real hobby actually. Between practice and skating I have school, girlfriend, family and friends. There is not much time left for a hobby. But when I have days off  I enjoy just spending time with my family and friends,

to relax and now in the summer maybe to go out to the sea, to take a trip with the boat. I like technology and these things, but I don’t have a real hobby.

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