A new interview has been published on an Italian site "Art on Ice". :agree:
Here is the English translation.
Deniss Vasiljevs, aiming for Pyeongchang with his 16 year old enthusiasm and energy.
Deniss Vasiljevs, representing Latvia, despite his young age (he will turn 17 on 9th of August this year) he lets his character shine, which is obvious when he takes on the ice and he proves himself competition after competition, he is the promising future star of figure skating. And his character also shines when he comes in contact with the journalists and fans. A sunny boy, he has his focus set, firmly and straightforward to the sport he loves. Which was once supposed to be swimming, according to his parents when he was little, but now on the frozen rink.
Q: When did you start skating?
Deniss: When I was 3
Q: During 2014-15 season you have won a silver medal at the European Youth Olympics Winter Festival in Dornbirn, Austria. Can you tell us something of the experience there?
Deniss: It was such an exciting and fun competition. The organizers were awesome and I spent a wonderful time there. I was happy to have had that opportunity and to have won the silver!
Q: In 2015 you have started trainning with Alexei Urmanov. How is it working with him?
Deniss: Yes, I decided to work with Alexei Evgenivich last year, he is a tough coach and I must work really hard, but it is also very rewarding and interesting.
Q: In January you made a debut in the Senior rank, skating in the European Championships in Bratislava. How did you prepare yourself for the first competition against the big boys?
Deniss: It was my first European Championships of course, so I was full of emotions and also nervous, I must say I was a little scared among them. I was so worried that I might make mistakes, and perhaps that's why I fell on my step sequence, which had NEVER happened before!
Q: What kind of music do you like to skate to?
Deniss: I prefer materials that my coach and I feel that it suits my style, with which I can express something. When I hear a music that I particularly like I try to construct my programme, note by note.
Q: Who chooses the music?
Deniss: It is a collective decision of all members of my team, including my parents.
Q: May I ask you if you have some ideas for the music you will use for the next season?
Deniss: Of course! But any suggestions still accepted, if you have one!!
Q: Ah, so I guess it is still a secret and you are going to leave us all curious about it! Now, on to the costumes. Who chooses your costumes?
Deniss: Like music, we decide together. I tend to leave it up to my family.
Q: Let's do a test. If I say "2018 Olympics", what would you say to that?
Deniss: I will try to do my best!
Q: your favourite skaters, the skaters who inspire you?
Deniss: Patrick Chan, Javier Fernandez, and the greatests, Stèphane Lambiel and Daisuke Takahashi.
Q: what is your favourite technical element?
Deniss: I like them all! But if I need to choose, I would say the Lutz, and sometimes I have some problems with the Toe Loop.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
Deniss: I enjoy drawing, and playing video games, especially the strategy types, like chess.
Q: Away from the rink, do you study?
Deniss: Yes I do and I keep good grades. Plus the school I go to allows me the time to train, which is very important!
Q: three or more ajectives to describe you.
Deniss: I think it has to come from another person to give an accurate answer!
Q: What is your dream, be it on the ice or off?
Deniss: To be a great skater, and a good person.
Q: Tell us about your crowd funding campaign "
Denis Vasiljevs onward to Pyeongchang 2018”
Deniss: Figure skating is an expensive sport. I must live in Sochi when I train and prepare for the competitions. Then there are costs of travels, costumes, choreographers, training staff, therapies and medical care to name a few. Latvian federation is small and they can't fully finance me. So we decided to start this campaign, try to resolve some of the financial problems and for me to be better prepared for the upcoming season, and of course in preparation for the 2018 Games. My first coach Ingrida (Snieškienė) organized and signed this project. Japanese fans have been particularly helpful, who contributed 99% of the donations so far. I am profoundly grateful to them!
Q: What is your goal for the next season?
Deniss: To make this campaign for the 2018 Olympics a success, and continue to win the hearts of skating fans everywhere!
:hap57:
:hap93:
