Deniss Vasiljevs

[MGstyle]

I really would like Daniel Grassl to be his training mate!!! He is also a natural performer with extremely charming personality (he also experienced a drastic growth spurt just like Deniss last year, too) - just in need of some polishing and correction on the posture, which IMO a touch of Stephane would do wonders!!!

 

[lavenderblossom]

Thanks for the link - I enjoyed the enthusiastic commentary from the man who was recording it, too.

Agree about Buble...as long as it's not Cry Me A River or Feeling Good, I guess I can live with it!

No such luck, I think - I can hear Cry Me A River at around 0:50 hwell:

I don't recognise the song in the second clip, but it's Buble's voice and a piano. So perhaps it's a Buble medley?

 

[silverfoxes]

No such luck, I think - I can hear Cry Me A River at around 0:50 hwell:

I don't recognise the song in the second clip, but it's Buble's voice and a piano. So perhaps it's a Buble medley?

:gaah: Well, I don't want to get carried away before they officially announce the programs. Maybe it's just for the show in Japan?

I may sound selfish, but I kind of like the fact that Deniss is Stephane's only high-level skater and can get plenty of attention from him. Stephane is still relatively new to this level of coaching and I'd like him to see Deniss through the Olympics, at least, before he considers taking on anyone else. I think he's also determined to make his Swiss students competitive since he was so disappointed about not having any Swiss skaters in Sochi.

 

[FourSeasons]

^^^ I think Deniss and Stephane's relationship is a bit different from other coach/student relationships out there, and even if a new skater captivates Stephane with a huge amount of talent, ambition and enthusiasm like Deniss did, I doubt he would take a new high level student right at this point (I also believe he's 'reserving' himself for his Swiss students; starting by Noah and Noémie, the current Swiss Jr. champions and both students of his skating school).

I was thinking about this the other day, while rewatching their Four Seasons program from Art on Ice. Deniss was one smart kid catching Stephane by surprise and asking him to become his coach, but I doubt he would have asked the same if they hadn't clicked like they did in the first place . Their mentor/pupil relationship seems to go beyond the ice because they have a good chemistry. Stephane could see a lot of himself in Deniss and Deniss always saw Stephane as a role model. They're literally connected artistically, and I think that's what allowed their relationship to grow so beautifully (I can't help getting father/son vibes from them, though Stephane is too young to be the father of an 18 year old, so let's just keep it at nanny/child for now ). Hell, even within the ice it seems to go beyond other coach/student relationships, as Stephane doesn't limit himself to preparing his student for competition only; he's literally opening doors wide for Deniss' future professional career. And that only shows how much he admires and believes in Deniss's talent. This is what's so beautiful about them, that despite the age difference they seem to share the same artistry in their veins and the same fire fuelling their passion.

 

[silverfoxes]

^ Very true. It was really serendipitous that the right coach and the right skater found themselves together like that, and that Stephane believed so much in Deniss's talent that he would take him in like family. That would be a big adjustment for anyone.

Deniss's very first coach from Latvia posted a photo with him today:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=675320182653072&id=100005252883833

I wonder how it feels to stand next to this tall teenager after coaching him as a tiny kid! I guess Deniss is wearing a suit because there was some kind of event today...not sure exactly what since I can't read Latvian.

https://www.facebook.com/LatvianSka...717217321926/1421957917864512/?type=3&theater

 

[Tulipstar]

:gaah: Well, I don't want to get carried away before they officially announce the programs. Maybe it's just for the show in Japan?

I may sound selfish, but I kind of like the fact that Deniss is Stephane's only high-level skater and can get plenty of attention from him. Stephane is still relatively new to this level of coaching and I'd like him to see Deniss through the Olympics, at least, before he considers taking on anyone else. I think he's also determined to make his Swiss students competitive since he was so disappointed about not having any Swiss skaters in Sochi.

Yeah, I like that as well.

He can grow into being a coach while giving Deniss all his attention.

 

[Arriba627]

Deniss is looking mighty dapper in that photo with his former coach!

 

[el henry]

I certainly don't mind Deniss getting all of Stephane's attention: and if they're not the best looking coach/skater combo out there today, I don't know who is

(and come to think my faves have been with their coaches since they were teeny tiny (Jason/Kori), or in Misha's case, since birth )

But I do think at some point other skaters do "up your game", even if just for a visit or for a month or so. But I like the idea of Stephane building the Swiss program alongside Deniss. As long as he saves his best spins for Deniss.

 

[silverfoxes]

The event yesterday was the 90th anniversary of the Latvian Skating Association. Deniss didn't skate, but he gave a speech:

https://www.facebook.com/Tukumanova...932624961120/1314058615315183/?type=3&theater

You can see him from 6:00 in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Bevaue5LU

 

[justineskates]

I love seeing these glimpses of training, and Deniss' new choreography looks great! His skating skills just keep getting better. I couldn't hear the music well enough to make a guess, but hip shimmy was fun. I'm so fascinated by these bits and pieces of the coaching and exercises. Especially that twizzle-triple salchow-spin-double loop thing! I wonder if that is prep for a quad. I hope someone can translate the Latvian so we can get the full story!

The Triple Salchow-spin-double loop is indeed preparation for a quad! It's an exercise to get the feel for the extra momentum need to add rotations and you use it from learning doubles all the way through quads!

I'm so excited to see what happens with Quads for Deniss this coming season!

 

[silverfoxes]

Here is a longer video of Deniss's speech - he talked for about 5 minutes. I don't understand a word, but I'm impressed with how poised and articulate he is already at 17.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UjrX_F7emw

And Chris Trevisan just tweeted this:

https://twitter.com/ChrisTrevisan/status/864464999414214656

@DenissVasiljevs getting a visit from @KristineZilde at school today! Broadcast this summer on @tv3lv

 

[fourthdimension]

I was reading an interview with Stéphane from 2010:

Do you see some young skaters now who follow in your footsteps and have your vision of figure skating?

I wish I would be able to work with skaters. I don't know if I should ask someone who I think has potential to work with me. Or if I need to wait until someone comes to me and asks for my help and then decide if I should accept or not. I really wish that someone would ask me and then I'd be able to decide.

And that is exactly what Deniss did! It really is a perfect match.

 

[FourSeasons]

Can't wait to see the new interview, I'm so happy Deniss is getting more and more attention from the local media

 

[FourSeasons]

Not sure if this should go in Stephane's thread instead of this one, but here's a very short video where he talks about what being a coach means to him. Deniss is mentioned of course, and we can see him at the beggining and at end of the video:

https://youtu.be/1NxjvmIriLg

(translation here thanks to a fan from tumblr)

 

[silverfoxes]

Jelena, the admin of Deniss's Facebook fanclub, has posted some lovely pics and a short video of Deniss making matcha green tea :luv17:


Tea ceremony pics
Dennis & his cherry blossoms

 

[Arriba627]

Deniss always looks so intense. He is so funny in the tea-making video. Love it!

BTW, does anyone know if Jelena was able to deliver Deniss' fan letters? I can't remember when that was going to happen.

 

[silverfoxes]

BTW, does anyone know if Jelena was able to deliver Deniss' fan letters? I can't remember when that was going to happen.

She posted a couple weeks ago that the first letters had arrived - I assume she gave him everything when they met. I thought maybe a fan sent him the matcha, but it's just a guess.

 

[MGstyle]

Deniss always looks so intense. He is so funny in the tea-making video. Love it!

BTW, does anyone know if Jelena was able to deliver Deniss' fan letters? I can't remember when that was going to happen.

Yes!!!
thanks to the outrageously slow italian postal service, mine didn't make it in time although I posted it 3 weeks ago But I take comfort in the fact that Jelena made her envelope featuring the group page banner design which I had made! :luv17:

 

[Arriba627]

Oh wonderful! So happy to see that he received a nice collection of letters. It was my sincere hope that the letters, etc. would come from all different countries so he would know that he has fans all over the globe! I didn't see mine in his hands, but I'm sure it arrived. Thank you to Jelena for her efforts!

 

[MGstyle]

Oh wonderful! So happy to see that he received a nice collection of letters. It was my sincere hope that the letters, etc. would come from all different countries so he would know that he has fans all over the globe! I didn't see mine in his hands, but I'm sure it arrived. Thank you to Jelena for her efforts!

As far as I know the letters came from US, Russia, Italy, France, Japan and Honkong, perhaps a few others too that I haven't got to get a glimpse of. Another German girl who sent one very early but didn't get there in time like mine (I am surprised, as Germans are always so efficient with everything!)
Jelena says she will keep collecting the letters and will hand them to him at the earliest opportunity, and is planning another collective project for Christmas. I think I will mail one right away