Johnny Weir Interview from IFSMagazine

[Geesesk8]

Another excellent Johnny Weir interview! I am a fan of Johnny's and want him to be US National Champion in 2008; however, I am beginning to think that he is giving too many interviews leading up to Nats and losing the training focus he had during the Grand Prix season.

On regaining his national title:
"Last year I was not prepared to win so I didn't. This year I'm better than any of the years I've won or not won. It’s the most prepared I've been and I'm ready to be national champion again. I also understand more than ever that Evan has a lot of backing. I never mean for anything I say to come off as angry about him, or as his bitter rival, because I think he’s a good skater. He works incredibly hard and at that last minute he can turn it on like Plushenko can....." (There is a lot more in his response to this question.)

Here is the complete IFSMagazine interview with Johnny Weir:
http://www.ifsmagazine.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=501

 

[jennylovskt]

Love KB's interview as always.

It's much better than the interview in Philadelphia Magazine. I am puzzled by Johnny's diet. How could he have the power he needs for the jumps?

 

[feraina]

This is the most detailed and interesting interview I've ever seen from Johnny -- it may also be the most mature and candid that I've ever heard him sounding.

He apparently followed a similar diet up to the Olympics, but back then he also had "fruit nectar" for lunch. I wonder how he takes his coffee, if it's with cream & sugar, then all that coffee actually comes with quite a bit of calories, if not in a particularly healthy form...

Interesting analysis he gives for why U.S. skating interest is in decline:
The bit about the homecoming queen is hilarious. The observation on ice dance being perceived as entertainment, not a sport, that was funny too. And what he said about having "babies as our top ladies" who are too young for the average guy to get excited about -- well, that's true too. If we had a ladies champion who looked like Tanith Belbin, I'd bet skating would be a little hotter right now.

 

[netnuts]

diet

This interview is a firm example that 'weight control' does place a big role in FS even for the male skaters although many fans are vehemently against even talking about this issue in public.

According to Weir,

wake up at 7 a.m., shower, and have my first coffee of the day. Driving to the rink I listen to fast music to wake me up and have the first Starbucks of the day.

After practice I go home for a break, check my email, and watch a little TV or catch a quick nap. I definitely do not eat anything and by now it’s 12:45 pm

cook my dinner, which is the first time I eat each day, consisting of a small piece of meat, and a salad. No dessert and no potatoes. Then I have my fifth and final coffee of the day.

Weight is taboo for all of us skaters, and it’s something I’m always very aware of. I know that to do certain jumps or get through a free skate, I need to be at a certain weight. During the summer I usually plump up, but there’s a set weight I won’t let myself go over or under. In August I start the diet and give up a little more each day. By September I’m on the diet I’ll use throughout the season. You’re still hungry and you get hunger pangs and sometimes feel faint. It’s not necessarily the healthy way to do it, but it’s what works for me. I’ve tried the “eat more to lose more” mentality, and maybe for endurance sports it works, but not for me.

I eat the minimum of what I need for the maximum results. I’m also intimate with my mineral levels and have been since I was 13. I can tell if I need more protein, and I can feel when I need more calcium. If I need more zinc I can see it in my eyes. What I’m doing may not work for everyone, but if I eat too much it makes me soft and groggy. After all, a hungry dog always catches the fox.

 

[attyfan]

His diet worries me -- even if it works in the short term, I can't believe it will do him good over the long term.

 

[netnuts]

His diet worries me -- even if it works in the short term, I can't believe it will do him good over the long term.

But that's fairly normal for elite skaters.

 

[dizzydi7]

Johnny Weir Interview from IFS Magazine

I thought Johnny's comments were interesting. Like others, I find it hard to understand how he can have any stamina eating as he does.

I believe his comment about why figureskating's popularity is declining was very interesting and also insightful. He does make a good point about Michelle and Sasha leaving competitive skating at the same time. As much as I like her, Kimmie Meissner does not have the fan base of either Michelle or Sasha. We can debate for days about why that is but let's not. The fact remains Kimmie doesn't and probably never will have the magic touch.

I do agree that figureskating is primarily a female sport and without an "stand out" female champion, the U.S. is struggling. Our only hope is that one of the "baby girls" as Weir refers to them, will step up and carry the torch. However, this doesn't fully explain the decline. It seems to be outside the U.S. as well. The stands looked pretty empty at the GPF in Torino. Also, as I've mentioned in the past, figureskating popularity has been declining for years--even when Michelle was at her height of success.

I do agree with his assessment of Stephane Lambiel. He is a performer first and a competitor second. While Evan Lysacek is a competitor and much less of a performer. I totally agree with Weir on those points. He seemed less critical and rather complimentary regarding Evan so that should quiet some people on that issue.

I do think Johnny Weir has a clearer and more honest viewpoint of competitive figureskating in general than most skaters. He at least to me, has assessed his competitiors accurately. I guess the truth is that we don't know too much about what other skaters are thinking as they are reluctant to speak their minds (assuming they actually have any opinions).

I found this interview very interesting and thought provoking.

Dizzy

 

[Tinymavy15]

very interesting the way he was seriously considering swiching to dance there.... and all the talk of "swiching countries." I was really surprised he said that becasue as of now there really are no "really good" young men who are juniors or seniors. yes, we took the podium at the junior GPF, but most of the men junior skaters do not turn out to be world class threats. If johnny wanted to skate until 2014 i am sure that USFSA would be all to happy, but i find it HIGHLY doubtful that johnny could concentarate on skating and put off his private life that long.

 

[BelleFilleYuna]

I appreciate Johnny's openness to his diet very much.
So five cups of coffee a day....that's the scary part for me

 

[hockeyfan228]

Great interview! Ms. Bangs!

 

[childfreegirl]

I'm not an athlete, but some of what he said I can relate to. I have never been a big eater, but have always maintained a healthy weight for my body type. I have probably slightly faster than average metabolism and I function best when I eat what my body tells me to eat. If I need meat, I eat meat. If I need dairy, I eat dairy. As a teen, my stepmom my stepmom thought I was aneorixic and threatened to have me taken to the hospital and hooked up to IVs and force fed. She didn't succeed. I feel the best and function the best when I eat what my body tells me I need.

I don't think not eating until dinner may be particularly healthy and as he says he gets hunger pangs. I personally could not do that. I get physically sick if I go too long without eating. Maybe he could modify his routine to include a piece of cheese or fruit when he feels the pangs. Feeling faint cannot be good for anyone, espically an athlete. What if this happened in the middle of a program? And all the coffee cannot be good for him if it is caffinated. Osteoperosis is real y'all.

If I was on his "team", I'd reccomend that he clear this with a doctor, or at least see a nutritionist or dietician.

 

[ranjake]

his diet is ridiculous....but i am also a BIG fan of the wetjet! i actually have 2( kitchen and bathroom)

 

[Ptichka]

I appreciate Johnny's openness to his diet very much. So five cups of coffee a day....that's the scary part for me

I can so relate! While I generally follow a healthy diet, caffeine is a different story. Espresso, Turkish coffee, strong black tea - those are all things I've certainly had problem getting rid of. Now that I'm not supposed to have much caffeine, I've kept my morning coffee (either Espresso or Turkish, depending on time constraints), and have downgraded everything else to decaf.

 

[Dee4707]

Ptichka, I'm reading between the lines here. Is there any news as to why you're cutting down???

Dee

 

[Ptichka]

Ptichka, I'm reading between the lines here. Is there any news as to why you're cutting down??? Dee

You're a real Sherlock Holmes, aren't you!

 

[Dee4707]

You're a real Sherlock Holmes, aren't you!

Yup!!!!

Dee

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm ok with my 4-5 morning coffees (Starbuck's small container is = to 2 cups)
and they make my day differently then Kevin Spacey. I think everybody's digestive system is not the same. I'm with Johnny on this.

But I am more interested in his skating than his views of Evan without hearing the views of Evan, Daisuke, Stephane and the ever popular, Brian. I wonder what they think of the reformed Johnny?

Joe

 

[ManyCairns]

Dang, unlike me, Johnny is so darned articulate ! Seriously, it is so refreshing to read his interview. There are too many skaters and other athletes in their 20's who are still using so much slang I get the feeling they still wish they were teenagers, or think of themselves as such, and every thing is still, "like, ....," or "cool" or whatever.

I'm just struck by how basically intelligent he sounds, and also how considered his replies were in this interview (of course, I realize this has not always been the case).

 

[gsk8]

So five cups of coffee a day....that's the scary part for me

LOL...I need that just for a pulse in the morning.....