Ms. Hase, you and your partner Nikita Volodin defended your pair skating title at the German Championships, although there were two falls. How do you feel about your performance?
Minerva Hase: Of course, we would have liked to deliver a better performance for the audience. But it was clear that we were physically and mentally exhausted. The competition was tough for us: after the Grand Prix Final, it was hard to motivate ourselves again for training and competition. We understand this outcome as the result of it being our sixth competition in a short period of time — we were simply very tired.
Does that mean your peak was planned for the Grand Prix Final, and the German Championships were of somewhat lesser importance?
Exactly. From the outset, we said we wanted to be in top form for the Grand Prix Final, and we gave it our all—both physically in training and mentally. After that, we felt our energy was drained. But we still wanted to compete in the German Championships for the audience and, of course, for the federation. So, we didn’t withdraw, but our main focus was always on the Grand Prix.
Do these two falls worry you as a pair?
No. Falling on the throw triple loop in both the short program and the free skate is very unusual for me — it almost never happens in training. So, I knew it wasn’t just about nerves; there were other reasons. Given our track record, we have no reason to be nervous. After a few days off, we’ll get back to intense training to be perfectly prepared for the European Championships.
Does this mean you’ll have some time to rest and spend with your family?
We’ll perform in two shows for Daniel Weiss (ice galas in Ingolstadt and Oberstdorf on December 22 and 30). But those will focus more on enjoying skating rather than specific elements. We’re really looking forward to them. In between, there’ll be some time to spend a few extra days at home. At the beginning of January, we’ll also have five complete rest days, allowing Nikita to visit his family too. I think our bodies need this time to recover so we can enter the second half of the season injury-free.
Are you concerned about losing momentum during this break since there aren’t any major competitions like the Grand Prix Final coming up?
To address that, we’ve accepted an invitation to a show in Switzerland during the second week of January. This will give us a chance to perform in front of an audience and regain some momentum. After that, we have a ten-day training camp planned in Berlin with our Russian coach and four other pairs—three international and one German. I think this camp will help us find our rhythm more easily, as we can push each other.
