- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
And this one 
This Ken-Andrei changed his fate at an early age and went into gymnastics. Or even boxing.
And he got more of his father's figure than the real Andrei did
Andrei Mozalev
- Thread starter Mariott
- Start date
This Ken-Andrei changed his fate at an early age and went into gymnastics. Or even boxing.
And he got more of his father's figure than the real Andrei did
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
It's time for the awarding of the winners! Let's begin, the bronze medalist, Andrei Mozalev's program, which was beautiful and loved by the audience, maybe a little less than the winner, and it`s...
#3
Short program "Led Zeppelin".
Performed at all competitions of the season.
Best performance - Channel One Cup in January 2023.
Music: Led Zeppelin - "I Can't Quit You, Baby" and "Kashmir."
Image: 80s teenager showing off on the dance floor.
I don't think I have a need to particularly praise this program, as I've done so many times. It may not be what we expected from a program with LZ music, but it is very good in its own way. It's bright, attractive, show-offy, slightly humorous and memorable. As I said, it is not just a declaration of love for LZ, it is a tribute to a whole era, rambunctious, colorful, unique, its music, its dances, its atmosphere. Yes, it's the eighties, it's the spirit of mischief and non-serious dancing, it's glam-rock and emphasis on sexuality, it's Michael Jackson and signature dance moves. And Andrei is very good at it, especially when he gets it right. He understands what he's doing, he feels the atmosphere - and he gets high.
This program has a long and interesting history of creation. Its history is similar to the history of the program "Juno and Avos", when Denis Lunin really wanted to put a program to this music and his choice fell on junior Mozalev. The program to LZ "Kashmir" was Kirill Davydenko's dream for many years. He mentally imagined everything, from the arrangement of elements to the choreography. But he didn't have a skater who could present the program properly. Therefore, after the 2022 Olympics Davydenko decided that Andrei was an experienced enough skater to offer him this option. Andrei listened to all the LZ tracks, chose the another song, calmer, and measured, which set a sensual and even sexual mood for the whole program.
Undoubtedly, this program was a kind of a step forward for Andrei, a breakthrough (and I give him +100 in the column "originality of idea"). We saw that Mozalev can be not only restrained and poetic, but also charismatic, liberated, playful, and his sensuality, which was staked on back in the days of "Heart's Cry", can reach the limits of open sexuality - and yet he does not look vulgar, his restraint and sincerity hold him back and do not let him cross that line. Finally we learn that Andrei can even show off and have fun with a serious expression on his face.
Here we have new music and new choreography. Andrei's signature moves are retained, but there are many new choreographic ideas, memorable elements and movements. I really like the original steps sequence, it doesn't go straight, but bends in an arc. If I were to evaluate only innovation in choreography, this program would be the first in the rating. Performing everything the choreographer had planned, Andrei showed himself as a real figure skating pro, demonstrating excellent skating skills. Not always he managed to skate his program without any mistakes, but when performed successfully it sparkles like a diamond.
The audience, who liked the choice of music and the new, unusual image of Andrei, undoubtedly supported the program. I will remember it with pleasure and revisit individual rentals. This is a well-deserved third place in my rating and a bronze medal.
Why third? Who beat it in the ranking? Is there any program that turned out to be more interesting, innovative, memorable, which I am ready to rate higher, except for the beautiful "Kerber"?
See you tomorrow
#3
Short program "Led Zeppelin".Performed at all competitions of the season.
Best performance - Channel One Cup in January 2023.
Music: Led Zeppelin - "I Can't Quit You, Baby" and "Kashmir."
Image: 80s teenager showing off on the dance floor.
I don't think I have a need to particularly praise this program, as I've done so many times. It may not be what we expected from a program with LZ music, but it is very good in its own way. It's bright, attractive, show-offy, slightly humorous and memorable. As I said, it is not just a declaration of love for LZ, it is a tribute to a whole era, rambunctious, colorful, unique, its music, its dances, its atmosphere. Yes, it's the eighties, it's the spirit of mischief and non-serious dancing, it's glam-rock and emphasis on sexuality, it's Michael Jackson and signature dance moves. And Andrei is very good at it, especially when he gets it right. He understands what he's doing, he feels the atmosphere - and he gets high.
This program has a long and interesting history of creation. Its history is similar to the history of the program "Juno and Avos", when Denis Lunin really wanted to put a program to this music and his choice fell on junior Mozalev. The program to LZ "Kashmir" was Kirill Davydenko's dream for many years. He mentally imagined everything, from the arrangement of elements to the choreography. But he didn't have a skater who could present the program properly. Therefore, after the 2022 Olympics Davydenko decided that Andrei was an experienced enough skater to offer him this option. Andrei listened to all the LZ tracks, chose the another song, calmer, and measured, which set a sensual and even sexual mood for the whole program.
Undoubtedly, this program was a kind of a step forward for Andrei, a breakthrough (and I give him +100 in the column "originality of idea"). We saw that Mozalev can be not only restrained and poetic, but also charismatic, liberated, playful, and his sensuality, which was staked on back in the days of "Heart's Cry", can reach the limits of open sexuality - and yet he does not look vulgar, his restraint and sincerity hold him back and do not let him cross that line. Finally we learn that Andrei can even show off and have fun with a serious expression on his face.
Here we have new music and new choreography. Andrei's signature moves are retained, but there are many new choreographic ideas, memorable elements and movements. I really like the original steps sequence, it doesn't go straight, but bends in an arc. If I were to evaluate only innovation in choreography, this program would be the first in the rating. Performing everything the choreographer had planned, Andrei showed himself as a real figure skating pro, demonstrating excellent skating skills. Not always he managed to skate his program without any mistakes, but when performed successfully it sparkles like a diamond.
The audience, who liked the choice of music and the new, unusual image of Andrei, undoubtedly supported the program. I will remember it with pleasure and revisit individual rentals. This is a well-deserved third place in my rating and a bronze medal.
Why third? Who beat it in the ranking? Is there any program that turned out to be more interesting, innovative, memorable, which I am ready to rate higher, except for the beautiful "Kerber"?
See you tomorrow
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Okay, my ranking of Andrei Mozalev`s 2022-2023 season program is almost complete. So, an intriguing silver medalist, and you certainly weren't expecting this twist....
#2
Show number "Perfumer"
Presented at the show number competition "Russian Challenge".
Music: Sevdaliza - Gole Bi Goldoon
Image: mad maniac - perfumer
Yeah, I know it looks crazy. Shouldn't this number have gone to the last position of the ranking, as "Where Are You" went to the end of the table for the most hastily prepared choreography - and yet here we have even more obvious haste and inconsistencies? Why is this number higher in the rating than a beautiful and well-thought-out program, as Andrei has much more elaborate and beautiful performances? Why is this number higher in the rating than a beautiful and well-thought-out short program?
Let's start from the beginning. This show program appeared thanks to Andrei Mozalev's fan club, aka his team "Mozalev Team". The idea of the program comes from the head of the fan club Olga "Lyolya" Romanova. She is an inspired dancer and an aspiring figure skater, and she really wanted to offer Andrei a program where dancing would be combined with figure skating. She proposed the idea to Andrei and he enthusiastically agreed to make it a reality. Then the project of the number was approved by Channel One, and the work on the program began in a hurry. The dancers' coach Anastasia Yurasova worked with her dancers in Moscow, and Andrei worked on the choreography with his choreographer Denis Lunin in St. Petersburg. Three days before the premiere, the two groups met on the ice in Moscow for training - and it turned out that their choreography did not match at all. We had to improvise and change everything on the fly. There were also technical difficulties getting the girls in heels onto the ice. That funny way of getting off the ice by rolling over was the only allowed way for the girls to avoid their falls and injuries. The girls showed unprecedented resilience and proved themselves real fighters, coping with all the troubles. Andrei became the co-author of his number, he showed himself as an active, creative director, and in addition, a caring mentor and assistant for the dancers from his team. His attitude to these girls was truly chivalrous.
Well, you will say, it was a definite stepping-stone in the development of Andrei's skills as a professional athlete and possibly a choreographer. It's a pretty avant-garde idea to get dancers on the ice and make them dance, something new for the development of dance and its synthesis with figure skating, but in essence, it's an underground experiment. Let's say it's something. But it's not a victory! The number turned out to be provocative, controversial. There's too much emphasis on the female body and a dark idea. It wasn't rewarded on the show. It didn't get the attention and it wasn't memorable like most numbers on the show?
It did. It became one of the most popular numbers of the show and Andrei's most popular program in general.
Some stats:
Channel One's website - 301,000 views, the best "Russian Challenge" video in terms of views;
"Channel One. Sport" account in Vkontakte - 483,000 views, among the top 10 most popular videos, beating the video of Khabib Nurmukhamedov's legendary fight and Anna Scherbakova's exhibition number from the same show.
Finally what no one expected - Chinese bilibili, the analog of youtube for China - 505,000 views.
If you can't understand whether that's a lot or not by the standards of China's video hosting sites, it's a top 500 video in the figure skating category for all years and a top 15 video for 2023. The video went viral in March and continues to rack up views so far.
It's enough to say that no current male figure skater from Russia has climbed that high. Andrei suddenly found himself in the company of Yuzuru Hanyu, Nathan Chen, Anna Scherbakova, Kamila Valieva, Aleksandra Trusova and Evgeny Plushenko. Of course, this is his personal record for popularity.
Okay, sex has always sold well, but has it affected Andrei's popularity as a figure skater? Will it have good consequences for his career? It seems slippery to speculate on erotica.
Well, let's start with the fact that this story really is not about eroticism (if we abstract away from the unambiguous stimuli in the form of the dancers' clothes and shoes). This story is about madness, about the unbearable desire to possess someone's soul, to make it a part of yours. Yes, that's what the Perfumer hooks us with, and that's what makes this story so popular. Andrei plays on his home field here, telling a new version of the story of madness, with the presence of new characters.
Damn, as soon as I wrote that, I thought how wonderful it would be to see Andrei as a character in "Alice in Wonderland" or "Alice Through the Looking Glass" on ice with all those crazy characters, it would be something incredible. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see him as Alice, it goes against his masculinity, but he could be Lewis Carroll, for example. I want to see his perfect rendition of a crazy and rational character.
Okay, I got distracted. Did this number bring Andrei to the attention of the professionals?
The dancers' community was definitely interested in this new idea of combining dancing and skating. Anastasia Yurasova's dancers are happy with the experience, they have become friends with Andrei and keep in touch. Dance coaches appreciated Andrei's plasticity, he caught their attention and I hope that new collaborations are waiting for us. The number of choreographers willing to work with Andrei has grown considerably, the most famous ones are ready to work with him. The number was undoubtedly a breakthrough from this point of view.
But let's talk about figure skating, there's nothing new here, is there? Well, you can read the comments on the Chinese bilibili. In addition to men's admiration for the imitation of the naked body of the girls and giggles about the possible colds of the participants, there are many comments about how it is possible to dare to glide on skates in such dangerous proximity to human bodies and admiration for Andrei's professionalism.
If even video hosting users, far from sports, noticed it, rest assured that the professionals definitely noticed the high class of Andrei's skating skills. Yes, the dancers tried something new, but Andrei also went for an experiment and opened new possibilities.
So, is this number a masterpiece?
No, I don't think so. But it is a very bold, albeit rambunctious, experiment, and it's certainly reaching a new level for Andrei in many areas. For this reason, this program gets silver, overtaking the beautiful short program.
Let's be honest: Andrei Mozalev 2023 will be remembered by all as the guy who took seven high-heeled, naked-looking dancers onto the ice, danced with them, and slid around their dancing bodies as easily as if they were skittles. It was a great point, no, an exclamation point on the end of the season.
Why second place? Because there is a more worthy candidate for gold.
You've already guessed it, of course, but I'm still looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
#2
Show number "Perfumer"
Presented at the show number competition "Russian Challenge".
Music: Sevdaliza - Gole Bi Goldoon
Image: mad maniac - perfumer
Yeah, I know it looks crazy. Shouldn't this number have gone to the last position of the ranking, as "Where Are You" went to the end of the table for the most hastily prepared choreography - and yet here we have even more obvious haste and inconsistencies? Why is this number higher in the rating than a beautiful and well-thought-out program, as Andrei has much more elaborate and beautiful performances? Why is this number higher in the rating than a beautiful and well-thought-out short program?
Let's start from the beginning. This show program appeared thanks to Andrei Mozalev's fan club, aka his team "Mozalev Team". The idea of the program comes from the head of the fan club Olga "Lyolya" Romanova. She is an inspired dancer and an aspiring figure skater, and she really wanted to offer Andrei a program where dancing would be combined with figure skating. She proposed the idea to Andrei and he enthusiastically agreed to make it a reality. Then the project of the number was approved by Channel One, and the work on the program began in a hurry. The dancers' coach Anastasia Yurasova worked with her dancers in Moscow, and Andrei worked on the choreography with his choreographer Denis Lunin in St. Petersburg. Three days before the premiere, the two groups met on the ice in Moscow for training - and it turned out that their choreography did not match at all. We had to improvise and change everything on the fly. There were also technical difficulties getting the girls in heels onto the ice. That funny way of getting off the ice by rolling over was the only allowed way for the girls to avoid their falls and injuries. The girls showed unprecedented resilience and proved themselves real fighters, coping with all the troubles. Andrei became the co-author of his number, he showed himself as an active, creative director, and in addition, a caring mentor and assistant for the dancers from his team. His attitude to these girls was truly chivalrous.
Well, you will say, it was a definite stepping-stone in the development of Andrei's skills as a professional athlete and possibly a choreographer. It's a pretty avant-garde idea to get dancers on the ice and make them dance, something new for the development of dance and its synthesis with figure skating, but in essence, it's an underground experiment. Let's say it's something. But it's not a victory! The number turned out to be provocative, controversial. There's too much emphasis on the female body and a dark idea. It wasn't rewarded on the show. It didn't get the attention and it wasn't memorable like most numbers on the show?
It did. It became one of the most popular numbers of the show and Andrei's most popular program in general.
Some stats:
Channel One's website - 301,000 views, the best "Russian Challenge" video in terms of views;
"Channel One. Sport" account in Vkontakte - 483,000 views, among the top 10 most popular videos, beating the video of Khabib Nurmukhamedov's legendary fight and Anna Scherbakova's exhibition number from the same show.
Finally what no one expected - Chinese bilibili, the analog of youtube for China - 505,000 views.
If you can't understand whether that's a lot or not by the standards of China's video hosting sites, it's a top 500 video in the figure skating category for all years and a top 15 video for 2023. The video went viral in March and continues to rack up views so far.
It's enough to say that no current male figure skater from Russia has climbed that high. Andrei suddenly found himself in the company of Yuzuru Hanyu, Nathan Chen, Anna Scherbakova, Kamila Valieva, Aleksandra Trusova and Evgeny Plushenko. Of course, this is his personal record for popularity.
Okay, sex has always sold well, but has it affected Andrei's popularity as a figure skater? Will it have good consequences for his career? It seems slippery to speculate on erotica.
Well, let's start with the fact that this story really is not about eroticism (if we abstract away from the unambiguous stimuli in the form of the dancers' clothes and shoes). This story is about madness, about the unbearable desire to possess someone's soul, to make it a part of yours. Yes, that's what the Perfumer hooks us with, and that's what makes this story so popular. Andrei plays on his home field here, telling a new version of the story of madness, with the presence of new characters.
Damn, as soon as I wrote that, I thought how wonderful it would be to see Andrei as a character in "Alice in Wonderland" or "Alice Through the Looking Glass" on ice with all those crazy characters, it would be something incredible. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see him as Alice, it goes against his masculinity, but he could be Lewis Carroll, for example. I want to see his perfect rendition of a crazy and rational character.
Okay, I got distracted. Did this number bring Andrei to the attention of the professionals?
The dancers' community was definitely interested in this new idea of combining dancing and skating. Anastasia Yurasova's dancers are happy with the experience, they have become friends with Andrei and keep in touch. Dance coaches appreciated Andrei's plasticity, he caught their attention and I hope that new collaborations are waiting for us. The number of choreographers willing to work with Andrei has grown considerably, the most famous ones are ready to work with him. The number was undoubtedly a breakthrough from this point of view.
But let's talk about figure skating, there's nothing new here, is there? Well, you can read the comments on the Chinese bilibili. In addition to men's admiration for the imitation of the naked body of the girls and giggles about the possible colds of the participants, there are many comments about how it is possible to dare to glide on skates in such dangerous proximity to human bodies and admiration for Andrei's professionalism.
If even video hosting users, far from sports, noticed it, rest assured that the professionals definitely noticed the high class of Andrei's skating skills. Yes, the dancers tried something new, but Andrei also went for an experiment and opened new possibilities.
So, is this number a masterpiece?
No, I don't think so. But it is a very bold, albeit rambunctious, experiment, and it's certainly reaching a new level for Andrei in many areas. For this reason, this program gets silver, overtaking the beautiful short program.
Let's be honest: Andrei Mozalev 2023 will be remembered by all as the guy who took seven high-heeled, naked-looking dancers onto the ice, danced with them, and slid around their dancing bodies as easily as if they were skittles. It was a great point, no, an exclamation point on the end of the season.
Why second place? Because there is a more worthy candidate for gold.
You've already guessed it, of course, but I'm still looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
It's time for Barbimania, so fans have fun... Barbie and Ken Fashion Magazine. Model Kenneth-Andrei "Fancy man" Mozalev presents the new spring/summer collection 
I swear this is the last Barbie-themed post, but it's the prettiest.
I swear this is the last Barbie-themed post, but it's the prettiest.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Today we officially ending the ranking of 2022-2023 season programs. Which program was the best? We already know the answer, but let's say it out loud.
#1
Free program "Kerber" (aka "Red hand")
Performed at all competitions of the season.
Music: "Kerber" by Yann Tiersen.
Image: a man confronting a lively left hand.
This is not a surprise. Of course this program is a masterpiece, and it deserves gold. I don't even know what to praise here first: there is a wonderful choice of music, demanding choreography, and an unusual image. The performer shows excellent acting and skating skills, it helps to realize the choreographer's idea. The audience loves "Kerber." Even the first version from the test skates of the national team broke popularity records, entering the top 3 most viewed videos of Channel 1 along with the programs of Alexandra Trusova and Kamila Valieva:
It's such a shame we didn't get to see this program purely performed. This is the reason why many would like to see the program performed for a second season. The story repeats itself with the short and free skating programs of the 2020-2021 season, which also could not be performed without mistakes. Fans really asked to keep the programs for the Olympic season, but the coaches decided to put new programs for the Olympics. And they were good too, especially SP - a small masterpiece. I really want to see Kerber performed without mistakes that spoil the impression, to enjoy it as a work of art. But in the new season Andrei will have new programs. They are also very good. Perhaps there will be a new masterpiece among them, who knows. In the meantime, we will say goodbye to Kerber - and to the 2022-2023 season.
Perhaps someday this program will be performed as a showcase? That would be wonderful. Andrei has long deserved his own little ice show, where he would perform programs of past years lightened in content, different in idea and in mood. Something like "The Laboratory of Dr. Mozalev, a researcher of different aspects of love and madness".
Well, our regular off-season entertainment has come to end. I enjoyed it very much, I spent time with benefit, analyzed and clarified some things for myself. I hope you didn't get bored either and had a little fun.
Let's take a short break, and then I'll probably do a costume ranking of the 2022-2023 season to finally say goodbye to it.
#1
Free program "Kerber" (aka "Red hand")
Performed at all competitions of the season.
Music: "Kerber" by Yann Tiersen.
Image: a man confronting a lively left hand.
This is not a surprise. Of course this program is a masterpiece, and it deserves gold. I don't even know what to praise here first: there is a wonderful choice of music, demanding choreography, and an unusual image. The performer shows excellent acting and skating skills, it helps to realize the choreographer's idea. The audience loves "Kerber." Even the first version from the test skates of the national team broke popularity records, entering the top 3 most viewed videos of Channel 1 along with the programs of Alexandra Trusova and Kamila Valieva:
It's such a shame we didn't get to see this program purely performed. This is the reason why many would like to see the program performed for a second season. The story repeats itself with the short and free skating programs of the 2020-2021 season, which also could not be performed without mistakes. Fans really asked to keep the programs for the Olympic season, but the coaches decided to put new programs for the Olympics. And they were good too, especially SP - a small masterpiece. I really want to see Kerber performed without mistakes that spoil the impression, to enjoy it as a work of art. But in the new season Andrei will have new programs. They are also very good. Perhaps there will be a new masterpiece among them, who knows. In the meantime, we will say goodbye to Kerber - and to the 2022-2023 season.
Perhaps someday this program will be performed as a showcase? That would be wonderful. Andrei has long deserved his own little ice show, where he would perform programs of past years lightened in content, different in idea and in mood. Something like "The Laboratory of Dr. Mozalev, a researcher of different aspects of love and madness".
Well, our regular off-season entertainment has come to end. I enjoyed it very much, I spent time with benefit, analyzed and clarified some things for myself. I hope you didn't get bored either and had a little fun.
Let's take a short break, and then I'll probably do a costume ranking of the 2022-2023 season to finally say goodbye to it.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Hi everyone, since Andrei's spring interview went virtually unnoticed, I decided to transcribe it. I know that it's a hassle to read not the most accurate subtitles to an hour-long video where everyone speaks Russian, and even in broken, incomplete phrases. Meanwhile, in this interview, Andrei said some interesting things about himself. The child, as always, is very modest, silent and surprisingly sincere. It's the off-season, a good time for thoughtful reading in the absence of breaking news, it seems to me. The interview is quite long, so I'll be posting it in parts.
Interview taken in the end of January 2023 in St. Petersburg by Andrei Zhurankov and Ekaterina Bobrova.
Interview with Andrei Mozalev 02.03.2023.
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
B: We warmly welcome everyone to the Northern Capital, to beautiful St. Petersburg, and we have a wonderful guest today – Andrei Mozalev. We are very happy to see you. Let's list out your titles. First, junior world champion…
Zh.: Well, this is probably the most important, the biggest achievement. Am I right, Andrei?
M.: You are right. At the moment, it's the main achievement.
B.: Nevertheless. Russian championship medalist. Olympic athlete.
Zh.: Junior Olympics.
A second pause. B. was confused. M. looks at her with a slight half-smile.
Zh.: Aah, but the Junior Olympics, too!
B. (in a tone of outrage): Excuse me!
M. laughs loudly at this time.
I was just about to ask what's wrong with you! Of course, he had the Youth Olympic Games too, but... (introduces interviewers) Ekaterina Bobrova and Andrei Zhurankov are with you today, that's invariably.
Zh.: Yes! (to M.) Thank you for coming to us so quickly after practice.
M.: Thank you for inviting me.
B. (kindly and cheerfully) We'll try to cheer you up and relax you today.
M. laughs.
Zh.: Do you have to work hard in training?
M.: The problem isn't that I work hard. I'll be honest. It's a little difficult for me (usually, if Mozalev says "a little difficult", it means that the problem is quite serious. He just doesn't talk about less serious problems – Mar.). I can't identify the cause of the problem. Perhaps I'm a bit weary after the Olympic season. It's a bit difficult for me, and I have to fight with myself every day, to go to training no matter what. I have the will to train, but not much strength.
Zh.: Is your strength less than your ambition?
B.: I guess you're not the only athlete with these problems.
M.: We all had a bad month overall. In January in St. Petersburg we only saw the sun for one day, half of one day. Half a day of sunshine for all of January (laughs slightly) (Andrei is talking about depression hitting all the residents of St. Petersburg by the end of the eternal cloudy winter – Mar.).
B: It's actually hard. I think you're still morally tired due to the recent events.... Well, let's not talk about it now (changes tone and looks at Andrei with enthusiasm) You haven't had many interviews. I think this is the first big, big interview with you. We really want to expose you not only as a skater, but also as a person.
Let's start from the beginning. How did Andrei become a figure skater? How did you come into the sport? Who made it happen?
M.: My mom is really into figure skating. She loved then and she loves now figure skating figure skating and, um… rhythmic gymnastics, I think (wrinkles forehead). The plan was that my sister ... I have a sister, by the way. Her name is Lisa, heh (smiles).
B: Younger sister, older sister?
M.: She's older than me.
B: (repeats soothing tone) Older sister.
M.: She recently turned... oh, no, but soon, February 8th, 23 years old.
B: Give her a big congratulations and a big hello from us.
M. smiles sweetly
Zh.: (brings everyone back to the main topic): So, and...
M. changes his face and concentrates on what he wanted to say.
M: …and my mom sent her to figure skating. I was just a little kid. She would bring my sister and me to practice so she wouldn't leave a small child home alone. One day I said something like, "When am I going to my practice?". She decided that I was going to figure skating too. It was convenient for her to drive us both to practice and pick us up from practice. That's how it turned out.
Zh.: as it often happens, the eldest child finished his career...
M. (squints and smiles broadly): Yes.
Zh.: I'm right? How old was Lisa when she finished her figure skating career?
M.: She was about 15 or 16 y.o.
Zh.: Uh-huh. And the little brother kept skating.
B.: I have the same situation. My older sisters... well, it's their fault I'm a figure skater (laughs) Okay. At what age do you have your earliest memories... Actually, at what age did you start skating?
M.: When...
Zh., B.: At what age did you follow your sister? (laughing good-naturedly together).
M.: (with a thoughtful face) Well, at first I just came to her training.... They wanted to put me on skates very early. I wasn't on my feet yet, and they wanted to put me on skates. I was about 2, 5 years old when I started skating. At the age of 5 I started intensive training in a group for young athletes.
B.: Do you like figure skating? That's such a direct question.
Zh.: And what kind of answer do you want him to give you? "No, I don't like it?"
B. (offended tone): Well don't, you know...
M. (with a gentle smile): I wouldn't skate if I didn't love it, really. I'd probably have retired long ago in that case.
B. (smiles as he looks at Andrei, then turns to the co-interviewer with a serious face): You know, I have some history of champions, and Olympic champions too, who don't like figure skating. They just finish it for specific reasons.
Zh.: Because they've gotten to that level.
B.: Right. Well, okay...
M. (judiciously): I think there are unpleasant moments in any business. The training process, some other aspects, there are a lot of them, really. All the same, I like figure skating in general. I love skating. I love to perform on the ice. For these feeling, I'm ready to bear everything (inspirational smile).
Zh.: That's it! We have now started asking many guests this question. Some people like to train more, others, on the contrary, like competitions.
M.: Competitions.
W.: Well done, of course, competitions.
M. (with sparkling eyes gesturing inspirationally with his hands near his heart): Of course! when the audience... when you give aesthetics to the whole audience..... I can't tell, I... and when you get that energy back – that's the coolest thing.
Zh.: When did you feel for the first time that the audience also gives you energy?
M. (faithfully recalls): Well, I can't remember now, I guess.... I got it most of all recently at the "Channel One Cup" (stifled embarrassed chuckle).
B. (with an approving smile): That's cool. That's nice!
Zh.: Did you get pleasure?
M.: I did
Zh.:...at the Channel One Cup.
M.: Absolutely.
Interview taken in the end of January 2023 in St. Petersburg by Andrei Zhurankov and Ekaterina Bobrova.
Interview with Andrei Mozalev 02.03.2023.
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 1. What's Eating Andrei Mozalev, or gloomy winter in St. Petersburg. History and philosophy of Mozalev in figure skating
B: We warmly welcome everyone to the Northern Capital, to beautiful St. Petersburg, and we have a wonderful guest today – Andrei Mozalev. We are very happy to see you. Let's list out your titles. First, junior world champion…
Zh.: Well, this is probably the most important, the biggest achievement. Am I right, Andrei?
M.: You are right. At the moment, it's the main achievement.
B.: Nevertheless. Russian championship medalist. Olympic athlete.
Zh.: Junior Olympics.
A second pause. B. was confused. M. looks at her with a slight half-smile.
Zh.: Aah, but the Junior Olympics, too!
B. (in a tone of outrage): Excuse me!
M. laughs loudly at this time.
I was just about to ask what's wrong with you! Of course, he had the Youth Olympic Games too, but... (introduces interviewers) Ekaterina Bobrova and Andrei Zhurankov are with you today, that's invariably.
Zh.: Yes! (to M.) Thank you for coming to us so quickly after practice.
M.: Thank you for inviting me.
B. (kindly and cheerfully) We'll try to cheer you up and relax you today.
M. laughs.
Zh.: Do you have to work hard in training?
M.: The problem isn't that I work hard. I'll be honest. It's a little difficult for me (usually, if Mozalev says "a little difficult", it means that the problem is quite serious. He just doesn't talk about less serious problems – Mar.). I can't identify the cause of the problem. Perhaps I'm a bit weary after the Olympic season. It's a bit difficult for me, and I have to fight with myself every day, to go to training no matter what. I have the will to train, but not much strength.
Zh.: Is your strength less than your ambition?
B.: I guess you're not the only athlete with these problems.
M.: We all had a bad month overall. In January in St. Petersburg we only saw the sun for one day, half of one day. Half a day of sunshine for all of January (laughs slightly) (Andrei is talking about depression hitting all the residents of St. Petersburg by the end of the eternal cloudy winter – Mar.).
B: It's actually hard. I think you're still morally tired due to the recent events.... Well, let's not talk about it now (changes tone and looks at Andrei with enthusiasm) You haven't had many interviews. I think this is the first big, big interview with you. We really want to expose you not only as a skater, but also as a person.
Let's start from the beginning. How did Andrei become a figure skater? How did you come into the sport? Who made it happen?
M.: My mom is really into figure skating. She loved then and she loves now figure skating figure skating and, um… rhythmic gymnastics, I think (wrinkles forehead). The plan was that my sister ... I have a sister, by the way. Her name is Lisa, heh (smiles).
B: Younger sister, older sister?
M.: She's older than me.
B: (repeats soothing tone) Older sister.
M.: She recently turned... oh, no, but soon, February 8th, 23 years old.
B: Give her a big congratulations and a big hello from us.
M. smiles sweetly
Zh.: (brings everyone back to the main topic): So, and...
M. changes his face and concentrates on what he wanted to say.
M: …and my mom sent her to figure skating. I was just a little kid. She would bring my sister and me to practice so she wouldn't leave a small child home alone. One day I said something like, "When am I going to my practice?". She decided that I was going to figure skating too. It was convenient for her to drive us both to practice and pick us up from practice. That's how it turned out.
Zh.: as it often happens, the eldest child finished his career...
M. (squints and smiles broadly): Yes.
Zh.: I'm right? How old was Lisa when she finished her figure skating career?
M.: She was about 15 or 16 y.o.
Zh.: Uh-huh. And the little brother kept skating.
B.: I have the same situation. My older sisters... well, it's their fault I'm a figure skater (laughs) Okay. At what age do you have your earliest memories... Actually, at what age did you start skating?
M.: When...
Zh., B.: At what age did you follow your sister? (laughing good-naturedly together).
M.: (with a thoughtful face) Well, at first I just came to her training.... They wanted to put me on skates very early. I wasn't on my feet yet, and they wanted to put me on skates. I was about 2, 5 years old when I started skating. At the age of 5 I started intensive training in a group for young athletes.
B.: Do you like figure skating? That's such a direct question.
Zh.: And what kind of answer do you want him to give you? "No, I don't like it?"
B. (offended tone): Well don't, you know...
M. (with a gentle smile): I wouldn't skate if I didn't love it, really. I'd probably have retired long ago in that case.
B. (smiles as he looks at Andrei, then turns to the co-interviewer with a serious face): You know, I have some history of champions, and Olympic champions too, who don't like figure skating. They just finish it for specific reasons.
Zh.: Because they've gotten to that level.
B.: Right. Well, okay...
M. (judiciously): I think there are unpleasant moments in any business. The training process, some other aspects, there are a lot of them, really. All the same, I like figure skating in general. I love skating. I love to perform on the ice. For these feeling, I'm ready to bear everything (inspirational smile).
Zh.: That's it! We have now started asking many guests this question. Some people like to train more, others, on the contrary, like competitions.
M.: Competitions.
W.: Well done, of course, competitions.
M. (with sparkling eyes gesturing inspirationally with his hands near his heart): Of course! when the audience... when you give aesthetics to the whole audience..... I can't tell, I... and when you get that energy back – that's the coolest thing.
Zh.: When did you feel for the first time that the audience also gives you energy?
M. (faithfully recalls): Well, I can't remember now, I guess.... I got it most of all recently at the "Channel One Cup" (stifled embarrassed chuckle).
B. (with an approving smile): That's cool. That's nice!
Zh.: Did you get pleasure?
M.: I did
Zh.:...at the Channel One Cup.
M.: Absolutely.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Interview with Andrei Mozalev 02.03.2023.
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 2. Competitions and shows. Mozalev's individual style of skating, perfect blade work and gliding skills. International competitions of the past and on current season.
Part 1
The interviewers continues the talk about the Channel 1 Cup, started by Andrei.
B.: Is it more show or competition for you?
M.: I've been asked this question before.
B.: Well, it's still a predicted question.
M.: It's a predicted question, yes. It does... well in fact, it seems to be a show. For viewers, it is for the viewers that it is a show.
Zh.: And this year, this year specifically? That's what you felt. In a moment it seemed that the teams in some way began to really compete.
M.: Right, there is still a spirit of struggle. It's because of the team, because you're skating for the team. You haven't let the team down. It's stressful. Still, it's a viewer's event, it's more for the viewer. I don't know. It's something in the middle, between a show and a competition.
B.: I like your position that the competition is also a show. All right. That's cool.
Zh.: Ever since you were at an early age, people have said that you have your own style of skating that sets you apart from other skaters. It came quite early, when you were very young. Maybe you don't agree with that.
M.: Well, no, I don't agree with it.
Zh.: So you think that you don't have your own style of skating?
M.: No, I... hmmm.... There is, of course, but it appeared, I think, not so long ago. I mean... every time I watch my performances from last year and the year before, for example, recently I've started to like myself, I guess you could say that. I enjoy myself. I enjoy looking at myself, I enjoy revisiting my programs. However, this feeling appeared quite recently (before last season Andrei didn't like himself – Mar.).
Zh.: So you seem to become satisfied with yourself when you look at yourself on the ice.
M.: That's right. Because it happens that I look at myself and see that I didn't extend my leg enough at this moment, I would like to do this movement differently. Even this season. But I really like it, I review my programs every time.
B.: What is your most memorable, favorite skate? Where did it happen? It is obvious that it will be even better...
Zh.: What is your skating you review most often?
M.: Most often I review the skating FS at the JWC 2020. Because I won then and I have a good skate there. A good skate of both programs. Most of the time I rewatch it, it's so energizes me (Ah, Mozalev is so hungry for victories – Mar.).
Zh.: Yes, it was a bright moment. So you remember everyone you beat?
M.: Yeah.
Zh.: Do you remember all the athletes from the strongest warm-up?
M.: Almost.
Zh.: Who was it?
M.: Yuma Kagiyama was there, Shun Sato, Grassl if I'm right. Andrew Torgashev... I don't remember much else.
Zh.: …Mozalev.
M.: Naturally (laughs). I think Sasha Selevko was also there.
B.: That was an awesome world championship.
Zh.: I mean, you won the junior competition with Yuma Kagiyama.
M.: We only had one competition that season that ended with him winning – the Junior Olympics.
B.: You are very different from many skaters with your blade work and skating skills. Speaking about me, I came from ice dancing and I look at figure skating as a dancer, naturally, I pay attention to the blades. To be honest, in some moments I admire you. We were at a show in St. Petersburg together I watched you at the warm-up and when you skated, I couldn't take my eyes off you, because what you do is great. You're really cool. How did you get this? Have you been gliding a lot since you were a kid? Do you spend a lot of time doing it now? Very few skaters can glide like you.
M: I spend a lot of time practicing gliding. Every day at every training session we work on step sequences for at least 15 minutes at the beginning and then again at the end. On weekends, we have big ice training. Half of the time we do gliding. Of course, we spend a lot of time on it. We used to spend even more time on it. And it's not just sliding. When I train on the ice with a choreographer, I try to train not only hand gestures, but also to train leg movements in full force, so you can see how it will all look on the ice.
Zh.: My opinion (and I've said this before) is that there must be some kind of predisposition, some kind of talent, to develop such skills.
M.: I don't think so.
Zh.: No? In your case, it's the result of hard work?
M.: Sure (Mozalev makes it clear that he doesn’t want to consider himself the chosen one – Mar.).
M.: The most difficult thing is to combine sliding with jumps and other elements in the program. In training, I always skate my programs completely, I give it my all. We have small boys in our group, younger than me, who can just skate on two legs between jumps. I can't do that. Somebody once told me that I should do 200% in training, so that I could do 120% in competitions.
B.: We've heard coaches say the same things.
M.: (Laughs) Yeah. That's why I always do every step in training at full strength.
B. (doesn't leave attempts to find out the secret of Mozalev's wonderful gliding): At what age did you start practicing gliding? I mean, when you began to train purposefully in training to perform steps, you got a gliding coach.
M.: Oh, I don't know. When I joined Kirill Anatolievich's group.
B.: How old were you?
M.: I was about 8 y.o. From that moment, I had a coach with whom I practiced gliding.
B.: But still... I still think it's a combination of factors (curls fingers): talent, efficiency, naturally suitable knees, which you train in a choreography class. Moreover, time is important, too. So there are situations when skaters, let's say, start wanting to get a great glide. Therefore, a skater starts working on this aspect at the age of 20, because he needs to learn how to glide.
However, this is a different situation, when the athlete is 6-7 years old and the coach consciously understands that it is necessary to develop this skill, and then in ten years we have the result – excellent glide.
Zh.: In the group of Kirill Davydenko even young children work on gliding?
M.: Yes, of course.
B.: And " figures" you do? Just for fun.
M.: Kirill Anatolievich give us some exercises. We used to do it more often, but now...
Zh.: There's no time now, that's understandable. I meant in childhood, when you were 9, 10, 11 y.o.
M.: When we were kids, yes, we used to do things like that, the coach would give us some exercises, we'd do figures.
B.: (with a laugh) You don't want to remember that.
M. smiles broadly. B. laughs.
M. (with a smile): Yeah, it's so... It's so stressful. It's difficult.
B.: I've repeatedly... Naturally, we discuss the programs of the season on our podcasts. Frankly speaking, I like both of your programs very much. Although Andrei (Zhurankov – Mar.) at the beginning of the season argued with me about the short program (points at him with a pen).
Zh.: I did.
M. sips water from a glass with the slyest expression on his face.
B.: In the end he agreed with me. But you were perfecting it, of course. I immediately saw the potential of your short program. The free program is something special in general. I actually think that even at the international level it would be one of the most interesting best programs there. Because we admire Adam Siao Him Fa's program this season... Have you seen it or not?
M.: No, I haven't seen it.
Zh.: Sorry, wait, you haven't seen this program too? (Referring to the previous interview – Mar.).
M. smiles broadly and makes a negative gesture with his head.
Zh.: Wait, let's make this clear. Are you skaters in cahoots now? Are you ignoring international competitions?
M. (with a confused face, smiles sweetly): Well, I'm not particularly interested in watching.
Zh.: Last season you didn't watch international competitions too?
M.: I watched them more often than I do now, because after all, I was also involved, I had to keep up to date. I followed the results of the series Grand Prix series, who was in what place in the table, to know what results to expect. In general, to be honest, I rarely look at other athletes (the principle Davydenko instilled in Mozalev – try to be better than yourself, not better than others – Mar.).
B.: You've got an interesting approach to this.
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 2. Competitions and shows. Mozalev's individual style of skating, perfect blade work and gliding skills. International competitions of the past and on current season.
Part 1
The interviewers continues the talk about the Channel 1 Cup, started by Andrei.
B.: Is it more show or competition for you?
M.: I've been asked this question before.
B.: Well, it's still a predicted question.
M.: It's a predicted question, yes. It does... well in fact, it seems to be a show. For viewers, it is for the viewers that it is a show.
Zh.: And this year, this year specifically? That's what you felt. In a moment it seemed that the teams in some way began to really compete.
M.: Right, there is still a spirit of struggle. It's because of the team, because you're skating for the team. You haven't let the team down. It's stressful. Still, it's a viewer's event, it's more for the viewer. I don't know. It's something in the middle, between a show and a competition.
B.: I like your position that the competition is also a show. All right. That's cool.
Zh.: Ever since you were at an early age, people have said that you have your own style of skating that sets you apart from other skaters. It came quite early, when you were very young. Maybe you don't agree with that.
M.: Well, no, I don't agree with it.
Zh.: So you think that you don't have your own style of skating?
M.: No, I... hmmm.... There is, of course, but it appeared, I think, not so long ago. I mean... every time I watch my performances from last year and the year before, for example, recently I've started to like myself, I guess you could say that. I enjoy myself. I enjoy looking at myself, I enjoy revisiting my programs. However, this feeling appeared quite recently (before last season Andrei didn't like himself – Mar.).
Zh.: So you seem to become satisfied with yourself when you look at yourself on the ice.
M.: That's right. Because it happens that I look at myself and see that I didn't extend my leg enough at this moment, I would like to do this movement differently. Even this season. But I really like it, I review my programs every time.
B.: What is your most memorable, favorite skate? Where did it happen? It is obvious that it will be even better...
Zh.: What is your skating you review most often?
M.: Most often I review the skating FS at the JWC 2020. Because I won then and I have a good skate there. A good skate of both programs. Most of the time I rewatch it, it's so energizes me (Ah, Mozalev is so hungry for victories – Mar.).
Zh.: Yes, it was a bright moment. So you remember everyone you beat?
M.: Yeah.
Zh.: Do you remember all the athletes from the strongest warm-up?
M.: Almost.
Zh.: Who was it?
M.: Yuma Kagiyama was there, Shun Sato, Grassl if I'm right. Andrew Torgashev... I don't remember much else.
Zh.: …Mozalev.
M.: Naturally (laughs). I think Sasha Selevko was also there.
B.: That was an awesome world championship.
Zh.: I mean, you won the junior competition with Yuma Kagiyama.
M.: We only had one competition that season that ended with him winning – the Junior Olympics.
B.: You are very different from many skaters with your blade work and skating skills. Speaking about me, I came from ice dancing and I look at figure skating as a dancer, naturally, I pay attention to the blades. To be honest, in some moments I admire you. We were at a show in St. Petersburg together I watched you at the warm-up and when you skated, I couldn't take my eyes off you, because what you do is great. You're really cool. How did you get this? Have you been gliding a lot since you were a kid? Do you spend a lot of time doing it now? Very few skaters can glide like you.
M: I spend a lot of time practicing gliding. Every day at every training session we work on step sequences for at least 15 minutes at the beginning and then again at the end. On weekends, we have big ice training. Half of the time we do gliding. Of course, we spend a lot of time on it. We used to spend even more time on it. And it's not just sliding. When I train on the ice with a choreographer, I try to train not only hand gestures, but also to train leg movements in full force, so you can see how it will all look on the ice.
Zh.: My opinion (and I've said this before) is that there must be some kind of predisposition, some kind of talent, to develop such skills.
M.: I don't think so.
Zh.: No? In your case, it's the result of hard work?
M.: Sure (Mozalev makes it clear that he doesn’t want to consider himself the chosen one – Mar.).
M.: The most difficult thing is to combine sliding with jumps and other elements in the program. In training, I always skate my programs completely, I give it my all. We have small boys in our group, younger than me, who can just skate on two legs between jumps. I can't do that. Somebody once told me that I should do 200% in training, so that I could do 120% in competitions.
B.: We've heard coaches say the same things.
M.: (Laughs) Yeah. That's why I always do every step in training at full strength.
B. (doesn't leave attempts to find out the secret of Mozalev's wonderful gliding): At what age did you start practicing gliding? I mean, when you began to train purposefully in training to perform steps, you got a gliding coach.
M.: Oh, I don't know. When I joined Kirill Anatolievich's group.
B.: How old were you?
M.: I was about 8 y.o. From that moment, I had a coach with whom I practiced gliding.
B.: But still... I still think it's a combination of factors (curls fingers): talent, efficiency, naturally suitable knees, which you train in a choreography class. Moreover, time is important, too. So there are situations when skaters, let's say, start wanting to get a great glide. Therefore, a skater starts working on this aspect at the age of 20, because he needs to learn how to glide.
However, this is a different situation, when the athlete is 6-7 years old and the coach consciously understands that it is necessary to develop this skill, and then in ten years we have the result – excellent glide.
Zh.: In the group of Kirill Davydenko even young children work on gliding?
M.: Yes, of course.
B.: And " figures" you do? Just for fun.
M.: Kirill Anatolievich give us some exercises. We used to do it more often, but now...
Zh.: There's no time now, that's understandable. I meant in childhood, when you were 9, 10, 11 y.o.
M.: When we were kids, yes, we used to do things like that, the coach would give us some exercises, we'd do figures.
B.: (with a laugh) You don't want to remember that.
M. smiles broadly. B. laughs.
M. (with a smile): Yeah, it's so... It's so stressful. It's difficult.
B.: I've repeatedly... Naturally, we discuss the programs of the season on our podcasts. Frankly speaking, I like both of your programs very much. Although Andrei (Zhurankov – Mar.) at the beginning of the season argued with me about the short program (points at him with a pen).
Zh.: I did.
M. sips water from a glass with the slyest expression on his face.
B.: In the end he agreed with me. But you were perfecting it, of course. I immediately saw the potential of your short program. The free program is something special in general. I actually think that even at the international level it would be one of the most interesting best programs there. Because we admire Adam Siao Him Fa's program this season... Have you seen it or not?
M.: No, I haven't seen it.
Zh.: Sorry, wait, you haven't seen this program too? (Referring to the previous interview – Mar.).
M. smiles broadly and makes a negative gesture with his head.
Zh.: Wait, let's make this clear. Are you skaters in cahoots now? Are you ignoring international competitions?
M. (with a confused face, smiles sweetly): Well, I'm not particularly interested in watching.
Zh.: Last season you didn't watch international competitions too?
M.: I watched them more often than I do now, because after all, I was also involved, I had to keep up to date. I followed the results of the series Grand Prix series, who was in what place in the table, to know what results to expect. In general, to be honest, I rarely look at other athletes (the principle Davydenko instilled in Mozalev – try to be better than yourself, not better than others – Mar.).
B.: You've got an interesting approach to this.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Interview with Andrei Mozalev 02.03.2023.
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 3. Creating of Mozalev's programs. "Led Zeppelin": yes, he listened they album. Mozalev's car radio and his playlist. What about the plot?
A program he would like to perform again in a different way.
Show number to "One Old Soldier's Song" by Okudzhava and the military theme of Averbukh's show.
Раrt 1 Part 2
Zh. Okay, let's talk...
B.: …аbout your programs.
Zh.: About your programs, right.
B.: Oh, we have many questions now. First, what is your role in the program creation process? I mean, let`s starting with the choice of music... Moreover, in principle, in general, do you take part in the directing of programs, do you suggest anything?
M.: Of course, I am involved in the process at every stage. I'm the main person, so to speak, heh (laughs embarrassedly) of the program. The music... I offer my options as well. This time (sighing, thinking) Kirill Anatolievich suggested music for both programs – short program and free skating.
Zh.: Is he a Led Zeppelin fan?
M.: He is (laughs)
Zh.: Here everything is clear (laughs)
B.: Clearly (laughs)
Zh.: Now I understand a lot of things. And I thought, where you have such a repertoire.
B.: …and I was just about to ask, this music is your request?
M.: It's Kirill Anatolievich's choice. Of course, he asks me if I like the music or not. Because that's the most important thing. If I like it, it means that the program is already 50% successful.
B.: Did it rarely happen that your musical tastes matched?
Andrei looks in her direction, about to answer, but at that moment Zhurankov distracts him with another question, and the question stays unanswered.
Zh.: So he offered you Led Zeppelin.
М.: He did. I knew right away that I really liked it. First, it's something new for me. I've never skated to this kind of music before. Honestly, I really like it. I get excited.
Zh.: Have you listened to this album at least halfway through?
M.: I listened to the whole album. Kirill Anatolievich suggested music, and I listened to the whole album and suggested ... There are two parts in the program, two different songs. The first part is my idea ("I can`t quit you, baby" – Mar.).
Zh.: So, his plan was somewhat different?
M.: Yes. He agreed with me.
Zh.: So this montage of two parts is your idea? Uh-huh. So, what else do you know about LZ?
B.: Do you like this band now? Do you have those tracks on repeat on your playlist now? (laughs)
Zh.: Did Andrey Mozalev start listening to Led Zeppelin or other classic rock after that?
M. (serious, nods): I started to like rock music more after that. I really started listening to more rock.
Zh.: I see.
B.: How do you approach the choice of music? In this case, the coach suggested his music, but usually? Do you drive around in the car, listen to some playlists to choose, think: "Oh this music is great, we should listen to it on the ice"?
M: I never listen to music for picking music for the program. It usually comes out randomly. I listen to music, I play them mixed together, and suddenly a music comes up and I immediately start to imagine in my head how I will skate on the ice with this music. If it comes together in a harmonious whole, then I offer the music to Kirill Anatolievich, and then it depends on whether he agrees or not.
B.: Do you agree that not all the music that sounds good in the car, in your headphones or at home also sounds good on the ice?
Mozalev (nodding): Sure, sure. You have to listen it on ice first.
B. (satisfied gesture): We have once again made sure of that.
Zh.: All right. Here you have chosen the music. You suggested, "Let's combine two musical themes." They were combined, done. What image are you skating? How did you determine for yourself how to represent this music?
Mozalev is at a loss for a long time to find words.
Zh.: Did you look for a way out together?
M. (trying to figure out what words they want him to say, and painfully remembering everything the choreographers told him in the process, mumbles): hmmmmmmmm, well, there were lyrics.... the lyrics to this song about love... (looks confused, interrupts with an embarrassed chuckle and smiles pleasantly) It about... about a special kind of love (smiles, half-turns face away from the camera).
B. (comes to the rescue): It's about a very special kind of love, we get it (laughs good-naturedly, M. laughs too).
M.: And I don't know much about it, well.... (laughs, lowering her eyes in embarrassment).
(It's actually kind of cute that Mozalev is so innocent, modest and well-mannered that he can't talk about sex in front of the cameras. Kid, you picked that song yourself! I remind you: you played De Sade while you were still 17 y.o.! How very his images on ice is different from that he shows in real life – Mar).
M.: Honestly, we didn't define a specific image. I just, uh… I'm just dancing to this music, skating on ice.
B.: That is, it's not determinant for you to have a certain idea, to come up with something that the program is about, what image you portray on the ice. Later, it gave you the opportunity to understand why you make such a hand gesture here, why you turn your head at this moment. We thought otherwise, because your free skating program is completely different. There's an idea, there's a story, and in the short program...
M (nods): Here I'm free.
B.: Think up whatever you want. So you're comfortable skating like this?
M: I guess so.
B.: Do you have any program or music that you would like to skate to, but maybe it's a bit corny or not suitable for performing on ice? By the way, that happens a lot. You listen to music, it sounds great, you listen back and you like it, you think: I want to skate to it. You bring it to the rink, you listen to it on the ice and it fails. The music still sounds cool, but you can't skate to it.
Do you have any ideas like that? Maybe "Carmen", "Swan Lake", "Moonlight Sonata." I always offer these standard variants. Because it's great music, it's powerful. It always inspires on the ice, it sounds great. It's just that almost every figure skater has represented it on the ice.
M.: I have one music that I would like to represent on ice. I had a program, I want to do it again and I want to do it much better, just to see if it can look much better.
Zh.: You won't tell us what kind of music it is.
M. (smiles, shakes his head negatively, with an embarrassed laugh): No way, hehe.
Laughs loudly.
B. (with a laugh): Okay. Then I'll ask – was it a long time ago or not so long ago?
M.: (with a deep sigh): It was... (pause, recalls) it was, I think, about six years ago.
(2022-23 - 6 = 2016-17, I'll take a chance and guess which program of the 2016-2017 season Andrei is talking about:
This program stands out a lot from Mozalev's other programs, and I'd really like to see him perform it now. It has completely unconventional music turning into white noise, and if I'm right, I understand why Andrei likes it – Mar).
B: I like that approach. It's cool. It's clear to everybody that you're at this point, after about 6 years, you can skate completely differently, naturally, and you're doing it. And you're now thinking, "Gosh, I like this music so much. Why not do a new program to the same music because I can do it cooler?". It's really cool.
Zh.: Yeah, I was wondering recently. When you look at the history of programs skaters, you realize: you can not repeat! Such a feeling is created. And he or she at 14 years old performed the program, and the music is cool. And at 14, it was too early to use this music and touch on this theme. So use this music now, when you're 20, you'll have a completely different perception, right?
M.: I agree.
B.: That's cool!
Zh.: That's interesting, by the way.
B.: I never thought about it.
Zh.: And that skating, is there any video of it?
M.: Sure.
B.: I feel that we will be thrown in the comments later in the options, what kind of music it will be.
Zh.: Vain, of course, you said it was six years ago.
M. (laughs): I said the approximate time.
B.: Ah, so it's approximate. 4 years ago, 8 years ago... good luck in your search, fans!
Zh.: Colleagues requested that I ask this question. By the way, since we're talking about programs. You had a very cool show number from Averbukh and Maslennikova, "One Old Soldier's Song." How did you come up with this number? How did it come about? Your attitude towards it in general?
(This is actually a provocative question because the number is anti-war and Andrei Mozalev will trip over the elephant in the room. However, either Andrei pretends not to notice the provocation, or he really doesn't notice it and starts telling the story of this number in a businesslike manner. What a question – such an answer. – Mar.).
M.: It came up, mmmm... At that time Averbukh and Maslennikova were directing my free skating program this season ("Kerber" – Mar.) and it was just before the show. This show was in May, so it was a military theme. So, he told me... he told us... sent us some music and told us to do a show number. We approximately planned the steps sequence with him, made a plan of what it would look like. Then Denis Lunin, my choreographer, and I finalized the number. That's how this number came about.
B.: You have to agree, we had an amazing show in St. Petersburg (Bobrova is referring to another Averbukh show, which was in St. Petersburg in January. However, Andrei performed the same show number there, perhaps this made her think of the recent St. Petersburg show – Mar.) I watched the show...
M.: Yes, I got just an incredible ecstasy from it.
B. (eager to share her emotions): I watched and cried. My number was at the very beginning. Then I purposely went out and watched all the numbers. I cried at every number... They also read letters to the soldiers, and children came out... (It was a show for the anniversary of the breakthrough of the siege of Leningrad. The plot of the show was based on the story of a family where the father went to war, and the mother and their two small children stayed in the besieged city and wrote letters to the father - Mar.). The use of children is generally forbidden technique, I cried every time.
Zh.: Tell the audience what you are talking about, maybe they don`t knows.
B.: It was a concert on the 80th anniversary of the breakthrough of the siege of Leningrad. We had a big stage, we had a choir ...
Zh.: Where was it?
M.: In the " Ledovyi Dvorets" ("Ice Palace") (Ice palace in St. Petersburg – Mar.).
B.: In the "Ledovyi Dvorets", that's right. We had amazing singers Guru (?) and Zhenechka, who read poems. She sent her husband off to war, read his letters to the kids, read bedtime stories; anyway, we had the kids in the show too. They skated on the ice; they came out to read poetry. It was so touching... well, honestly, you can't use children for that, because it's a pain point of any person. In addition, the symphony orchestra played and every number made me shiver, because every skater perceives all these old songs in his own way and conveys his emotions. There were both young skaters, very young, and more experienced skaters who retired many years ago. And each of us conveyed our emotions and... Well, it just struck me in the heart. Thank you Ilya for a show like this. We're honored to do shows like this because it's our memory. We should really remember these people every year... (Addresses Andrei Zhurankov) Can I change the topic? I just might cry at any moment, remembering this show.
Andrei`s number
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 3. Creating of Mozalev's programs. "Led Zeppelin": yes, he listened they album. Mozalev's car radio and his playlist. What about the plot?
A program he would like to perform again in a different way.
Show number to "One Old Soldier's Song" by Okudzhava and the military theme of Averbukh's show.
Раrt 1 Part 2
Zh. Okay, let's talk...
B.: …аbout your programs.
Zh.: About your programs, right.
B.: Oh, we have many questions now. First, what is your role in the program creation process? I mean, let`s starting with the choice of music... Moreover, in principle, in general, do you take part in the directing of programs, do you suggest anything?
M.: Of course, I am involved in the process at every stage. I'm the main person, so to speak, heh (laughs embarrassedly) of the program. The music... I offer my options as well. This time (sighing, thinking) Kirill Anatolievich suggested music for both programs – short program and free skating.
Zh.: Is he a Led Zeppelin fan?
M.: He is (laughs)
Zh.: Here everything is clear (laughs)
B.: Clearly (laughs)
Zh.: Now I understand a lot of things. And I thought, where you have such a repertoire.
B.: …and I was just about to ask, this music is your request?
M.: It's Kirill Anatolievich's choice. Of course, he asks me if I like the music or not. Because that's the most important thing. If I like it, it means that the program is already 50% successful.
B.: Did it rarely happen that your musical tastes matched?
Andrei looks in her direction, about to answer, but at that moment Zhurankov distracts him with another question, and the question stays unanswered.
Zh.: So he offered you Led Zeppelin.
М.: He did. I knew right away that I really liked it. First, it's something new for me. I've never skated to this kind of music before. Honestly, I really like it. I get excited.
Zh.: Have you listened to this album at least halfway through?
M.: I listened to the whole album. Kirill Anatolievich suggested music, and I listened to the whole album and suggested ... There are two parts in the program, two different songs. The first part is my idea ("I can`t quit you, baby" – Mar.).
Zh.: So, his plan was somewhat different?
M.: Yes. He agreed with me.
Zh.: So this montage of two parts is your idea? Uh-huh. So, what else do you know about LZ?
B.: Do you like this band now? Do you have those tracks on repeat on your playlist now? (laughs)
Zh.: Did Andrey Mozalev start listening to Led Zeppelin or other classic rock after that?
M. (serious, nods): I started to like rock music more after that. I really started listening to more rock.
Zh.: I see.
B.: How do you approach the choice of music? In this case, the coach suggested his music, but usually? Do you drive around in the car, listen to some playlists to choose, think: "Oh this music is great, we should listen to it on the ice"?
M: I never listen to music for picking music for the program. It usually comes out randomly. I listen to music, I play them mixed together, and suddenly a music comes up and I immediately start to imagine in my head how I will skate on the ice with this music. If it comes together in a harmonious whole, then I offer the music to Kirill Anatolievich, and then it depends on whether he agrees or not.
B.: Do you agree that not all the music that sounds good in the car, in your headphones or at home also sounds good on the ice?
Mozalev (nodding): Sure, sure. You have to listen it on ice first.
B. (satisfied gesture): We have once again made sure of that.
Zh.: All right. Here you have chosen the music. You suggested, "Let's combine two musical themes." They were combined, done. What image are you skating? How did you determine for yourself how to represent this music?
Mozalev is at a loss for a long time to find words.
Zh.: Did you look for a way out together?
M. (trying to figure out what words they want him to say, and painfully remembering everything the choreographers told him in the process, mumbles): hmmmmmmmm, well, there were lyrics.... the lyrics to this song about love... (looks confused, interrupts with an embarrassed chuckle and smiles pleasantly) It about... about a special kind of love (smiles, half-turns face away from the camera).
B. (comes to the rescue): It's about a very special kind of love, we get it (laughs good-naturedly, M. laughs too).
M.: And I don't know much about it, well.... (laughs, lowering her eyes in embarrassment).
(It's actually kind of cute that Mozalev is so innocent, modest and well-mannered that he can't talk about sex in front of the cameras. Kid, you picked that song yourself! I remind you: you played De Sade while you were still 17 y.o.! How very his images on ice is different from that he shows in real life – Mar).
M.: Honestly, we didn't define a specific image. I just, uh… I'm just dancing to this music, skating on ice.
B.: That is, it's not determinant for you to have a certain idea, to come up with something that the program is about, what image you portray on the ice. Later, it gave you the opportunity to understand why you make such a hand gesture here, why you turn your head at this moment. We thought otherwise, because your free skating program is completely different. There's an idea, there's a story, and in the short program...
M (nods): Here I'm free.
B.: Think up whatever you want. So you're comfortable skating like this?
M: I guess so.
B.: Do you have any program or music that you would like to skate to, but maybe it's a bit corny or not suitable for performing on ice? By the way, that happens a lot. You listen to music, it sounds great, you listen back and you like it, you think: I want to skate to it. You bring it to the rink, you listen to it on the ice and it fails. The music still sounds cool, but you can't skate to it.
Do you have any ideas like that? Maybe "Carmen", "Swan Lake", "Moonlight Sonata." I always offer these standard variants. Because it's great music, it's powerful. It always inspires on the ice, it sounds great. It's just that almost every figure skater has represented it on the ice.
M.: I have one music that I would like to represent on ice. I had a program, I want to do it again and I want to do it much better, just to see if it can look much better.
Zh.: You won't tell us what kind of music it is.
M. (smiles, shakes his head negatively, with an embarrassed laugh): No way, hehe.
Laughs loudly.
B. (with a laugh): Okay. Then I'll ask – was it a long time ago or not so long ago?
M.: (with a deep sigh): It was... (pause, recalls) it was, I think, about six years ago.
(2022-23 - 6 = 2016-17, I'll take a chance and guess which program of the 2016-2017 season Andrei is talking about:
This program stands out a lot from Mozalev's other programs, and I'd really like to see him perform it now. It has completely unconventional music turning into white noise, and if I'm right, I understand why Andrei likes it – Mar).
B: I like that approach. It's cool. It's clear to everybody that you're at this point, after about 6 years, you can skate completely differently, naturally, and you're doing it. And you're now thinking, "Gosh, I like this music so much. Why not do a new program to the same music because I can do it cooler?". It's really cool.
Zh.: Yeah, I was wondering recently. When you look at the history of programs skaters, you realize: you can not repeat! Such a feeling is created. And he or she at 14 years old performed the program, and the music is cool. And at 14, it was too early to use this music and touch on this theme. So use this music now, when you're 20, you'll have a completely different perception, right?
M.: I agree.
B.: That's cool!
Zh.: That's interesting, by the way.
B.: I never thought about it.
Zh.: And that skating, is there any video of it?
M.: Sure.
B.: I feel that we will be thrown in the comments later in the options, what kind of music it will be.
Zh.: Vain, of course, you said it was six years ago.
M. (laughs): I said the approximate time.
B.: Ah, so it's approximate. 4 years ago, 8 years ago... good luck in your search, fans!
Zh.: Colleagues requested that I ask this question. By the way, since we're talking about programs. You had a very cool show number from Averbukh and Maslennikova, "One Old Soldier's Song." How did you come up with this number? How did it come about? Your attitude towards it in general?
(This is actually a provocative question because the number is anti-war and Andrei Mozalev will trip over the elephant in the room. However, either Andrei pretends not to notice the provocation, or he really doesn't notice it and starts telling the story of this number in a businesslike manner. What a question – such an answer. – Mar.).
M.: It came up, mmmm... At that time Averbukh and Maslennikova were directing my free skating program this season ("Kerber" – Mar.) and it was just before the show. This show was in May, so it was a military theme. So, he told me... he told us... sent us some music and told us to do a show number. We approximately planned the steps sequence with him, made a plan of what it would look like. Then Denis Lunin, my choreographer, and I finalized the number. That's how this number came about.
B.: You have to agree, we had an amazing show in St. Petersburg (Bobrova is referring to another Averbukh show, which was in St. Petersburg in January. However, Andrei performed the same show number there, perhaps this made her think of the recent St. Petersburg show – Mar.) I watched the show...
M.: Yes, I got just an incredible ecstasy from it.
B. (eager to share her emotions): I watched and cried. My number was at the very beginning. Then I purposely went out and watched all the numbers. I cried at every number... They also read letters to the soldiers, and children came out... (It was a show for the anniversary of the breakthrough of the siege of Leningrad. The plot of the show was based on the story of a family where the father went to war, and the mother and their two small children stayed in the besieged city and wrote letters to the father - Mar.). The use of children is generally forbidden technique, I cried every time.
Zh.: Tell the audience what you are talking about, maybe they don`t knows.
B.: It was a concert on the 80th anniversary of the breakthrough of the siege of Leningrad. We had a big stage, we had a choir ...
Zh.: Where was it?
M.: In the " Ledovyi Dvorets" ("Ice Palace") (Ice palace in St. Petersburg – Mar.).
B.: In the "Ledovyi Dvorets", that's right. We had amazing singers Guru (?) and Zhenechka, who read poems. She sent her husband off to war, read his letters to the kids, read bedtime stories; anyway, we had the kids in the show too. They skated on the ice; they came out to read poetry. It was so touching... well, honestly, you can't use children for that, because it's a pain point of any person. In addition, the symphony orchestra played and every number made me shiver, because every skater perceives all these old songs in his own way and conveys his emotions. There were both young skaters, very young, and more experienced skaters who retired many years ago. And each of us conveyed our emotions and... Well, it just struck me in the heart. Thank you Ilya for a show like this. We're honored to do shows like this because it's our memory. We should really remember these people every year... (Addresses Andrei Zhurankov) Can I change the topic? I just might cry at any moment, remembering this show.
Andrei`s number
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Interview with Andrei Mozalev 02.03.2023
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 4. The laces incident. How to identify the referee?
Problems with the second half of the program, typical in the season.
Andrei Mozalev and omens. His rituals on competition days.
Mozalev's car radio and his playlists (again). Is Mozalev a melomaniac?
Programs as a result of teamwork. Guest choreographer.
Ð art 1 Ð art 2 Ð art 3
B.: Grand Prix stage in Samara (Russian Grand Prix - Mar.) (laughs) That's nice I changed the subject, right?
Common laughter.
B.: At the Grand Prix in Samara you had a very frustrating situation, actually. Rarely does this happen. In my memory – two cases in world history. Your shoelace either broke or slipped off the hook.
M.: The shoelace came off the hook. It was during the six-minute warm-up. I came off the ice, took off my skates, jumped around a bit, started putting my skates on again and didn't notice that the lace was not completely caught on the hook.
B.: I would show on my skates so that the audience would understand. Well, some other time.
M.: The shoelace is quite thick (shows with fingers), and the hook is small. The shoelace didn't get all the way onto the hook and came off on the first jump.
B.: What did you feel at that moment? What were your thoughts?
M.(thoughtfully, scratching his forehead): At first I didn't understand anything. Then I realized that... I wanted to go further, but I realized I couldn't. My foot is just failing. I immediately said that there was something wrong with my skate, it's not clear yet what it was. I didn't know what was wrong with it. The most unpleasant thing would have been if the lace had broken, of course. So it just came off, I tied it and rode on.
B.: You clearly knew what to do in this situation?
Zh.: You remembered which the rules are?
M.: Well, of course, I knew that I had to approach the referee. But for me it was the first time, still I was a little confused (gestures actively). I was told to go to the referee. I still every time I do not understand: they sit all in a row, all the judges (holds his hand along an imaginary row of judges).
Zh.: Which of them is the referee?
M.: Which of them is the referee, yes.
B.: Referees, please hold up your hand!
Common laughter.
Zh.: And how did you know which one was the referee?
M.: Well, I stood up, she raised her hand ...
B.: She had a stopwatch.
M.: A stopwatch, yes.
B.: Next time you're looking, look for someone with a stopwatch in the hand.
M: She said I had three minutes. I calmly tied my shoelaces... well, I wasn't calm, I was a little nervous. But I tied my shoelaces and kept skating.
B.: Your coach had time to say something to you?
M.: Yes, I was standing right next to him. "Don't hurry, calmly tie up, you have time", he said.
Zh.: That's right. It's already clear that you will have deductions.
B.: With what thoughts did you continue to skate? You immediately realized that it is necessary, of course, skate well, but I have already flown in the table far - or how?
M.: Well, I was very upset, of course, because of the first element (4S - Mar.), I did it and did it well, and in the landing, when I was already doing the landing, my ridge came loose, my foot fell through - and I fell. I was very upset then, I realized that I needed to continue to do all the elements well. Just to avoid flying far in the table.
Zh.: And in fact, you, I will say so, inside the program, especially if we are talking about the free skating program, 4 minutes, inside the program ... just if we take this season, I have the feeling that somewhere in the middle of the program you seem to lose strength, as if something stops working out. There is such a moment in this season, right?
M: Yes, it happens a lot with me in this season. By the second half of the program it becomes a little bit difficult for me. Now, for the final (of the Russian Grand Prix - Mar.) I'm fixing it... I'll fix it.
B.: The last question about the shoelace. It's just such a small thing... No, it's not a small thing. We want to explain to the audience. What decision did you make when you were in that situation? Did you take a different approach to lacing your skates? Maybe you started using duct tape? Many people do that.
M: Sure, I've used duct tape before. At some point I stopped doing it because I thought I wasn't comfortable skating with it. Now I've started using duct tape again, just in case, so that situations like that don't happen anymore, heh (laughs)
B.: Have you had any other serious incidents at competitions? I forgot my skates, suit, music was turned off, and fans threw toys before the time...
M.: Several times they turned on music that wasn't mine, I remember. It's clear that sometimes I forgot the music for competitions. However, it's not a problem now.
B.: Yes, it's not such a problem now. In the past, the coach had two disks, the athlete had two disks, the parents had two disks if they accompanied him. I remember back then. You probably didn't remember that time.
M.: No, I remember. It was like that, yes
B.: Say that you are not such a child. I'm not that old (laughs loudly). Andrei (turns to Zhurankov), come on, it's your turn to ask.
Zh.: Do you believe in omens?
M.: In some I do (wrinkles). I try to think less about it, you do not need unnecessary obsession, drive yourself into some framework (shakes his head disapprovingly).
B.: Do you have rituals before the competition? For example, do you always do it: listen to a certain song, or with the left foot to get up in the morning, or ... what foot you step on the ice?
M.: I don't have anything like that. I just have a certain routine during performances: how I get up, where I go... I have something like that.
Zh.: So you have some special routine?
M.: Yes, just competitions are usually held at the same time. It has already developed so that I get up, have breakfast, get ready, go to training ... I try to observe it (Mozalev tries to explain that he has already developed a certain ritual for the days when there are competitions, and he follows it - Mar.).
Zh.: So you try not talk to anyone?
M. (in a surprised and indignant tone): No, why.
Zh.: So it's okay?
M. (changes posture and stands up with a surprised and slightly offended expression): Yes, yes.
B.: That is, you do not close, like put the headphones in your ears and go.
M. (with a serious and sad face): On the contrary, I try to socialize so that I don't have to think. I try not to think about the fact that I have competitions, because I only get more nervous (actively gesticulating), I worry more, I clamp down more because of this, my jumps don't work out. It is better to approach it more freely.
B.: Do you have a certain playlist for the competition?
M.: mm-mm (shakes his head negatively).
B.: It's just what it sounds. Your kind of favorite music.
M.: Yes.
B.: That's clear. In the car, do you listen to your playlist or the radio more often?
M.: Only my own music. The radio... I can't listen to the radio.
B.: Because there's a lot of chitchat or just your music doesn't sound?
M.: My music doesn't sound.
Zh.: And what kind of music do you want to listen to?
B.: I also wanted to ask a question. Now there are so many different radio stations, absolutely different musical directions.
M.: The fact that I listen to music of different genres, and on the radio, as a rule, the music of one style.
Zh.: Ah, so you have to switch.
B.: I've been doing like you lately, I listen to my music.
Zh.: And what genres do you listen to? What do you mean?
B. (offers variants): Music of the 90's, "Ruki vverh" (popular in the late 90's - early 2000's Russian group – Mar.)...
M.: Well, don't. I don't know ... no, in fact, I can listen to all kinds of music what will come across, for example, I have a lot of added music, I listen to it at random - I didn't add it for nothing (laughs).
Zh.: Explain to me, please, skaters. Is it, let's call them so, the requirements of your profession that you need to listen to a lot of music, or are you really a melomaniac after all? If you didn't need it for figure skating, would you listen to so much music?
M.: I think so, yes. I like listening to music.
Zh.: Oh, I see
M.: Because I associate each genre with something, with an event or a period in my life. Or one song with specific life memories (takes a breath)
B.: Well, he just said that (to Andrei Mozalev) you just said that, and I have exactly the same feeling. I understand him perfectly.
Zh.: Explain it to me, please.
B. (correctly assessing Andrei M.'s oratorical abilities): You may, I'll try to explain. You nod if I understand you right (to Andrei M.).
M. laughs and reaches for a glass of water.
B.: I have certain songs that make me float away immediately to whatever memory I associate the song with. I have songs that I associate with my first training camp when I was in singles skating. I have music that is associated with the Olympic Games of the tenth year, because there was one Russian-language disk, we were always at the training camp, and it played all week.
Zh. (to Andrei M.): Is that right? Memories, associations?
M.: Yes (nods).
Zh.: I understand that. In psychology it is called "anchoring".
B.: Call it what you want, but we like music.
M. laughs.
Zh.: I'm happy for you, dear skaters-melomaniacs (to Andrei M.) Tell me, are you already looking for music for the next season? Does Kirill Anatolievich do it?
M.: Kirill Anatolievich.
Zh.: Kirill Anatolievich (looking on camera), are you looking for music for the new season? What do you still have on the old vinyl records?
M. in the continuation of the whole speech loudly and sincerely laughs.
M.: No, he just has some ideas, so he's doing it now. I'm staying out of it for now.
Zh.: You have a classic, correct relationship with the coach. Coach – a man who knows everything, directs the process. And you trust him completely, right? I want to ask, how much do you invest in this process as you grow up?
M.: if I have... he considers my opinion too. We are working together anyway. I give something, he gives something. That's our team, everyone here has.....
Zh.: Lunin.
M.: Lunin, right, and Igor Koscheev, my second choreographer. They all have points of view that also... (shows a gesture with his hands, as if putting something together).
B. (nodding): Teamwork.
Zh.: So Andrei Mozalev's successful productions over the past, let's say, two seasons – it was done by your team?
M.: Absolutely everyone, each of us. And also guest choreographers, like Averbukh and Maslennikova. When we created the program, everyone was present on the ice and everyone put something into the program.
B.: That's a very good approach, I think. Would you be interested in working with Ilya (Averbukh – Mar.)?
M. (seriously): Yes.
B.: Did you like it?
M.: Very much.
B.: A sneak question: with which choreographer would you still like to work on programs? Now Angela Krylova creates programs for many people, Sasha Zhulin is doing a good job ...
Zh.: I would actually more tactfully ask the question: cooperation with what other choreographers you and your coaches have discussed?
B.: Okay.
M.: If you ask who we discussed, I will not say (laughs). Personally I want to work with one person... I think you will understand if I say that we were together at the Olympics in the same team (ROC – Mar.).
Interviewee:
M. – Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. – Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. – Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) – my remarks
Ð art 4. The laces incident. How to identify the referee?
Problems with the second half of the program, typical in the season.
Andrei Mozalev and omens. His rituals on competition days.
Mozalev's car radio and his playlists (again). Is Mozalev a melomaniac?
Programs as a result of teamwork. Guest choreographer.
Ð art 1 Ð art 2 Ð art 3
B.: Grand Prix stage in Samara (Russian Grand Prix - Mar.) (laughs) That's nice I changed the subject, right?
Common laughter.
B.: At the Grand Prix in Samara you had a very frustrating situation, actually. Rarely does this happen. In my memory – two cases in world history. Your shoelace either broke or slipped off the hook.
M.: The shoelace came off the hook. It was during the six-minute warm-up. I came off the ice, took off my skates, jumped around a bit, started putting my skates on again and didn't notice that the lace was not completely caught on the hook.
B.: I would show on my skates so that the audience would understand. Well, some other time.
M.: The shoelace is quite thick (shows with fingers), and the hook is small. The shoelace didn't get all the way onto the hook and came off on the first jump.
B.: What did you feel at that moment? What were your thoughts?
M.(thoughtfully, scratching his forehead): At first I didn't understand anything. Then I realized that... I wanted to go further, but I realized I couldn't. My foot is just failing. I immediately said that there was something wrong with my skate, it's not clear yet what it was. I didn't know what was wrong with it. The most unpleasant thing would have been if the lace had broken, of course. So it just came off, I tied it and rode on.
B.: You clearly knew what to do in this situation?
Zh.: You remembered which the rules are?
M.: Well, of course, I knew that I had to approach the referee. But for me it was the first time, still I was a little confused (gestures actively). I was told to go to the referee. I still every time I do not understand: they sit all in a row, all the judges (holds his hand along an imaginary row of judges).
Zh.: Which of them is the referee?
M.: Which of them is the referee, yes.
B.: Referees, please hold up your hand!
Common laughter.
Zh.: And how did you know which one was the referee?
M.: Well, I stood up, she raised her hand ...
B.: She had a stopwatch.
M.: A stopwatch, yes.
B.: Next time you're looking, look for someone with a stopwatch in the hand.
M: She said I had three minutes. I calmly tied my shoelaces... well, I wasn't calm, I was a little nervous. But I tied my shoelaces and kept skating.
B.: Your coach had time to say something to you?
M.: Yes, I was standing right next to him. "Don't hurry, calmly tie up, you have time", he said.
Zh.: That's right. It's already clear that you will have deductions.
B.: With what thoughts did you continue to skate? You immediately realized that it is necessary, of course, skate well, but I have already flown in the table far - or how?
M.: Well, I was very upset, of course, because of the first element (4S - Mar.), I did it and did it well, and in the landing, when I was already doing the landing, my ridge came loose, my foot fell through - and I fell. I was very upset then, I realized that I needed to continue to do all the elements well. Just to avoid flying far in the table.
Zh.: And in fact, you, I will say so, inside the program, especially if we are talking about the free skating program, 4 minutes, inside the program ... just if we take this season, I have the feeling that somewhere in the middle of the program you seem to lose strength, as if something stops working out. There is such a moment in this season, right?
M: Yes, it happens a lot with me in this season. By the second half of the program it becomes a little bit difficult for me. Now, for the final (of the Russian Grand Prix - Mar.) I'm fixing it... I'll fix it.
B.: The last question about the shoelace. It's just such a small thing... No, it's not a small thing. We want to explain to the audience. What decision did you make when you were in that situation? Did you take a different approach to lacing your skates? Maybe you started using duct tape? Many people do that.
M: Sure, I've used duct tape before. At some point I stopped doing it because I thought I wasn't comfortable skating with it. Now I've started using duct tape again, just in case, so that situations like that don't happen anymore, heh (laughs)
B.: Have you had any other serious incidents at competitions? I forgot my skates, suit, music was turned off, and fans threw toys before the time...
M.: Several times they turned on music that wasn't mine, I remember. It's clear that sometimes I forgot the music for competitions. However, it's not a problem now.
B.: Yes, it's not such a problem now. In the past, the coach had two disks, the athlete had two disks, the parents had two disks if they accompanied him. I remember back then. You probably didn't remember that time.
M.: No, I remember. It was like that, yes
B.: Say that you are not such a child. I'm not that old (laughs loudly). Andrei (turns to Zhurankov), come on, it's your turn to ask.
Zh.: Do you believe in omens?
M.: In some I do (wrinkles). I try to think less about it, you do not need unnecessary obsession, drive yourself into some framework (shakes his head disapprovingly).
B.: Do you have rituals before the competition? For example, do you always do it: listen to a certain song, or with the left foot to get up in the morning, or ... what foot you step on the ice?
M.: I don't have anything like that. I just have a certain routine during performances: how I get up, where I go... I have something like that.
Zh.: So you have some special routine?
M.: Yes, just competitions are usually held at the same time. It has already developed so that I get up, have breakfast, get ready, go to training ... I try to observe it (Mozalev tries to explain that he has already developed a certain ritual for the days when there are competitions, and he follows it - Mar.).
Zh.: So you try not talk to anyone?
M. (in a surprised and indignant tone): No, why.
Zh.: So it's okay?
M. (changes posture and stands up with a surprised and slightly offended expression): Yes, yes.
B.: That is, you do not close, like put the headphones in your ears and go.
M. (with a serious and sad face): On the contrary, I try to socialize so that I don't have to think. I try not to think about the fact that I have competitions, because I only get more nervous (actively gesticulating), I worry more, I clamp down more because of this, my jumps don't work out. It is better to approach it more freely.
B.: Do you have a certain playlist for the competition?
M.: mm-mm (shakes his head negatively).
B.: It's just what it sounds. Your kind of favorite music.
M.: Yes.
B.: That's clear. In the car, do you listen to your playlist or the radio more often?
M.: Only my own music. The radio... I can't listen to the radio.
B.: Because there's a lot of chitchat or just your music doesn't sound?
M.: My music doesn't sound.
Zh.: And what kind of music do you want to listen to?
B.: I also wanted to ask a question. Now there are so many different radio stations, absolutely different musical directions.
M.: The fact that I listen to music of different genres, and on the radio, as a rule, the music of one style.
Zh.: Ah, so you have to switch.
B.: I've been doing like you lately, I listen to my music.
Zh.: And what genres do you listen to? What do you mean?
B. (offers variants): Music of the 90's, "Ruki vverh" (popular in the late 90's - early 2000's Russian group – Mar.)...
M.: Well, don't. I don't know ... no, in fact, I can listen to all kinds of music what will come across, for example, I have a lot of added music, I listen to it at random - I didn't add it for nothing (laughs).
Zh.: Explain to me, please, skaters. Is it, let's call them so, the requirements of your profession that you need to listen to a lot of music, or are you really a melomaniac after all? If you didn't need it for figure skating, would you listen to so much music?
M.: I think so, yes. I like listening to music.
Zh.: Oh, I see
M.: Because I associate each genre with something, with an event or a period in my life. Or one song with specific life memories (takes a breath)
B.: Well, he just said that (to Andrei Mozalev) you just said that, and I have exactly the same feeling. I understand him perfectly.
Zh.: Explain it to me, please.
B. (correctly assessing Andrei M.'s oratorical abilities): You may, I'll try to explain. You nod if I understand you right (to Andrei M.).
M. laughs and reaches for a glass of water.
B.: I have certain songs that make me float away immediately to whatever memory I associate the song with. I have songs that I associate with my first training camp when I was in singles skating. I have music that is associated with the Olympic Games of the tenth year, because there was one Russian-language disk, we were always at the training camp, and it played all week.
Zh. (to Andrei M.): Is that right? Memories, associations?
M.: Yes (nods).
Zh.: I understand that. In psychology it is called "anchoring".
B.: Call it what you want, but we like music.
M. laughs.
Zh.: I'm happy for you, dear skaters-melomaniacs (to Andrei M.) Tell me, are you already looking for music for the next season? Does Kirill Anatolievich do it?
M.: Kirill Anatolievich.
Zh.: Kirill Anatolievich (looking on camera), are you looking for music for the new season? What do you still have on the old vinyl records?
M. in the continuation of the whole speech loudly and sincerely laughs.
M.: No, he just has some ideas, so he's doing it now. I'm staying out of it for now.
Zh.: You have a classic, correct relationship with the coach. Coach – a man who knows everything, directs the process. And you trust him completely, right? I want to ask, how much do you invest in this process as you grow up?
M.: if I have... he considers my opinion too. We are working together anyway. I give something, he gives something. That's our team, everyone here has.....
Zh.: Lunin.
M.: Lunin, right, and Igor Koscheev, my second choreographer. They all have points of view that also... (shows a gesture with his hands, as if putting something together).
B. (nodding): Teamwork.
Zh.: So Andrei Mozalev's successful productions over the past, let's say, two seasons – it was done by your team?
M.: Absolutely everyone, each of us. And also guest choreographers, like Averbukh and Maslennikova. When we created the program, everyone was present on the ice and everyone put something into the program.
B.: That's a very good approach, I think. Would you be interested in working with Ilya (Averbukh – Mar.)?
M. (seriously): Yes.
B.: Did you like it?
M.: Very much.
B.: A sneak question: with which choreographer would you still like to work on programs? Now Angela Krylova creates programs for many people, Sasha Zhulin is doing a good job ...
Zh.: I would actually more tactfully ask the question: cooperation with what other choreographers you and your coaches have discussed?
B.: Okay.
M.: If you ask who we discussed, I will not say (laughs). Personally I want to work with one person... I think you will understand if I say that we were together at the Olympics in the same team (ROC – Mar.).
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