by Matteo Morelli
Sofía Val and Asaf Kazimov are a brand new partnership representing Spain. Their coaching base is the brand new SK Worldwide Ice Dance College in Madrid, headed by former Spanish ice dance champions Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin. They advised us a bit extra about themselves and the way they went from deciding to skate collectively when the skating season had already began to competing on the World Championships in Saitama.
Asaf Kazimov (AK): I break up with my earlier accomplice initially of August final 12 months, once I used to skate with Germany. I began to seek for a brand new accomplice and Sara advised me that Sofía was looking for a brand new accomplice too: we had a check out right here in Madrid, with Sara and Kirill. On the way in which again within the aircraft, I already knew that I’d have preferred to staff up with Sofía.
Sofía Val (SV): Our check out wasn’t that lengthy, it was 5 days. We had been each looking for companions. After the check out we knew we needed to skate with one another, so all of it occurred fairly rapidly. He determined to come back right here and prepare with Sara and Kirill, and we’re very glad it’s figuring out so nicely.
Glad to listen to that issues had been so good from the beginning. Do you know one another earlier than?
SV: We by no means spoke to one another. I used to be nonetheless skating in juniors final season and Asaf was competing in seniors.
AK: We knew of one another from different individuals, however we had by no means met in individual earlier than.
You’ve got been skating collectively for such a brief period of time, but you could have already completed some essential outcomes this season, together with going to a significant occasion just like the World Championships. What did you concentrate on because you determined to hitch forces? Did you instantly arrange goals for the season?
SV: We didn’t set large goals from the start as a result of it was already fairly late within the season after we began collectively. We didn’t know if we had been going be capable of compete as a result of we didn’t get the discharge. It was a bit difficult, it at all times takes a little bit of time and we had been attempting to do the whole lot in a really quick interval. We couldn’t do Nationals formally, so our goal was simply to attempt to do that competitors in Tilburg (Worldwide Problem Cup) to attempt to get the factors for Worlds, however already competing at a world occasion was a giant step for us.
AK: We had been ready for my launch from the German Federation and we solely received it on the finish of January, which was the final week the place you could possibly attempt to apply to compete in Tilburg. We had been very blissful to have the ability to skate at this competitors collectively.
Let’s return to the previous. How and when did you method skating? Have you ever at all times been ice dancers, or did you begin in several fields after which shift?
AK: I’m initially from Russia and I began to skate there. I used to do some single skating for six years, and once I was round eleven I modified to ice dance. My coaches mentioned “nicely, you might be fairly okay with jumps, however inferior to you could possibly be”, they usually requested me if I wish to attempt ice dance. I did that, and I actually loved it. After which my household and I moved to Germany in 2012, and I’ve been doing ice dance since then.
SV: I began single skating in Madrid, and I by no means thought I’d have come again to coaching right here! After I was 13, I watched ice dance on tv and needed to attempt it, so I went to attempt it in Lyon and I actually loved it. Inside per week I made a decision that I needed to do ice dance, and moved there. It was a fairly fast resolution! Coming from single skating, I didn’t actually watch ice dance in individual that a lot, and I used to be very impressed by the senior ice dancers coaching there.
You had totally different companions earlier than deciding to skate collectively. What did you are taking away with you out of your earlier experiences?
SV: Your work ethic is essential and it must match your accomplice’s as nicely. The remaining can come alongside and with work, outcomes will are available in. When you find yourself not snug or your communication along with your accomplice just isn’t the perfect, it’s actually tough to spend hours on the ice with the opposite individual. Asaf and I can work for hours collectively and we nonetheless benefit from the course of, we love each minute we spend on the ice and I feel that is crucial factor.
AK: I completely agree with Sofía. For me, communication can be crucial issue, as a result of typically you see one another nearly 24/7, so it is advisable to take the whole lot with plenty of humour, help one another, discover compromises and options collectively. It is vitally necessary.
You’re coaching on the brand-new SK Worldwide Ice Dance College in Madrid, which opened round a 12 months in the past and is led by Sara Hurtado, Kirill Khaliavin and Ksenia Monko. How are you discovering it there?
SV: I began skating right here since final summer time, once I didn’t have a accomplice but. The earlier season, I used to be coaching in Villard-de-Lans when Sara known as me to say they had been doing this mission, and I knew I needed to work with them. What is essential to me is that they’re 100% into this, they’re totally dedicated and spend plenty of hours with us.
AK: After the check out in September I already knew I needed to be a part of this mission. It was the total dedication that completely persuaded me, the working angle, the way in which all of us work collectively and help one another.
SV: They’re very open minded, they allow us to have our area to create and actually help us, but additionally lead us to what they suppose is the best choice for us.
AK: We’re nonetheless a really younger staff, so we’re beginning our improvement now, attempting to progress with the whole lot. Clearly, we wish to be nearly as good because the earlier groups: Sara and Kirill are our idols, we’re very glad to skate with them and be coached by them. We’re taking it step-by-step, there must be steady enchancment.
SV: There are extra groups coming right here at our faculty. That can be very nice as a result of we get to check ourselves to different groups, attempt to be taught what they will do higher than us, and vice versa.
AK: It’s good sportsmanship and rivalry.
Let’s take a look at your debut: as you mentioned, your first worldwide competitors collectively wat the Problem Cup in Tilburg, the place you resulted in sixth place. How did you’re feeling then and what did you are taking away from it?
SV: I feel it was an ideal debut. I used to be very nervous. We had solely been skating collectively for just a few months and we needed to skate clear, however at the back of our heads we knew we needed to get the factors for Worlds. You don’t wish to get an excessive amount of strain in your head, simply in case you get too dissatisfied, however we had been actually happy with the outcomes.
AK: I used to be not as a lot nervous, however reasonably fascinated by the programmes, how they need to be. After the competitors, we had been very glad that we managed to do what we did, particularly after such a brief time period.
The outcomes at Tilburg allowed you to qualify to your first senior World Championships, the place you ended up being the primary staff on the ice to open the rhythm dance. How did you reside this expertise?
SV: We didn’t have any rankings, it was our second competitors collectively and my first seniors, so it was a very superb expertise, we had been so glad to be there.
One factor that stood out is how a lot all skaters in Saitama appeared to have bonded. That will need to have been very nice!
SV: Sure, I already knew some groups, others I didn’t. Having the ability to be within the resort with all the opposite skaters was actually enjoyable. We had the perfect time. It was nice additionally as a result of plenty of the groups that had been there are superb skaters and we glance as much as them, so additionally attending to know them as individuals was superb. For instance, the primary three days we had been coaching with the Italian couple Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri. That was improbable!
AK: When you find yourself on the ice with this staff that simply received the European Championships after which find yourself in second place at Worlds, it’s one thing else!
The situation itself will need to have been stunning too.
SV: It was! And the organisation of the occasion was superb.
When it comes to present or previous ice dance groups, do you could have any that you just take inspiration from and also you take a look at as what you wish to turn into sooner or later?
AK: There are plenty of nice groups: Advantage/Moir, Papadakis/Cizeron, for instance. There are nice groups which have nice qualities. I feel it is rather necessary to develop your individual fashion and your individual function on the ice, for the judges and the gang, to indicate that you’re totally different: that is what we are attempting to develop throughout the subsequent years.
SV: There are younger groups now which might be so highly effective, and the older groups: you’ll be able to be taught one thing from each staff. For instance, I look as much as Madison Chock: I really like how she strikes, her presence on the ice, her look from the start earlier than she even begins the programmes, her palms when she is skating, the whole lot, however we are attempting to develop our fashion slowly, we’re younger and we hope that we’ll get there.
The 2022/23 season is now over: how is the work for the brand new season shaping up? Have you ever already arrange your objectives?
AK: In regards to the programmes, we’re at the moment fascinated by them as a result of the theme of the Rhythm Dance is the 80s and there’s a lot to select from. We’re looking for the fashion that fits us. In regards to the objectives, we wish to take it step-by-step, we wish to attempt to develop from 12 months to 12 months. We are going to take this time now till the season begins to work on the brand new programmes and do our greatest.
SV: We wish to attempt to do as many worldwide competitions as we will to be referred to as a pair. Being new, particularly within the ice dance world it is very important be recognized and in addition get skilled, as a result of there are different older groups which have way more expertise and in order that performs a giant half. Hopefully we’ll begin to get a little bit of rating for the massive competitions.
Let’s transfer away from the ice: inform us one thing about your self, your passions, what you want outdoors of skating!
SV: We don’t get that a lot day off! Some days, we begin at eight within the morning and end at seven within the night. Plenty of the times we relaxation, however we each produce other pursuits. I’m learning psychology from subsequent 12 months, I’m very enthusiastic about this! I’m going to do it half offline and half on-line, as a result of it may be fairly laborious to do the whole lot collectively.
AK: I began to review electrical engineering, and simply completed my bachelor’s. I would begin a grasp’s diploma right here in Madrid. After the skating profession, I’d most likely prefer to work as an engineer.
SV: We additionally each love dancing, I really like hip hop. It’s tremendous enjoyable! Takes off your thoughts a bit out of your programmes, which you may get a bit bored with doing them on a regular basis. I additionally love baking, and being with my canine!
AK: Household time is at all times nice, after Worlds I went again to Germany to see my household and my girlfriend. We had a good time, as a result of now I reside in Madrid completely and I don’t see them so usually.
Thanks each quite a bit for sharing a lot about you. Is there something you wish to add to our dialog?
AK: I wish to say, as soon as once more, thanks to our coaches. We are saying this to them every single day, however nonetheless we wish to thank them for all of the alternatives they offer us, for his or her work with us and the way a lot time they make investments into it.
SV: It wouldn’t be doable for us to compete in such a brief time period in the event that they weren’t with us on the ice for thus many hours, so thanks Sara, Kirill, and Ksenia.