KAZAKOVA & REVIYA TAKING THEIR SKATING TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL
By Matteo Morelli | Images by Yoriko Suzuki
Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya are a Georgian workforce that has been catching everybody’s consideration ever since, of their junior years, they began to gather vital outcomes that embody profitable the Junior Grand Prix Ultimate in 2019 and a second place end on the Junior World Championships the identical 12 months. This season, they’ve relocated to Italy to be coached by Matteo Zanni they usually can already see the enhancements as skaters and people. We met with them on the European Championships in Espoo, Finland, and we need to thank them each for locating time to do that when Reviya was not feeling notably properly that week.
Maria Kazakova (MK): Sure, it was our second one, however the final one was three years in the past.
Georgy Reviya (GR): We’re feeling good about it. We’re so proud of each programmes contemplating the situation we skated in and what I had, we did properly.
This season you competed at your first Senior Grand Prix occasions (in France and UK). What did you’re taking away from these experiences?
GR: Earlier than the Grand Prix, we solely had two months on the ice as a result of I broke my hand. We needed to skip a variety of parts due to what I may do. For such a short while making ready, we did a variety of work. The Grand Prix was so good, we loved it. This season is significantly better than final 12 months.
Developing subsequent is the World Championships in Saitama, Japan. What do you need to obtain there?
GR: As with different competitions, we need to present our greatest and enhance from our final competitors. We will’t be upset if we get low factors or if one thing occurs, we solely deal with our skate now. The factors will come, we have to wait and skate.
Are you able to inform us one thing about your free programme this season? What does it imply for you?
GR: It’s a good selection for us, as a result of it’s our type. We didn’t need to attempt one thing new this season as a result of preparation time was quick. I feel the feelings we present within the programme are so near our lives, however they don’t relate to at least one scenario solely. Some individuals ask us whether it is in regards to the conflict, however it isn’t about that basically.
MK: When you really feel this emotion in regards to the conflict, or some other emotion, you possibly can take it. Watch our programme and say ‘sure, I really feel the identical emotion on this second in my life’. We need to present individuals that every particular person has completely different feelings and that this programme just isn’t about one story solely.
Let’s take a step again and have a look at the way you each approached skating. How outdated had been you once you began to skate?
GR: I used to be 4.
MK: And I used to be 5.
Have you ever all the time been ice dancers?
MK: We had been single skaters earlier than. I don’t bounce properly, I wanted a variety of time to just accept that single skating was not for me, and I began to ice dance after I was 13.
GR: I began a little bit bit earlier! I used to be eleven after I approached ice dance.
You could have been skating collectively since 2017. How did you discover one another?
GR: Masha (quick for Maria) wrote to me! [Laughing] First step from the lady, are you able to imagine it?
your junior profession, the outcomes arrived fairly quick, with vital medals received at completely different competitions.
MK: The perfect second was the final 12 months as junior, once we mixed some competitions from senior. It was a extremely constructive season. We had a variety of competitions, we had been in a good condition and skating situation and we confirmed it. That season was superb for us.
GR: We got here up very quick throughout that season. We didn’t imagine we may try this within the first competitors of the season the place we bought regular factors, however after that we put the exhausting work in and it resulted in an excellent form for us and good programmes to observe. We had been so comfortable, we couldn’t imagine we received the (Junior Grand Prix) Ultimate, it was a historic second.
MK: We need to develop, it’s our aim. We have now a extremely good workforce now, we’re actually proud of Matteo. He can present us the correct approach for us to develop, he exhibits that to every couple in his workforce. Now we will see our alternative, it’s one thing new for us. We get pleasure from our course of: we’re beginning to develop, change our skating abilities, our type and our preparation for competitors. We began to do new issues and once we see that we predict ‘wow, how is it potential’. It’s a good begin for rising as skaters.
Do you prefer to share the ice with the opposite groups you’re employed with on the Younger Goose Academy in Egna?
MK: Matteo has actually good individuals in his workforce. He has a pleasant relationship with everybody and all of us take to each other within the group, we help one another and it’s good.
You relocated to Italy to work with Zanni. Are you having fun with residing there?
GR: We work so much, then go residence after the follow, eat, relaxation, eat once more, sleep, and repeat!
What do you love to do if you end up not skating?
MK: I like to review and browse. I learn so much, final 12 months I learn twenty-nine books!
GR: [laughing] I don’t like studying, however when Masha reads it is without doubt one of the greatest moments of the day as a result of she just isn’t speaking an excessive amount of! I often sit with my laptop, browsing the web and taking part in video video games with my associates.
If I requested you to consider your greatest reminiscence as ice dancers, what would you say that’s?
GR: For me, it was the primary Grand Prix this season.
MK: We began to know that we will do it, we’re in a good condition. We had this actually cute second once we had been on the ice ready for the factors of the couple that skated earlier than us: we had been skating collectively, we simply have a look at one another within the eyes and understood that we may do it, that we had been in a greater form than final 12 months, and we took a step ahead.
GR: Earlier than beginning the rhythm dance, I solely thought that we had been on the correct path and I used to be so comfortable. It was due to Matteo, he has given us a variety of energy, we really feel his vitality and his feelings.
MK: We modified so much, not simply with our skating but additionally with our mindsets.
GR: With our work with Matteo we really feel able to get to the highest. We have to wait and put the exhausting work in, beginning to change our type. We don’t need to do the identical programme each season.
Is there something you wish to conclude this interview with?
GR: Because of everybody. Thank to our federation, to our dad and mom that all the time help us. And to Matteo, he’s so vital for us.