By Matteo Morelli | Skating Photo by Robin Ritoss
Representing the Czech Republic, Natálie Taschlerová & Filip Taschler are a partnership that’s repeatedly bettering and keen to indicate their full potential. They are at the moment coaching on the Young Goose Academy in Bolzano, Italy, with a group of coaches that features Matteo Zanni and Barbora Silná. We met them after they competed at Grand Prix of Espoo, and talked about their journey as siblings ice dancers, how they arrange their objectives and work in the direction of them.
Taschlerova & Taschler after the Rhythm Dance at Grand Prix Espoo. Photo by Matteo Morelli.
Natálie and Filip, thanks for locating a while to speak to us at Grand Prix of Espoo. With Sheffield, that is your second senior Grand Prix occasion. How do you’re feeling after having accomplished each competitions?
Filip Taschler (FT): We are so proud of each our rhythm dance and free dance! It was a lot better than Sheffield. We arrived right here with out expectation and it was extra relaxed for us. Overall, it was very nice and we discovered a strategy to take one other step ahead.
Natálie Taschlerová (NT): Yes, I agree. The work that we tried to place in after Sheffield in only one and a half week paid off and we’re actually pleased about it. We made some very small adjustments that in all probability nobody can acknowledge.
FT: We are so fortunate that our coach (Matteo Zanni) cuts the music. He has his pocket book subsequent to the ice and adjustments it instantly as we go, so we’ve got new music for each competitors!
Your free programme presents a powerful theme about nature and the planet. How did you give you that concept and the way did you develop it?
FT: This was my concept from already two years in the past, after we completed the junior season. I noticed this idea with a synchronized skating group. I used to be shocked they did a local weather change theme and located it actually sturdy and galvanizing. We mentioned this concept with Matteo and he was pleased to attempt to develop it. The music had far more phrases at the start of the season, however we acquired some suggestions that it was perhaps a bit too political, so we labored on some adjustments to maintain it extra impartial and focussed on nature as a theme.
Let’s take a look at if you began skating. How previous have been you if you first put skates on, and the way did you find yourself skating collectively as a group?
NT: I began skating after I was two, Filip began when he was 4. We can mainly say we’ve got been skating for complete our lives! We each began in single skating, we tried synchro, after which Filip approached ice dance whereas I used to be nonetheless in singles, however then I acquired injured. I broke my arm whereas doing gymnastics, and from then I used to be scared to leap, and everybody was telling me that I had good skating abilities and I ought to strive the ice dance.
FT: At that time, I used to be not so proud of my ex-partner, so we resolve to strive skating collectively, and right here we’re!
Do you assume the truth that you might be siblings lets you be extra direct and clear with one another?
NT: For certain. It known as household enterprise for a motive! We have a really pure connection and we’re having fun with extra time collectively now, which is nice.
FT: We have such a powerful connection earlier than a contest, and generally when I’m nervous she will really feel it instantly. We have ups and downs after all, however it’s regular. We are additionally working with a psychological coach. Overall, we’ve got a powerful connection on the ice, and skating helps us to enhance our relationship.
Let’s take a look at your senior profession thus far. You competed at some worldwide occasions already, nonetheless the Covid-19 pandemic noticed a collection of occasions getting cancelled over the past couple of years. How did you reside this explicit time in current historical past?
FT: We have been actually fortunate as a result of our ice rink in Italy was open on a regular basis. We had actually strict restrictions, however we have been skating rather a lot. Our coach is wonderful, he retains saying that in each state of affairs we’ve got to consider the constructive facet of it. So we used that point to enhance and give attention to our primary aim, the Olympic Games.
NT: And additionally I feel this era of COVID-19 helped us to get extra used to dwelling in Italy, to fulfill new folks and get into the life there, as a result of it was the primary season that we spent within the nation. So, we acquired nearer with everybody and that was good.
You talked about the Olympic Games have been your aim: you managed to make that dream come true! How did you reside this distinctive expertise?
FT: It was very demanding as a result of I acquired injured and I needed to miss the summer time preparation. It was arduous, I believed my dream was gone, however I labored rather a lot with my psychological coach and we made it occur! We certified and it was a tremendous expertise, being on the ice with all the highest groups was so inspiring. We tried to soak up every little thing from our time there.
NT: Going again to the household enterprise we talked about earlier, it was good to realize our aim for our mother and for our dad, as a result of we have been at all times speaking about it with them. We sacrificed rather a lot, together with spending time with our father within the Czech Republic. We left for the USA with our mother and we stored going, which was actually arduous however in the long run, that is what paid off. Overall, we had a tremendous time. The complete month there was fairly lengthy, however after we acquired to the competitors it actually felt that we have been on the Olympics.
Talking concerning the future and your goals, have you ever acquired a transparent path in thoughts that you just wish to observe?
NT: The aim is that we wish to assault as a lot as potential on the Europeans, the spots are open for everybody proper now, and we’re enthusiastic about that. We set the objectives, however we at all times depart them open as a result of we skate for ourselves, not only for the medals. Also at this Grand Prix in Espoo, we didn’t get a medal and perhaps we have been dreaming about it, however on the finish we have been tremendous pleased as a result of we skated clear and improved.
Having the correct assist to realize your objectives is essential, and appears like your coaches are very a lot in your facet. How would you outline your relationship with them?
FT: I feel it’s a fairly sturdy one. It feels extra like a household relationship in a manner. Barbora (Silná) has been working with us since after we began our junior years. We have a very deep connection along with her and in addition with Matteo, who was the primary one who informed us that our father died. They are attempting to place 100% in for us and to push us working in the direction of our objectives to make them occur. Sometimes, it’s arduous to work with us for certain, due to the strain we’re underneath and, let’s say, as a result of we’re nonetheless youngsters in a manner!
NT: By rising up, we respect the connection greater than earlier than. Especially me, after I was youthful I used to be fairly one thing for Matteo’s nerves, so we respect them working with us!
FT: The group in Italy is wonderful and it’s beginning to develop, and in addition the ice dance motion within the Czech Republic is beginning to develop rather a lot. In our group in Bolzano, we now have the Georgian couple (Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya) with us, so we’re extra aggressive at coaching which is healthier for all of us to push ourselves.
The group spirit was noticeable in Sheffield, the place each you and the Georgian couple competed.
NT: We loved it rather a lot, it was a brand new expertise for us as a group to go together with two {couples} and one coach, however it was wonderful. At the apply periods, we have been giving one another the look and saying “let’s go”!