by Matteo Morelli | Photos by Yoriko Suzuki
Germany’s Jennifer Janse Van Rensburg and Benjamin Steffan are having fun with a season that’s giving them lots of new alternatives to point out their potential. We sat down with the 2 time German National Champions after they competed at their first European Championships in Espoo, Finland, the place they shared what this season means to them and what they’re specializing in in direction of their future.
Jennifer and Benjamin, thanks for spending a while with us. You competed at your first European Championships, ending in ninth place. What do you’re taking away with you from this competitors?
Benjamin Steffan (BS): We really feel excellent about this, it has been fairly a journey to get right here for us. This is our first large championship collectively and reaching that high ten placement means so much to us. We are very thrilled.
What does this consequence imply for you in relation to your targets?
Jennifer Janse Van Rensburg (JJ): We are fairly pleased that with the highest ten we bought two spots for Germany at subsequent yr’s European Championships. This yr we nonetheless have the upcoming World Championships in Japan, a contest that I believe is most skaters’ dream and that’s additionally coming true for us. We are fairly excited.
Looking at this season, you might have taken half in a number of challenger competitions, you went to the Skate America Grand Prix, and secured a second consecutive title on the German National Championships.
BS: This season has been a giant step up for us. We have been capable of safe a second nationwide title which meant so much to us and now we have had two medals at challenger competitions (silver at each Denis Ten Memorial and Warsaw Cup), which is a giant deal. It offers us the sensation that what we’re doing is the proper factor and we’re not at our restrict but however we will push our talents to get higher and higher.
Your free programme is on “Prelude (Age of Heroes)” by Balázs Havasi, a music that features a choir in the beginning, adopted by a piano and solo voice within the center, to finish with a crescendo. How did you give you it?
JJ: Our coach (Natalia Karamysheva) heard the music and instantly considered us. She performed it and we immediately beloved it!
BS: That is how we selected the music, we might actually see us performing to that and as crew we determined to make use of it.
Although that is the post-Olympic yr, the following Milano-Cortina Olympic Games are usually not that far. Have you bought any ambitions in relation to that?
BS: Yes, now we have sat collectively and talked concerning the future, and now we have determined that we wish to go for the Olympic Games in 2026. This is our large aim: we’re taking each step that’s mandatory and that we will take in direction of it.
We appeared at this time and the long run, let’s now return to the previous. You have been skating collectively since 2016, however earlier than getting there you each had totally different experiences. Starting with you, Jennifer: you have been a single skater for some years till 2014, whenever you determined to alter.
JJ: I modified very late to ice dance. Quite lots of people stated it was too late, however I took that as a problem. In the final couple of years we got here to some extent the place we lastly reached what we have been aiming for. It took us some time, I needed to commit so much.
And Benjamin, what’s your background?
BS: I’ve been an ice dancer for fairly a very long time. I by no means did solo skating, nonetheless I did play ice hockey earlier than that! But that was a very long time in the past. I began ice dancing after I was ten years outdated, I’ve had a number of companions up till I partnered up with Jenny. I actually recognize each facet of each partnership that I’ve had thus far. Everything that I’ve carried out has taken me nearer to the place I’m, and the place we’re, proper now.
How did you discover one another and determined to skate collectively?
JJ: Actually, now we have identified one another for fairly a very long time! We have been pals exterior the ice rink too. We have discovered one another in our primary military course and sport training: our educator knew we have been each searching for companions and prompt we tried out.
While you focus in your aggressive profession, you might be additionally doing a training qualification course.
BS: Our federation has given us the flexibility to take slightly shortcut, so to say, to that whole training course of. Since we’re professional athletes, now we have to do the identical exams, however so far as the tutorial half goes we don’t need to attend each seminar, which provides us the flexibility to do the course whereas we’re skating. It is a very good alternative to do one thing that we will use later and get a training licence whereas we’re skating.
Is this a future aspiration of yours and one thing you positively wish to do after your aggressive profession, or is it one thing you wish to have in case you wish to take that route?
BS: I believe I communicate for the each of us by saying that it’s an choice, however there was nothing determined but. It is unquestionably an excellent factor to have as a result of we each share such a giant ardour for this sport and ice dancing particularly. I might positively see myself teaching sooner or later, however it should rely on circumstances.
JJ: It can be good in fact, we’re having this expertise and we might like to share this with the youthful generations.
What are your finest reminiscences as a crew?
BS: There shouldn’t be one reminiscence particularly, however one factor I actually recognize about our partnership is that it isn’t only a work relationship, but additionally an excellent friendship. We have managed to undergo so many ups and downs collectively and which means so much to me.
JJ: I agree with that! This is probably the most beneficial factor to have, in case you are exterior of the rink you may as well do stuff collectively and never avoiding or combating one another. I actually recognize our relationship!