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by Matteo Morelli
Sofía Val and Asaf Kazimov are a brand new partnership representing Spain. Their coaching base is the brand new SK International Ice Dance School 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 associate at the start of August final yr, once I used to skate with Germany. I began to seek for a brand new associate and Sara advised me that Sofía was looking for a brand new associate 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 might have preferred to crew up with Sofía.
Sofía Val (SV): Our check out wasn’t that lengthy, it was 5 days. We have 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 effectively.
Glad to listen to that issues have been so good from the beginning. Did you understand 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 have been skating collectively for such a brief period of time, but you have got already completed some crucial outcomes this season, together with going to a significant occasion just like the World Championships. What did you give attention to because you determined to hitch forces? Did you instantly arrange targets for the season?
SV: We didn’t set massive targets 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 have been going be capable to 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 have been attempting to do every part in a really quick interval. We couldn’t do Nationals formally, so our goal was simply to strive to do that competitors in Tilburg (International Challenge Cup) to attempt to get the factors for Worlds, however already competing at a global occasion was a giant step for us.
AK: We have 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 have been very completely satisfied to have the ability to skate at this competitors collectively.
Let’s return to the previous. How and when did you strategy skating? Have you 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 “well, you are quite okay with jumps, but not as good as you could be”, they usually requested me if I want to strive ice dance. I did that, and I actually loved it. And then 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 might have come again to coaching right here! When I used to be 13, I watched ice dance on tv and needed to strive it, so I went to strive it in Lyon and I actually loved it. Within every 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 person who 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’re taking away with you out of your earlier experiences?
SV: Your work ethic is essential and it must match your associate’s as effectively. The relaxation can come alongside and with work, outcomes will are available in. When you aren’t comfy or your communication together with your associate just isn’t the very best, 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 believe that is a very powerful factor.
AK: I completely agree with Sofía. For me, communication can also be a very powerful issue, as a result of typically you see one another nearly 24/7, so it is advisable take every part with plenty of humour, help one another, discover compromises and options collectively. It is essential.
You are coaching on the brand-new SK International Ice Dance School in Madrid, which opened round a yr 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 associate but. The earlier season, I used to be coaching in Villard-de-Lans when Sara known as me to say they have been doing this venture, 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 venture. It was the complete dedication that absolutely persuaded me, the working perspective, the way in which all of us work collectively and help one another.
SV: They are very open minded, they allow us to have our house to create and actually help us, but additionally lead us to what they suppose is the most suitable choice for us.
AK: We are nonetheless a really younger crew, so we’re beginning our growth now, attempting to progress with every part. Obviously, we want to be pretty much 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 are taking it step-by-step, there must be steady enchancment.
SV: There are extra groups coming right here at our college. That can also be very nice as a result of we get to match ourselves to different groups, attempt to be taught what they will do higher than us, and vice versa.
AK: It is sweet sportsmanship and rivalry.
Let’s take a look at your debut: as you mentioned, your first worldwide competitors collectively wat the Challenge Cup in Tilburg, the place you resulted in sixth place. How did you’re feeling then and what did you’re taking away from it?
SV: I believe it was an incredible 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 need to get an excessive amount of stress in your head, simply in case you get too upset, however we have been actually happy with the outcomes.
AK: I used to be not as a lot nervous, however moderately excited about the programmes, how they need to be. After the competitors, we have been very glad that we managed to do what we did, particularly after such a brief time frame.
The outcomes at Tilburg allowed you to qualify in your first senior World Championships, the place you ended up being the primary crew 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 wonderful expertise, we have been so glad to be there.
One factor that stood out is how a lot all skaters in Saitama appeared to have bonded. That should have been very nice!
SV: Yes, I already knew some groups, others I didn’t. Being in a position to be within the lodge with all the opposite skaters was actually enjoyable. We had the very best time. It was nice additionally as a result of plenty of the groups that have been there are wonderful skaters and we glance as much as them, so additionally attending to know them as individuals was wonderful. For instance, the primary three days we have been coaching with the Italian couple Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri. That was unbelievable!
AK: When you might be on the ice with this crew that simply received the European Championships after which find yourself in second place at Worlds, it’s one thing else!
The location itself should have been lovely too.
SV: It was! And the organisation of the occasion was wonderful.
In phrases of present or previous ice dance groups, do you have got any that you just take inspiration from and also you take a look at as what you want to turn into sooner or later?
AK: There are plenty of nice groups: Virtue/Moir, Papadakis/Cizeron, for instance. There are nice groups which have nice qualities. I believe it is vitally vital to develop your individual fashion and your individual characteristic on the ice, for the judges and the gang, to indicate that you’re totally different: that is what we try to develop throughout the subsequent years.
SV: There are younger groups now which might be so highly effective, and the older groups: you may be taught one thing from each crew. For instance, I look as much as Madison Chock: I 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, every part, however we try to develop our fashion slowly, we’re younger and we hope that we are going to get there.
The 2022/23 season is now over: how is the work for the brand new season shaping up? Have you already arrange your objectives?
AK: Concerning the programmes, we’re at present excited about them as a result of the theme of the Rhythm Dance is the 80s and there’s a lot to select from. We are looking for the fashion that fits us. Concerning the objectives, we need to take it step-by-step, we need to attempt to develop from yr to yr. We will take this time now till the season begins to work on the brand new programmes and do our greatest.
SV: We need to attempt to do as many worldwide competitions as we are able to to be often known as a pair. Being new, particularly within the ice dance world you will need to be identified and likewise 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 exterior of skating!
SV: We don’t get that a lot day without work! Some days, we begin at eight within the morning and end at seven within the night. A variety of the times we relaxation, however we each produce other pursuits. I’m finding out psychology from subsequent yr, 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 exhausting to do every part collectively.
AK: I began to check electrical engineering, and simply completed my bachelor’s. I would begin a grasp’s diploma right here in Madrid. After the skating profession, I might in all probability wish to work as an engineer.
SV: We additionally each love dancing, I like hip hop. It is 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: Family 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 stay in Madrid completely and I don’t see them so typically.
Thank you each quite a bit for sharing a lot about you. Is there something you want to add to our dialog?
AK: I want to say, as soon as once more, thanks to our coaches. We say this to them every single day, however nonetheless we need to thank them for all of the alternatives they provide us, for his or her work with us and the way a lot time they make investments into it.
SV: It wouldn’t be attainable for us to compete in such a brief time frame in the event that they weren’t with us on the ice for thus many hours, so thanks Sara, Kirill, and Ksenia.
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