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 04/08/2008 Interview in Italian on http://www.artonice.it/?q=it/node/5670 --------------------------------------------------------------------- July 2008 Q: What are your thoughts about this past season? A: I expected a little bit more, but I was in a bad situation last year, and the season was not very good for me. But in spite of all the problems I finished in a good position at Worlds and I was happy there. I want to be stronger this season, absolutely.
A: I had a vacation. I went very far away, to the Caribbean, because I needed the sun and the sea to have a complete change from the ice. After that I went into rehab for my ankle.
A: About two weeks and one week I just spent in my home to start things slowly.
A: About three weeks after Worlds, but I did different things, I was just skating to prepare for the summer. It was not a light practice, just different, not as during the season.
A: Yes. I will change both programs. It’s not easy, but I need to change both programs. I had a little bit of a hard time before (coming to) Oberstdorf, because I had to find music. Now I finished the short program and I still have to do the free program.
A:I have a new short program "Nut Rocker" and a new free program, consisting of a medley of several pieces, "Cheek to Cheek", "Let Yourself Go", "Top Hat" and "White". My new programs were chosen by Barbara Fusar Poli. She had the great idea for both of my music choices. She will build on the work and choreography that I did here with Frank Dehne. She’ll continue working with me in September in Milano to refine the programs for the competitions and she will make sure that I keep presenting them very well. She worked with me on the short program in Milano before I came to Oberstdorf. I also got help from Nicoletta for the short program. The free program was done by Frank Dehne. I’m happy, because the programs are great, absolutely great.
A: I don’t know exactly, but I want to compete more internationally this season. I couldn’t do that last season because of the injury, so I didn’t anything except for the Grand Prix, and this was not so good concerning the (World ranking) points, the experience. If it’s possible I will do more competitions this year, but I don’t know yet which ones, because I have to check the schedule first.
A: I don’t like to talk about that too much beforehand, because it doesn’t bring good luck! But I’m expecting a lot (from myself), so it’s very important. As I said before, I want to do a lot better. I want to achieve very good results.
A: I think, two or three. It depends.
A: Yes, also jumps. That’s the most important (new element). For sure I want to do the triple Axel. I did the triple Axel, I had some problems, but now I’m fine. But it’s not only this (the Axel). The level is very high, and if I want to do well in competition, I have to be at the same level as the best skaters.
A: It’s good, yes. I think it’s better that they removed one element, because it was very hard to include all elements in the programs. The time was not so long, and there were a lot of elements, so it was very hard. And now, especially in the free program with one less spin, there is more time for skating and for showing maybe better steps. I’m happy with this change.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 2008 Q: How do you rate your performances at the Grand Prix? You skated a lot better at the Cup of China than at Skate America. What made the difference? A: The difference was still a little bit the injury. Because I did three competitions, I did a good Cup of China, Italian Nationals. For Europeans I was in good shape, but I felt a little bit tired, too much pressure. I felt this pressure especially after Italian Nationals and there were too many things - injury and I was sick. After so many things in the same time it wasn’t me, it was very hard. Q: What do you think about the level on the Men’s Event at Europeans in general this year? A: I think it was a good level, but I think as about the same as last year. If I skated better I could be maybe around 7th place like last year. The level was good, but not hard, I think it was the same. Q: I really like your beautiful new costume for the free skating. Who had the idea for this costume and who created it? A: We created with a designer. She helped us a little bit. But we had the idea for the free program - me and my father and a little bit Eduardo, so we worked together. It was a good costume, but not so comfortable. Q: So you will change it for Worlds? A: Yes! Q: You said that you now mastered the triple Axel. When did it happen? How consistent is the jump now in practice? A: It happened a little bit before Europeans and I was happy for this because I worked hard for the triple Axel and I was in very good shape and I started to land the triple Axel in practice at Europeans. But then just before the competition in the short program and free program it wasn’t so consistent, so I hesitated to risk it. Maybe I should have, I don’t know. But now I think again (to risk it) for Worlds, but I need to be in good shape. I’m still working to do it this time in competition because I need to do it many times. Q: Are you thinking about practicing quads? A: Yes, of course. But first I’m focusing on the Axel. The time (before Worlds) is too short to concentrate on a quad. In summer I tried it and I almost did it. My quads were very good, but when you start the season, you have to do what you know to do. Well! So you have to leave maybe jumps that you are trying, but you don’t do it in competition and focus on programs, spins and the other jumps. So I’ll start again after Worlds. After Worlds I hope I’ll be able to do it again - Toeloop and Salchow. It’s not a big problem. The problem is the Axel, I know it. Somebody says that I can do maybe the (quad) Salchow or Toeloop before the Axel. It’s true, so I did sometimes. But now I need to get the Axel more consistent and I’m sure that the other jumps, quads, will come fast after the Axel. Q: It’s rather unusual that a skater in your age learns the Axel. The most skaters can do it with age 18, 19... A: It’s a long-time problem, but now I have to do it! I think before I didn’t work a lot on the Axel because I was too focused on competitions and other jumps but not so much on the Axel. I feel like a youngster (is laughing). Age is only a number for me. Q: How are you now preparing for Worlds and what goal do you set for yourself? A: Normally I’m preparing similar as for Europeans. But now it’s better, because I’m training in Oberstdorf. It’s better for conditioning. The goal is to do better than last year, especially for the result. I’d like to progress and to land the Axel of course. Q: What are your plans after Worlds? A: I’ll have a vacation. Q: Are you planning to take part in the summer camp in Flims and to compete at the Nebelhorn-Trophy this year? A: Yes, I hope to do Nebelhorn-Trophy. I don’t know yet about the summer camp, but I’m planning to come to Oberstdorf and to stay a long time here. At the moment I think Oberstdorf is for sure and the other one I will see after Worlds. Q: Many thanks for the interview and good luck for Worlds! --------------------------------------------------------------------- April 2007 Q: You're welcome! I'd like to congratulate for your excellent placement and achieving a personal best at the Europeans! How do you feel about this competition? Karel: The costumes for the short program and the new one for the free program at Europeans did a stylist. She helped with the design. Q: Do you have input, too? Karel: Yes, there are also my ideas but not only mine. It is a bigger work from everyone like in a team. Q: Why did you change the free program costume? Karel: The problem was that the new costume, the black and red one, was too heavy. It was not so comfortable in competition because it was very hot. So it was too warm for me and I preferred to use the red costume because it was more comfortable to compete in. Q: What is your goal for the coming season? Karel: My goal is to do better than this year because I want to do improve every time and I think many things can be improved. I would like to skate well at Europeans and especially at Worlds next year. Q: What does figure skating mean for you? Karel: It means everything for me - it’s my life! Skating is very, very important for me because I’m sportive and I like sports. When I was a little boy I was always running and doing sports. Q: Your father was skater, as well?! Karel: Yes, so I decided to skate as well. I enjoyed skating when I saw my father and other skaters and now it’s a part of my life. Q: How many hours a week do you train? Karel: A lot (laughs) - a lot! I don’t know how many hours, but it takes almost all day, every day. Q: Can you say how many hours you train per day approximately? Karel: It depends on the training period. I think it’s circa five hours. Sometimes it is maybe more, sometimes less, it depends. Q: Do you plan to continue coming to Oberstdorf for training? Maybe you’re planning to take part in the Ice Dome this year? Q: What things do you do besides skating? Q: If you were sent to an isolated island and could take three things with you - what would you take?
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