Jura Synchro: What’s your reaction after this first competition weekend?
Team Unique: We are of course very happy. This was an important win for us. We have done a lot of work after last season and also focused on how to improve together as a team on a mental level so it feels really good.
You skated to a strong lead over the other teams (more than 12 points!). What do you think made the difference?
Definitely the technical levels. The short program was very strong and we got all the levels with good GOEs. In the free skate, there were some small mistakes but we performed the important elements very well.
You presented your free program "Betrayed" for the first time. What was your feeling on the ice?
We felt calm and really trusted each other. We just tried to enjoy and not take too much pressure as it was only the first competition. Overall, a great free program premiere!
Team Unique: We are of course very happy. This was an important win for us. We have done a lot of work after last season and also focused on how to improve together as a team on a mental level so it feels really good.
You skated to a strong lead over the other teams (more than 12 points!). What do you think made the difference?
Definitely the technical levels. The short program was very strong and we got all the levels with good GOEs. In the free skate, there were some small mistakes but we performed the important elements very well.
You presented your free program "Betrayed" for the first time. What was your feeling on the ice?
We felt calm and really trusted each other. We just tried to enjoy and not take too much pressure as it was only the first competition. Overall, a great free program premiere!
Team Unique already delivered a solid performance on Saturday evening and placed first after the Short Programs. (Credits: Kirsi Laine Photography - 2019)
Many fans in the audience cheered you during your performances. Did this support help you to skate?
It did! It was amazing to have such a loud crowd!
This year we’ve got the feeling that you’re being stronger than ever. Have you changed anything in your preparation this summer and those last few weeks?
So as we explained before, we have done a lot of mental work inside the team. Physical training was quite the same as before, but the difference comes from the work we've done with our mental coach Satu. Already in the spring, we analyzed in detail what went wrong last season and then little by little made small changes and new routines to improve our atmosphere. Overall, we just have a super motivated team this year and we enjoy skating without taking that much pressure from competitions. This is something that has in a way been a little lost during the last couple of seasons.
It did! It was amazing to have such a loud crowd!
This year we’ve got the feeling that you’re being stronger than ever. Have you changed anything in your preparation this summer and those last few weeks?
So as we explained before, we have done a lot of mental work inside the team. Physical training was quite the same as before, but the difference comes from the work we've done with our mental coach Satu. Already in the spring, we analyzed in detail what went wrong last season and then little by little made small changes and new routines to improve our atmosphere. Overall, we just have a super motivated team this year and we enjoy skating without taking that much pressure from competitions. This is something that has in a way been a little lost during the last couple of seasons.