KAZAKOVA & REVIYA TAKING THEIR SKATING TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL
By Matteo Morelli | Images by Yoriko Suzuki
Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya are a Georgian group that has been catching everybody’s consideration ever since, of their junior years, they began to gather necessary outcomes that embody profitable the Junior Grand Prix Remaining in 2019 and a second place end on the Junior World Championships the identical 12 months. This season, they’ve relocated to Italy to be coached by Matteo Zanni and so they can already see the enhancements as skaters and people. We met with them on the European Championships in Espoo, Finland, and we wish to thank them each for locating time to do that when Reviya was not feeling notably effectively that week.
Maria Kazakova (MK): Sure, it was our second one, however the final one was three years in the past.
Georgy Reviya (GR): We’re feeling good about it. We’re so pleased with each programmes contemplating the situation we skated in and what I had, we did effectively.
This season you competed at your first Senior Grand Prix occasions (in France and UK). What did you are taking away from these experiences?
GR: Earlier than the Grand Prix, we solely had two months on the ice as a result of I broke my hand. We needed to skip lots of components due to what I might do. For such a short while getting ready, we did lots of work. The Grand Prix was so good, we loved it. This season is significantly better than final 12 months.
Arising subsequent is the World Championships in Saitama, Japan. What do you wish to obtain there?
GR: As with different competitions, we wish to present our greatest and enhance from our final competitors. We are able to’t be upset if we get low factors or if one thing occurs, we solely give attention to our skate now. The factors will come, we have to wait and skate.
Are you able to inform us one thing about your free programme this season? What does it imply for you?
GR: It’s a sensible choice for us, as a result of it’s our type. We didn’t wish to strive one thing new this season as a result of preparation time was brief. I believe the feelings we present within the programme are so near our lives, however they don’t relate to at least one scenario solely. Some folks ask us whether it is in regards to the warfare, however it isn’t about that basically.
MK: In the event you really feel this emotion in regards to the warfare, or every other emotion, you’ll be able to take it. Watch our programme and say ‘sure, I really feel the identical emotion on this second in my life’. We wish to present folks that every particular person has completely different feelings and that this programme will not be about one story solely.
Let’s take a step again and have a look at the way you each approached skating. How previous have been you once you began to skate?
GR: I used to be 4.
MK: And I used to be 5.
Have you ever at all times been ice dancers?
MK: We have been single skaters earlier than. I don’t soar effectively, I wanted lots of time to just accept that single skating was not for me, and I began to ice dance after I was 13.
GR: I began a bit of bit earlier! I used to be eleven after I approached ice dance.
You could have been skating collectively since 2017. How did you discover one another?
GR: Masha (brief for Maria) wrote to me! [Laughing] First step from the lady, are you able to consider it?
Taking a look at your junior profession, the outcomes arrived fairly quick, with necessary medals received at completely different competitions.
MK: One of the best second was the final 12 months as junior, once we mixed some competitions from senior. It was a very optimistic season. We had lots of competitions, we have been in a fine condition and skating situation and we confirmed it. That season was superb for us.
GR: We got here up very quick throughout that season. We didn’t consider we might do this within the first competitors of the season the place we bought regular factors, however after that we put the onerous work in and it resulted in an excellent form for us and good programmes to look at. We have been so joyful, we couldn’t consider we received the (Junior Grand Prix) Remaining, it was a historic second.
MK: We wish to develop, it’s our objective. We have now a very good group now, we’re actually pleased with Matteo. He can present us the best method for us to develop, he reveals that to every couple in his group. Now we are able to see our alternative, it’s one thing new for us. We take pleasure in our course of: we’re beginning to develop, change our skating expertise, our type and our preparation for competitors. We began to do new issues and once we see that we predict ‘wow, how is it attainable’. It’s a good begin for rising as skaters.
Do you wish to share the ice with the opposite groups you’re employed with on the Younger Goose Academy in Egna?
MK: Matteo has actually good folks in his group. He has a pleasant relationship with everybody and all of us hit it off within the group, we help one another and it’s good.
You relocated to Italy to work with Zanni. Are you having fun with dwelling there?
GR: We work lots, then go dwelling after the follow, eat, relaxation, eat once more, sleep, and repeat!
What do you love to do when you’re not skating?
MK: I like to review and browse. I learn lots, final 12 months I learn twenty-nine books!
GR: [laughing] I don’t like studying, however when Masha reads it is likely one of the finest moments of the day as a result of she will not be speaking an excessive amount of! I normally sit with my pc, browsing the web and enjoying video video games with my buddies.
If I requested you to consider your finest reminiscence as ice dancers, what would you say that’s?
GR: For me, it was the primary Grand Prix this season.
MK: We began to know that we are able to do it, we’re in a fine condition. We had this actually cute second once we have been on the ice ready for the factors of the couple that skated earlier than us: we have been skating collectively, we simply have a look at one another within the eyes and understood that we might do it, that we have been in a greater form than final 12 months, and we took a step ahead.
GR: Earlier than beginning the rhythm dance, I solely thought that we have been on the best path and I used to be so joyful. It was due to Matteo, he has given us lots of energy, we really feel his power and his feelings.
MK: We modified lots, not simply with our skating but in addition with our mindsets.
GR: With our work with Matteo we really feel able to get to the highest. We have to wait and put the onerous work in, beginning to change our type. We don’t wish to do the identical programme each season.
Is there something you want to conclude this interview with?
GR: Because of everybody. Thank to our federation, to our mother and father that at all times help us. And to Matteo, he’s so necessary for us.
