Sofia Samodelkina on training with Rafael Arutyunyan: “You work independently and take full responsibility for yourself and your work. This isn’t familiar or comfortable for everyone.”
Sofia Samodelkina described her experience training with Rafael Arutyunyan in the U.S., highlighting the independence required, her daily routine, and the motivating environment of a strong training group.
original source: Sports by Maya Bagriantseva
In an interview with Sports correspondent Maya Bagriantseva, Sofia Samodelkina spoke about her training with Rafael Arutyunyan in the United States. Here’s a translation.
“Q: After moving to America, you switched from one training system to another. What’s the difference?
Sofia Samodelkina: The main difference is that you work independently. It wasn’t hard for me to get used to this because I’ve always worked that way: I don’t need to be pushed, reminded, or forced to do another run-through.
But I know that sometimes this approach confuses those who come to Arutyunyan’s rink. If an athlete is used to a clear, step-by-step plan, it’s difficult: you just go out and skate both sessions on your own?
I explain that there are assignments from the coach, and you know yourself what you need to work on – so why constant supervision? In group practice, the coach can correct you if something isn’t right. Plus, you can always take a private lesson later to go over specific things.
This isn’t familiar or comfortable for everyone; sometimes people feel like the coach isn’t paying attention to them at all. But it’s just a different approach: you take full responsibility for yourself and your work.
At first, after switching, I sometimes froze up: two hours to skate by myself? But then it all makes sense – in season, you’re running through sequences and programs, polishing elements.
Rafael Vladimirovich always gives exercises in group practice that lead up to quads. Then you build your own training from those details, and sometimes my plan is so packed I can’t finish everything. But I always know what I need to do. If I feel I need to stay for another session, I stay and finish.
Q: What does your schedule look like?
Sofia Samodelkina: I have one day off – Sunday. The rest of the week, I’m at the rink from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Morning warm-up, then three ice sessions with breaks, a short rest, and an hour and a half of off-ice training. Sometimes I add elliptical or a run in the evening. It adds up to almost 30 sessions a week.
On Saturdays, training is optional, but I always go – unless I take a break before a competition. Sundays, we go to the beach with friends, play tennis or volleyball, so I’m never just at home. Andrew Torgashev, Zhora Reshtenko, and many others come for training – we have a great group, everyone’s become friends.
It’s great when new people join the group: you pick up things from them, they learn from you. It’s very useful and broadens your horizons. “Oh, you do it that way? Cool, let me try.”
I really like having a big, strong group on the ice. Guys come who do lots of quads, and you push yourself to keep up. Kolya Memola, Misha Selevko, Petya Gumennik.
Petya is an absolute machine. He gets on the ice, and five minutes later he’s already doing quads. We all skate past him and are speechless – it’s insanely cool. He’s tall and incredibly strong physically.
Q: When you went to train with Arutyunyan, what were you most afraid of?
Sofia Samodelkina: I was just really scared. Even now, I get goosebumps talking about it. I’ve never been so nervous to approach a coach – it’s legendary Rafael Arutyunyan!
For me, figure skating was always just work: here’s the coach, I respect him. But in California, after training, I’d sit on the bench for 20 minutes to collect myself. He’s still such an unquestioned authority for me, I respect him so much that I always want to be in top form and skate perfectly.
What’s he like to work with? He’s a fairly strict coach and a person who’s focused on results – and that’s great. Now I’m used to it and comfortable – I go to practice calmly, without nerves. It’s my workspace, and I understand everything there.”
Related topics: Rafael Arutyunyan, Sofia Samodelkina
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