“The first few times were very scary, even though now I realize these aren’t super difficult lifts. The first time I did one, I screamed across the ice.” Anna Shcherbakova on doing lifts with a non-professional partner on a TV show
Anna Shcherbakova said she agreed to take part in the TV project “Ice Age” because she wanted to challenge herself.
original source: TASS / Sport24
Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova shares her excitement and motivation for participating in the TV project “Ice Age,” shared her experience of Tatiana Tarasova’s criticism and reflect on the challenges of pair skating with a non-professional partner. Here’s a translation of her comments.
Anna Shcherbakova is skating in a pair with actor Konstantin Raskatov.
“The first time, when I was a host, I watched the participants and was absolutely amazed at how hard they work and what goes on behind the scenes. But I understood that I would never step onto that ice myself – I wouldn’t sign up for it, wouldn’t agree, and wouldn’t skate in a pair. I was very afraid.
The second year, when I was on the jury, I started watching with interest. I was curious about the training, and I began to compare it to myself – could I do it? Some interest started to grow.
And in the third year, when I was offered the chance, I thought I’d join this adventure and take the risk to see what would happen. So this season, I’m training and performing with great enthusiasm.
After my first performance, I can say I’m already sure it was worth coming here. There have already been so many new things, both in training and in performing.
What changed my mind? It’s hard to say, really. I wanted to try again to go somewhere that’s scary, difficult, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable. It’s a small challenge I wanted to set for myself,” said Shcherbakova.
Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova also shared her reactions to criticism from Tatiana Tarasova.
“A lot of it wasn’t to the music, which spoiled my impression. There was a lot of choppy skating, no transitions – I don’t understand why,” said Tarasova, who is a member of the jury.
“Shcherbakova: What’s it like to get a scolding from such legends? I think, on the contrary, it motivates you to pull yourself together and show that you’re worth something.
I absolutely understand that when we show a certain level, we always need to strive for more, to do better and more precisely with each program, taking into account all the comments from such wonderful people and judges.
Q: How scary is it to do lifts with a non-professional?
Shcherbakova: The first few times were very scary, even though now I realize these aren’t super difficult lifts. The first time I did one, I screamed across the ice, but Kostya (her partner for the show) immediately told me, “Don’t be afraid, I definitely won’t drop you, I’ll always hold you.”
Whenever there was a situation where we could have fallen or missed a lift or element, whatever happened, Kostya always took the brunt of it, and I ended up in his arms. So I understood I could trust him.
Now, the lifts in this program are actually a part where I can rest, because the hardest part is every three-turn, every step, every connecting move between elements.
Because when a non-professional skater and a singles skater skate together, the hardest part is skating as a pair, and learning a lift and doing it a few times in practice is actually one of the easiest parts.”
Related topics: Anna Shcherbakova
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