Daniel Grassl: I really like Jason Brown. I want to skate like him someday.

Interview with Daniel Grassl. Interview was taken at the end of January, Daniel commented on his performance in Graz, work on under-rotations on quadruple jumps, the image of his deceased wife in a free program, and problems with skates.

by Ludmila Orlova for blossomonice.com dd. 4th August 2020

At the European Championships this year, you lacked a little bit to win a medal. How would you comment on your performance?

Daniel Grassl: In principle, I’m satisfied. The free program, of course, turned out much better than the short one. There I got a couple of under-rotations, which, to be honest, I did not feel. Well, what to do? I will continue to work. I will improve my jumps.

After the performance of the free program, there was a feeling that you were not tired at all and could skate it again.

Daniel Grassl: Well, probably (laughs). In general, I work a lot in training specifically on the free program. I really want to skate it cleanly in competitions. I am glad that I almost succeeded in Graz.

If I am not mistaken, at the European Championships for the first time you performed three quadruple jumps – lutz, flip and loop in a free program?

Daniel Grassl: Yes, that was one of my main tasks for this competitions. I’m happy that I did it. True, the loop was definitely under-rotated. Well, okay, next time (smiles).

Please tell us what story you are telling on the ice in your free program.

Daniel Grassl: The music was chosen by my choreographer Benoit Richaud. It’s dramatic and, I would say, my style. I feel it very well and try to convey all my emotions to the audience. I really like the program – I enjoy both the skating and the artistic image itself.

And what artistic image do you show?

Daniel Grassl: I’m skating to the Lonely Man soundtrack. On the ice I show that my wife died in a car accident and after this tragic incident I skate for her. Well, in general, everything is complicated there (laughs). But I like the program.

As far as I know, in Turin you had serious problems with skates. Can you tell us a little more, please?

Daniel Grassl: Yes it’s true. I had to skate in new skates and, of course, I performed very poorly there.

What happened?

Daniel Grassl: Well, it so happened that I went on the ice in Turin and nothing worked out at all. For a long time I could not understand what was wrong. Then I figured out that the problem was in the skate, but it was too late to change something. I skated the short program with a broken skate, and then tried to skate the free program in new skates, but this, of course … (thinks about it).

This is generally unrealistic, I guess.

Daniel Grassl: Yes, exactly (smiles).

But just a few weeks after Turin, you won the national championship. How did you manage to break into new skates so quickly and restore your jumps?

Daniel Grassl: Well, I just said to myself – well, of course, you have new skates, but this is not an excuse. We need to prepare for the national championship and prove to everyone that the failure in Turin is just an accident. I worked a lot in training and am happy that everything worked out in the end.

And where did you find the strength to do such a large amount of work in such a short time?

Daniel Grassl: Well, in general, I work a lot. For example, every day I skate the free program with all the elements. Therefore, it is quite comfortable for me to skate it.

You also have very good spins and amazing flexibility. I especially like your final spin in the free program, the poses are very difficult and interesting.

Daniel Grassl: Yes, I also work a lot on spins. I always want to come up with something new, not like anyone else.

Do you have a favorite skater whom you want to look up to? From active athletes or maybe from those who retired?

Daniel Grassl: I really like Jason Brown. I want to skate like him someday (smiles).

Why Jason?

Daniel Grassl: I really like the way he skates. How he expresses himself on ice. I also work a lot on the presentation, but it still has to come from within. When you feel the music you are skating to and can convey it to the audience.

Related topics: Daniel Grassl