Interviews

Interview: Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen

In The Loop had the opportunity to talk to the promising new U.S. junior ice dance team, Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen, who graciously agreed to speak with us prior to their Junior Grand Prix debut at JGP Courchevel this week. Although they just teamed up earlier this year, Katarina is the 2017 US Intermediate Champion and the 2018 US Novice Champion with her former partner Howard Zhao, while Jeffrey is the 2018 US Novice Silver Medalist with former partner Gianna Buckley, and also the younger brother of 2017 US Champion Karen Chen.

Read about their programs, goals, role models and more in our interview with them here!

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Episode 31: The Cost of Figure Skating (feat. Interview with Tim Koleto) - Transcript

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Taeri: It seems like in every competition cycle there's a number of skaters, especially those from smaller federations, who talk about their financial struggles. There are just a lot of little things that factor into making the sport burdensome like travel, housing, and accommodation - not just for the skater but for their coaches and their families. We've looked into multiple ways that skaters fund their own careers and it honestly varies based on factors like a skaters federation, their world ranking, even their popularity to get booked for shows.

Interview: Brian Orser, Coach at Toronto Cricket Club

Nina: So what's the most rewarding part of being a coach?

Brian: Just seeing it all come to fruition. There are some days when Tracy [Wilson] and I are out there and we've got all of these amazing athletes and it's just like a well-greased machine. All the parts are all moving smoothly and there's a nice harmony with the session. Everybody's got good energy and they're doing their things and we just stand back and we just watch it. And we go "Wow! This is good skating. We're really lucky." But you can't become complacent because as soon as that happens, the wheels fall off, so you have to keep it well-greased. And then there are days where it doesn't [work] and sometimes we just have to accept that too.

Interview - Jason Brown at Toronto Cricket Club

Jason: Exactly. The fact that I left my costumes in Croatia and six weeks later realized. Like, had no idea, didn’t even while I was unpacking, didn’t think about it.

Kite: Do you think it affected your focus at all, going into Nationals?

Jason: No. I think at the beginning, it kind of freaked me out, just because I didn’t know what I was going to wear. But once I kind of had an outfit and practiced in something different, I felt more relaxed. It really wasn’t until I had a backup that I started to relax. And Tracy being so calm about the whole situation. [Kite: They’ve probably seen it before.] [Everyone Laughs] Yeah, they were like “Oh my God we’ve been through this with Javi, [Javier Fernández] [Kite and Gabb laugh.] Um, Jason, this is nothing,” and I was like “Okay.”

Interview - Tracy Wilson, Coach at Toronto Cricket Club

Tracy: I don’t know, I have no idea what my reputation is, but I’m pretty tough in terms of training because I think we’re so limited by what we think we can do. And, I literally, I mean, I commentated Rugby at the Olympics in Brazil in Rio, and I watched what those Rugby players deal with and how tired they get and they have to go and hit somebody and get hit. And I literally skated after Yuzu and said “Have you seen your Japanese Rugby team?” and he looked at me, and I said “Come on! You’re not going to be hit, and nobody's going to hit you! Come on, you’re not that tired.” [Laughter]

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Bonus: Interviews with Alexei Krasnozhon, Carreira/Ponomarenko, and Emmi Peltonen - Transcript

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Tilda: Hello, this is Tilda. I have spent this weekend in Helsinki, and I have to say that it was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Alexei Krasnozhon, as well as Carreira/Ponomarenko. I also got to ask a couple of questions to Emmi Peltonen right after her stunning short program.