Talking to the Hungarian Team
Series part 1
| Hungary is having quite a team of skaters these last years. Most of them still train in their own country and not abroad. As a special project, Adastra, Helga, & Kati went to the Jégcsarnok icerink in Budapest, to talk to several of them for Absolute Skating, as well as for Pixieworld. Not only skaters will get the mike, but also some coaches. Some interviews were in-depth, others were mostly focused on fun. All interviewees filled out the same 'fluff' questions and choices at the end. Join us for the first part of this marvelous series! |
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1.2 Szabolcs Vidrai
by Helga Dobor
Photos © Helga
Dobor & Satoko
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Szabolcs Vidrai is the best figure skater ever in the Hungarian men’s field. The first thing that comes to my mind about him is: you all have to get to know him! He coaches the talented Viktória Pavuk, and they run home arm in arm! His enthusiasm always draws people towards him. Read his appreciative words about his idols, friends and colleagues. |
You placed 10th at the World Championships, Minneapolis,
in 1998. An Hungarian skater has never placed so high. How
did that feel?
I am very proud of it, up to this day. This is my most joyous
competition. Not only because I finished in 10th place, but
it was a good competition. There was a good selection of skaters
from other countries. Minneapolis is a very nice place. If
you were to ask what is my most memorable competition, I would
answer the same. This is the competition next to my heart.
Everything went well. I was in top form and my conditioning
was 100%.
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In the next World Championships
you placed 20th. It is still a great position, but after
the previous year’s result there is a big difference.
How did you handle this situation? How did you feel? |
At the1998 Olympics in Nagano, you finished in 13th
place. What did that mean to you?
It was a great experience. I was very excited in the weeks
preceding the Olympics. I wanted to skate well. It was a big
challenge, and I felt that I could take advantage of this
opportunity. The competition was really well organized.
What is the main difference between a competition
and Olympics?
In Nagano, we lived in an Olympic village. We were separated
by countries - not together with the other skaters. It was
strange - the athletes I shared with weren’t skaters
and we didn’t know each other well. The organizers pampered
us. There was lots to do, gaming-rooms, a huge restaurant
for more then hundred people. It was fantastic.
You skated in the same era as Kulik, Cousins, Stojko
and Yagudin. How did they influence your skating? Which skater
inspired you at the start of your career?
It would be Yagudin, of course, but let’s start at the
beginning.
In my childhood, I admired Brian Orser and Brian Boitano.
I loved the rivalry between them. They had a big influence
on my skating. At World Championships in 1988 (in Hungary)
I was flower sweeper. I sat next to the Kiss & Cry Corner.
It was so great to see my favourite skaters. While they practiced
together, they talked to each other. These memories live so
clearly in my mind. They impressed me so much.
Although it was only an everyday occurrence - two skaters
talking while practising together – it was an amazing
moment for me. I can still remember it clearly - I could tell
you what colour his t-shirt was.
Elvis Stojko. A humane athlete. I want to emphasise my admiration
of this Canadian skater and the style he represented. On the
ice, aesthetically, he didn't look as good as Steven Cousins,
but how he skated.
He is really the most humane skater I’ve met. His virtue
is surpassing. He should be the moral role-model of the athletes,
besides he is warm-hearted and friendly!
Yagudin. He is the best. A friend of mine. We spent lots of time together. Our friendship started at Worlds, in 1998, or at the Olympics? He is very warm-hearted. He has the biggest heart among the people I know. Firm as a rock, if we consider his mental attitude both as skater and off-ice too. He is very strong. His concentration capacity and his talent is huge. His skating style is so beautifully clear, technically correct and he has so big an aura that I had butterflies in my stomach when I saw him skating. In my mobile-phone there is his program, the Gladiator. I revere him! Even if he wasn’t in peak 100% condition, he could do his programs. He always skated his best in those 4 minutes! Only one in a million can do this.
How and when did you start to skate?
I started to skate in 1985. I was 7-8 years old then. It was
the latest age that a child could start this sport. My first
competition was in 1986. Everything went so fast with me in
skating.
Was there any skater in your family? How did you
come across this sport?
There wasn’t any skater in my family. I discovered the
sport when I visited my cousins. They had skating boots they
didn’t use and they gave them to me. They asked my parents
to take me skating, so my mother brought me to a rink. My
parents couldn’t skate. She took me to an ice school
and my mother took me to the coach and asked him to take care
of me, because she wouldn’t be able stay with me on
the ice. That’s where it started. I stood there on the
ice. It was funny. The coach, after a while, saw how I glided
on the ice, up and down and said: “Hey mother, don’t
tell me it is his first time on the ice. I can't believe it!”
Then he advised us to go the Ice School Piruett, to the coach
István Simon. I started to learn skating there.
I liked skating very much, but I didn't like when in my elementary,
and later in my high school, my schoolmates knew what I did,
that I participated in this sport.
Why?
I thought that it was a woman’s sport and it was difficult
to tell them. I lied to them. I told them that I played hockey.
Then my mother accidentally gave the secret away..
Did your opinion change later on?
It is very interesting, but today I think differently. Figure
skating is a very beautiful sport but it doesn't have to mean
that it is a feminine sport. It is full of power and involves
acrobatic elements (because of the jumps) which make this
sport interesting. Its artistry is the whipped cream on the
cake. Overall, it is very complex and aesthetic, but if you
have to rank it, it is among the three most difficult technical
sports. Shall I say more?
Yes please!
Because this is a technical sport, it is a scoring sport,
which can upset a lot of people, but you have to learn how
to handle this! Everybody has his own setbacks. I had them
too. I also felt so many times that it was unfair. I was also
disappointed. Since I've worked as a coach, I can see things
from another angle – all my results were realistic.
Even if the results seemed to be unfair at the time, those
were really my true results.
In Moscow I spoke with a judge, and I told him that they had
it right. I took criticism badly then, I can admit that now,
but the judges were right. You have to listen to the judges,
and I made a mistake, I didn’t do that. If you apply
all the information you get from the judges to your work,
you will be more successful. Because the judges sit on the
another side and they give you the points!
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Who do you think will be the
big talent of the future? |
Why is it easy to work with Viki and why is it hard?
It is easy to work with her because she wants to skate as
well as possible and to be as good athlete as she can be.
She is contumacious- in its positive meaning, and that’s
why it is easy and hard too.
When Viki skates you are at the board and you follow
her every movement, as if you would skate together with her.
Is the pressure bigger on you during her competitions than
it would be at yours?
You are observant. The pressure is bigger on me coaching,
than when I was on the ice. And yes, I skate together with
her! Perhaps it will change later. Perhaps not. I don’t
want to lie, I don’t know how I will work in 20 year's
time.
We won't hold you to ransom with this sentence 20
years later!
It's not excitement or nervousness but an exaggerated state
of mind. I empathize her situation. Perhaps that doesn’t
help, but we go arm in arm with our aims.
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And which do you prefer, to stay
at the boards or to skate? You skated at the same time as Krisztina Czakó.
Was there friendship between you ? What was your relationship
like with other skaters? |
Where is the most memorable country for you?
Australia – you don’t get to go there very often.
Go there! Especially in December. See it in spring. These
memories will always stay with me. The competition was successful
too. I would go back anytime.
Canada – I never was disappointed in this country. It’s
a super country with well-organised competitions. They are
correct and precise in everything.
| What is your biggest
treasure in your life? How could you live without your skates? Without sport? Without music? Without credit card? Without computer? Without friends? without dreams? Which of the above would be the worst? Please associate with one or two words : Figure skating is ... Family is ... Friends are ... Money is .... Sport ... Love ... Peace ... Belief ...
Movies or Books |
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What would you sing at karaoke?
Bonanza Banzai (a famous band in Hungary in the 90's ages.)
Who makes you laugh?
People with good humour – laughs.
Do not miss the third interview in this series, with
Dejan Illes. Tomorrow on AS!
For reading the first interview, the one with Viki
Pavuk, click here!
