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Interview by: Magdalena Kobus, photo Andrzej Mysiak
With the 'magic evening the second' inevitably approaching in the rhythm of plastic trumpets and the fans' shouting echo through the mountains up and down the valleys, we sat at the garden tables of the, very controversial this year, Zakopane's major sports hotel, for a charming small talk with the emerging star that hails from Russia – Denis Kornilov. Many a thing has changed in the lives of the Russian ski jumpers with Wolfgang Steiert taking over the post of their head coach. About all these alterations, sustainable development in the team, major aims, plans for the future and anticipation of the Olympics in Sochi we long discussed with Denis accompanied by the coffee and retsina and surrounded by the overwhelming sights and sounds of Zakopane on the Big Day - a day of the competition that is.. Have an enjoyable read..
Magdalena Kobus: So another Zakopane event is ahead of you.. How do you like it here so far?
Denis Kornilov: It's amazing here every single time I happen to find myself in Zakopane during the competitions. The venues are great, the ambience outstanding. It's the best summer event in the whole GP cycle. And in the winter it's even better...
eSkijumping: Russian team's definitely on the up and aiming high. You've been gradually developing your technique and well it goes without saying that Russia is slowly but surely becoming a great power in ski jumping. How would you sum up the GP starts so far and what are your and your team's aims for the rest of the summer cycle?
Denis Kornilov: Well, we definitely had a very good training plan in the spring and early summer. Later on we went back home to get some rest and we reunited just before Hinterzarten entering the Summer Grand Prix. The first competition for me was obviously bad, but later on it all changed and is getting better with every competition. I need to stay positive and just get the 'feeling' of the jump to understand that I can get a far land.
eSkijumping: Many athletes find the Four Nations GP very exhausting as you have to change venues very often, everything is in a very tight schedule involving hard and long trips within a very short period of time. In just nine days you have 5 competitions in four different countries. How did you manage to survive (laugh) and seriously do you think it's a wise idea to get the athletes travel all around and compete on the highest level possible without giving them enough time to get at least some portion of a proper rest?
Denis Kornilov: Well yeah, it's the problem among all the teams. It can't be enjoyable if one has to travel so much and give the maximum of himself in such a short period of time. It's a constant stress, adrenaline 24/7, it's all very difficult for us. The other thing is remaining in shape. The physical aspects cannot be overlooked. It's just too much too handle sometimes. So we do hope that next year everything will get reorganized and we'll have a break before each competition.
eSkijumping.com: You said that after an intensive training period you went back home to get some rest. Now, do you have any good hills to practise at in Russia? There were some renovation plans a few years ago, has anything changed recently?
Denis Kornilov: Actually, not just yet. There're some plans but it will takes some time until everything's finished. Right now we train mostly in Germany and in other European countries..
eSkijumping.com: Do you have a sort of a 'center' of preparations? You're constantly on the move but is there a place in Europe where you happen to stay longer and where you can focus on training and polishing your skills?
Denis Kornilov: I think that for us Hinterzarten is like second home because that's where our coach, Wolfgang Steiert, comes from. So when we need to stay in one spot for a while we go to Hinterzarten.
eSkiumping.com: So how's your cooperation with Wolfgang Steiert been developing so far?
Denis Kornilov: Well, it's good. We've been working together for three years now and he's staying over until Vancouver (2010), so there're some more years for improvements. Our team likes him a lot and he likes to work with us.
eSkijumping.com: What do you think about Russia winning their quest to organize the winter Olympics in Sochi (2014)? It's obviously a grand success. Aren't you now even more poised to get on top? Your country has long been a super-power when it comes to wintersports but you definitely lack gold medals in ski jumping...
Denis Kornilov: We're very happy about it all. It's actually our dream coming true. But well, in Russia ski jumping is not very popular, at least not yet. We hope to show up well in Vancouver and then even better in Sochi...
eSkijumping: But let's not forget that Dmitry Vassiliev was pretty close to the gold in Turin last year...
Denis Kornilov: Yes he was. But he also didn't have much luck in the second round. There're still many things we have to learn and there's still a lot of work ahead of us. If we keep 'looking ahead' we might succeed.
eSkijumping.com: A very straight-to-the-point attitude you're showing here so tell me what are your - individually, and your team's major goals for the upcoming winter season?
Denis Kornilov: It stays the same all the time: to be top-6 among the teams and finally have someone in the top-6 individually as well..
eSkijumping: Well, you've definitely gained enough experience by now to finally get a top-six fighter. How about the economical aspects of Russian ski jumping. Has your financial backup been strengthened recently? How do you cope with the expenses and incomes as a team who is still on a 'struggling' level?
Denis Kornilov: It got all much better when Wolfgang Steiert came. Before he joined us we had had major problems with just everything. Right now we have some good sponsors so we finally have the money for the trainings and traveling and also for the equipment. For two years now we've been hiring a 'wax-man' and this summer we also have a physiotherapist.. it all goes in a very good direction.
eSkijumping: Many teams are checking brand new solutions and equipments at the moment. Are you planning some tech changes for the winter season?
Denis Kornilov: Every top-team has to work on that. We do it as well. We're not planning any revolution, though.
eSkijumping: You definitely spend a lot of time with your team mates. This kind of life that you lead requires a vast portion of understanding among the team, you had to learn to get on well with each other. How would you briefly describe each of your colleagues?
Denis Kornilov: Dmitry Vassiliev is certainly the leader of our team. He is the oldest and most experienced from us all. We listen to him in many cases. He's always trying to mediate when there's a problem. Dmitry Ipatov is a very serious guy but he also can be funny. Pavel Karelin is a young boy. He's only 17 and well he's growing up just in front of us and he's also developing his skills very fast. I think he'll stay on in our team also in the winter because we really need a fifth guy in order to have a sort of a competition and motivation also inside of the team. It will be good for us and for him too.
eSkijumping: How about Ildar Fatchullin? Some time ago Wolfgang Steiert told press that Ildar is just like Alex Herr in Germany, a kind of outsider who always goes his own way. Is it really so?
Denis Kornilov: Ildar is a very experienced ski jumper. He's been jumping on international level for years now. At the moment he has some problems with his shape. He's looking for some individual solutions with his personal coach. I hope he'll come back to the team again. And yes, he is that kind of person who doesn't like to be told to do things.
eSkijumping: Do you think that with your team's very visible development these days and bearing in mind Sochi 2014 and the fact that Walter Hofer is very willing to add Russia to the list of the countries hosting World Cup events in ski jumping, is there a chance that some modern hills and ski jumping centers will be built in Russia in the future?
Denis Kornilov: The hills in Sochi will be ready around 2010-11 so we still have some time until it's ready. I personally hope that with a help of sponsors some new hills will be built soon. I know all about Walter Hofer's plans and ideas and I know from the athletes that they would really like to jump in the events held in Russia. I hope in the future it will all become possible.
eSkijumping: Ending up, reveal your deepest dream concerning the sports career in the nearest future…
Denis Kornilov: Well, this past season I achieved even more than I expected. I was 19th so now I guess I'd like to move on to the top-15 next season and then well.. we'll see what comes next...
eSkijumping: Thank you.
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