Ellie Koyander
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Ellie Koyander |
How long have you been skiing?
I was born into a skiing family and my first time on skis was when I was 1 year 9 months years old….the video I have is really funny …you can hear me squealing with excitement from 100 feet away ' ….I 'm skiing, …I'm Skiing !!!! I think I learnt to ski just after I learnt to walk!
What are your skiing aspirations?
My biggest ambition is to be stood on the podium at Sochi in 2014 with a Gold medal around my neck ! I am training hard for the 2010 Games at the moment though - that's a crucial step in the game plan and we are ahead of target on development for Vancouver……so, you just never know !!!
What have been your best of times in the sport?
I guess one of the funniest was in the open Swiss National Championships a couple of years ago - I lost a ski in the middle of a 360 spin but I managed to land and finish the race on one ski ! I came in 5th place and got more cheers than the winner!. Standing on the podium as the French National under 16 Champion was pretty special too - that was a first for British moguls skiing! …..competing against the current Olympic champion (Jen Heil) in Australia when I was just 14 was a real turning point……my first backflip,…. the friends and people I have met, the vertical curve that I've been on ...... I actually have so many 'best times' - its been a real adventure !!
What have been your worst of times in the sport?
We had a rough time at the FIS Junior Worlds in 2005 where I travelled all the way out to Russia only to be told that I was too young to compete in the race and so I missed the singles event - they actually got their info wrong and it turned out that I was in fact old enough and so I was able to compete in the duals event the following day. Most of the worst times in the sport and obstacles that we have had to face have been down to problems with people - not skiing!
Where is your favourite place to ski?
I've skied at a lot of different places all around the world, America, Australia, Russia, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland but I guess I really enjoy skiing at Tignes in France because it is where my moguls career really began. My favourite moguls course is in Ruka, Finland, where the world championships were held a in 2005. It is such a challenging, steep, and icy course and it's a real skiers course - I like that!. I also like Colorado, Park City and Mt Hood in America which is where I spend most of my time training now especially throughout the summer .
What would be your advice to young moguls skiers?
If you want to learn to ski moguls well, go and find a good slalom coach and learn to work and trust your skis racing through the poles first ! At least that's how I started. Most people even at the highest of levels in the instructing world rotate their feet and skid into the backs of the bumps - to move up to a more technical level of skiing you need to be able to pump through the bumps on your edges not using the backs of the bumps at all ……and have a non skidding platform under your feet. Slalom is the best thing to teach that. Learn to ski the whole mountain too. But, being able to carve in the bumps is only 50% of the deal, you have to perform high level of gymnastic tricks too, so get a good trampoline coach too - developing good spatial awareness and confidence in the air is really important.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Not many people have the first idea about moguls skiing and how technical it actually is to perfect. Because we no longer smack and slap the bumps like they used to a few years ago ( we actually turn in a completely different place) - the skill levels at the top of the game are just incredible - and of course just as you close the gap the end of the scale slides to a new place! The challenge is to be developing ahead of the game and I have a great team around me. I train and race fulltime now and am based for most of the year in the USA … I say full time, but I am also studying a Sporting Excellence Btec at Loughborough College staying in touch with my teachers through e-mail . That's a huge challenge because I have to have two brilliant careers, my skiing and my academic career!
What do you hope to achieve this season?
This season is all about building my competition experience. I will be on the Noram and Europa Cup circuit again this winter and we are planning to take part in the first World Cups towards the tail end of the season. My Coaches and I re-evaluate our goals regularly and we are currently on programme for an excellent season in Olympic qualifying year in 2009. So, 2008 is all about preparing the ground for the following season and developing my World Cup performance in dry land training. I feel really privileged to have so many talented people fighting my corner with me - I always feel that I am set up to succeed and do well.
Is there anything you do before the race?
Yes but that's my routine and my little secret!!
What are your other favourite sports?
As a child you couldn't get me out of the water - I used to swim a lot at club level and still love relaxing by the water, particularly diving, I have done the odd bit of ocean sailing which I would do again any day of the week , I discovered surfing last summer and cliff jumping , I love ice skating…… but nothing compares to racing around on a snowmobile - they are so much fun especially eyeballing with my friends !! I guess I like anything that gets the adrenaline pumping a bit!!
What do you do to relax?
After explaining what other sports I love, it sounds a bit tame but I really enjoy curling up in bed and listening to music or reading a good book and I really like going to the cinema and watching a good movie with my mates. .....oh, I nearly forgot to mention fly fishing - the boys get really annoyed - I often seem to have a lucky charm on the end of my line rather than a fly !!
If you had a superpower what would it be?
The ability to fly…..I've been practicing this superpower really hard off those moguls kickers!
What is your nickname?
'Ingrid' - given to me by one of my best buddies 'Merlin' ( aka Martin Nankoo GB moguls skier ) !! or the 'Ellie-minator' ( apologies to Herman !!)
If you were not a ski racer what would you be doing?
…….a full time hammock tester! Seriously though, I would like to run a private ski resort …… it is pretty hard to imagine my life without skiing!
Who is your secret crush?
…….hhhhmmmm?!?! He knows who he is!
What's on your ipod?
Thousands of tunes that I have stolen from my friends ( thanks P.D ! ) - my selection and taste in music is really wide - if its good I listen to it!
What is your favourite food?
I love Sweet and Sour Chicken with rice or a big hunk of steak!! I live off that when I am away ….either that or pasta in a gorgonzola sauce! I'm addicted to 'Swedish fish' as well melted Mars bars - ooooh !
Can you tell us something no-body else knows about you?
I am learning to play the guitar! (but not stuff like 'Michael , Row the Boat Ashore ' - its more of a lead guitar/ rock thing that I am into !!)
What song is most likely to make you move on the dance floor?
Anything with a good beat to it!
What can you be heard saying most often e.g. your favourite catchphrase/motto?
' learn from yesterday, be brilliant today and hope for another chance tomorrow if it all goes pear shaped ! '
'Grip it and rip it baby!!..... go big, or go home'
'Do it...do it now!'
'you can never have a bad day, just a few bad hours'
'live your dreams, face your fears'
'GSM ! ' ( that's my ' pat on the back' phrase when I have done well ……only I and a few select others know what GSM stands for !! )
