By Heather Long Vandevoorde, PhD
If you want to take figure skating lessons, would you go to an auto mechanic? Only if that auto mechanic happens to be Zsolt Kerekes! The Romanian-born son of Hungarian immigrants is the head coach of the Abu Dhabi Figure Skating Team (ADFST) at Zayed Sports City. Though he has suffered various broken bones, the two-time Hungarian champion and former coach of Dutch champion Manouk Gijsman is indeed making a career in figure skating. He sat down with Tempo to explain…
Tempo: So why did you consider becoming an auto mechanic?
Zsolt: My father wanted me to have a marketable skill in case the sports thing didn’t work out. He felt a career in skating was too risky.
Tempo: When did you start skating?
Zsolt: At the age of four; growing up in Romania means about nine months a year of cold weather so you might as well embrace it.
Tempo: What brought you to Abu Dhabi?
Zsolt: Besides the diversity of friends ? Well, it was the challenge, of course. Here there is a real opportunity to revolutionize the business of the sport in the UAE by bringing structure. I work with a terrific team of coaches. We have organized our training into teaching young talent, competitive skaters, recreational skaters and adult skaters. Our approach to each is specific to their needs. The adult skating is, for example, is more social in nature. It is exercise yet provides an opportunity to interactive with other participants, and we encourage that.
Tempo: You’re coaching Zahra Lari, the UAE’s Olympic-hopeful, six days a week. How does that compare to coaching Manouk Gijsman?
Zsolt: It is exactly the same, and exactly the same as teaching a young first-time skater. We follow a prescribed path, and always apply the same principals, which push each skater to reach his or her maximum potential. I give my best, they give their best and we see how far we can go.
Tempo: Do your techniques change?
Zsolt: I attend seminars every summer to keep updated on new techniques and the evolution of the sport. My philosophy never changes but I do adapt my techniques if I find something more effective.
Tempo: What’s your take on skating shows?
Zsolt: Many moons ago – when I had more hair – I spent seven years as the principal skater for Holiday on Ice. We toured all over the world. It was a super experience.
The Abu Dhabi Figure Skating Team recently had their eighth annual skating show, entitled Mansour and the Superheroes, which took place December 5 and 6. It is about a young boy who has a dream in which he meets all of his favourite superheroes such as Superman, the Transformers, the Ninja Turtles and even the monsters from Monsters Inc. We had over 60 skaters dancing to lively music and the show was very interactive.
