• Martin, what is your feedback on the 2009 Season?

M.S. – My first, and nicest, victory was in Moscow (March) for the European Slalom Battle Championship, where I came first. After this competition, I was self-confident for the rest of the season. Then, the most important competition was in Paris (May) where I came second after a very tough battle against Kim Sung Jin (Kor). After that, I knew I could do even better and I went to Hannover for the Inline Games (August), where I won against the title-holder Rudy Op’t Veld (Ger).

Two weeks later, this is when my big trip started: first stage was in London, then around the world in Shanghai (China) and ChunCheon (South Korea) all in a row. The final results were two wins, in London and in ChunCheon, and a good second place in Shanghai against Wang Heng (Chn).

I also took part in other smaller competitions, like Madrid, Munich, Cologne and Kiev where I won too.

• Which skater impressed you the most this year?

M.S. – This year, Xuan Le and Igor Cheremetieff impressed me a lot because of their ease on skates and their unique styles.

• What are your objectives for 2010?

M.S. – The main objective for 2010 is to have fun. That’s the most important. Enjoying freestyle slalom with nice people. And meeting new skaters and discovering different cultures around the world.

Igor Cheremetieff had his ups and downs this season. He who had won nearly everything in 2008, had to fight to reach the finals in the Main Events this year, and he won only one Main Event competition, in Classic Individual at the ChunCheon Leisure Games (Kor). However he still got eight wins in Basic events, and his results enabled him to reach place #2 at the World Ranking.

• Igor, what is your feedback on the 2009 Season?

I.C. – I’m very satisfied with my final ranking, especially when I think about my results in the Main Events where I didn’t reach the finals! (Paris-Moscow-Beijing). I really did a lot of competitions this year and met so many skaters, it was awesome.

I was very surprised with my final ranking in Speed slalom because I never considered myself a real speed-slalom skater, but I did good performances (for example, I came third at the Shanghai World Championship). It is astounding how much the World Series have develop – it’s only two years old, I wonder how I’m going to do to take part in all the events I’d like to go in 2010… I’ll have to make choices!

• Which skater impressed you the most this year?

I.C. – Martin Sloboda: he improved spectacularly in only a few months, between January and March. He has acquired an impressive mastering of wheelings (Special one foot, back wheelings…)

• What are your objectives for 2010?

I.C. – I’ll try to remain in the Top-3. You know in finals, most of the time I’m ten years older than my opponents, I want to try to show them that they should respect their elders!!

I also want to get more involved in organizing and judging to help develop slalom-skating in places where I can bring and share my experience.

Kim Sung Jin (Kor) ends up in #3 position with two wins in Main Events.

• Sung Jin, Can you analyze your performances of 2009?

KSJ – My performances? Well… actually I don’t know because I was pressed for time. As you know, I had been studying for the Uni during 2008, so that in 2009 I was one year late compared to the other good skaters. I think my 2009 season was to fill a 1-year gap with the others. Actually, I was lazy after my exam to enter at the Univ in winter (2008-09), but I knew well what I had to do at that time so I could start again.

In Beijing competitions, I think I was lucky because I got prizes in four fields out of four. Especially, Speed competition was awesome. I have never practiced Speed intensively. But I got the second place. I think it’s because I had a good list of matches.

In Paris, I was very happy to get a first place because that was the first time. Actually, it was very hard to skate with the tilt ground but I tried to enjoy all the same. I think that’s why I managed to do that.

In Shanghai, I was in the worst condition ever: I wanted to drop out because I had fever. My temperature was a bit more than 40°C (my tattoo sticker even melted). And although I did the worst performance ever, I’m glad I finished my show without giving up – for the audience, and above all for the Korean team.

• Which skater(s) impressed you the most this year?

KSJ – There are two skaters: the first is Martin (Sloboda) from Germany and the other is an unknown Chinese slalom skater. Martin was good in Russia and in so many other competitions. As for the unknown Chinese slalom skater, I couldn’t see him well in Shanghai, but I heard he was very impressing. These are the reasons.

• What are your objectives for 2010?

KSJ – For the 2010 season, I’d like to do my best for myself. In 2010, I’d like to take part in the most competitions I can in the world. Fortunately, I did apply for a leave of absence from Univ this semester so I will be waiting for being invited~:D If you want to invite me, just contact me to my mail~! Haha! My first competition in this year will be Battle SPB in Russia. I will do my best and enjoy skating with the other skaters.

• Tiziano, Can you analyse your performances all along the 2009 Season?

T.F. – My season started in Moscow (European Championship), I was a little bit nervous because I knew there were a lot of fast skaters. After Moscow I was so excited and I repeated my feats during the Italian championship, which motivated me all the more. It made me feel just like as if I was the fastest, and I trained more and more to improve my times.

Afterwards, there was the PSWC (Paris). I was so lucky, because Yohann (Fort) got out at the qualification run… During the KOs I was still nervous because there were still Savio (Brivio), KSJ, Jimmy Fort, and Romain (Lebois)! But once again I said to myself “be careful, you mustn’t do any penalty.” And wow for the second time I won in WSSA!

One of the best rivals this year was Davide (Piacentini), my friend: he won against me in Battle Belgium in final, and in Hannover, all the same in final!

Maybe I was nervous because we trained a lot together and I know how fast he can be. In fact it was the occasion for me to improve more and more.

I also did a good competition in London!

I’m very happy about style slalom too: I did good places during the year, and this, thanks to other skaters who helped me; I learnt a lot from them.

At the PSWC I got a double 5th place in classic and battle, in Mönchengladbach I ended up 2nd in speed and 5th in style, in Belgium 3rd, in Hannover 5th, in London 6th, in Madrid a 4th place in style, in Munich a very good 2nd place and another victory in speed slalom… and... I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in Shanghai and ChunCheon! I tried to, but it was impossible…

So, on the whole I’m very very happy about my 2009 season.

And now the most difficult thing is to keep my ranking, because next year is going to be tough for sure! But I’ll do my best!

• What are your objectives for the 2010 season?

T.F. – I have many objectives: I hope to keep my ranking, but I will have to work hard to defend it! And I want to improve in style slalom, to get better and better. And meet more skaters. And have fun, as always.

Tiziano Ferrari (#1) is followed by Igor Cheremetieff (#2) who won one Main Event and showed steady results on the other important competitions. JB Milleret (Fra) gets the #3 place thanks to good performances during big events.

• JB, Can you analyze your performances of 2009?

J.B. – First of all I have to say that I am very happy with my world rankings in both speed and freestyle slalom for 2009. However, if I have to analyze my performances, I think I can do better at speed slalom and this gives me an objective for 2010: practice more and try to do better.

On the other hand, I wish I had gone to more competitions. I only had time to go to main events and I wish I had had more time to go to more smaller events as they are my favorite :) more time to skate with people, more relaxed atmosphere and they are excellent training.

• Which skater(s) impressed you the most this year?

J.B. – I have been very impressed by Rekil (Kirill Ryazantsev) and all the slides he has been doing at the different slide competitions. I really like slides, I thought his technique was very good and his slides were "clean".

• What are your objectives for 2010?

J.B. – For 2010, I would like to go to more competitions, smaller events as I like to meet new skaters. I will also try to maintain or improve my ranking in speed slalom and finally I am looking forward to defending my UK title in our FIRST UK series! :)

• Chloé, what is your feedback on 2009?

C.S. – My season shot off at top speed: after my double World title in Singapore in December 2008, there followed a 2009 European title (unhoped for) in Moscow, which enabled me to get back the first place at the World ranking. All along the season, I did good results on the whole, and this enabled me to retain it ‘till today, despite a little down in international competitions at the end of the season.

• Which skater impressed you the most this year?

C.S. – The first I’m thinking of is Nadezhda Zelenova (Rus): a formidable technique. There’s also Marina Boyko (Ukr) who has drastically improved her technique in only a few months. And in speed slalom, there’s Barbara Bossi (Ita) who can compete with men’s times, and whose steadiness is impressive.

• What are your objectives for 2010?

C.S. – My objective is to keep my ranking, which isn’t going to be a piece of cake given the other opponents springing up from everywhere… but this is a good challenge! I know that 2010 is going to be much trickier than 2009.

Barbara Bossi (Ita) makes a sensational entrance in the World Slalom Series in winning 3 Main Events (2 speed and 1 freestyle) for her first season: she is #2 in speed slalom at the final 2009 World Ranking.

• Barbara, what is your feedback on 2009?

B.B. – Well, first of all it has been a great season for me. I didn't expect the results I had and I'm very glad about it :) I think that it has been a 'growing' season: at the beginning it was not so good and it got better in the end. And that's always a good thing!

I'm also happy because I started this year with battles and I have a lot of fun meeting new people, going to places I've never been, and the context is very different. If I compare to the competitions I did before, it reminds me of the old urban contest in Lausanne… I mean, it’s very friendly :)

As for the bad points... Well I don't know :) I think that maybe in Paris I could have done something better but... we'll see next year!

• Which skater-girl impressed you the most this year? 

B.B. – Oh that's difficult! When I first saw the Russian skaters (for example Zelenka and Lika Babiy), I was stunned because of their balance and flexibility, but Chloé Seyrès is also amazing, she's so strong and, I don't know how to say but, she seems to be surrounded by pure energy!

• What are your objectives for 2010 ? 

B.B. – Getting better results than last year and improving my style a lot. But if I don't pass my final exams I won't do competitions! I had almost forgotten it!

[About Speed] Who doesn't want to be n.1? Of course I want to and I'll fight for it!

[About Style] Well, maybe get nearer to the podium :)

The only performance of Chen Chen (Chn) this year was a double World title (Classic+Battle), which enabled her to remain at place #2 in the world ranking. She couldn’t get out of China because of Visa problems, but she’s been efficient just at the right time.

• Chen Chen, Can you analyze your performances of 2009?

C.C. – Actually, I am not very satisfied with my performances of the 2009 season. For example, I didn’t manage perfectly some difficult tricks, which I found dramatic, especially wheeling seven which I didn’t show fully at the 2009 World Championships in Shanghai.

And I need to update my style of performance. My goal is to do powerful and memorable performances. As for technique, I need to focus on stability for all kinds of forward wheeling tricks.

• Which skater(s) (girl) impressed you the most this year?

C.C. – Su Feiqian (Chn) deeply impressed me at the world championship 2009. She puts her dancing and her unique style into freestyle sport, and I find this amazing.

• What are your objectives for 2010?

C.C. – For me, I really don’t know what will be happen in 2010.but I will try my best to stay in the world Top-3.

Because my studying becomes more important, I need to find a balance between skating and studying. And I need to crack some difficult tricks and improve my style.

But I won’t stop training and skating!

Polina Semenova (Rus) has been regularly on podiums all along the season, without any wins, but this enable her to reach place #3 at the World Freestyle Ranking.

• Polina, Can you analyze your performances of 2009?

P.S. – Well, I can try at least. :) I think my performances weren't stable last year; results were different from one time to the other: One month I was on the podium and the month after I wasn't even qualified for the final… but I think it's not so bad: I was trying to do some new tricks and to do more wheelings. But in fact it's much better to skate perfectly, and play safe without anything new. I also tried to make an individual program for Shanghai, more or less to the music. I can't say that I liked my program, but I even got a place on the podium for it and I was surprised, honestly. I wish I can skate more… I don’t know, more stylish… not just trick-trick-trick, but more open and interesting. I hope I’ll be able to do it next year. So, it was a good year with many competitions and I hope it will be even better in 2010.

• Which skater(s) (girl) impressed you the most this year?

P.S. – Only talking about girls, it’s not difficult to say, it’s Chloe (Seyres) for sure. The main reason – her skating is not boring, it’s just dynamic and it’s really cool, it’s important to be able to improvise on skates and make it both so easy and technique,  that’s great. I should stop preparing lines and do the same I think, it’s much better, but more difficult for me.

• What are your objectives for 2010?

P.S. – Well, first of all, I hope that I’ll feel like skating more and more, and that I will find an interest in it, that it won’t be just like some “must-do” training. I hope I’ll be able to change my skating style and skate freestyle without any preparing before. I want to do more tricks of course and I hope I’ll have fun with my skating, competitions and trips. And I’LL NEVER LOST MY BAGS WITH DOCUMENTS AGAIN.

…I hope! =)

Chiara Lualdi (Ita) the young Italian, achieves a good performance and ranks #3 at the Speed Slalom World Ranking for her first WSSA Season, thanks to, amongst others, her first place at the PSWC.

• Chiara, can you analyse your performances of 2009?

C.L. – I’m very glad with my performances of 2009: in Italy I won nearly all the competitions, like the Regional Championship, the two National Championships (UISP and FIHP), and the Rollercup. As for the other foreign competitions, I got a first place in speed slalom for the first time in an international competition at the PSWC :D it was just like a dream come true! And still in Paris, I came second in Classic. At Battle Ancona I did two second places, in battle and in speed;  in Hanover I ranked third; in London second in Speed and third in Battle; and in Munich second in Speed.

• Which skater (girl) impressed you the most this year?

C.L. –Nadia Zelenova: she does super amazing tricks for a woman! And Chloé Seyrès too: I love her style… she does very good and very hard combos.

• What are your objectives for 2010? 

C.L. – My objectives for 2010? Well… I hope I will confirm my results of this year, and even improve them!

I would love to go to Asian and American competitions too… it’s a great dream I have. I also hope to meet even more foreign people than last year, I love meeting new people!