Enjoy the sand in Jurmala and America / day

Has the start of the season?

Overall, the start of the season is positive. It seems so long ago that we started training in February, and more than a month has passed since the Brazilian tournaments. I think we held a good level at the beginning of the season after a really long pause without a race. We felt it especially in Brazilja, where in the decisive games it was already a bit short of energy. In those three weeks, we continued to train intensively in Brazil.

Recently, I have come to read several books on Brazil, its contrasts. How much of this do you see in tournaments and how do you feel this country?

I really like Brazil, and in particular Rio, which can really be called beach volleyball paradise on Earth. There are many nets on each beach to play, but around palms, ocean, sand, many people play volleyball. Wonderful! Sakvarema is away from Rio and it is felt. Such a Brazilian rural town. Small, small houses, many of them are not even hot water. But there are many fresh fruits, the sun shines. You have to be able to enjoy it as well. Everything happens differently than us.

The opposite of the capital, Brazil, what is called a concrete jungle?

They planned it would be a city of future style, but I think urbanism has evolved a bit different and the cities were no longer built. There are really many such concrete areas there. You can see that many buildings are not used. All in all, it all looks a bit strange. Also infrastructure. Although the city is very large and spacious in itself, it seems to me that it is not too comfortable for people overall.

From the point of view of tournaments, both were almost identical. We played in Sakvarem in the parking lot, but the Brazilian stadium was in the park. Even the conditions and the air temperature were similar. I really enjoy the fact that there are always many people in Brazilian tournaments, always full rostrum, any level in the competition. Early in the morning, people are standing in long queues to get to the grandstands and watch volleyball.

What are the most exciting places in the world where beach volleyball has taken you?

Brazil is definitely at the forefront. I have already said about Rio, including Juunpesoa and Resifi, where tournaments have taken place, are very beautiful city beach volleyball. Everything is so cheap there! Ice cream can be negotiated by someone who will perform the balls, serves and otherwise help in the workout. We often have tournaments in the same places, so we are already used to everything. I really like Gstada, in mountain surrounded, and there is always a well -organized tournament, and Vienna always has a good atmosphere. I really liked the volleyball conditions in Miami, where it was much more interesting than in the same Los Angeles. However, America and Brazil are the largest beach volleyball countries, and it is felt. There is an atmosphere, there are many players, amateur, lots of networks on the beaches.

As with us, Jurmala!

We are also very good in Jurmala.

How did you adjust to Latvia’s spring return from warm Brazil?

For a moment we had to train even the premises, though we also tried to go out and go out in the rain. However, tournaments are happening to us, so it is important for them to prepare for them there. It was, as it was, not very pleasant. We tried to play in socks, wear a lot of clothes, but it’s different if you have three shirts in training and freeze your hands. There were already a couple of sunny days with really pleasant training. We did our best to prevent the weather from affecting the preparation process.

What did the American coach Daniel Wood, who grew up for these weather conditions?

He liked it. (Smiles.) The coach was glad he was warmer than when he came here in February. (Laughs.)

How does cooperation develop? Has the honeymoon is over and serious work has begun?

There has been a lot of training, and there have been the first elite -level tournaments where we already see what’s coming together and what’s not yet. We also see how he behaves in certain situations during the race, what we can expect from him. There are many useful advice that will definitely help improve our performance. The training process is organized, the workouts are diverse and interesting. Daniel is a very communicative, but the tactical drawing is actually very similar to what we worked in advance.

There is more than his spanish hotness or American practicality in everyday life?

Currently, American nature is more manifested. He is generally a very balanced coach. Can be very patient in search of the right approach to both me and Tina. It’s not that simple, because we are quite different in nature. Emotions flare to him more when we succeed. Then also appear in Spanish expressions as Muy Bien or vamos! (« Very good » and « Forward! » – Spanish). At such moments we realize that everything is very good and the coach enjoys working with us.

This season is expected to be especially long, as the World Championship in Australia is scheduled for November. Does it somehow change preparation and daily work?

The coach promised that there would be more breaks during the season to be able to withstand such a long season, but I wouldn’t feel much, to be honest. (Laughs.) As in February we started to train intensively, it hasn’t been for free yet, so I’m already feeling quite tired and I am looking forward to the beginning of June when I will have a free week after the Ostrava tournament. I really want to just relax, restore energy because I know that there is a very difficult summer and the main part of the season. I hope the coach holds his promise, because the free moment is really important when we can recover a bit and think about volleyball.

Jurmala Futures tournament in mid -June will the main part of the season?

It will be more like a warm -up, as the European Championship will be held in the summer, then the autumn tournaments and the culmination of the World Cup.

Do you not risk spoiling your rating with participation in the Jurmala tournament, as it simply won’t be available as many points you usually fight on the PRO tour?

This is a home tournament for us, so nothing is affected in the rating unless we earn more than the usual points. If you look at the calendar, you could also find a higher level race to participate. Points would be useful before the European and World Championships, but we really want to play in Jurmala. However, it is important that our fans and supporters can see us in person, and we also have more enjoyable enjoying the atmosphere of our tournament. Last season, there was no such opportunity after a long time and lacked it.

This is the tenth season with Tina together!

In fact, we recently counted with the coach which teams still have such a long partnership. There are very few. What do you say? We are with Tina, because we dealt with very difficult moments in our cooperation, rejoiced together for good moments. We have been able to deal with everything and try to do it.

After your public discussion last year, one of the game breaks in the Olympic Tournament is the most important question: which one is the best for you?

(Laughs.) We are both the best. It is only normal to cheer each other in play situations. If we feel the support of the Moder, we also feel more confident on the pitch.

How much about the Olympic cycle at the beginning of the 2028 Los Angeles games?

After Paris last summer, I thought that four years before the next games were so long, but now half a year. The World Cup will come soon, and then it will not be far to qualify, after which everything will go very smoothly. It all depends on how we perceive things and time. From a practical point of view, we are not thinking about the Olympics for the time being. We focus on the start and goals of this season.

What is the idea of ​​Australia and Adelaide, where the most important start of the season is?

Just what Gennady (former duo coach Samoilov – aut.) Has told. We and Tina have been to Sydney, where everything is different. We will definitely go there too. At the end of November, Australia is the end of spring and the beginning of summer, so the temperature should not be too high. We are scheduled to have tournaments in Brazil and South Africa in the fall, where it will be possible to get used to warm weather. Let’s be ready.