SynchroNice / Fourth Edition / 2019

SYNCHRO NICE 19 WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR SKATING START JOSKO? Well, at first, I used to skate myself, of course. I started around the age of 5 and maybe I was talented… who can tell. I even became Yugoslavian Champion in Figure Skating in Junior Category, but then before I turned 18, Yugoslavia turned into a warzone and like many of my age, we had to enlist in the army. A black page in our country’s history and it also ended my skating career. When the war ended I was no longer Yugoslavian, but Croatian. THAT’S WHEN YOU DECIDED TO START JUDGING? Yes, sort of… as a former skater I was asked by the chair of the Croatian Skating Federation to use my talents and to join the Federation as a judge. Later I was also invited as a judge by the ISU. What I experienced for myself over the years is, that I really like judging and I truly believe I’m quite good at it. Nowadays when I’m on the judges’ stand, I feel like a, what was the expression….? Oh yeah…. I feel like a fish in the water. ANY FAVORITE SKATERS, COUPLES OR TEAMS? No, not really. I respect all athletes’ efforts and I always hope they will perform according to their expectations, hopes and what they’ve trained for. I’m there to focus on what didn’t go as planned. AFTER JUDGING FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE YOUR POSITION WITHIN THE ISU AS AN ORGANIZATION, DO YOU HAVE ANY AMBITION TO MAKE A STEP UP? If you want to make steps within the ISU, or for that matter any similar organization, you have to be a poli­ tician…. I have nothing with politics, but above all why should I want to change something I really love doing. SO, ITWAS ALLPOLITICS,THE SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF CHRIS BUCHANANAS CHAIR OFTHE ISU SYNCHRO SKATING? For me it was definitely a total surprise for sure. I’ve known Chris for quite a long time and I got to know him as a true fighter for the Synchro cause. I firmly believe that Chris did a great job over the 8 years he was chair. The countries however voted for the French Phillipe Maitrot. AREN’T YOU CURIOUS WHO VOTED WHAT? Of course, I’m just as curious as another to see who voted what, but the voting was anonymous and that’s to be respected. WILL SYNCHRO BENEFIT FROM THIS NEW ELECTION? We shouldn’t get ahead of it, we just have to wait and see. Philippe will certainly add his experience and qualities to the Synchro cause and who knows, maybe he will surprise us. So many voters can’t be mistaken and any change, is always good to at least stir things up a little. AS A JUDGE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGING RULES AND REGULATIONS WE HEAR COACHES AND SKATERS COMPLAIN ABOUT? WHAT IS LEARNED IN ONE SEASON, CAN BE FORGOTTEN ABOUTTHE NEXT. Unfortunately, I haven’t done much Synchro yet this season. I do however understand the complaints, but if you look at Synchro Skating today... you can’t compare it anymore, it’s a total different sport from let’s say 5 to 10 years ago. On the other side, it were the coaches who asked for more freedom to be able to put more creativity in the programs. If it were up to me, I sure would go easy on further changes and minimise them for the next years. Next to that I believe that the new +5/-5 system will be helpful. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS A MORE PROFESSIONAL SPORT? Olympics you mean?Without a doubt Synchronized Skating should be Olympic and will be one fine day. It holds all the ingredients. Have you seen what they perform these days? It’s incredible. Unfor­ tunately for the IOC there are many more things to consider, money and politics are an issue here as well, but I also believe the sport needs to grow in certain countries and parts of the world and in some other countries they just have to step up a little and get better. THE SMILING JUDGE ;) ANY LAST WORDS? Well I hope the Synchro community will keep on pushing and evolving. They’ve come a long way and that shouldn’t be affected by any decision made by the IOC. HOW ABOUT THE CROATIAN TEAM, THE ZAGREB SNOWFLAKES? Croatia is such a small country with only a little over 4 million people. Still we manage to make a good impression in the International world of sports. At this moment our soccer players are doing extremely well in the World Cup. A great team from a proportionately small population. The same goes for the Snowflakes, I believe they do very well if you consider our population. WHILE WE WERE TREATED TO A PLATE FULL OF SAMOBOR’S PASTRYSPECIAL- TY, JOSIP CEROVAC TALKED ABOUTTHE BEAUTY OF HIS COUNTRY, ZAGREB, SPLIT, RIJEKA, THE CLIMATE AND THE ADRIATIC COASTLINE. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE QUITE HAPPY HERE? Yes, I really lovemy life, living here in beautiful Croatia and Judging Synchro and other skating disciplines for the ISU, what more can you ask for? 