Magazine
Simoeemil Nurmela: "Synchro skating taught me a lot of things"
Magazine
Simoeemil Nurmela: "Synchro skating taught me a lot of things"
He is the only male skater on the Finnish team Marigold IceUnity. Simoeemil Nurmela is our "Man of the Week". Discover this athlete through an exclusive interview!
How did you discover synchro?
I have always been into synchronized skating, so I guess it discovered me.
What is your background in the world of synchro?
I started skating in Kaarina which is a small town in Southwest Finland. I skated there for 14 years to junior level and when I was getting too old for junior series I moved to Helsinki and started to skate in MIU.
What is your best "synchro" memory and why?
My best synchro memory is probably that when I got into MIU. It was a fantastic feeling to know that I can continue skating in one of the best teams in the World.
If you had to remember a program that affected you, what would it be and why?
I think that all programs have affected me in some way but if I had to name one it would be #whynot because it was disappointment that synchronized skating wasn’t accepted to Olympic games.
Can you describe the costume you were most proud to wear?
I’m always proud when I’m wearing a costume. It’s just thing that every costume has worn with pride.
I have always been into synchronized skating, so I guess it discovered me.
What is your background in the world of synchro?
I started skating in Kaarina which is a small town in Southwest Finland. I skated there for 14 years to junior level and when I was getting too old for junior series I moved to Helsinki and started to skate in MIU.
What is your best "synchro" memory and why?
My best synchro memory is probably that when I got into MIU. It was a fantastic feeling to know that I can continue skating in one of the best teams in the World.
If you had to remember a program that affected you, what would it be and why?
I think that all programs have affected me in some way but if I had to name one it would be #whynot because it was disappointment that synchronized skating wasn’t accepted to Olympic games.
Can you describe the costume you were most proud to wear?
I’m always proud when I’m wearing a costume. It’s just thing that every costume has worn with pride.
What did this sport teach you?
A lot of things. Like how to be precise, group working skills, interpersonal skills and the list could go on.
Where are the medals and prizes you have won over the seasons?
I don’t have any special place for them because I have so many medals that it wouldn’t have any point to hang all of them in a wall. I hate to say but they are stored in a box.
What advice can you give to the younger generation?
Focus on the most relevant thing and pay attention to what your coach says. Listening to the coach is maybe the most important thing to develop your own and teams’ skills. This is a kind of old cliché, but it works.
Do you have any rituals before the competition?
Only those rituals that our team has. So, I don’t have my own rituals.
What’s your favorite element and why?
My favourite element is the No Hold element because I like step sequences and the choreography that they got in it.
Is it hard to skate in MIU and be the only man in the team?
It sure takes a lot when it comes to skating in MIU. Every day counts and keeping up in development aren’t easy. And when it comes to being the only man, I consider that in some fields I got an advantage over girls but in some cases, it isn’t that way.
When you did the auditions to enter to MIU, were the criteria harder for you as a man to be selected?
No. The criteria were the same for men and women. Even though the criteria are the same for both genders, they can possibly be harder for men due to the flexibility of muscles.
Simoeemil & the Marigold IceUnity
A lot of things. Like how to be precise, group working skills, interpersonal skills and the list could go on.
Where are the medals and prizes you have won over the seasons?
I don’t have any special place for them because I have so many medals that it wouldn’t have any point to hang all of them in a wall. I hate to say but they are stored in a box.
What advice can you give to the younger generation?
Focus on the most relevant thing and pay attention to what your coach says. Listening to the coach is maybe the most important thing to develop your own and teams’ skills. This is a kind of old cliché, but it works.
Do you have any rituals before the competition?
Only those rituals that our team has. So, I don’t have my own rituals.
What’s your favorite element and why?
My favourite element is the No Hold element because I like step sequences and the choreography that they got in it.
Is it hard to skate in MIU and be the only man in the team?
It sure takes a lot when it comes to skating in MIU. Every day counts and keeping up in development aren’t easy. And when it comes to being the only man, I consider that in some fields I got an advantage over girls but in some cases, it isn’t that way.
When you did the auditions to enter to MIU, were the criteria harder for you as a man to be selected?
No. The criteria were the same for men and women. Even though the criteria are the same for both genders, they can possibly be harder for men due to the flexibility of muscles.
Can you tell us a bit about MIU?
Marigold IceUnity is a synchro team and a family composed of 22 absolutely fantastic and different kinds of skaters. We are talented and hardworking.
Why did you choose Marigold IceUnity and not another Senior team?
I chose the team by feelings. I had to go with the flow since Finland has also other successful teams, so I felt that MIU would be the best for me. That's the way I reasoned it out.
May you describe your both programs this season?
The short program is fast-paced and sharp generally. The theme "Escape room" is a quite fresh idea as a program so I may say that we are excited to bring a new twist to the synchronized skating world. The free program "Tribute to Notre Dame" is deep and powerful. It contains a lot of small details and it has a variable tempo.
What inspires you in the synchro world?
All the new programs that other teams have. I like to watch teams doing their own performance, take some inspiration with me and try to develop my skills along the way.
Marigold IceUnity is a synchro team and a family composed of 22 absolutely fantastic and different kinds of skaters. We are talented and hardworking.
Why did you choose Marigold IceUnity and not another Senior team?
I chose the team by feelings. I had to go with the flow since Finland has also other successful teams, so I felt that MIU would be the best for me. That's the way I reasoned it out.
May you describe your both programs this season?
The short program is fast-paced and sharp generally. The theme "Escape room" is a quite fresh idea as a program so I may say that we are excited to bring a new twist to the synchronized skating world. The free program "Tribute to Notre Dame" is deep and powerful. It contains a lot of small details and it has a variable tempo.
What inspires you in the synchro world?
All the new programs that other teams have. I like to watch teams doing their own performance, take some inspiration with me and try to develop my skills along the way.
Marigold IceUnity skating its free program "Tribute to Notre Dame". (Credits: Kirsi Laine Photography - 2019)
Finland and synchro
In your country, how is the development of synchro going?
Synchro is developing fast in Finland and the competition between teams is getting tougher each year. Old teams fall, new teams start to shine and some other teams are making comeback to higher levels. It takes its toll to keep on developing, but I like it that way. When it comes to the promotion of this discipline of skating, I think that synchro is more popular in larger cities where are the teams. It's quite common for girls in the Helsinki metropolitan area to be in a synchro team. The promotion of synchro could be more visible in my opinion.
How do you think this sport can evolve in your country?
First of all, I think that we could have more competitions. There are approx. 7 competitions per year in Finland, which is very little. Second, skating clubs could co-operate more. And third, more ice rinks would be useful to guarantee that every team can practice enough.
Synchro is developing fast in Finland and the competition between teams is getting tougher each year. Old teams fall, new teams start to shine and some other teams are making comeback to higher levels. It takes its toll to keep on developing, but I like it that way. When it comes to the promotion of this discipline of skating, I think that synchro is more popular in larger cities where are the teams. It's quite common for girls in the Helsinki metropolitan area to be in a synchro team. The promotion of synchro could be more visible in my opinion.
How do you think this sport can evolve in your country?
First of all, I think that we could have more competitions. There are approx. 7 competitions per year in Finland, which is very little. Second, skating clubs could co-operate more. And third, more ice rinks would be useful to guarantee that every team can practice enough.
