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English translation for the interview part (only) :

These kids have to be extremely motivated to manage daily training, school, homework, meals, rest time and family. One of the challenges for 3S is to obtain that the young talents can benefit from school arrangements, from primary classes to middle school.

In the meantime, all smiles and in all simplicity, Stéphane takes a moment of his precious time to answer our questions.

How did you decide to create a skating school?

SL : After the Vancouver Olympics Games in 2010, I led several seminars around the world. I had a lot of fun and discovered a new passion: teaching. I had to understand skating from another angle to be able to pass it on. I enjoyed it immensely, hence the desire to have my own school.

Why Champéry ?

SL :There was no Swiss new talent after Sarah Meirer and me. I could have taught all over the world but it turned out that in Champery, Le Palladium offered all the infrastructures we needed to create the school. So I came back home.

Do you like living in the village?

SL : Yes, staying here has become natural, I have a lot of pleasure to live here and to be with the residents. My life in the village and at the Palladium gives me a lot of joy. I am proud to see the skaters and their families in the town stores. Thanks to the school, the skaters have their life here.

How do you choose your students ?

SL : More than a school, we create a team, and it's mainly this approach that appeals to the skaters. Skating is an individual sport: you have to challenge yourself to earn your place. To have colleagues who fight for the same thing is very motivational. I don't choose the best on the circuit, but the athletes who are motivated and able to blend in with our team. The dynamic is strong and beneficial to everyone.

How do you work on this team spirit ?

SL : We all celebrate a birthday and a good result together. The older students organize activities together when they have some time off. We find out on their social medias that they went to the lake together, or skiing, or on a trip to the Defago Gallery. They live alone in Champery, their "real" connection is the team.

Summer Camps students follow each other all year long on social medias, they are happy to get to know each other during the camps. It's nice to see them outside of class, by the pool or enjoying the area. It's important that they enjoy their youth at the same time, that they unwind while having fun.

Why did you create a specific program for beginners ?

SL : This « Learn to Skate » program was created in 2016. Its purpose is to teach skating to local children, ages 4 to 8. Our coaches have a great sense of how to build the basics of skating for younger children and reduce any apprehensions they may have about the ice. These basics are precious for any type of skating (figure skating, field hockey...). The children who follow this program take the opportunity to have fun at the rink with their friends, as they do on skis. We had to stop the program because of the Covid, but training has now resumed on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. There are still a few places left, so we invite motivated young boys and girls to join us (contact by mail: [email protected]) !

Are any of these kids still skating?

SL : Yes, we have a very good example with Lara Achermann from Champery, she started skating at the age of 6 to join her friends in the village and she really hooked on. She trains in Champery, 15 hours of skating per week, plus the gymnastics lessons. Championne valaisane 2022 (category mini U12), she has very good basics and already participates in national competitions to realize her dream : participate in the Olympic Games!

Your students visit ice rinks around the world, how do they feel about ours?

SL : An ice rink is often located outside a city, a sad and cold place, between four walls. Here, the rink is windowed, we see the chalets, the mountains, it leaves a lasting impression on our students who promote it on social medias. The hashtag #teamchampery, created by the fans, is well known in the figure skating world!

What do you need in terms of infrastructure ?

SL : The multipurpose hall is not enough available for our needs. Between events, conventions, use by local clubs and schools... Availability is limited. The fitness room is small and the floor is too hard to absorb repeated jumps. So we need a dance room that is accessible every day. Part of the funding could be subsidized by a national support for sports facilities.

This would also provide greater access to the rooms for other users of the Palladium. We also wish to create a living space for our students. They currently live in separate flats. A shared living space would make sense.

Stephane adds with a smile that a Japanese restaurant would be a great addition...