Ewen Fernandez- The inside scoop on “The Ew”

Tell us about yourself, how did you get involved in skating? When was your first podiums? first world championships etc?

I started inline speed skating in 1998, I was 9 years old thanks to my brother and I decided to follow him in this new sport. In my first year in inline I got some podiums in the small races around my city. But when I was young, I wasn’t strong and it wasn’t until 2004 I won my first Nationals and Europeans titles. In 2005, it’s was my first World Championship and I took a gold medal on the track relay and in 2006 I got a silver medal on the marathon. Now since 2009, I skate the Europeans and Worlds in senior all the times, I was 2 times Europeans champion and 3rd in 2010, and 2nd in 2011 on the relay at the world championships. But Berlin Marathon is the most important victory in my career !

 

In 2001, the World Championship was in France in Valence d’Agen, and I was there to see all the races. I still remember Jordan Malone dominate all races and I became a fan of this skater because of he was so strong and for his style of skating very low. But Jordan Malone is and will be the second athlete that I admired after Arnaud Gicquel, who was the reference in France for me !

- Whats your favorite distances to race? Any particular reason why?

I love points races road and track because it’s the hardest races to win because it’s important to be tactically, physically, mentally strong and to go fast in the sprints. For me it is the most complete racing for a long distance skaters. But I don’t forget the marathon also, where I make my best results.

- You are also doing some skating on the ice at the moment, do you think its possible to combine both sports at a high level?

I started really ice last year in the Academy in Inzell (Germany) just after my inline season and I made a good winter. I skated the World Championship, I finished 19 and it’s the top 24 who skate the Olympic, so I was happy about my first season.

 

It’s possible to combine the both sport at a high level, look at Bart Swings, he make the both too and his ice and inline speed skating seasons are good also, just if the trainings are well with a good quality and will power nothing is impossible… as we say in France, “quand on veut on peut” (when you want you can) !

 

 

- The past 12 months you’ve starting to stand up and be noticed, winning berlin in a 25km breakaway, and now a new lap record in Le Mans, the next step is Europeans and Worlds, what are your goals there?

Since Berlin last year and my victory, I changed my behavior in the races, I try more, I used to stop to think too much and to hesitate. Now when I want to go, I go full and if it’s hard for me, it’s hard for the others also… Who said that sport was easy !

 

For the Europeans and the Worlds my goals it’s simple, to win medals one medal on the track points race and to win again the relay, for the elimination I will see what say the coach. And for the worlds it’s to get one medal this year or more if I can, because I finished lots of times in the top 10 and one time I missed the 3rd place for one points in Guarne because of my teammate now Scott Arlidge.
I am train hard and I try to improve all things every day to reach my goal !

- Whats it like to be on the team with Bart Swings? Is he the same on and off the track?

I really know Bart from this year and it’s an athlete friendly and respectful, all is well between him and me on and off the track.
But it’s the same with all Powerslide’s members, the atmosphere is very good and everyone feel happy, so now you know why there are good results

 

Merci Ewen,  and good luck this weekend.