Preparing for WFC in Vantaa: Yasmin Skene

This fall SB Vantaa women's team is doing some international collaboration. Jessi Laidler, who represents SB Vantaa again this season, is fast becoming a Finn after several years in Finland. A fellow Aussie Yasmin Skene is training with the team for a month as she prepares for the 2017 World Floorball Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia from December 1 to 9. We decided to ask Yaz some questions.

Hi Yaz! Other than the weather, tell us a bit what made you come to Finland in October/November?

I meet up with the Aussie women’s team near the end of November for training camp prior to world championships but I wanted to see if I could train with a team here for a bit just for some extra training and experience.

You seem to know our tactics better than some of our regular players. Did Jessi somehow prepare you?

Haha no, I've been playing sport since I was about 4 so picking up tactics comes a little easier to me. When things get drawn at training I try to remember if I've ever done them before or something similar. It also helps that people translate for me.

How has it been training with SB Vantaa?

It has been amazing, all the girls in the team are really nice so that’s good. The team has good experience out on the court and some amazing shooters, so to be able to learn off them and be out on the court with them is fantastic.

What's been the best thing so far? How about the negatives?

Honestly one of the best things so far would be having the opportunity to train with the team 3 times a week! Oh, and also the snow. One negative is definitely the small and shakey lift that Jessi and I went in the other day. I'd rather walk up to the 6th floor!

What do you do here when you're not at trainings?

I sleep a fair bit, other than that I'm normally watching movies, reading, playing games or eating.

What were your expectations and goals for your time in Finland and with SB Vantaa? Do you feel you'll get what you came to look for?

I knew that the standard of SB Vantaa was going to be a lot higher than I'm used to so one of my goals was to really take every single bit of experience I can get out of it. Another one was to watch everyone’s techniques when shooting and see if it could help with my shooting. Bea Karling and I play with the same number so maybe I'll be able to shoot as good as her one day. I definitely think I'll get what I'm looking for. I've already learnt a lot in the time that I've been here and there is still time to go. The girls are really helpful at training so it makes it much easier to learn.

Finally, Head coach Anssi Kiviharju's comments on having Yaz with us:

Yaz has been and is a great guest player, even though the situation hasn't been easy for her. The coaching language is Finnish, tactics and teammates are new and Yaz has had to play changing positions. I think that Yaz is very talented player with great understanding of the game (which has helped her adjust to the new environment) and good skills, and everything seems very easy for her when the game is on.

Thanks Yaz and Jessi for the effort in bringing a guest player from Australia to Vantaa. We wish Yaz good luck for the World Championships!

 

#42 & #41

Photo: Jasmine Davies