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Please visit our Latino Skating Interview Section

Latino Skating Interview - December, 2005

December, 2005 - Interview with Humberto Contreras
Q&A conducted via email by Arsenette Reiter

This month we have Humberto Contreras.  He's a Senior Level Skater for Mexico and current National Champion.  He was gracious to email us his answers right after his trip to the 2006 Mexican National Championships in November, 2005.  Updated with 2 more answers from his trip to the 2006 ISU Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs.

Photo Right - ©Humberto Contreras 2005
 

General questions

AR - To start I wanted to have just a brief description or bio of yourself for the readers so they can get to know you better - What’s your full name, any nicknames you like to be called, how old are you and what town are you originally from, and if you have moved since - where are you from now?

HC - Hi everyone my name is Humberto Contreras Valencia, my friends call me Marvin or Hummer.  I'm 22 years old, and I'm originally from Mexico City, and I split my training between Marlborough, Massachusetts and Mexico City.

AR - When did you start skating and what got you hooked?  Did watching skating on TV inspire you? Did you live close to a rink? Did you have siblings in any ice sports?  Or was it a combination of any of them or something else entirely?

HC - I started skating when I was 12 years old after watching the 1994 Winter Olympics games, I didn't live close to any ice rinks, the closest one was around 30 minutes from my house and I don't have any siblings in the sport.

AR - When did you decide to compete in general?  What drew you to it?  When did you decide to train more for this sport?

HC - I started competing when I was 14, I really wanted to show everyone what I could do, and since then I've been training really hard.

AR - Do you prefer competition or exhibition?

HC - I like both, but competition it's always more exciting, cause it's a new challenge against myself every competition and I love that and exhibitions are so much fun cause you can really perform and skate to every kind of music without any pressure.

AR - What was the most exciting thing that has happened to you in this sport so far?

HC - Definitely it was this year competing at my first Senior Worlds in Moscow, it was the most amazing experience of my career, just to be there competing against the best skaters in the world and representing my country.

© Michelle Wojdyla -2005 World Championships

AR - What are you most proud of in terms of your skating career thus far?

HC - I am most proud that after having a groin injury that kept me off the ice for 2 months (July and August 2005) I fought through the pain and keep training to get in shape and after all that hard training I've won Nationals for the third time on the Senior Level with the best skate of my life so it was really rewarding.

AR - What goals do you have for yourself?  (Both short term and long term)

HC - My short term goals are to place in the top 12 at Four Continents (noted as next year - January, 2006 - he placed 19th overall) and to make it to Senior Worlds for the second time, and my long term goals would be competing at the Olympics and coaching in the future.

AR - What keeps you motivated in keeping up skating?

HC - Every single competition and practice keeps me motivated to try my best and became a better person and skater every day.

AR - How much does finance keep you from achieving your goals in skating?  What sacrifices have you and your family had to make to keep you on the ice?

HC - If it weren't from my family and my coaches I wouldn't been able to pay for my skating, so I'm so grateful for all the help through this 10 years.

AR - How has skating affected your life?  (Both Positive and/or negative)

HC - Skating has been positive for me in every single way, not matter if it was a good result or a bad result you always learn so much from it and because of skating I've been able to travel around the world and meet wonderful people that share the same dream as I do.

AR - Where do you see yourself.. say 10 years from now?

HC - I might be skating in shows and coaching.

AR - Do you have other hobbies, interests or activities you pursue outside of skating?

HC - I love traveling, dancing, singing and going out with my friends. 

AR - How has skating impacted your school career?  How complicated has it been?  Have you changed your lifestyle at all to accommodate skating?

HC - After I finished high school I decided to take time off from school and dedicate full time to my skating but I'm thinking on going to college to study marketing and publicity in the future.

Latino based Questions 

AR - Where do you trace your Latino routes?  Which family members and what Latin country is included in your background?

HC - My mom and my dad are both Mexicans, as well as all my family. 

AR - Have you always embraced or otherwise brought to light your Latino heritage?  Any reasons why you chose to do so or not do so in the past?

HC - Yes, I'm very proud of being Mexican and I love everything about my culture.

AR - What aspects draw you to celebrating your heritage in the sport of figure skating?

HC - Mexico is a nation in develop of the sport of figure skating and I want to be part of that history for the new generations.

AR - Do you speak Spanish?

HC - Yes.

AR - For those who were not born in a Latin Country but have relatives from there - have you visited or lived in that country and have any memories?

HC - I am a resident of Mexico City, but when I am away for months at a time to train, I keep in touch all the time with my family.

AR - Has being Latino(a) affected how you approach the sport?  Have you tried to compete or perform to either Latin music or even compete for a Latin Country?

HR - I compete for Mexico and this year I'm skating to a Spanish  flamenco mix with Latin music for my short program and I've skated to Latin music at exhibitions.

AR - What are the obstacles, if any, have you come across since you decided to support your Latino Heritage?

HC - None, everything has being great opportunities.

AR - How would you explain or support your desire to continue supporting Latino skating (in general - not just the website/organization).

HC - By representing Mexico, so that all the Latin countries would know that there's skating in Latin America. 

AR - How rare are we in the sport?  Do you feel isolated sometimes or have you met more Latino skaters throughout your career?

HC - I think we are growing and people is getting to know that there's skating in the Latin countries, and I have met skaters from Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, etc.

AR - What do you think could be a misconception, if any, about being Latina in this sport?

HC - That the level is lower compare to other countries like Europe, United States and Canada.

© Joyce Delmar - 2004 Four Continents Long Program

AR - Have any special opportunities or support from the Latino community arisen since skating with a conscious effort to promote Latino Skating?

HC - None.

AR - What would you like to see happen as a result?  How do you think Latinos can contribute to this sport?

HC -  I would like to see any Latin country at the top level, and I think we can contribute by representing our country the best way we can and getting better results every competition. 

AR - As for us here in www.latinoskating.org - How did you hear of us?  I know that we hope to create a unique and rich community, celebrating culture and someday hope be able to help financially our skaters while promoting our beautiful sport.  What do you hope this community will become?  Is there anything you would like to see come out of this organization in terms of contributions to the sport of international figure skating?

HC - I knew about Latino skating from one email that I got telling me everything about the organization and I thought it was great to promote Latin skating and I would like to see financial help or sponsors involved to help Latin skaters with their skaters careers..

Since this interview Humberto has competed in the ISU Four Continents Championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado in the United States.  There he represented Mexico and placed 19th overall in the Senior Men's Division.  I asked him a couple questions to add to this interview.

AR - How was your experience in this year's ISU Four Continents in the United States?

HC - It was a great experience, I had a really good time and now I know what I need to improve for my next competitions.

AR - What are your plans for the next few months and upcoming 2006-2007 season?

HC - Keep working the same way, increase my stamina and get all my spins and footwork to the highest levels.

AR - I appreciate your time for not only supporting our own organization but also for your time in this interview.  Hope to continue following your career!  Wish you much success and happiness!  Go Latinos!  Andale!