13 Aug 2009 at 09:14 | Published by: Hans | Views: 11541 | News search

Christian due Maglemose with his Team in Tampere  (Photo by Christian due Maglemose 2008)

Interview with Christian Due Maglemose, Head Coach of Denmark

HB: First of all thank you for letting Minigolfnews interview you.

HB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself to those who don’t know you. Who is Christian due Maglemose?

CM: I am a man who spends a lot of time at Minigolf, but with a big problem. I have a long way to a Minigolf lane so now I see way to much TV. I also like to speak my mind and sometimes that's gives some problems, but that's the way it is. I really like to work with Minigolf and hope to carry on with that many years.

Short trivia:

Profession: Unemployed

Year of birth: 1967

Start of Minigolf career: 1978

Make of club: Benny putter or Ryner by Nifo

Favourite ball: Cl 3- d85- 3d 443

Favourite surface: Eternit

Technical tip: Practice different stokes on home lanes even if they don't make aces.

Coaching Tip: Try to keep it serious and still have a bit of fun with the players

HB: For how long have you been the Head Coach of Denmark?

CM: This is my third year.

HB: Which has been your best moment so far as Head Coach?

CM: It must be this year in Finland when we got silver at the men's Team at the Nordic Championships.

HB: And which was the toughest moment so far as Head Coach?

CM: There has been some though moments but in the end it turned out fine and I will say that the toughest challenge is getting more players to use more time at Minigolf.

HB: How long are you planning to stay in this position?

CM: Right now I am ready to stay as long as they want me, but who knows.

HB: You are soon to leave for the World Championship as the Head Coach of the home team. Do you feel any pressure from the rest of Denmark to make a success?

CM: No, because we are a new nation on felt and I am thinking that many Danes know that we are going to do the best we can. And if we do that, its fine with them.

HB: What are your expectations of the performance on Team Denmark in Odense?

CM: I hope we get a place about 5-7, but I don't really know how good the other nations are on felt.

HB: Is the team nominated as you expected before this season or is there any new challengers in the squad?

CM: I had one player that could not play and in the last moment I got the man who got silver at the DM on felt to play, so let's see.

HB: What are your favourites for medals in the Team Competition on men’s and ladies side?

CM: It would be correct to say nobody, but I have to say Sweden in both categories.

HB: Are there any nations or players that you think will have a breakthrough this year?

CM: There is one player and that's the new one from Sweden Filiph Svensson.

HB: Can you mention any favorites as you see it for the individual medals in Odense?

CM: In the men I will say Anders Olsson, CJ Ryner and Harald Erlbruch. In the ladies class I don't know, but perhaps Sandra Weaver.

HB: Which of the home team players will have the best chance on a good position you think?

CM: I don't want to name one or two players here, because we come as a team and we play as a team.

HB: There has been much discussion on the Internet about the new KO modus played in the individual finals at international championships. What is your opinion about the KO-modus?

CM: I don't like it. If it was up to me we should change back to the old system

HB: What is your opinion on the limited training time allowed in Odense?

CM: I must say that I don't understand it. I think its way to expensive to make some new lanes every time we should arrange a championship. So why do we do it here. And also as Head Coach of Denmark I think we are not getting any advantage being the home team.

HB: What is your opinion about the concept of playing championships indoors?

CM: If you want to play indoors put the tournament on another time of year. Perhaps its will not be a problem this time, but what if its good weather and we are going to spend 10 days with sunshine outside in a warm indoors arena.

HB: Do you know if it will be lots of spectators coming to the games that are not closely related to Minigolf?

CM: No I don't, but I hope.

HB: How has the marketing of the event been conducted in Denmark? Is there a media interest? Will there be any TV-channels?

CM: I really don't know that much about this.

HB: Have you been part of the organization team and if so how well prepared is the organization?

CM: No I haven’t. I would have liked to be in on something, but that's one thing we could have made better I think.

HB: How will the audience sitting in the arena be able to follow the results that the players are doing?

CM: I have never seen the arena inside so I don't know, but its a big sports arena.

HB: Do you think that in the future other events will follow the concept of Odense?

CM: I think it's going to be hard for others to do this again, because it's very expensive and a really big job to do it. I also think that if WMF or EMF is going to tell a nation what to do, they have to put some money in it.

If I look at the concept as Head Coach for the home nation this is, as a I said before, not any advantage for the home players. And I don't understand the argument that it will be the same for all players, because it will never be the same for all players.

HB: Again thanks for participating a good luck with the team in Odense.

CM: Thanks! Looking forward to see you all in Odense

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