Margus Hernits has won the Estonian National Championships in Figure Skating for many years now. On Estonian competitions there is no one to beat him and judging from the junior and even novice ranks probably won't be in a couple of years. If he will only want to continue skating for the next 7-10 years.
Margus Hernits has taken part and placed the following in these international competitions:
- 43rd 2000 World Championships
- 1st 2000 Tallinn Cup
- 13th 2000 European Championships
- 9th 1999 Skate Israel
- 6th 1999 Finlandia Trophy
- 8th 1999 Nebelhorn Trophy
- 19th 1999 World Championships
- 2nd 1999 Tallinn Cup
- 16th 1999 European Championships
- 8th 1998 Skate Israel
- 7th 1998 Finlandia Trophy
- 18th 1998 World Championships
- 20th 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics
- 16th 1998 European Championships
- 2nd 1997 Piruetten
- 5th 1997 Memorial Ondreja Nepelu
- 5th 1997 Nebelhorn Trophy
- DNQ 1997 World Championships
- 16th 1997 World University Games
- 1st 1997 Hertogstadbokaal
- 15th 1996 Vienna Cup
- 28th 1996 World Championships
- 22nd 1996 European Championships
- 11th 1995 Grand Prix de St. Gervais
- 30th 1995 World Championships
- 14th 1994 Vienna Cup
- 24th 1994 World Championships
- 16th 1993 Vienna Cup
Who is Margus Hernits? If you have never heard the name before then maybe you remember that back in 1994 there was this guy at Worlds (Olympics?) whose screws got loose in the middle of his program. Screws that hold the blade attached to the boot, of course, or what were you thinking??? Anyways, that guy was Margus and he had tough time getting rid of that loose-screws image. I am not helping him with that, am I? :)
At present Margus is a senior at the Concordia International University in Tallinn, Estonia. He is studying Business and takes a smaller amount of classes, so he could keep up with his skating. In the future he does not want to become a coach but rather go into the business world as he said in one of his interviews.
News about Margus
- For the first time in so many years Margus was 2nd on Estonian National Championships. I suspect he imagined that was going to happen and therefore wasn't too depressed after the event. He gave an interview for the TV and said - "At least now people see that I have challengers in Estonia:". In the month after the Nationals Margus and our new Champion Alexei have been wondering around the rink like best buddies. They were both here to cheer for our juniors on Estonian Junior Nationals.
- Margus is finally practicing jumps again. I saw him doing a 2 Axel last night. It was shaky (the landing) but seems like he's getting through it and in a month should be just about fine again.
- Margus had a knee operation this summer. He had to remove some piece of bone from the knee. As of now he feels well but is not training on the ice. He suspects the knee problem might have been one of the reasons he placed so low at 2000 Worlds. He excpects to place better this season and earn an Olympic spot for 2002.
- As the rumor goes Margus will practice in Flims, Switzerland. As usual he will spend his summer somewhere near western Europe - in France or around it. Due to the fact that the Tallinn rink will reopen on 7th of August he should be back here by then.
- Right before the end of the season Margus got his new skates and spent an hour a day on ice breaking them in. He also seemed to do some coreographing for Ekaterina Golovateko. They were practicing a very Margus-esque footwork sequence during public skating. Anyways, if any of you are interested I think he skates in SP Teri's (but I would not give my head for this information).
- World Championships did not go well for Margus. Other people say it's because of his knee injury, yet he himself insists the low placing was not a result of that. He actually said he is not used to skate that early in the morning (he competed before 10 AM) and probably has to start getting used to that so anything as bad would not happen to him ever again.
- Tallinn Cup took place only a week after European Championships. You could see Margus was really tired skating his long program but he pulled it together and won the first place. This means - he will go to the World Championships (even though I think there wasn't even a slight chanse ESU would have sent anyone else in his place, as long as Margus was alive). 13th place on a major international event is the best Estonia has ever had, so why would they send someone who hasn't yet proved himself on a senior level, even if that person managed to win gold over Margus at one less important event.
- Margus did wonderfully at European Championships. As the commentators said he has textbook jumps. About his long program they said - he has his most toughest elements (3 Axel and combinations) in the beginning, so after he's done with these he can show off his footwork and artistic skills. Margus' second mark is not among his strenghts though (it has improved significantly in the last years). His coreographer realises this and makes programs that suit him well and help to find that little exhibitionism that there is in Margus.
- Margus could not participate in Tallinn Championships because of a knee or ankle injury. However, he seems to be fine now and is training for the Estonian Nationals which will determine who will represent Estonia on European Championships.
- 23. Oct. 1999. Margus is getting ready for the Tallinn Championships taking place on 29th-31st of October 1999. He has a pretty consistent 3 Axel/3 Toeloop in practices, which is remarkable taking into account that he first took the 3 Axel into his programs last season.
- Margus finished 6th at Finlandia Trophy 1999. He moved up one spot from last years' result.
- At present Margus is back in Tallinn from Nebelhorn. He must have done pretty bad in his short program but moved up many spots in the long program. I have not yet seen his programs myself but when I will, I will update you all.
- Margus will be in Albertville for a while during this (1999) summer. He will be working with his coreographer and Laurent Tobel's coach. Laurent will be taking part of the same training camp.
- Margus took part in rollerblading competition (10 km. distance). He got the 17th place. The winners were our skiers who frequently rollerblade during summers. Margus said on TV that the competition was for fun and rollerblading could be used as a practice tool during summers.
- Margus' next season programs will be to the modern music. Not anything oriental or classical as he said himself. He has to change the Riverdance long program because it is so overused.
- At Worlds Margus did pretty well. As at Europeans he had 1 stupid fall - in his sit spin (a variation of a sit spin), so I think this season has been for him "a year of stupid falls". He also did not manage to pull off a good 3 Axel and a clean combination - 3 Lutz/3 Toeloop in the same program, so there is something to improve the next season. This season is the first one when he is doing the 3 Axel, so I am sure it will be more consistent by the next season.
- Thanks to being the best Estonian man in the Tallinn Cup 1999, Margus has now the right to take part in the World Championships in Helsinki (21-28 March 1999). Margus, Gheorghe Chiper from Romania and their coach were supposed to fly to Romania where Gheorghe has an important competition on 13th or March but instead prolonged their stay here and are now training in our Ice Hall.
- Europeans
Margus did quite well at the qualifying round. He placed altogether 19th - in 2 groups taken together. He was 10th in his group.
In the short program Margus started well. But then he doubled his 3 Lutz in the
combination (he did do the 3 Toeloop after it). He also had a stupid fall right at the beginning of the circular step sequence (in a stag/lunge I think). He looked kind of embarrassed about it afterwards but at least this fall made him smile at the camera as he was taking his bows - usually he never smiles!!! MARGUS, if you happen to read this - SMILE MORE INTO THE CAMERA - your smile is very cute!
In the long program Margus performed his new program to Riverdance. He wears a blue costume for it. He did well, although had some problems (doubling his jumps). He did 3 clean triples altogether but his good flow and great footwork allowed him to move some spots forward - he is 16th overall!!!
