In the latest
Sheffield Portrait, Framboise talks to the world
number one and co-promoter of the Mamut English Open.
THE BOSS :
I’M GOING TO ENJOY MY LIFE
Through all my reports and articles, I have never hidden the fact that I admire
and respect Peter Nicol tremendously. Not a spring chicken anymore, nearly
at the second big crossroad of his life (the first one was probably the day
he decided to become number one squash player in the world), Peter has been
up, has been down, out and in.
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And he is back.
With a smile.
With pleasure.
With emotions. |
You mentioned yesterday a change in
your training regime…
The change occurred in the physical aspect of the training. What I realise,
in the last couple of years, is that I worked incredibly hard. And when I
say that, I don’t mean hours and hours of work, I’m very specific and
concentrated on what I do. So the quality in my work is excellent. So what I
have been able to do now, what I have to do now, is to cut down on the amount
of time spent on court, and cut down on the physical exercises on court,
because it’s too hard for me now to do that and try to play. I just can’t do
it.
How do you “get away with it” then?
Well, because of years and years of training extremely hard, I am still very
strong physically. So what I’m doing now, is concentrating on some
parametric work, I designed a program myself actually. I also go swimming
quite a lot, so I get in the swimming-pool and get my aerobic exercises
through that. And the parametric training is quite challenging, it’s very
hard, no break for 10 or 15 minutes of short and sharp movements that I do
on court, all based around the T.
So a complete change of direction, as far as
training is concerned?
I’m still working extremely hard, but it’s just nowhere near the amount of
time that I used to do, which is correct, because I can’t do it anymore.
What is Neil Harvey’s position in your life
at this point in time?
I do all my stuff myself now, I don’t go round for sessions anymore, we
still talk a lot, and by the sheer fact of all the things I’ve done with him
for the past ten years, Neil has a huge influence, like on my work ethics
for example, or what I actually do on court, and how I work on court.
Actually, you could also say that it relates back to my father's “do things
properly, if you’re doing them, do them properly”. And Neil is very much of
the same attitude.
But during those 10 years, did you work with
others as well?
Yes, it’s a mixture you know. In my head I’ve got Neil’s voice, my father’s
voice, David Pearson’s voice, lots of other voices as well, and also, and
it’s the most important, what I think now. And most of it is MY
interpretation of what I need to do. So now, I’m saying, it’s up to me.
You’re growing up, aren’t you?
It does happen to everybody, eventually…
Is every day a good day, Peter?
No, not really, but I’m enjoying my life more than I ever have done, but
that’s because I’m looking outside squash. I’m looking into life in general,
how I live, why I want to play squash, why I wanted to achieve what I’ve
achieved, is it me? Or is it influences that pushed me? And it’s a mixture
of everything.
Have you learnt things about yourself then?
I have realised that I’m a very competitive “animal”, human being, so the
squash suits me, and I love the game, I do, I truly do. The more I look at
it, the more I love playing. But I also want to know what’s going on in life
in general, learning about people, and having relationships with people, and
understanding more about things, instead of just through things, just seeing
things and being alone. “So much, and yet so little”.
Could you develop that, please Peter?
So much to do, and yet too little that is really important … I’ve stopped being
busy all the time, so I spend a lot of time at home, doing “nothing”, by
that I mean, cooking, reading, talking with friends… I don’t use my phone
very often, I don’t reply to emails anymore… And that must sound ridiculous
for a lot of people, but for me it’s wonderful, just stopping the
interferences of being busy all the time for no apparent reason than getting
on, getting more money, getting this or whatever, you know?
A different way of life?
A QUALITY of life… and I’m getting there. And the benefits are immense, it
means when I come and play squash, I’m really excited about it, I feel like
a kid again, I even felt nervous yesterday, and I don’t normally get
nervous!
What is your goal now?
To live! Just to live. See what happens. I want to carry on playing
squash, because I love the game, I love playing, but at the same time, do
lots more outside the sport, outside the playing, and at the same time, I
don’t actually know, and I don’t want to know! I want thing to just… happen.
I’m looking into things, things that I
enjoy and like and being open minded about it as much as possible. I’m not
going to say “I’m going to do this”, or “I’m going to do that”, or this is
when this is going to finish.
So, no retiring plans yet then?
Well, I know roughly when I want retire from being serious about playing
squash, and that is 2006 Commonwealth Games, but that doesn’t mean I will
stop playing. In my mind, I’m going to go “right, time to really physically
take a step back”, and see what happens. I might still play incredibly well,
but I may have gone by then, who knows? That’s just a rough idea of what I
may do.
And after that?
After that … I don’t know.
You’re far from Jonah Barrington’s state of mind who replied to a journalist
about his retirement plans, “the day I stop playing squash, I die…”
The day I stop playing squash, I’ll start to live. How about that?
Could you describe the life you want in 3 words?
Brutal, emotional, and honest.
Thank you Peter.
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT ...
Parametric training is not just a new trend –
it is a multi-dimensional understanding of the whole training process.
The
direction and effectiveness of training is defined by a significant number
of variables. Since these variables (time of work, time of rest, distance of
reps, speed, heart rate, etc.) exist at many levels – the number of
combinations of different training strategies is practically unlimited.
This is one of the main reasons why information related to efficient
management of the training process over time, has not been sufficiently
studied. The knowledge of the relationship between specific training
variables and changes in an athlete’s condition is essential for creating
winning training strategies.
More about
Parametric Training
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Peter with Neil Harvey
and David Pearson
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PETER ON WOMEN
Now, I had to ask that one, what is your taste in women?
I have no taste in women…
OK, rephrasing it… What attracts you in a woman?
I think it’s more at a subconscious level, when you see someone, truly SEE
someone, someone who allows you to see her, quite open, as genuine as
possible, a real person, with all her faults and weaknesses, an real
honesty, with emotions…
Then there is a possibility of a relationship. Other
than that, what’s the point?
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