Back from Bad Münder: Interview with Dan Trulsson
10 Oct 2013 at 19:11 | Published by: Hans | Views: 19249 | News search
Dan Trulsson playing in the match play in Bad Münder (Photo by Hans Bergström 2013)
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Interview with Dan Trulsson (DT), Sweden and Tantogården
This interview was done the 10th of October 2013. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).
HB: First of all congratulations to a brilliant Championship debut in the Swedish National Team in Bad Münder, ending up with a 8th place in stroke play and a silver medal in the team. Are you happy with the results looking back a month?
DT: Thank you! I have to say yes, even if I won’t let go of the feeling that I could have been better on the felt course.
HB: So, can you tell our readers who is Dan Trulsson?
DT: Dan Trulsson is a 24 year old man. Born, grown up and lives in Malmö. Started to play in year 2000 just for fun, but began to compete seriously in 2007.
I started out as a leftie but switched to right in 2010. I have scored 18 from both left and right. No girlfriend nor children, but loves beer!
HB: You and the Swedish men’s team started off in gold pace, but even so there was an early substitution and you were entering the team. What was your reaction once you knew that you were going to replace Andreas Frejborn in the team?
DT: Well, at first I was sad for Andreas, because I knew he could do so much better and also he had some bad luck in my opinion.
But the decision was made and when I realized it I, of course, became a little bit more nervous, but maybe even more surprised. Even though I had tried to prepare myself for this situation I didn’t really thought a substitution would happen in our team.
HB: After the first day you had the lead over Germany, but the Germany came back on the second day to take the gold. Describe the disappointment in the Swedish team after the team competition?
DT: Oh wow, it can’t be explained. All I can say is; this was my first time, but not my last and this isn’t over!
HB: On Friday at the stroke play finals you played well and ended up on 8th place, seven strokes from a medal. Are you happy with this position?
DT: Very happy!
HB: You played extremely well on the eternit course with 20,2 in average and was the second best in the whole tournament, only one shot behind Achim Braungart Zink on eternit. Was this sharp results on eternit expected after the training days?
DT: I actually had a hard time on the eternit the first days of practice, but I trained hard and detailed and started to play better and better, and in the two last days it started to work out, then the results came and I just kept on going with that spirit.
HB: You were one of not many players playing a more offensive hard ball felt play on some lanes, while most players played soft shots. Is this a matter of playing style or just a way to get better scores?
DT: I always choose the option that I think I will get the most aces from. Then I adjust the ball and the speed after what I think is most beneficial.
HB: In the match play finals on Saturday you meet two players from Czech Republic. First you won against Zdenèk Majkus and the lost in sudden death against Marek Smejkal. Can you tell us about these two games with your own wordings?
DT: Against Majkus I didn’t have to do so much to win, he never gave me some real opposition I think. But with Smejkal it was tougher. Already after four lanes he took the lead.
But with a good start from me on the felt I turned it to 2-1 after lane 6. But after that we both started to play bad and when the other one missed the other one picked. It ended up in SD. Salzburger V; Smejkal-ace, Trulsson-missed the wall, a little bit too hard, edge and out. Victory Smejkal. Congratulations!
HB: What is your opinion about the arrangements of the World Championships in Bad Münder?
DT: Very well done! Professional!
HB: For the international minigolf community you were not very well known before Bad Münder. Now you are a rising star, how does this change feels for you, and do you notice any difference in how people address you?
DT: Of course it's always nice when people notice me for what I do, but the important thing is that I feel good about what I do in life, and right now minigolf is one of them, especially when it turns out the way it did in Bad Münder. Yea, the people that I care about is happy for me, and that’s all I need!
HB: This year you changed club to Tantogården and Swedish elitserien. Was it a big step playing in elitserien compared to what you were used to in Kulladal from before?
DT: Yes of course, in elitserien I'm playing with and against some of the best players in the world. Although it's inspiring.
HB: And already first year you got a silver medal behind impossible Uppsala and therefore you earned your place in the Europacup in Holeshov. Can you tell us about your expectations upon this journey to the Czech Republic?
DT: What do you mean with impossible? Before the trip I really didn't had many expectations. I just thought it would be fun to play and see how our team was standing against the others in Europe. Now we turned out in fifth place even though we were playing a little bit worse than we expected after the training was done. But that's the way it is sometimes. Just to take wisdom from it and go on.
HB: How will the winter season this year look like and what are your thoughts about the 2014 season??
DT: I will train as hard as I use to improve my execution, I will work to improve some mental stuff, and of course play the Swedish Cup in January. I hope I can take the step to improve my scores a little bit better throughout the whole season, as I wished would come this summer. But it never turns out exactly the way I hope for, so it's just to begin to work!
HB: Will we see you in the next years European Championship?
DT: I hope so.
HB: Thank you for taking this interview and good luck in the future!
DT: Thank you!
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