Photo by Teodoros Biliūnas/Žmones.lt/Aidas Reklys
The ice arena can be called the second home of A. Reklis from Kaunas since he was four years old. The athlete who appreciates extreme experiences said that this is how he discovered himself.
“I skated alone, because then I could do more complicated, more dangerous tricks on the ice, which inspired me. When I was sixteen, I also had to dance in a couple, but it was not my path”, A. Reklys has no doubts.
He missed the Olympics by half a point
The interviewee, who aspired to the heights of his sports career, started studying at the Lithuanian Sports University after graduating from high school. At that time, he had the opportunity to represent our country at the Winter Olympics, but he was only half a point short of qualifying.
It was when he already had his high school diploma in his hands and knew that he would not appear in the highest level world competition, that A. Reklys received an offer from the USA to skate in pairs with his partner.
“We danced together in Chicago for about two years, but I was drawn to the excitement and the challenge. I returned to individual performances again, I took part in the ice show”, recalls A. Reklys.
The stubborn guy decided to improve his skills and learn somersaults – one of the most desired tricks by the audience and the most difficult for the performer.
“If you indicate in the form that you do somersaults, your fee for the ice show is higher than usual. This ability is really appreciated by professionals”, says A. Reklys.
But the athlete learned to turn around in the air and successfully land on the ice not for financial reward, but to prove to himself and others that he can do it.
“I didn’t immediately decide to try. There was more than one moment when it seemed like I was about to jump into the air, but my mind stopped and I postponed the challenge for another time,” the skater says frankly.
However, time was in his favor and now, filling out the questionnaires before the ice show, he can already put a check mark on the question of whether he knows somersaults.
Lukas Balandis/BNS photo/Katerina Voropaj and Aidas Reklys
The invention is the credit of the father
A. Reklys devotes a lot of time to training, where he shares his knowledge with the younger generation of skaters. It was like that for seven years in Chicago, and it’s like that where he lives now, in California. He vividly remembers one student who was always half a turn short of a successful action. Thinking how the skaters could help, the Lithuanian included rubbers in the training.
“I thought it would be great to create a device that could solve this technical problem. I drew his model on paper and sent it to my dad. It was he who made the prototype of “Power twist”, – his son told about the merits of Kazis Reklis to the sport of figure skating.
Personal album photo/Invention of Aidas Reklis and his father Kazis Reklis “Power twist”
When the overall product of Reklių proved successful in improving the athletes’ skills, it was started to be mass-produced.
“Other coaches use it the same way. I know that the device can already be seen on almost every continent – it helps athletes improve in as many as 60 countries. I still keep my father’s work, and one “Power twist” is in Kaunas, in the Sports Museum”, says A. Reklys.
Some time ago, Aida moved from Chicago to California and is happy with his decision made almost ten years ago. Here he can enjoy both the sun and the snow.
Personal album photo/Aidas Rekli’s life moments
Personal album photo/Aidas Rekli’s life moments
“In the morning, I drink tea, go to the ocean, then go to the ice arena with my students. If I want to go skiing, all I have to do is get in the car and in two hours I can go down the mountain. Well, if you’re going to surf the waves, it only takes 5 minutes. Extreme sports make my heart sing”, assures A. Reklys.
The athlete smiles – there are no pets in his home, because nature itself allows him to enjoy the company of hummingbirds and dolphins every day.
“I got used to the United States. I have settled in a place I never dreamed of, although priorities change over the years and so does the house. So, it will be seen where my passion for life will take me next”, says the interviewer and adds that he now lives as a person of solid age – a planned, comfortable, sedentary life, where there is little room for haste and stress.