Bio
Born in St Petersburg, Russia, Andrey Lavrov is in the same family as USSR national team member Vyacheslav Lavrov. While playing junior hockey, he gained experience all over Europe and spent six months living and playing in Boston, USA. At the age of 16, he played for the farm club of SKA St Petersburg. At 17, he started coaching and studying sport and health in the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education in St Petersburg, which is one of the world's oldest physical training educational institutions. While studying in university, he worked with different junior teams, organized his own hockey school named after his father "Lavrov Ice School" Ltd, and opened the first North-West Region of Russia skills centre called AVRORA where he was a coach. He then wanted to improve his skating skills and, in order to better understand skating, he started to compete in Red Bull Crashed Ice. In his first season in 2011, Andrey became the best Russian athlete and finished seventh in the world standings. He is currently a MHL team assistant/skills coach at EC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
How long have you been competing in ice cross downhill?
The first race I took part in was in the 2011 season, in Munich. The 2014 season will be my fourth year competing.
What first got you interested in the sport?
Initially, I did not even think that I would participate in the qualifying rounds, I just wanted to prove to myself and others that I knew how to skate and had a great desire to test my physical training (at the time of the qualifying rounds in 2011, I played hockey only at an amateur level but tried my best to keep myself in good shape with many different extreme sports). When the same happened at the big track it was love at first sight and now I'm not leaving without a fight for the top places. I cannot imagine doing anything else!
If there is one piece of advice that you could offer new riders, what would it be?
Put all thoughts aside and enjoy the flight and every moment lived on the road, otherwise why do it?
What is your best result or favourite memory at a Red Bull Crashed Ice?
At every tour stop, there has always been something memorable: the individual elements of the route, the crowd chanting your name at the race in Moscow, the "moonwalk" at the race in Sweden, the photo finish and a shoulder injury at the events in Holland... but perhaps getting into the final race in Quebec with a broken wrist is the most vivid memory!
Who is your favourite sportsman?
My father will always remain for me the person for whom I will do anything - I want to make my family proud.