Interviewed by Shawn Patton

Join us for this candid and at times controversial interview with Jonathon Power.  In this 3 part series Jonathon shares his recollections, thoughts and opinions on a wide range of topics and issues. 

Best advice you received early in your pro squash career? Anyone take you under their wing?
No, at that age you’re a teenager, you’re not really thinking, nothing is sinking in anyway – I don’t think. At that stage, no real influence.

Career Low-point (loss, injury, other)?
There was a point, just a series of injuries I can’t remember the dates but it was just one after another after another it started with getting hit in the eye I think. There was a time there for a few years I couldn’t finish a tournament.

Top 2 Career Hi-lights - gratifying or memorable?
The first World Open in 1998 and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The Manchester win must have been especially gratifying, getting that one back and on English soil too?
That was a good one, I didn’t realize the importance the first time around I sorta didn’t really care … it wasn’t for money, but then as I got older I realized the importance. Before the first one I went for a vacation for a week in Bali and I showed up there with a surfboard not really too interested in the squash at all, then I realized what a big scale it was for squash - it not usually in those types of Games.

I really trained hard for Manchester the second time around. It was a committed goal, that I achieved so I liked that one.

Which PSA Events were the most enjoyable for you and why?
Tournament of Champions in New York, Hong Kong and London. I like the tournaments in the big cities where there is lots to do.

What can a tournament organizer do to make a tournament enjoyable for the players attract the best field possible?

Good hotel, their own room, or option of having their own room and room service option … food and hotel is important cause the guys spend all their time in the hotel, when you're at a tournament, you’re resting or your eating that’s the most important.

Over the years, how would you describe the evolution of your game, off-court preparation and training methods?
When I was young everything was carefree, unplanned very natural, un-thoughtout … then when you get there and you have to defend, it's a lot more tedious, you have to be more meticulous about your routine every year that goes by you have more and more attention detail you get more conservative, your preparation, whether its your game style or approach to the game

If you watched the way I played in 97 -98 from then to 2006 its night and day, 2 different people. At the beginning when I was young, I was attacking and carefree I would never hit 2 balls down the same wall, towards the end it was more about closing things down, you don’t take the risks, you don’t need to.

Injuries have definitely had an impact on your career … how is your body feeling now? Do you see any hip or knee replacements in your future?
No, no … every things been good, I think a lot of it was poor preparation and its such a demanding game, tournaments are demanding and I wasn't doing the work… now that I don’t have to do the work, now I feel good.

Tell us about the support and relationship with Dunlop.
Dunlop and I have been together I think for about 10 years its gone really well over the years, they’ve supported me. I'm still with them and planning to be with them for a number of years it's a company that have invested a lot in squash, there one of the few companies that really tries to do things in squash, push things in squash … I've been happy to be with them.

3 Best squash players of all-time?
A matter a preference I don’t know: Jahangir, Jansher, Geoff Hunt

You’re a very keen and intelligent observer of the game, how is the game different from 5 years ago or 10 years more?
It keeps evolving, everybody keeps getting layered, the courts are different, things change and continue to improve and will until the end of time.

Would you say the top 10 of the current era is stronger, deeper than say 10 years ago.
Yeah for sure. For the past several years I’d say it’s the deepest Top 10. A big part of it is the scoring not necessarily the quality of the players.

Previously it was 1 or 2 players expected to win a tournament, now there’s multiple people mostly due to the scoring. When it got changed to 11 scoring, you have guys 8 all to 11 and they can see the finish line, where before it was 15. Now the world number one on a bad day, against 7 or 8 in the World, now all the matches are difficult

Any thoughts on the changes, trials to squash refereeing?
I don't care anymore to be honest … you're never going to get players to referee and they are the only ones able to do it right, they are the only ones that understand what is happening, a lot of it is very subjective its happening very fast, you’re going to have bad referees in squash to the end of time, its never going to change … a good referee is one that cant be heard or seen

Over the years, you have played against some interesting and amazing players, can you offer us your opinions on:

Funniest player to watch?
To laugh at? I can think of a few train wrecks that were funny, I never thought anyone was that humorous it always used to be funny to watch Anthony Hill play you never knew what was going to happen it could be good squash, it could be a fight, it could be anything, you never knew what you were going to get, he could be a tank, there was always something to talk about

Worst dressed
I know who it is, but I don't want to go there

Hardest hitter
That's john white there is no question there

Best Retriever
Peter ... Peter for sure

Great Movement
Peter again, Alex Gough was another underrated mover

Players respected for their on-court honesty, sportsmanship
uhmmm, doesn't impress me much, they're all cheaters, everyone’s a cheater, some cheat from 11 all in the fifth, some cheat from love all in the first, they're all cheaters. When the chips are down, that’s sport, that’s life. I’ve never seen anyone give away the match at 14 all, set one in the fifth

Who are some of the game’s innovators (players, coaches, promoters)
I don't see anyone leading a whole lot of radical change I think any changes have been done in baby steps and drawn out after a long process. No one comes to mind oh he's made squash a whole lot better as a builder or promoter. John Nimick has definitely been the most successful promoter, long-standing promoter, doing multiple tournaments. I’d have to say that’s an accomplishment, but not necessarily an innovator or changing the game.

Your rivalry with Peter Nicol was truly something special for the fans and the sport as a whole … your contrasting playing styles, personalities, definitely brought interest and energy to the game. What was it like from a player's perspective?
It was great, it was great being part of it for sure. I think Peter and I understood it and enjoyed it, not during but at the end

It must have added a sense of added pressure and pride?
For a bunch of years we were the only 2 people in the tournament, it was a whole different dynamic it was almost a tournament within a tournament going on.

Some pundits have made comments over the years to the effect that you have had varying levels of commitment to your conditioning (that this prevented you from achieving even greater success), were able to rely on your pure talent and that you trained efficiently & smart versus putting in long hours.  Thoughts? Reactions? Regrets?
No, certainly not, when I played well, I played really well. I was happy. I never kept one trophy that I won, when I closed the court door, I love the competion, no matter what it is.

I certainly didn't do my best to prepare I wasn't the consummate professional athlete I could have done a lot better I was never that focused I wasn't looking for records or titles I was just trying to get to number one and when I got there it was a big relief, something I trained for my whole life but then after that I just did the bare minimum to try and stay at the top to do the bare minimum I could to stay there. I had different interests and stuff. I achieved my goals so there’s no regrets.

Around the world different countries offer varying levels of support and approaches to developing elite athletes … what was your experience as a Canadian athlete, world champion thinking of supports, funding, expertise, programs provided to you relative to what was available to your competitors. Did you receive comparable levels of support?
Not at all ... until I got there. There was no carding, no support, no money, there was nothing. Then when Graham and I got there, then all that stuff started to come, but then it was about making money and I didn't really need any assistance of any kind really. Its the kids behind you that sort of benefit, that’s nice, that they get some money, support and that it can help them to stay in it a bit longer to try and achieve their goals

Pakistan they have a great squash history if they can pull it back

Hopefully North America, that’s the key, that’s what I want to see, but its a long way away from what I am seeing. But who knows, that would be great!

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Jonathon Power is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of squash and now he has created the first ever squash instructional DVD. Whether you are a beginner, novice or expert player, this instructional DVD is guaranteed to improve your game. For the first time you get a complete in depth analysis into the game of squash through the eyes of a World Champion. With full commentary by Jonathon throughout, he reveals what it takes to play this great game. Jam packed with over 120 mins of drills, matchplay, training and special features... this is Jonathon Power Exposed     http://www.jpsquash.com/jpsquash/

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