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| We ran into Line Kjoersvik in Atlanta in mid February when she was there competing in the event that weekend on the Viking 9-Ball tour. We conducted this interview in early March. | |||
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Line: Yeah, I get that a lot. That's true. The way I say it is Lina Shushvik. AZB: And where are you from? Line: I'm from Norway. Trondheim Norway. AZB: Can you describe the pool scene in Norway? Are there a lot of players and tournaments? Line: Well, pool is not very big in Norway. The town I am from has 2 pool rooms that have players. There are 2 women players and about 30-40 active men. It is not very big but we have the top player on the women's and men's side in Norway. In Norway, Trondheim is actually a really good town for pool in a way. AZB: What is your history playing in Norway? Line: I won 12 Norwegian championships for women. We only have 3 tournaments a year for women. 8-Ball, 9-Ball and Straight Pool. We basically play with the men most of the time. AZB: So, were you beating the men there? Line: Some of them. We have 3 different divisions and I was in the second division. I won one of those tournaments. I really can't do well in the 1st division though. AZB: You mentioned that there were really one 2 female players. I assume you were the top female player there? Line: Yes. The other female player actually moved there from another town. She is a really good friend of mine and has been there for about 2 years now. AZB: What first got you interested in the game of pool? Line: Actually, when I was in 8th grade, they put up a pool table in my school. I spent every break between classes in there. That is really how I started. Then they opened up a pool room, 5 minutes away from where I lived and I started going in there. I didn't really play much the first few years though. It was kind of hard since I was the only girl. After a few years when I started playing in tournaments, I got into it and started practicing more and more. AZB: What is the biggest difference between tourneys back home and here in the states? Line: Well, the women's tournaments have between 10 and 14 women playing. They are not big at all. The first tournament I played in over here, has something like 60 players. I was like "Whoa". The amount of players is a big difference plus the level of play on the women's side is a big difference. On the men's side, you get really good competition. So there isn't really much difference there. I guess the whole scenery around it is very different. It is more professional here. Playing on the Classic Tour here looks really good. AZB: When did you decide and what made you decide to come to America to play? Line: Actually, I had always been thinking about it a little bit. I remember after the European, 2 years ago, I decided a really wanted to go. I had the opportunity since I don't have any responsibilities to worry about. I don't have a family to take care of. I was supposed to go with a friend of mine and then something happened and he couldn't come with me but I wanted to go anyway. I wanted to go to see how good they were. I had heard a lot about how the Americans played. I wanted to do it kind of like a vacation and play tournaments. I had to choose between my school and playing in the nationals. So, I chose to come over here. You know, you can always go back to school but an opportunity like this might not come around again. AZB: How have the current WPBA players been about welcoming you to the tour? Do you think they view you as a threat to become another Allison Fisher or Karen Corr? Line: No, I don't think so. They have been very nice and friendly. I'm very shy so it is hard for me to get to know people but they make it nice. It's not like they see it as a threat. I've never experienced anything like that. They have always been very nice and polite. AZB: Your best WPBA finish so far was 5th in Dallas. Do you have a personal goal for what you hope to have accomplished by year end? Line: I'm hoping to get down in the rankings and be more consistent in the way I play. I know my low game and my top game are pretty far away from each other. So, I hope to be consistent. I know it is very hard to say I am going to win a tournament and stuff because there are a lot of very good players and the top players are very good. I hope to at least be able to fight and hopefully by the end of year be in the top 16. I would like to consistently finish in a high spot and hopefully I will have tournaments where I play well and hopefully I will beat Allison or Gerda or Karen. But consistency is really what I hope for this year. AZB: What advice would you give to the up & coming players wanting to join the WPBA Tour? Line: I would say "Go For It" because it is really a lot of fun. I do want to say that if it goes from being a hobby to it being a living, there is a big difference. The game of 9-ball kind of changes a little bit. It has for me anyway. The game is different now. But if they really want to do it, I would say to go for it because it gives you back so much in return. And it is so fun being out there playing against the best women in the world. |
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