Athena Religion Roberts (17) and Eric Alis (20) characterize Spain and began skating collectively final season. They completed twenty sixth on the World Junior Championships.
Inform us about your particular person skating journeys, together with any early particular reminiscences.
Athena Roberts (AR): I began skating once I was 5 years previous in Jacksonville Florida.
Eric Alis (EA): I began skating at 7 with just a few buddies from college and began competing straight away as a single skater. On the age if 12 i gained my first nationalities in novice. At 16, I moved to Vancouver, Canada to proceed my research and began skating as a single skater once more after a foul hip harm. After a pair years, I discovered there was an ice dance academy and I gave it a shot with no hopes to get in, however after attempting out, my present coaches appeared and inspired me as much as preserve as much as ultimately discovering my present companion!
What drew you to ice dance?
AR: Once I was competing in singles skating there was numerous strain particularly with my jumps, and slowly I began to lose curiosity in skating. However on the identical time I used to be doing ice dance for enjoyable and it helped me regain my drive for skating, and I spotted I’d slightly compete in one thing that’s enjoyable and entertaining.
EA: I at all times liked skating greater than leaping, however in Spain there wasn’t any sort of Ice Dance college. After my harm I knew I used to be accomplished with leaping because it was the primary cause of my harm. Once I obtained accepted into the ice dance academy in Vancouver I spotted day after day how a lot I get pleasure from it and since I used to be capable of finding a companion I get pleasure from it much more.
Inform us how your partnership began (Accomplice Search, coaching mate, and so on.) Describe the tryout.
EN: Each of our coaches had gotten into contact with one another and we scheduled a tryout inside three days. The tryout lasted for one week and on at some point we had gotten alongside rather well so we knew that there was a excessive chance of this partnership understanding, and by the top of the week I had discovered a spot to remain and transfer to Vancouver.
EA: We discovered one another in a fairly surprising method! I discovered a companion from Canada however after just a few days of coaching and her transferring right here from Montreal issues didn’t work out. Then my coach, Aaron Lowe spoke to one in all his buddies mentioning that she had a lady, and inside 4 days Athena arrived right here in Vancouver to do a tryout. I feel we related fairly fast, and after per week of tryout we talked and determined to proceed collectively for a minimum of one season, with no compromise, in case we didn’t see issues coming collectively. However fortunate us we had a blast and we’ll preserve issues going!
What’s it that you simply already like most about dancing together with your new one companion?
AR: The factor I like most about skating with a companion is that we’re doing all of it collectively. I discover it much more enjoyable to bounce with a companion as a result of you’ll be able to encourage each other and belief that they have you ever whereas skating. I feel that creates an understanding and nice friendship which makes skating collectively even higher.
EA: What I like essentially the most about skating with Athena is that we giggle loads. We have now gotten actually shut with such a short while and makes all trainings very pleasant. In addition to we belief one another when attempting new issues. It makes it simpler to be taught and have enjoyable with it as effectively.
What experiences do every of you convey to the partnership? (Worldwide competitions, coaching, and so on.)
AR: Essentially the most experiences I’ve is coaching and competing in a number of world championships within the aerial arts and pole sport self-discipline.
EA: The factor I can convey into the partnership is all of the earlier years of coaching within the determine skating area.
What has been the most important adjustment for every of you to this point within the partnership?
AR: The largest adjustment for myself was getting used to the brand new atmosphere I used to be in. Since I needed to transfer from Florida to Vancouver, not solely was I getting used to skating with Eric, but in addition attending to know new coaches and their work ethic, new teammates, and studying in regards to the metropolis.
EA: For me the most important adjustment has been having to mix all my coaching with college to this point, since sadly right here in Vancouver, universities aren’t versatile with sport
Inform us about your coaching website. (location, services, dance mates, lessons, and so on.)
We practice on the 8rinks Scotia Barn in Burnaby, BC. It’s a facility with 7 drinks and a soccer area. To me it’s superb to have the ability to practice right here since in Spain there’s a complete of 7-8 rinks the place you’ll be able to skate all yr lengthy. So indirectly, we at all times have ice to have the ability to observe. In the identical facility we even have a health club and a room during which we do our off-ice dance classes, normally 3-4 occasions per week.
Who’re your coaches?
Our most important coaches are Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe, ex-Olympian ice dancers representing Canada. Each initially from Vancouver.
Who’s choreographing your packages. Is another person arranging your music? In that case, please share these experiences.
Each, Megan and Aaron, are those who choreograph our packages with the assistance of our off-ice coaches who’re specialised in ball-room and up to date dance, each with an extent background of different sorts of dancing.
In case you may have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
AR: I want to have a lesson from Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Their 2010 Olympic efficiency was the primary time I had acknowledged ice dance and it immediately captured my consideration, so getting a lesson from the individuals who impressed ice dance for me can be superb.
EA: I would love to have the ability to practice with Adrian Diaz, the just lately retired Olympian ice dancer from Spain since he was my very first contact into ice dance and with Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron to do some choreography and refinement of edge high quality.
What’s every of you trying ahead to most this skating season? What can be your largest problem(s)?
AR: What I’m trying ahead to this season is with the ability to present how a lot we’ve improved together with all the brand new methods and choreography we’ve got for the brand new season.
EA: For this upcoming season I’m actually trying ahead to our first 2 Junior Grand Prix! And actually trying ahead to enhancing our world rating together with Junior Worlds and bringing a bunch of recent parts that we’re engaged on.
What’s your debut competitors this season?
Our competitors debut this yr can be in Ottawa, Canada and our worldwide debut can be in our first Junior Grand Prix in Linz, Austria.