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Athena Roberts (AR): I began skating once I was 5 years outdated in Jacksonville Florida.
Eric Alis (EA): I began skating at 7 with a couple of associates from college and began competing straight away as a single skater. On the age if 12 i gained my first nationals in novice. At 16, I moved to Vancouver, Canada to proceed my research and began skating as a single skater once more after a nasty hip damage. After a pair years, I came upon 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 cheered me as much as hold 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 similar time I used to be doing ice dance for enjoyable and it helped me regain my drive for skating, and I spotted I’d reasonably compete in one thing that’s enjoyable and entertaining.
EA: I all the time cherished skating greater than leaping, however in Spain there wasn’t any form of Ice Dance college. After my damage I knew I used to be achieved with leaping because it was the primary purpose of my damage. Once I bought accepted into the ice Dance academy in Vancouver I spotted day after day how a lot I take pleasure in it and since I used to be capable of finding a companion I take pleasure in it much more.
Inform us how your partnership began (Associate Search, coaching mate, and many others.) Describe the tryout.
AR: Each of our coaches had gotten involved with one another and we scheduled a tryout inside three days. The tryout lasted for one week and on day one we had gotten alongside very well so we knew that there was a excessive chance of this partnership figuring out, 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 approach! I discovered a companion from Canada however after a couple of days of coaching and her transferring right here from Montreal issues didn’t work out. Then my coach, Aaron Lowe spoke to considered one of his associates mentioning that she had a lady, and inside 4 days Athena arrived right here in Vancouver to do a tryout. I believe we linked fairly fast, and after per week of tryout we talked and determined to proceed collectively for not less than one season, with no compromise, in case we didn’t see issues coming collectively. However fortunate us we had a blast and we’ll hold issues going!
What’s it that you just already like most about dancing together with your new companion?
AR: The factor I like most about skating with a companion is that we’re doing all of it collectively. I discover it’s much more enjoyable dancing with a companion as a result of you may encourage each other and belief that they have you ever whereas skating. I believe that creates an understanding and nice friendship which makes skating collectively even higher.
EA: What I like probably the most about skating with Athena is that we giggle so much. We’ve got gotten actually shut with such quick time and makes all trainings very pleasant. In addition to we belief every when attempting new issues. It makes it simpler to be taught and have enjoyable with it as properly.
What experiences do every of you carry to the partnership? (Worldwide competitions, coaching, and many others.)
AR: Probably 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 carry into the partnership is all of the earlier years of coaching within the determine skating discipline.
What has been the largest adjustment for every of you to date within the partnership?
AR: The most important adjustment for myself was getting used to the brand new surroundings 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 largest adjustment has been having to mix all my coaching with college to date, since sadly right here in Vancouver, universities aren’t versatile with sport
Inform us about your coaching web site. (Location, services, dance mates, lessons, and many others.)
We prepare on the 8rinks Scotia Barn in Burnaby, BC. It’s a facility with 7 rinks and a soccer discipline. To me it’s wonderful to have the ability to prepare right here since in Spain there’s a complete of 7-8 rinks the place you may skate all yr lengthy. So in a roundabout way, we all the time have ice to have the ability to apply. In the identical facility we even have a gymnasium and a room wherein we do our off-ice dance classes, often 3-4 occasions per week.
Who’re your coaches?
Our principal 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? If that’s the 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.
For those who might have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
AR: I’d wish 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 wonderful.
EA: I would love to have the ability to prepare 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 wanting ahead to most this skating season? What will likely be your greatest problem(s)?
AR: What I’m wanting ahead to this season is having the ability to present how a lot we’ve improved together with all the brand new tips and choreography we’ve for the brand new season.
EA: For this upcoming season I’m actually wanting ahead to our first 2 Junior Grand Prix! And actually wanting ahead to enhance our world rating together with Junior Worlds bringing a bunch of recent parts that we’re engaged on.
What’s your debut competitors this season?
Our debut competitors this yr will likely be in Ottawa, Canada and our worldwide debut will likely be in our first Junior Grand Prix in Linz, Austria.