New Group Sequence: Athena Roberts & Eric Alis
Athena Religion Roberts (17) and Eric Alis (20) symbolize 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 recollections.
Athena Roberts (AR): I began skating once I was 5 years outdated in Jacksonville Florida.
Eric Alis (EA): I began skating at 7 with just a few pals from college and began competing instantly as a single skater. On the age if 12 i received 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 foul hip harm. 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 preserve as much as ultimately discovering my present associate!
What drew you to ice dance?
AR: After I was competing in singles skating there was a variety of stress 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 noticed I’d slightly compete in one thing that’s enjoyable and entertaining.
EA: I all the time beloved skating greater than leaping, however in Spain there wasn’t any type of Ice Dance college. After my harm I knew I used to be completed with leaping because it was the primary motive of my harm. After I obtained accepted into the ice Dance academy in Vancouver I noticed day after day how a lot I take pleasure in it and since I used to be capable of finding a associate I take pleasure in it much more.
Inform us how your partnership began (Companion 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 sudden approach! I discovered a associate 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 considered one of his pals 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 every week of tryout we talked and determined to proceed collectively for at the very least 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 along with your new associate?
AR: The factor I like most about skating with a associate is that we’re doing all of it collectively. I discover it’s much more enjoyable dancing with a associate as a result of you may 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 snicker rather a lot. We have now gotten actually shut with such brief time and makes all trainings very satisfying. In addition to we belief every when attempting new issues. It makes it simpler to study and have enjoyable with it as nicely.
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 area.
What has been the most important adjustment for every of you thus far within the partnership?
AR: The most important 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 thus far, since sadly right here in Vancouver, universities aren’t versatile with sport
Inform us about your coaching web site. (Location, amenities, dance mates, lessons, and many others.)
We practice on the 8rinks Scotia Barn in Burnaby, BC. It’s a facility with 7 rinks and a soccer area. To me it’s wonderful to have the ability to practice right here since in Spain there’s a complete of 7-8 rinks the place you may skate all 12 months lengthy. So indirectly, we all the time have ice to have the ability to apply. In the identical facility we even have a fitness center and a room during which we do our off-ice dance classes, often 3-4 occasions every week.
Who’re your coaches?
Our foremost coaches are Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe, ex Olympian ice dancers representing Canada. Each initially from Vancouver.
Who’s choreographing your applications. Is another person arranging your music? In that case, please share these experiences.
Each, Megan and Aaron, are those who choreograph our applications with the assistance of our off-ice coaches who’re specialised in ball-room and modern dance, each with an extent background of different kinds of dancing.
In case you may 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 practice with Adrian Diaz, the 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 largest problem(s)?
AR: What I’m wanting ahead to this season is with the ability to present how a lot we’ve improved together with all the brand new tips and choreography now we have 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 components that we’re engaged on.
What’s your debut competitors this season?
Our debut competitors this 12 months will likely be in Ottawa, Canada and our worldwide debut will likely be in our first Junior Grand Prix in Linz, Austria.
