New Crew Sequence: Athena Roberts & Eric Alis

Athena Religion Roberts (17) and Eric Alis (20) signify 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 after I was 5 years previous in Jacksonville Florida.

Eric Alis (EA): I began skating at 7 with a couple of buddies from faculty and began competing immediately 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 damage. 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 cheered me as much as maintain as much as ultimately discovering my present companion!

What drew you to ice dance?
AR: After I was competing in singles skating there was a whole lot of stress 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 relatively compete in one thing that’s enjoyable and entertaining.

EA: I at all times cherished skating greater than leaping, however in Spain there wasn’t any form of Ice Dance faculty. After my damage I knew I used to be finished with leaping because it was the principle motive of my damage. After I received 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 (Associate Search, coaching mate, and so on.) 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 rather well so we knew that there was a excessive risk 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 manner! 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 buddies 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 every 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 maintain 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’ll be able to 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 essentially the most about skating with Athena is that we snort lots. We’ve got gotten actually shut with such quick time and makes all trainings very gratifying. 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 deliver 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 deliver into the partnership is all of the earlier years of coaching within the determine skating discipline.

What has been the most important adjustment for every of you to date 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 additionally 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 date, since sadly right here in Vancouver, universities aren’t versatile with sport

Inform us about your coaching website. (Location, amenities, dance mates, courses, and so on.)
We practice 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 practice right here since in Spain there’s a complete of 7-8 rinks the place you’ll be able to skate all 12 months lengthy. So ultimately, 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 wherein we do our off-ice dance classes, normally 3-4 occasions every 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? 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 modern dance, each with an extent background of different sorts of dancing.

If you happen to might have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
AR: I’d need 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 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 can 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 methods and choreography we’ve got 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 12 months can be in Ottawa, Canada and our worldwide debut can be in our first Junior Grand Prix in Linz, Austria.