Welcome to IDC’s New Team Series! For this collection, we interview athletes who will enter the upcoming 2024-25 season in a brand new partnership, or debuted final season. In our sixth interview, we meet Sophia Bushell & Antonio Pena, senior ice dancers who characterize Great Britain and prepare at SK International Ice Dance School in Madrid, Spain.
Sophia Bushell (SB): I began skating at 4 years outdated. I started with solo determine skating, then a pair years in I started skating pairs with my brother. I realised I used to be too nervous to attempt throw jumps, so we switched to ice dance collectively. Alongside, I used to be nonetheless doing jumps. I skated with my brother for practically 10 years. It was satisfying, nonetheless, I needed to place extra focus in skating and needed to take it extra significantly.
The finest recollections I had up to now was with the ability to take part in worldwide competitions at a younger age and expertise them with my brother. We additionally carried out in some exhibitions collectively, some being for television. At round 7 years outdated, I realised performing in ice dance in entrance of a crowd introduced my enjoyment and I knew I needed to do that in my life.
Antonio Pena (AP): I began skating fairly late. I used to be 11 years outdated. I initially was a soccer participant, however one summer season I made a decision to attempt ice skating throughout summer season holidays. This is once I realised I liked it. After that one week, I made a decision to affix the varsity, and the coaches noticed my potential and I joined the skating membership. Early particular recollections was when my grandparents used to observe my trainings and it will make me so excited and pushed me to need to skate extra.
What drew you to ice dance?
SB: I attempted each self-discipline once I was youthful, making an attempt to determine which one I appreciated one of the best. I began determine skating once I was 4, after which alongside that I did pairs with my brother from 6 years outdated. Then, I realised I didn’t need to do the “scary” throw jumps so we switched to ice dance. After a number of years, I noticed determine skating wasn’t for me in any respect. I wasn’t a fan of the jumps, I a lot most popular the fundamental stroking and dancing of ice dance. I used to be additionally in a performing arts faculty in london, and I liked to all the time carry out and dance. Being in a position to be a part of a college like this, in addition to do ice skating, made me certain I needed to ice dance, so I centered on simply ice dance and stopped the jumps. I realised this self-discipline was for me. I had extra enjoyment going onto the ice now that I can do extra dancing, and work on my fundamental stroking.
AP: I used to be a determine skater and in my membership they’d ice dance as nicely, so I needed to enhance my skating abilities. As there aren’t so many boys in Spain, my coach advised me if I needed to attempt ice dance I used to be to do it with a accomplice. I used to be doing each disciplines, till one summer season I did an ice dance camp and once I noticed the opposite wonderful ice dancers I fell in love with ice dance. I made a decision to cease single skating and begin my ice dance journey.
Tell us how your partnership began. Describe the tryout.
AP: I keep in mind I used to be skating with my sister and one lady wrote to me asking a few partnership, however I advised her in fact I used to be with my sister so it was not doable on the time. When my sister stopped skating, and I used to be on the seek for a brand new accomplice, I keep in mind this lady (Sophia) who wrote to me a number of years in the past after which determined to ask her for a tryout.
SB: After my partnership had ended final yr, I used to be on the search throughout this time too for a accomplice. As my search was ending, I obtained the message from Anto and determined to fly to Spain for a tryout.
AP: At the beginning of the tryout, I felt not so comfy as I used to be solely skating with fairly tall ladies, However, the angle and the best way Sophia was making an attempt to make every thing work, making an attempt new issues and be laborious working, was one thing I admired. I didn’t see a lazy lady. I noticed a woman who actually needed to work and that’s what I used to be trying to find.
SB: And for me, I felt comfy from the start of the week, however what made me like Anto was how I noticed he was laborious working, and the way we had a enjoyable time throughout this week, which is how I knew I needed him as my accomplice, as we may get pleasure from this journey collectively.
What is it that you simply already like most about dancing along with your new accomplice?
SB: What I I like most about Anto is that we all the time have enjoyable on the ice. There are all the time jokes and we’re each wanting to work laborious I actually like Anto’s motivation, and having a accomplice who desires to push the boundaries on a regular basis makes coaching satisfying. Training is satisfying if you make it enjoyable, as it’s laborious work, however having a good friend on the ice makes this complete expertise higher.. we’re on this collectively.
AP: How robust she is, and tremendous steady, however the factor I like probably the most, is that she is all the time pushing me to work. I’m additionally generally adverse and he or she is tremendous optimistic on a regular basis. I like the way it felt like a partnership from the very starting.
What experiences do every of you deliver to the partnership?
SB: We each educated with our sibling. My first accomplice was my brother, and Anto’s earlier accomplice was his sister. I really feel that is an expertise not many ice skaters have, so it’s good to have the ability to have shared this identical expertise. After having these experiences, it’s simpler between us to resolve issues, so we are able to make coaching simpler and extra productive.
What has been the largest adjustment for every of you up to now within the partnership?
AP: For me was the peak, which was probably the most uncomfortable to get used to, as I solely skated with tall ladies. As nicely as Sophia’s British accent, firstly of the tryout I stored telling her to talk sluggish, as I perceive English, however firstly I wasn’t used to it, so I couldn’t perceive her.
SB: The greatest adjustment for me was shifting to Spain and having to regulate a few of the methods I’ve been used to, as Anto has been used to sure instructing strategies for a number of years and a few of the issues are new to me. It was additionally laborious to determine learn how to put our strengths collectively to be extra productive. As we each are robust characters, and I discovered it laborious to grasp his accent too at first. Communication between us was a bit troublesome, nonetheless, now we now have overcome this!
Tell us about your coaching website.
We prepare in Madrid and we skate 4 hours on ice 5 days per week in addition to off ice 5 days per week. Two days per week is ballet, and two days is fitness center. We additionally embrace dance lessons reminiscent of jazz. And generally off ice lessons for lifts particularly in off season. We have three different {couples} right here, which is sort of good, as it’s a small group, but it surely feels extra like pals than coaching mates. And we are able to help one another and use one another for inspiration.
Who are your coaches? Did both or each must relocate?
Our coaches are Ksenia Monko, Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin. We have probably the most enjoyable with them, and so they encourage us on a regular basis to be one of the best skaters we might be.
SB: I needed to transfer to Spain to relocate to affix the SK Academy. It was fairly a straightforward and cozy transfer, because the coaches and the opposite athletes right here made me really feel so welcome right away. And everybody listed below are all so pleasant. I really like the best way this academy works, because it feels inspiring to have the ability to prepare alongside these different athletes, in addition to working with these wonderful coaches.
Who is choreographing your applications.
Our coach Ksenia has choreographed our applications. Which we expect she has accomplished an unbelievable job, and we’re very grateful for her.
If you would have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
SB: I’ve all the time needed to have a lesson with each Tessa advantage and Scott Moir. Watching how Tessa is such a simple stunning skater is a giant inspiration. I’ve additionally been impressed by their partnership. Having what appears to be like like a pure connection between the 2 is what I love.
AP: I’ve all the time needed to coach with Sara and Kirill, as there aren’t many ice dancers in Spain, they’re the inspiration for skaters right here. As they made a lot for Spanish ice dance, I used to be impressed, which is the explanation I joined their faculty. Also, I’m grateful for the best way they imagine in me and all of the work they’ve accomplished for me.
What is every of you wanting ahead to most this skating season? What will likely be your greatest problem(s)?
We are wanting ahead to competing internationally, and gaining a enjoyable expertise collectively. Our greatest problem will likely be determining how competitions work collectively. As we haven’t competed with one another earlier than so it is going to be a brand new expertise. However, we now have to attend until December to compete internationally.
What is your debut competitors this season?
We have our first competitors in November for qualifiers in England.
Please share something you want to our readers to find out about you as a crew?
We would really like for the long run, folks to come back to observe us, and develop into that spectacular crew, watching us do these cool methods and lifts, being a crew with good fundamental skating/energy, and attempt to stand out from the others. We need to present our personalities on the ice, how good we work collectively and the way laborious we are able to push ourselves to see what the long run holds with this new journey collectively. We are excited to indicate our programmes this season and make a reputation for ourselves.