This interview transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity by Tilda (@tequilda) and Becs (@becsfer)
Evie (@doubleflutz): Hi, I'm Evie, here with In The Loop, and I'm here with five-time Australian National Champion Kailani Craine. Welcome, Kailani!
Kailani: Thank you for having me!
Aw, that's okay! So you only just arrived here [in Melbourne] - did you spend some time exploring Japan after NHK or did you just fly straight home?
Unfortunately, yeah, I had to fly straight home just because I wanted to prepare for Nationals. But I had already been to Sapporo for the Asian-
The Asian Winter Games?
Yeah, the Asian Winter Games. So I got to explore there quite a bit, actually, when I was there. We had a few extra days there, so it was really really nice. But yeah, just needed to get home as quick as possible to prepare for Nationals.
To prepare for the hecticness of this weekend?
Yes, exactly!
So, how did you first get interested in figure skating? As a kid, what age did you start?
I started at eight, and I think I just got interested in it because I went to a birthday party and I just really liked it. So we just got lessons and we didn't think anything of it, actually, even when I started competing I really wasn't thinking ahead. It was more when I was about ten or eleven, eleven probably, that I really thought about my goals in the sport and that was Olympics. It kind of just progressed from there, I didn't think ahead until I got to around primary division which is now basic novice.
So this is the first season where you've been invited to two Grand Prix events. You had Cup of China and then NHK just a couple of weeks ago. What was it like competing at both of them this year?
It was crazy because I hadn't booked my flights yet to Asian Trophy, which I was definitely going to - I was going to compete at Asian Trophy and also a competition in Prague. But I literally was about to book my flight that night to China and then a person from the association says, "Oh heads up, you're probably going to get invited to Cup of China." I'm like, "Oh my god what, that's crazy!" Because at that first stage I had stopped looking and I had stopped thinking about going to Grand Prix, I just kind of continued with my season and planned for my season. I'd already gotten my visa for China as well, because I was already going to China to compete. And it worked out perfectly because I didn't have to leave the country, I just stayed there, it was great.
So you just stayed in China and then flew to Japan?
Yeah, I had like two days extra where I was, and then I flew to the Grand Prix. This was the first year that I got invited to two Grand Prix in the same season, so it was so exciting. And Japan - it was great. Although I have been competing non-stop every week. [Evie: Yeah] It's been good for me, I think. I think even the last competition, the NHK Trophy, I actually felt my most relaxed, so hopefully this week I feel just as relaxed.
What's the difference competing at an international event versus an Australian one? Is there a difference in energies or the crowds? How do they differ?
Well, at Grand Prix and Championship events, there's a lot of people in the crowd. And, actually, surprisingly, this time I didn't notice it at NHK, and then I looked back on the video and I was like, "Wow! There was a lot of people there!" I didn't even notice it, I was just really focused and it felt like practice for me. But compared to Nationals, I actually get really really nervous for Nationals.
Really?
Yes. Every single season, I get so nervous. I think it's because I just want to do a good job for my fellow Australians. I really want to put on a good show so badly that I don't want to disappoint. So I do get really nervous, but this year it feels a little bit different. I know I'm going to be nervous when I get out there, but I feel really prepared.
That's good to hear.
Everything's gone well.
Kailani performing her Short Program “I Like It Like That” at Evening With Champions 2019 (Photo: Kite)
Your Short Program for this season is “I Like It Like That.” What was the creation process like for this program? Did you pick the music, was it a suggestion from your choreographer, or?
No, I picked the music, and I kind of had everything mapped out in my head before we even started choreographing. But this program took a while to choreograph, just because my choreographer, Alex [Chang], would be like "I want to do this" and then he'd be like, "No no, let me change that one" and I'm like, "That's fine with me" Let's make it perfect, let's make it really good. It was so much fun to choreograph, my choreographer's amazing. Alex is just the best time ever, it doesn't feel like skating or work, it feels like fun.
That's good to hear!
It's really really great. But both of my programs this season, I picked the music and everything.
And your Free Skate is “Requiem For A Dream.” You picked the music, did you watch the movie and get inspired or did you just hear the soundtrack somewhere?
I didn't really watch the movie, years ago, but I mixed it with “Shout” as well for the first piece. I had listened to that, and then... My process is: I'm on the treadmill, and all I do while I'm on the treadmill is listen to skating music and get inspiration. So whenever I'm on the treadmill and I'm listening to music, I say "Yes I like this, but I feel like I need to put something else with this". And then I actually figured out the two combinations probably about two years ago, and I have these things in my head for years before I use them. And then I'm like, "Which one would be best this season? What would pair well with the Short Program?" because I always like two different programs. I like to be challenged as well. The Short Program is definitely a challenge this year, but the Free Program - I actually feel, this year, more comfortable in my Free Program compared to my Short Program and it was the complete opposite last year. So I'm really confused with myself this year.
A switch of perspective!
Yeah, it's so strange, it's so strange. I'm so nervous in the Short Program this year, I'm shaking, I can't get myself together. Except at NHK, I felt okay then. But the Free Program - I'm just going out and I'm just like, "Okay, let's just do it, like practice-"
Just a casual day.
Yes, exactly! I don't really feel that bad in the Free, and I think it's because of the music choice and the actual choreography that my choreographer's put in, it calms me down. That's what I feel like on the ice.
So your costumes for this year are both pretty spectacular, [Kailani: Thank you!] I heard that you have a hand in designing them yourself? What's the creation process like for you and who do you work with for them?
Mostly color first. So I always have a color and for this year - well, my treadmill process is music, music cuts, choreography, and dresses. That's literally the next thing that I think of. I'm like "Okay, what could I wear with this piece?" But this year I kind of just sketched them up. I have ideas first and color and then I sketch them up. Then I write my dressmaker paragraphs and books of my dress design. So I send different emails - because I write so much I don't want her to get confused. I literally break it up into one email that is just on crystals, and then other email on color, and the other email just on design.
Just break it all down in different sections so no one will get confused on anything!
Exactly, exactly! I feel like I am psycho when it comes to this. I am sending my dressmaker like six to ten emails just on one dress and I feel so bad. I feel horrible because I feel like I'm bombarding her with so much information but I make sure I add an "I love you!" at the end. [Laughter] Like "I love you! Help me!" But yeah that's kind of my process and the Free [dress] is the first time I've ever had a hard time designing my Free Program dress. I didn't know what I wanted. I knew that I wanted black but I just didn't know the design. But I'm actually happy with how it turned out but I'm even more happy when I'm out on the ice with it if that makes sense. So I like the way that it looks more when I'm out on the ice versus off the ice. I just think it really captures well out on the ice.
Kailani performing her Free Skate “Requiem For A Dream” at Autumn Classic International 2019 (Photo: Gabb)
So I've heard that you're also into snowboarding, how did you get interested in that?
Oh, literally, I just really like snowboarding. Whenever we go, we usually go for Christmas. But the first time I went to the US to train we did a whole bunch of things. We visited a lot of rinks but also we went snowboarding as well for fun because I'd never seen snow. So yeah I just really liked it. I picked it up pretty easily. I mean I'm not an Olympian snowboarder and I never will be but I really just enjoy it. I like the snow when I get to do something like snowboarding and if it's something to do with Christmas that makes it feel cool because in Australia I've only ever had summer Christmases. [Evie: Yep!] Yeah, so you know it's nice to go over there for Christmas and to do some snowboarding.
Get a nice white Christmas!
Exactly, exactly!
I've also heard that you're a bit of a bookworm, so do you have any favorite genres of books or any recommendations for our listeners?
Books? I don't know I haven't had the time to read in a while! I've actually been really into podcasts lately.
Yeah?
Yeah, that's my thing. Because I usually would read on the plane but I just find it easy to sleep on planes when I can listen to a podcast and I don't have to watch a screen. Books I'm not sure, I haven't read in a while but - I don't know! I'm sorry!
That's okay! What are some of your favorite podcasts that you've been listening to lately?
Okay my favorite podcasts...Hamish and Andy. Love their podcast! They're hilarious! I love them so much and their show is on TV now too. They've got this new TV show. I just love them, they're so hilarious and they're Australian so that's two awesome things I love.
So figure skating is a pretty non-stereotypical sport here in Australia so in comparison what do you say is the most stereotypical Australian personality trait you have?
Personality trait...well I love...not very personality wise but I guess stereotypically I love Vegemite. And everyone goes "Why do you..? Why do you like it?"
I get the same thing whenever I say I love Vegemite and they're just like "No..."
Yeah, I get people to bring it over for me when I'm overseas. I crave Vegemite. But I don't know personality wise I think I keep the accent pretty well whenever I'm around my family. So I go overseas to the States but I kind of ...sometimes they don't understand somethings - like if I'm asking for sauce or something like that - like tomato sauce - I've learned my lesson with that because everywhere in the world...like Europe I get tomato juice and stuff instead [Evie: No!] and I'm just like “That's something I've lost as an Australian, I now say ketchup all the time!” I'm like “Nooo!”
So what you need is just an emergency bag in your suitcase with like Vegemite and tomato sauce to just bring everywhere!
Yeah exactly! Yes, I think those are the main things. I think I've kept the accent well but yeah.
I think you have!
Yes, because I like my accent so I would like to keep it.
So our final question. A little fun one that we like to end with. If you could let the whole figure skating fan community know one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Oh that's a tough one. I think if I could let them know one thing about me...I think that actually one thing I do like because it comes up more in Japan but whenever fans write notes, I love reading them. So I'll read everything. Oh, also if you message me on Instagram or anything like that I actually try my best to answer every single person. So and I like reading all of your little messages. It really means a lot to me. I love it! Especially on Twitter I read so many things. I'm like "Thank you so much! You've really made my day." So yes, I think that for anyone into figure skating, I love those little things. They really make my day especially you know if I've gotten off the ice and there's little handwritten notes. Like I've just come from Japan so clearly I've opened a lot of them. They're so adorable, they make my day and I bring them home as well.
Well thank you so much for joining us, Kailani!
Thank you!
I hope you have a really good performances at Nationals!
Fingers crossed.
We'll be cheering for you!
Thank you.
You can follow Kailani on Twitter and Instagram. The Ladies Free Skate at Australian Nationals will be livestreamed at 13:50 AEST tomorrow (11/6)