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?"
Kat: It’s a testament to the fact - especially for “Chaplin” - there’s a lot of commitment that has to be had to be able to pull off “Chaplin,” and they really commit the entire time with the facial expressions. They don’t lose steam and I think losing steam is what would make this program suffer, but they really commit to it the entire time.
Becs: They even commit to the “Black Swan.” Xinyu’s eyeshadow, man. Everyone should take note and follow. This is the sort of makeup that you should be doing. I appreciate also Adrian’s commitment to the clown makeup.
Kat: We appreciate men in eyeliner and eyeshadow.
Speaking of your beginnings; were you ever recommended to go into Pairs? Did you ever think about going into Pairs?
Funny you should ask. No, not really - but I actually have done a little bit this year. I think it's two and a half months now where I've been trying a little bit and it's a lot harder. Mad respect to all Pairs skaters because they are insane!
Niamh: When someone lands their jump, you expect to see some snow, but you're not supposed to see liquid water.
Kite: Like this is advanced snow.
Niamh: I was [talking] to the ones sitting beside me, I was like “We might as well be watching synchronized swimming.”
Evie: Polar ice cap synchronized swimming - coming to an Olympics near you!
I’m writing this blog post (well, at least starting it…) the day after getting home from Kelowna (after a whole day of travel) and to say that it’s been hard adjusting to normal life after one of the most wild weekends of skating I’ve ever experienced in my life is... a severe understatement to say the least. It’s been an incredible 6 days of adventures and the best kind of happy exhaustion, the kind that you’re so excited to recount, revisit, and share with everyone.
Speaking of your performance skills, is that something that you've trained a lot, or do you find it comes naturally to you?
I'm working on my skills and skating - and I'll work for days. Like I can't skate, or jump, or do stuff before I do my full skating. It's the best feeling ever. That's why I'm still skating.
I, along with a few other ITL members, got the chance to go Fabulous Las Vegas(™) for none other than the very first stop of the Grand Prix, Skate America. This wasn’t my first competition nor my first Grand Prix; I made it to Skate Canada last season, and have been to a few other comps. But this was my first international skating competition in America - and believe me, it makes a difference that I’ll elaborate on.
If you could let the figure skating fan community know one thing about you, what would it be?
The whole community? Oh jeez. I’ll do a funny one. I recently got a lot of money in Animal Crossing.
Are you looking forward to the new Animal Crossing game?
Oh yeah. I’m now donating money to the Town Square to windmills and create paths so I’m very excited about that.
That’s amazing. I love Animal Crossing.
It’s so fun! I just learned a cheat code to get more money and I’m like “Sssh I’m paying my mortgage!” It sounds so ridiculous
Gabrielle: My costumes are actually hot pink and deep purple for the long.
So we'll be seeing that next week?
In two weeks in Kelowna, yes. The Short's actually a two-piece that Kaitlyn and I kind of put our thoughts into together. For the long, it's not exactly like "Carmen," it's the shape that it was today, but it goes ombré from deep to light purple.
Love a good ombré. I'm looking forward to the pairing with the eyeshadow. [Gabby laughs]
