About Me

My name is Ria, and I'm 15 years old. I live in Hampshire, England and I ice skate twice a week at Basingstoke Planet Ice ice rink - once for my lesson, and again for Basingstoke Ice Club.

I have wanted to skate since I was 7 years old, after watching the Disney movie 'Ice Princess'. I fell in love with the film and the sport, and I knew that it was my destiny to be like the characters I watched. I asked my parents over and over again for years until finally, on my 14th birthday, my mother booked me my first ice skating lessons. My first lesson was on 1st December 2012, and from my first half an hour, I was hooked.

I started out on Skate UK level 1, and I progressed quickly. I skipped to level 3 after six fun weeks, and I continued to move up through the levels. I was positive and tried my hardest. When I was at level 6, as summer 2013 was beginning, I took a six week break from lessons, and to make up for it, took part in Skate Camp at the ice rink - 5 days of learning new ice skating moves, fitness, analyzing routines and other activities, with three hours on ice and three off ice per day. I was one of the lowest level skaters there, even being the eldest in a group of much younger children. I felt like I wasn't good enough to be a skater, and I found it very hard to keep up with the on ice activities, spins and jump proving impossible for me. However, I stuck through, and by the end of the week, I could do a drag, bunny hops, crossovers, pumps and a three jump.

After the six week summer holiday, I resumed ice skating. As I progressed through level 7, it was easy to see that I was more advanced than the others in my group. During a lesson of crossovers, my instructor pulled me aside and recommended that I get a private coach. I was introduced to Sue, who after my group lesson, gave me a 15 minute lesson where I could show my true ability. By the time I had finished level 7, I had progressed enough with the help of Sue to complete levels 8 and 9 at the same time, meaning I jumped 3 levels in six weeks! When I completed level 10, I stopped group lessons, and instead focused on 30 minute lessons with Sue.

By March 2014, I had completed Skate UK bronze, silver and gold, and was ready to start my NISA levels. In under a year and a half, I had impressively completed Skate UK. That brings me to now.

I am currently working on my dance routine for level 1, and I am dancing to 'Letting Go' by Isaac Shepard, a personal favourite of mine.

I am planning to take part in the Christmas show at the ice rink this year, as I missed out last year because I didn't feel like I was good enough at ice skating at that point in time. I also hope to attend more Skate Camps, compete in the Coaches Cup competition at my ice rink next year, and eventually make it to stardom!