Figure skating is one of the most difficult sports in the world because of the constant practice, competitive spirit, and difficult tricks. Skating takes lots of finesse, grace, practice, and constant hard work. The sport is difficult for grown men and women, and the same can be said for the brave middle schooler who tackles this sport. Perfecting this sport makes this bobcat very talented. Ice skating phenom, Solana, is an eighth grade student at St. Robert School, and she is an amazing figure skater. 

Solana describes skating as, “a lot of what people see in the olympics.” Lots of people watch the winter olympics, and figure skating is everything people love to see there: a mixture of pure athleticism and graceful artistry. Solana explains that her routines consist mainly of flips, turns, and other tricks of the sort. She has two coaches: one for her “freestyle which is jumps and spins” and one for “ice dancing which is where people use no jumps and more footwork to make a program with music.” Solana practices not only figure skating, but ice dancing and synchronized skating.

She goes on to describe her team-building experience as a skater. She says that she “always has fun on the ice.” Synchronized skating is an excellent team building sport. Everyone on the team has to work together to get timing and moves correct. Solana explains that this takes hours of practice and hard work. She portrays her “14 hour weekend practice” as exhausting. It takes a lot of coordination and stamina to achieve 7 tiring hours a day.

In addition to hard work, lots of equipment and clothes come with skating. Solana explains the synchronized skating uniform. It consists of “black pants, a black shirt or tank top, and a black jacket.” She also talks about hairstyles, and how normal practice requires just a simple ponytail, while synchronized skating requires a slicked back bun. She also explains the different kinds of skates. The skates are described by her as “a range of skates which [depend] on the type of skating you do. Freestyle blades are the most common. These have a simple boot and a longer blade. Another skate has a dance blade and boot. The cut of the boot is lower on this skate, and the blade is shorter which enables for better control.”

Solana is an amazing skater, and the school community is proud to call her a very talented Bobcat. She constantly trains to become better at this difficult sport, makes great bonds with members of her team, and does so fashionably! Solana makes the best of her constant training and hard work, having a positive attitude through it all no matter how tired she is. She describes the close friendships she makes within her team. Solana is very talented and St. Robert School is very lucky to have someone as persevered and hard working as her.