Katia Alexandrovskya and Harley Windsor during training today. Photo: Michael Santer, OzSkater Magazine. For Harley Windsor and Katia Alexandrovskya, embracing first time moments has never been much of an issue.
The talented and rising figure skating pair began their debut national campaign at the 2016 Australian Figure Skating Championships today, just two months after winning Australia’s first ever Junior Grand Prix Gold Medal at the Tallin Cup in Estonia.
Their story, one that has spread around the world, is tremendous. Sydney born Windsor, 20, is of indigenous heritage and was paired up with 16-year-old Alexandrovskya, a young talent from Moscow, after he was unable to find a local partner.
Windsor’s coaches, Sydney-based Russians Andrei and Galina Pachin, were the matchmakers behind the pair and have helped build a strong partnership despite the language barrier.
Galina said she couldn’t be prouder of the way both athletes have developed in under a year.
“There’s been a few tough moments, especially with their communication, but as coaches we’ve been able to help and Andrei has been great with that,” she said.
“They get to train with many of the Russian competitors so we just take each competition one-at-a-time and hope they take it right up to the best.”
While the speed of Harley and Katia’s success has surprised many fans and officials, it hasn’t shocked the coaches.
“The conversations started last summer at an international camp in Sochi, Russia, but we knew how perfect they were when they first took each other’s hands,” she said.
“They have the package to be very good and just need the experience.”
Their short program at the O’Brien Group Arena in Melbourne’s Docklands begins tonight.
“It’s the first time we’re trying the difficult throw triple lutz,” Coach Andrei Pachin said.
Winning the national pairs title would be another gong on the Windsor and Alexandrovskya’s list of fantastic achievements, as Windsor aims to become Australia’s first Indigenous Winter Olympian.
You can catch Harley and Katia on our livestream below at 9.10pm tonight with the short section of their program, with the free section scheduled for Wednesday at 9.10pm.
https://livestream.com/iceskatingvictoria
The talented and rising figure skating pair began their debut national campaign at the 2016 Australian Figure Skating Championships today, just two months after winning Australia’s first ever Junior Grand Prix Gold Medal at the Tallin Cup in Estonia.
Their story, one that has spread around the world, is tremendous. Sydney born Windsor, 20, is of indigenous heritage and was paired up with 16-year-old Alexandrovskya, a young talent from Moscow, after he was unable to find a local partner.
Windsor’s coaches, Sydney-based Russians Andrei and Galina Pachin, were the matchmakers behind the pair and have helped build a strong partnership despite the language barrier.
Galina said she couldn’t be prouder of the way both athletes have developed in under a year.
“There’s been a few tough moments, especially with their communication, but as coaches we’ve been able to help and Andrei has been great with that,” she said.
“They get to train with many of the Russian competitors so we just take each competition one-at-a-time and hope they take it right up to the best.”
While the speed of Harley and Katia’s success has surprised many fans and officials, it hasn’t shocked the coaches.
“The conversations started last summer at an international camp in Sochi, Russia, but we knew how perfect they were when they first took each other’s hands,” she said.
“They have the package to be very good and just need the experience.”
Their short program at the O’Brien Group Arena in Melbourne’s Docklands begins tonight.
“It’s the first time we’re trying the difficult throw triple lutz,” Coach Andrei Pachin said.
Winning the national pairs title would be another gong on the Windsor and Alexandrovskya’s list of fantastic achievements, as Windsor aims to become Australia’s first Indigenous Winter Olympian.
You can catch Harley and Katia on our livestream below at 9.10pm tonight with the short section of their program, with the free section scheduled for Wednesday at 9.10pm.
https://livestream.com/iceskatingvictoria
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