Skating picture by Robin Ritoss. Banner picture by Daphne Backman
For the following entry in our New Crew Sequence, we meet Anna O’Brien & Drake Tong, junior ice dancers who symbolize Azerbaijan. They’re coached by Kristen Fraser, Igor Lukanin, Ania Zadorozhniuk. You may observe them on their crew Instagram @teamobrientong_aze.
Inform us about your particular person skating journeys, together with any early particular reminiscences.
Anna: My skating journey has taken many various turns and has formed a lot of who I’m as we speak. I at present skate for Azerbaijan, which has been a really significant step in my profession. Representing Azerbaijan has additionally given me the chance to study the language and construct a deeper connection to the tradition, and competing internationally beneath its flag has been an essential a part of my improvement as an athlete. Balancing skating and faculty was a giant a part of my upbringing. For a number of years, I used to be homeschooled so I might focus extra severely on coaching, with early morning practices, schoolwork in between, and afternoon or full-day coaching classes. One among my earliest particular reminiscences got here after I was eight years previous at my first out-of-state competitors in Lake Placid. I competed in ice dance with my coach and received a silver medal, and it was the primary time I really felt like a skater. Being in such a historic venue and standing on the rostrum made the game really feel actual in a brand new method, and it’s a second I nonetheless bear in mind clearly.
Drake: Skating has been a defining a part of my life since I first stepped onto the ice on the age of six. Whereas I grew up enjoying a wide range of sports activities—together with journey lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and baseball—I in the end realized that skating was the self-discipline I needed to pursue on the highest degree. By the point I used to be ten, I started coaching with better intention, committing to early-morning practices earlier than college and sustaining a structured schedule that allowed me to steadiness each teachers and athletics.
Among the many many significant moments all through my journey, one expertise stands out most: successful the preliminary sample dance nationwide title throughout my first aggressive season. That achievement bolstered my worth of exhausting work and dedication, and it helped form the work ethic and mindset that proceed to information me as we speak.
What drew you to ice dance?
Anna: I used to be drawn to ice dance as a result of it felt like the most effective match for me from the start. I used to be by no means a giant fan of jumps, and I cherished the thought of skating with a associate. I bear in mind telling my coaches that I needed to skate with a boy, and since they had been former Olympic skaters, they actually understood that intuition and helped information me towards ice dance.
As quickly as I began studying sample dances, all the things clicked. I really like the deal with skating expertise, musicality, and connection in ice dance, and it feels extra pure to me than the rest I had tried. From the primary few sample dances I realized, I knew ice dance was the proper path for me.
Drake: To me, ice dance represented a novel type of free expression and was genuinely charming to observe. Seeing skaters work in good unison whereas every crew introduced its personal individuality and interpretation to the choreography was fascinating. That mixture of precision, artistry, and expression is what drew me to the self-discipline and solidified my determination to pursue ice dance.
Anna: I first competed in solo dance in 2019, alongside associate dance. Throughout that point, I competed solo dance whereas additionally skating associate occasions, together with mixed occasions and sample dance occasions, which helped me achieve helpful aggressive expertise and additional develop my skating expertise. After that, I took a break from solo dance to focus solely on associate skating. Final yr, I returned to solo dance and competed internationally whereas I used to be on the lookout for one other associate. That interval was particularly significant after break day attributable to shoulder surgical procedure, because it introduced me again into competitors and jogged my memory why I really like the game. I competed in occasions in Poland and Italy proper earlier than my tryout with Drake, and the expertise gave me confidence and momentum transferring ahead.
Drake: Competing in solo dance was an extremely helpful and rewarding expertise. Taking part in each worldwide sample dance and senior solo dance whereas skating partnered, allowed me to refine my particular person expertise and develop a stronger private fashion that I used to be in a position to carry into my associate skating. A few of my proudest accomplishments embrace successful the gold medal in sample dance at solo dance nationals in addition to medaling a number of years at worldwide sample dance nationals.
As well as, my first yr competing in solo mixed started on the senior degree, which offered a totally new problem. Transitioning immediately into senior with out prior expertise in solo mixed was a big step, nevertheless it proved to be among the best choices I’ve made in my skating profession. Incomes a number of top-10 finishes at senior solo dance nationals whereas balancing sample dance and associate dance was demanding, but deeply fulfilling. I’m extraordinarily pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish, and I’d not change that have for something.
Solo dance has performed a significant position in my improvement as a skater, and stepping away from it for the primary time this yr was a bittersweet second.
How did solo dance put together you for competing as a crew?
Anna: Solo dance performed a giant position in making ready me to compete as a part of a crew once more. It pushed me to take full accountability for my skating as a result of with no associate to depend on, I needed to be very conscious of my very own approach and presentation, which helped strengthen my fundamentals. Solo dance additionally constructed my confidence in competitors, which helped me really feel extra snug and composed when returning to crew occasions.
Drake: Solo dance performed a vital position in serving to me establish my strengths and areas for progress as a person skater. Via that have, I gained a deeper understanding of my skating fashion and constructed a robust technical and creative basis that I proceed to develop as we speak. With a transparent consciousness of my ability set, I’m now in a position to talk successfully with my associate and coaches about my property and areas for enchancment, permitting us to work extra effectively and proceed refining my craft.
Inform us how your partnership began. Describe the tryout.
Anna: My facet of the partnership actually started throughout a transitional interval for each of us. I used to be nonetheless within the strategy of returning again to competitors after break day. What stood out to me was how productive the session was. We had been in a position to cowl lots in a brief period of time, and the communication on the ice was clear and environment friendly. I left the tryout feeling motivated and inspired, with a way that this was a partnership price persevering with and growing.
Drake: The partnership started after I was returning to the game after taking a private break from skating, and Krigor organized the tryouts. From the very starting, the tryout felt pure—our synchronization got here collectively rapidly and easily. What stood out most to me, nevertheless, was the extent of effort and dedication we each introduced into that single hour on the ice. Having been away from skating for a while, that have reignited my ardour for aggressive skating virtually instantly.
Past our connection on the ice, we additionally found that we shared related priorities off the ice. Each of us are full-time honors faculty college students with robust educational targets, which additional strengthened our compatibility as companions. With so many shared values and aspirations, I knew we’d be capable of assist each other and thrive collectively. From the beginning, it felt like the right match.
Drake: One of the stunning issues I realized about Anna is that she is fluent in seven languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, German, and Azerbaijani.
What experiences do every of you deliver to the partnership?
Anna: I’ve an Azerbaijan passport, which permits us to compete for Azerbaijan each nationally and internationally. Throughout a break from the ice, I additionally gained expertise trial judging ice dance, which provided a unique perspective on the game and helped deepen my understanding of technical particulars and efficiency requirements. I’ve additionally served because the crew chief for the Azerbaijan crew on the World Championships in Boston final yr, which allowed me to construct connections inside the sport and higher perceive how groups are supported in worldwide competitors.
Drake: I consider I deliver a robust sense of positivity to the crew, as I worth happiness as a core element of a profitable partnership. By sustaining optimistic morale, I assist create an surroundings that encourages open, snug communication, permitting us to handle challenges successfully and proceed rising collectively as a crew.
What has been the largest adjustment for every of you to this point within the partnership?
Anna: For me, the largest adjustment has been studying methods to construct consistency as a brand new crew whereas nonetheless determining one another’s habits and preferences on the ice. On the similar time, balancing the calls for of a brand new partnership with being a full-time faculty scholar has been difficult. Managing coaching, journey, and teachers required numerous group, nevertheless it’s additionally helped us grow to be extra intentional and environment friendly in how we work collectively.
Drake: The largest adjustment for me was studying to steadiness skating with the calls for of school life. Early on, commuting over an hour every method for coaching earlier than lessons—particularly throughout my first yr of driving—was difficult. Over time, nevertheless, it grew to become a constant and manageable routine constructed on self-discipline and dedication, in the end resulting in optimistic and profitable outcomes.
What’s it that you simply already like most about dancing together with your new associate?
Anna: One factor I already admire lots about skating with Drake is his optimistic perspective and open-mindedness. He’s at all times open to attempting new issues or making adjustments, which makes the coaching course of a lot simpler and extra productive. He additionally works extremely exhausting, and that dedication units a robust tone for our partnership.
Due to that mindset, we’re in a position to preserve issues pleasurable even on lengthy or difficult days. His power makes it simple to remain motivated, and we will at all times discover a method to have enjoyable on the ice whereas nonetheless getting the work executed.
Drake: Within the brief 5 months now we have been skating collectively, the standard I love most about skating with Anna is her perseverance. Regardless of dealing with a number of accidents comparable to herniated discs, sciatica, scoliosis, Bertolotti’s Syndrome, and a torn labrum within the shoulder she constantly demonstrates resilience and dedication, by no means permitting setbacks to decrease her dedication or drive.
Inform us about your coaching web site.
Drake: We prepare at Montclair State College Ice Area. We take Hip Hop lessons, Ballet lessons, Ballroom lessons, Lyrical lessons, Jazz lessons, Edge lessons on the rink
Our choreographers had been Kaitlyn Weaver (RD) and Igor Lukanin (FD and RD). Our music is organized by Hugo (Chouinard).
Anna: Kaitlyn has been very keen to assist and introduced a optimistic, encouraging method to the method, which made the expertise particularly pleasurable and productive.
Drake: I met Kaitlyn for the primary time this season, and she or he is probably the most energetic and passionate choreographer I’ve ever labored with. From the very starting, her first query was, “What tips are you able to do?” For the following thirty minutes, we jumped, spun, and experimented with artistic acrobatics, which in the end impressed a spotlight second in our rhythm dance—a choreographic cease that includes a break up and a cartwheel.
When you might have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who would it not be? Why?
Anna: I’d select Tessa Advantage. She’s broadly identified for her distinctive edge high quality, pace, and management, in addition to her means to take care of robust posture and readability of motion all through a whole program. Her skating at all times appears to be like grounded and environment friendly, even in troublesome transitions.
Drake: Gage Brown has been a big supply of inspiration for me. Having beforehand skilled alongside Inese and Joel, I used to be constantly motivated by his skating. His ability set is outlined by a definite and distinctive fashion, one which I aspire to develop and embody in my very own skating profession.
What have been your greatest challenges?
Anna: My greatest challenges have been coping with accidents over time. I’ve had a number of again points, in addition to accidents from falls, together with needing stitches after falling on a elevate and sustaining a concussion. Working by means of these setbacks has been troublesome, however they’ve taught me persistence and methods to method coaching extra thoughtfully.
Drake: The largest challenges we confronted concerned overcoming accidents on either side. Recovering from bone bruises, again sprains, and even an unintended blade harm that resulted in a lower slightly below my eye had been among the many most troublesome obstacles to beat. Working by means of these setbacks required resilience, persistence, and a robust dedication from each of us.
Inform us about your competitions to this point this season.
Anna: Our season started in Lake Placid, which was our debut as a crew. We had been nonetheless very new collectively and undoubtedly nervous, nevertheless it was an essential first step in gaining competitors expertise and understanding the place we would have liked to enhance.
By the point we competed at Problem Cup, we felt extra settled and assured in our skating. That momentum continued into our Junior Grand Prix in Baku, which was particularly significant because it occurred in Azerbaijan. Competing there felt very particular and gave us an additional increase of motivation.
Our competitors in Hungary marked one other step ahead, as we skated with extra confidence and consistency. That occasion was significantly essential for us, because it’s the place we certified for the World Championships, making it a significant milestone in our season.
Drake: From Lake Placid to Hungary, now we have seen vital progress as a brand new crew and are very pleased with the progress now we have made. Enhancing our complete rating from 93 in Lake Placid to 126 in Hungary has bolstered that our coaching, dedication, and path are transferring us alongside the proper trajectory.
What’s one phrase that greatest describes your partnership?
Anna: Evolving
Drake: Adaptable
Anna, your brother Patrick is a novice ice dancer. How do you assist one another?
Patrick and I assist one another in a really pure method. Since we’re each ice dancers, we perceive the ups and downs that include coaching and competing, which makes it simple to speak issues by means of and provides trustworthy recommendation.We additionally typically get to journey to competitions collectively, which has been actually particular. Sharing these experiences makes the method extra pleasurable and helps preserve issues in perspective. Having somebody in my household who really understands the game has been very significant, and we inspire one another just by going by means of it collectively.
What’s every of you wanting ahead to most concerning the the rest of the season?
The 2026 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
