On Ice Images by Yoriko Suzuki
Germany’s Alexia Kruk & Jan Eisenhaber are rising as a group to observe following a standout 2025–26 season that included sturdy Junior Grand Prix performances and an eighth-place end on the World Junior Championships. IDC just lately spoke to the duo about their partnership, accomplishments and extra.
Tell us about your particular person skating journeys, together with any early particular reminiscences.
Alexia Kruk (AK): I began determine skating after I was 5 years outdated. I don’t fairly keep in mind how and why, as no person in my household had something to do with determine skating earlier than. What lots of people don’t learn about me is that my mother and father come from Kazakhstan, and my dad used to play soccer there. They actually needed me to do some type of sport as effectively earlier than I went to high school. I had no intention of skating. Apparently, I favored it a lot that I simply stored going and my love and keenness to the game continued to develop.
Jan Eisenhaber (JE): I first stepped onto the ice after I was two and a half years outdated. My mother was a skater till her mid-teenage years, and she or he began skating once more as a passion. She usually took me to the rink along with her. At first, I didn’t actually get pleasure from skating myself — I largely favored being on the rink and watching the opposite skaters, however I stored wanting to return time and again. Over time, I began skating extra and started to essentially get pleasure from it. I initially began in singles skating and entered a sports activities faculty in first grade.
AK: I used to be all the time okay at leaping, however by no means the perfect. I used to be actually good at interpretation, dancing, feeling the rhythm and the music, in order that has all the time been my power. I’m not shy in any respect in relation to this. At first, I by no means actually thought of doing ice dance.
JE: I began ice dance in third grade. My jumps by no means actually labored effectively, however my former coach all the time stated that I used to be excellent with steps and turns and that my skating abilities had been stronger than these of many different skaters on this age. Due to that, she beneficial that I attempt ice dance. For about half a yr I skilled each singles and ice dance, after which I lastly determined to totally swap to ice dance. Having somebody subsequent to me on the ice and sharing the identical ardour and pleasure made it way more enjoyable for me. Wanting again, I really feel that it was the perfect determination.
AK: I nonetheless keep in mind my first competitors in ice dance. I by no means favored competing in singles. It was all the time actually disturbing. In ice dance, it was fully totally different. I loved each second and you can inform that I used to be free. That’s after I realized I made the correct determination and searching again wouldn’t have executed it any otherwise. In fact, you have got these large targets like going to the Olympics in the future while you’re little, however I believe most youngsters don’t understand what it actually means and what sort of work you need to put in it. In actuality, I’d’ve by no means dreamed of touring the entire world for this sport as a result of it sounded so unreal. I don’t even assume my household imagined this. We needed to compete on the World Junior Championships for such a very long time and after we lastly made it, the sensation of skating there and the entire course of earlier than and through is actually indescribable and I’m actually grateful for this life.
How did the 2 of you first determine to group up, and what do you keep in mind about your first tryout collectively?
AK: I used to be nonetheless in singles skating. Jan’s former ice dance coach in Berlin reached out to me to check out for ice dance, so I gave it a attempt. Each of us don’t keep in mind loads from our first tryout really which is type of humorous. We had been fairly younger nonetheless. I believe I used to be 11 and Jan was 13.
JE: I used to be skating for one yr alone and I had some tryouts as a result of I used to be searching for a accomplice, however not one of the tryouts actually labored out. I do not forget that my former coach prompt to do the tryout with Alexia as a result of she was actually good in acting on the ice. I don’t actually have one other reminiscence of the tryout. It simply labored effectively.
AK: The one factor I keep in mind is that I actually didn’t need to skate with a boy. It was the age the place I simply didn’t need to contact boys or need to have a look at boys, so the primary tryout I type of felt like this. I stored on attempting and acquired used to it fairly shortly. Jan and I grew to become good associates. Just a few days after, it was determined that we’re going to skate collectively. I used to be actually nervous and was terrified of doing one thing improper as a result of he already had some expertise and I simply needed to be adequate. I considered him as a extremely good skater already.
When did you begin to really feel just like the partnership really “clicked”?
AK: We’ve all the time had a fairly good partnership and as you grow old it additionally will get nearer and also you develop a friendship. In Superior Novice, I believe we had been about 14 and 16, we already had the bottom of a partnership after which as you get older you additionally begin to develop and it begins to click on. It’s like a transition that you could’t even actually really feel. Additionally, particularly final season after the Junior Grand Prix, we grew even nearer and began working higher collectively and really understanding the worth of the partnership. I believe that’s the reason this season has additionally been so profitable for us.
What do you want most about skating together with your accomplice?
AK: For me, it’s fairly easy, you by no means really feel alone. You all the time have someone that you understand has your again. It’s only a particular feeling that skating with a accomplice offers you. Additionally, Jan could be very caring and I can belief him with every thing. It’s simply good to know that you simply all the time have someone with you.
JE: I prefer to skate with someone subsequent to me as a result of then we will push one another. Particularly as a result of she is a tremendous dancer, she may help me loads with some actions much more and get the perfect strikes out of me.
Inform us about your coaches and choreographers.
AK: Stefano Caruso and Robynne Tweedale are our two fundamental coaches. We’re very shut. it’s like our little skating household. They’re each fairly totally different. Stefano’s Italian you may actually really feel it on the ice. Additionally, he’s a technical specialist so he pays plenty of consideration on the technical elements, the turns, the important thing factors, the degrees. Robynne can also be our choreographer so we do plenty of arm and physique actions along with her. She’s there for the small print and to essentially clear it up.
JE: Most of this yr’s choreo was made by Robynne. Within the rhythm dance, she had some assist from Stefano Ati, a dancer and a visitor coach.
AK: We labored plenty of arm actions with him. He did our starting, our cease half and he additionally choreographed our ending.
JE: Stefano Ati was there for all the small print within the rhythm dance. Within the free dance, Robynne did the choreo. She had some assist from Matthew Gates. He did some methods and components of the start.
AK: Some transitions we additionally did with Matthew. In fact all through the season we swap up some issues. We develop the choreography, however primarily we do it with Robynne. All year long totally different visitor coaches additionally come to Berlin. We work loads with Catherine Papadakis, the mom of Gabriella. Jimmy Younger can also be a part of our group. He got here loads this yr, particularly. Earlier than the Junior Worlds, we skilled with Olga Rabinina who got here to Berlin proper earlier than the Junior Worlds.
JE: Stefano (Caruso) could be very related and he tries to provide us the chance to work with all of the totally different coaches as a result of all people has a special view and concepts about skating and dancing. We attempt every thing and in the long run we will select what works the perfect for us and we like probably the most. We have now loads of alternatives to decide on the perfect for our performances.
AK: To me, it’s additionally attention-grabbing to see the totally different kinds every coach has. Additionally they have totally different personalities and the way they deal with conditions on the ice and off the ice too. We actually like working with totally different coaches all through the season.
The place are you at the moment coaching, and what does a typical coaching day seem like for you?
JE: We’re at the moment coaching in Berlin. We don’t actually have a typical day as a result of day by day is barely totally different due to Alexia’s faculty. We have now two classes every day – morning and night, so it’s switching between apply and college for Alexia. We additionally exercise three 4 occasions every week. We’re on the ice day by day for about 4 hours no less than.
AK: As a result of I’m nonetheless in class, we have now to search out the time to make it work collectively. Jan is in college, that’s why it’s a bit simpler. He has extra freedom, so he can adapt the occasions when he desires to apply and when he desires to check. For me, the occasions are set for college. That’s why it’s extra as much as me how we will prepare. Moreover, within the off season, we do ballet, dancing and stretching, so it actually additionally relies on what time of the yr it’s.
What elements of ice dance did you deal with probably the most this season—technical parts, efficiency high quality, or one thing else?
AK: We needed to enhance our primary skating, so we labored loads on primary skating high quality to point out this in applications to get greater elements. Moreover, we labored on higher physique actions and unison and connection this season.
JE: Stefano (Caruso) is an enormous fan of the dance Lindy Hop. We had some classes of Lindy Hopp particularly within the low season. It’s a dance the place there’s no steps which are set. You simply have one chief and one follower, so you may apply main and in addition following. The chief can determine which steps he likes to do and also you simply attempt to comply with and really feel the music collectively.
Inform us about your applications this season. What impressed your music selections and general themes?
AK: For the rhythm dance, we used to do a latin free dance again in superior novice. It labored very effectively and suited us and in addition was actually enjoyable. Robynne got here up with the concept to do a latin rhythm dance this season. Once we heard that it was the 90s theme, we immediately considered Ricky Martin as a result of he’s actually well-known and his songs are actually actually cool, so it was fairly simple with the rhythm dance music. We selected “Maria” and “La Copa de la Vida.”
We selected the music fairly quick, so we had it fairly early within the season. We needed to do a slower half for the Rhumba/Fast Step as a result of we thought it’s going to be a slower rhythm and in addition to change up the rhythm slightly bit. We selected “Maria Maria” from Santana as a result of it additionally matched the latin theme and was extra of a Rhumba feeling. Then they determined to alter the timing for the sample dance so it’s on quicker music, however we didn’t need to hand over the Santana half. That’s why we determined to make it slightly bit shorter, however nonetheless hold it for the transition and carry as a result of we actually like this music.
JE: Within the free dance we attempt to do a special fashion of music yearly. We had already skated an indian program, tango program and final yr we had the music from the film Billy Elliot. This yr, our aim was to point out magnificence on the ice. That’s why we selected a extra lyrical melancholic one. We needed to point out our strains and magnificence and good high quality primary skating.
AK: Our coaches got here up with Chilly Play and we favored the concept. The primary half was additionally set fairly early within the season. We had some hassle with music for the second half, however then “Repair You” was a extremely good selection as a result of it had a ‘lifting up’ second in direction of the tip of the free dance.
How concerned are you within the choreography course of?
JE: We get concepts from our choreographers after which we attempt the steps and determine how we really feel with them and hold or change them. We’re all the time open to adjusting them the entire season and so as to add extra particulars. Additionally, if we have now a cool concept or we discover one thing particular, we present them and discuss placing it within the choreo someplace.
Did you set any targets for this season and in that case, what had been they?
JE: Our targets had been to begin the season earlier to be higher ready for the Junior Grand Prix. That’s why we did the Lake Placid Worldwide. We needed to depart a great impression on the Junior Grand Prix collection as final season it was not so nice for us. We additionally needed to gather some world rating factors. One other aim was to turn out to be German nationwide junior champions this yr. Our final large aim was to compete at Junior Worlds and to make the highest 10 there.
What have been a few of the greatest classes you’ve realized from competing internationally?
AK: As we’re a pair that additionally skilled plenty of downs with some ups, the most important lesson is that you simply actually should additionally take one other perspective on it. You possibly can’t let every thing come so deeply to you as a result of it actually kills you from the within. You simply should take the expertise and be taught from it. That’s what really helped us to come back to the purpose the place we had been in a position to exhibit what we will do, particularly this season within the Junior Grand Prix and in addition Junior Worlds. Additionally, it’s not in your palms how the rating goes to come back out, so you actually have to simply present your greatest and be taught to be joyful despite the fact that it’s not all the time good.
Is there a contest efficiency that stands out as a breakthrough second for you as a group (to date)?
JE: We each fairly shortly considered the Junior Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi this season as a result of it simply felt actually good to carry out there. We had a fairly good efficiency and we acquired good factors, so general it was a pleasant expertise there. We additionally got here very near the rostrum and that proved us that we’re on the correct path in coaching and on the whole as a pair.
AK: Coming so near the rostrum was additionally some type of additional motivation that okay we will really make it, in order that’s type of additionally our aim subsequent season. It additionally confirmed us that regardless of errors the work that we did on high quality skating paid off as a result of we acquired really fairly good factors and positioned fairly excessive.
You completed eighth on the 2026 World Junior Championships, did you have got a aim heading into this occasion?
AK: Our aim was to make the highest 10 and we acquired eighth, which was truthfully fairly surprising. We had two stable performances. Although there have been small errors, I believe we’re very proud and joyful. I believe we’ve by no means been this nervous earlier than in any competitors, so you can actually really feel the nerves and dealing with the nerves is one thing that’s not talked about loads. We’re proud that we earned two spots for Germany and can hopefully be competing subsequent yr in Sofia as effectively.
What do you are taking out of your performances there to assist push you for subsequent season?
JE: We take from them that we don’t assume an excessive amount of earlier than the skate as a result of there’ll by no means be an ideal efficiency. We simply should get pleasure from each second on the ice as we step on it and provides every thing we have now even with plenty of nerves. We are able to go into the competitions subsequent season and be a bit extra relaxed, in order that we will get pleasure from it much more.
When you might have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who would it not be? Why?
JE: It will be Guillaume (Cizeron) due to his wonderful skating abilities so i want to a lesson with him.
AK: I immediately thought of Charlie White. To me, he’s one of many best skaters of all time. All of the loopy stuff that he did with Meryl i simply would actually love him to show us one thing or give us some methods and insights.
What’s one phrase that greatest describes your partnership?
AK: If we needed to describe our partnership in a single phrase it will be continuity as a result of we simply have been skating collectively for such a very long time. Regardless of every thing we’ve been via with the ups and downs, the dangerous occasions, the nice occasions, all of the experiences, we’re nonetheless right here collectively. We’re excited to see what’s going to occur sooner or later. We’re a robust couple that sticks collectively it doesn’t matter what and we’ve confirmed that.
Observe Alexia Kruk & Jan Eisenhaber on their particular person and group Instagram accounts.
