Photographs by Yoriko Suzuki
There’s one thing particular about sibling groups in ice dance, and for Austria’s Anita and Andreas Straub, that lifelong connection is on the coronary heart of their partnership. What began as a pandemic-era thought resulted in a high 10 end on the 2026 World Junior Championships. The Straubs are actually turning their focus towards the senior degree, bringing with them clear objectives, inventive ambition, and a way of id that feels fully their very own.
BACKGROUND & EARLY SKATING
What are your earliest recollections of skating—had been you each drawn to ice dance from the start? Did both of you attempt different skating disciplines earlier than committing to ice dance?
Anita: My very first reminiscence is standing on the ice at age 5 and clutching a cone for expensive life. I used to be not good in any respect! I used to be crying and so hopeless that my mother needed to step onto the ice in her sneakers simply to assist me transfer. I wasn’t drawn to ice dance straight away; I used to be a solo skater and had little interest in dance on the time. The turning level got here throughout my teenage years when my perspective fully modified as soon as I noticed that I can obtain extra success in ice dance.
Andy: I don’t fairly bear in mind my first steps on the ice, however what I do bear in mind clearly are the hockey battles and fixed fights for the puck. Once I later switched to determine skating, I began within the solo self-discipline. I had thought of ice dance earlier, however since I began the game at age ten—whereas everybody else had been skating since they had been 4—I wished to see what I might obtain by myself as a single skater first.
How did the concept of skating collectively first come about? What made you notice that skating collectively might work competitively?
It began throughout the Covid-19 pandemic when Andy break up along with his earlier companion, whereas he was searching for a brand new one. One skater was ready to come back from England, proper earlier than she got here our coaches got here up with an attention-grabbing thought. They urged we attempt skating collectively as siblings first. They wished to ensure Anita wouldn’t remorse lacking the possibility to skate along with her brother, particularly since male companions are so uncommon in ice dance and Anita knew that if she didn’t take this opportunity now, it’d by no means come up once more.
We clicked each personally and professionally proper from the beginning. We each had massive ambitions and noticed our future on this self-discipline for years to come back. The truth that we already knew one another as siblings helped immensely in our choice to commit totally.
What are the benefits of skating with somebody who is aware of you in addition to a sibling does? On the flip aspect, are there moments when being siblings makes coaching more difficult?
The largest benefit is certainly our communication and mutual belief. As a result of we spend a lot time collectively off the ice, our coaching course of may be very well-established, and we are able to attain agreements rapidly.
On the flip aspect the benefit can generally turn out to be an obstacle; spending a lot time collectively can often result in “cabin fever.” We reside collectively and journey in all places collectively, so generally there isn’t a lot area to take a break from each other.
Do you discover that communication on the ice is less complicated since you’ve recognized one another your complete lives?
Sure positively!! We’re greatest pals!!
The place are you at the moment coaching, and what does a typical coaching day seem like for you?
We practice at house in Vienna. Our day begins early: Andy will get up round 5:50 AM, and Anita at 6:00 AM. We go away by automotive collectively at 6:50 AM to begin our first on-ice session at 8:00 AM, which lasts about 1.5 hours. Afterward, we head house for a snack, learning, or relaxation. Our second two-hour session is at a unique rink round 12:30 PM. After having lunch collectively, we’ve free time from 4:00 PM onwards, which we use for off-ice coaching and extra learning. That is our routine from Monday to Friday.
Inform us about your coaches and choreographers. What do you want most about working with them?
Our head coach is Galina Churilova. We love her precision and her eye for each element; she helps our creativity and continuously brings new concepts for our enchancment. We simply love working along with her.
Our choreography is dealt with by the crew of Alexandra Narazova and Maksym Nikitin. We love exchanging concepts with them and attempting new, inventive issues. An enormous benefit is that they’ll show any elevate or transfer off the ice to assist us determine what matches greatest each bodily and musically.
What off-ice coaching or preparation has been notably useful to your improvement as a crew?
We have now off-ice classes with Galina, the place we do couple exercises targeted on lifts and legs. The primary focus is on energy and attaining excessive extension in our leg strains.
Inform us about your packages this season. What impressed your music decisions and total themes?
This season was a bit extra complicated as a result of we competed in each the Junior and Senior classes.
Rhythm Dance: We wished one thing unconventional to face out, as we knew most groups would select hip hop. Anita actually wished some Latin-American theme and as soon as the coaches noticed how Andy moved to Latin music, the selection was clear. A enjoyable truth is that the tune title “Maria” is Anita’s center identify.
Free Dance: Andy requested a calmer piece of music, and Anita added that it ought to have a transparent tempo with out lyrics. After final season’s La La Land, some suggestions urged it wasn’t at all times clear if we had been skating to the rhythm or the melody. So this yr, we wished it to be unambiguous, and the Amélie soundtrack was the proper alternative.
How do you method constructing your packages so that they really feel genuine as a sibling crew whereas nonetheless telling robust tales?
An important half for us is selecting a theme and visualizing what we wish to painting. By deciding on music that already has a narrative, the inventive course of turns into a lot simpler for us, and our choreography crew is aware of precisely what to construct.
How concerned are you within the choreography course of?
We’re very concerned. We often have the ultimate say when selecting music, although in fact our coaches and choreographers advise us on what is an efficient alternative. On the ice, all of us work collectively as a crew of 4 to construct this system.
Is there a specific aspect or part of your packages that you just really feel greatest represents your model as a crew?
This yr, we really feel our choreo steps within the Rhythm Dance and the PST symbolize us effectively. Within the Free Dance, we actually just like the opening transition aspect and the choreo spinning motion on the finish.
Which components do you get pleasure from performing probably the most in competitors?
Anita particularly enjoys the stepsequence within the RD and the OFT within the FD, whereas Andy loves the RD choreo, particularly when making eye contact with the viewers. He additionally likes the OFT within the FD.
