by Anne Calder | Pictures by Daphne Backman
Rylen Lukanin and Patrick O’Brien have shared the ice enviornment at Montclair State College in New Jersey for greater than a decade. First it was the Be taught to Skate program starting after they have been three and 4 years outdated after which as companions two years later.
Neither truly remembers the primary time they laced up a pair of skates.
“I don’t bear in mind, however I’ve heard many tales,” Lukanin stated. “My mother spent hours placing me in layers so I used to be heat. Then she laced up my skates. I skated for 5 minutes, didn’t assume a lot of it, and stated I used to be carried out.”
“My reminiscence is just about the identical,” O’Brien added. “I do bear in mind chasing folks round. It was actually enjoyable, and it felt actually good.”
The crew is coached by Rylen’s mother and father, Kristen Frazier-Lukanin and Igor Lukanin.
THE BEGINNING
The children first competed as a pre-juvenile crew on the 2019 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships. Sadly, Covid-19 interrupted their skating schedules. Rinks have been closed and competitions have been cancelled.
After two years, Lukanin & O’Brien lastly made their official juvenile debut on the 2021 Dallas Cannon Basic. The crew accomplished on the Intermediate stage for one season (2023-2024) previous to transferring to Novice. On the 2026 Ice Dance Last in Henderson, Nevada, the crew earned the novice ice dance title. They adopted it up with one other win on the 2026 U.S. Nationwide Championships.
MOVING ON UP
The duo launched their 2026-2027 season transfer to Juniors in July on the Dallas Basic. Two weeks later they competed on the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships.
In late August, the couple traveled to Riga, Latvia for his or her first ISU Junior Grand Prix competitors.
“I used to be extra excited than nervous as a result of it was our first time, so I used to be having fun with the expertise,” Lukanin stated. “We all the time go sightseeing, and that’s one factor that helps as a result of I’m not trapped within the resort room overthinking it. We received plenty of souvenirs, went to dinner, then noticed all of the native surroundings.”
O’Brien added, “I used to be fairly nervous as a result of it was our first JGP. A lot of the guys within the locker room have been enjoyable to be round. I’m buddies with all of them now. I additionally went to the outdated city and shopped.”
Sadly their baggage was misplaced, in order that they wanted to buy some additional new outfits.
The crew’s subsequent problem is to compete on the U.S. Nationwide Championships in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, in January. First, they have to qualify on the Ice Dance Last in Bloomfield Hills, MI in mid-November.
Lukanin shared her ideas concerning the challenges they’ve confronted transferring to the upper stage.
“In juniors, it’s getting used to the longer applications. The Rhythm Dance is totally different in comparison with the Sample Dances. In any other case it’s the identical, and I nonetheless love each dances.”
MUSIC & PROGRAMS
Rylen normally joins the group dialog that discusses and chooses the music for the crew. She advised the ultimate piece for Depraved, the crew’s 2025-2026 Free Dance.
Kaitlyn Weaver choreographed this season’s Rhythm Dance that incorporates a Ragtime theme set to the monitor “New Music” from the musical Ragtime.
The Free Dance music is from the film, Titanic, choreographed by Igor Lukanin. Because the dancers are 13 and fourteen, the film’s love focus was modified to a extra applicable age-level theme.
Within the movie, the main characters sneak right down to the third stage to get pleasure from grownup social dancing.
Within the free dance, Lukanin and O’Brien as a substitute ask, So Do You Wish to Go to a Actual Celebration and invite all the younger passengers to fortunately dance collectively on the Titanic’s deck.
The Choreographic Step Sequence consists of an upbeat, conventional Irish jig that additional accents youth and innocence.
“Our Choreo Step is just like the spotlight of this system,” smiled Lukanin. “Doing the Irish step dancing is meant to be all the children dancing and having fun with a brand new Titanic whereas having an exquisite, glad expertise.”
This system reaches an emotional climax with the dancer’s choreographic slide throughout the ice into their very own closing Titanic pose as Lukanin holds O’Brien and appears as much as the heavens one closing time.
WATCHING SENIORS COMPETE
Each Lukanin and O’Brien get pleasure from watching senior dance groups and studying from them.
“I like watching the competitions,” Lukanin stated. “My dad and I sit on the coach and watch all of the seniors collectively. I like Madison Chock and Evan Bates “thread the needle” transfer.”
O’Brien added, “I watch the senior competitions on my own on the sofa, too. My favourite senior transfer is Olivia Sensible and Tim Dieck’s overhead carry from the Dune program.”
If given the chance, each would select Madison Chock & Evan Bates to provide them a personal lesson. Lukanin says they’re her favourite crew; O’Brien likes their artistry
SCHOOL / HOBBIES
O’Brien is homeschooled and his favourite topic is ELA (English Language Arts). At present his prime pastime is taking part in video video games. After skating, he thinks he’d wish to be a physician.
Lukanin switched to a brand new personal college final yr. Like her accomplice, English Language Arts is her favourite class topic. She enjoys writing and studying if it’s a very good guide. Her hobbies embrace baking, cooking, drawing, portray and bedazzling. To date there’s no dream profession, though teaching runs within the household.
EXTRA POINTS
Rylen Lukanin has a canine named Louisiana who runs away each probability she will get. If she goes to doggy care, she runs residence. In Riga, Rylen was actually excited to strive Latvian delicacies.
Patrick O’Brien has three older sisters. Anna is an ice dancer and represents Azerbaijan.
Brooke Tufts, worldwide solo gold medalist recorded the interview from questions provided by IDC. Afterwards, she made a prediction:
“Rylen goes to be a meals connoisseur in the future. She’s going to be writing about all the brand new eating places in NYC, and she or he’ll take me along with her so I can strive them too.”
FUN QUESTIONS
What’s your favourite ice cream taste? Why?
O’Brien: “Cookie Dough as a result of I just like the cookie chunks.
Lukanin: “Chocolate as a result of it’s a great traditional, and vanilla is boring.
Do you may have a favourite sport aside from skating? Do you cheer for a favourite crew?
O’Brien: “My favourite different sport is American soccer. I’ve been a New York Jets fan for 12-13 years – since I’ve been alive. I dwell close to them.”
For those who weren’t coaching inside an ice rink, what can be your favourite factor to do?
Lukanin: “My favourite factor can be consuming, however that’s actually not an exercise. I like meals as a result of it’s so good. So perhaps it might be baking.”
O’Brien: “I’d play American Soccer…and likewise fish.”
What place that you simply’ve by no means been would you want to go to?
Lukanin: “France! France! France! I’m studying the French language in class. I’ve all the time wished to see the Eiffel Tower. Additionally, everyone says the meals is so good there.”
O’Brien: “Spain! I identical to all of the vacationer spots, so I need to go there.”
What well-known particular person would you want to fulfill? What query would you wish to ask them?
Lukanin: “I’d ask Witney Carson from Dancing With The Stars why she took up dancing and what made her fall in love with it.”
O’Brien: “Mine goes to be a soccer one. I’d ask Antonio Brown why he bumped into the punter together with his cleats and hit him within the face.”
Describe your partnership with one phrase.
O”Brien: Exhausting – “All the coaching we do is de facto exhausting. I actually can’t elaborate on exhausting.”
Lukanin: Rollercoaster – “ It’s all the time thrilling and enjoyable. We make one another snigger. We wish to expertise every part collectively – like going to new locations.”
