Braemar recently had their 50th annual ice show. The skaters worked diligently for months preparing for their rigorous routines. The performance featured everything from beginners to advanced senior skaters. I had the chance to catch up with Edina High School Juniors Payton Puerzer and Julia Eckberg about skating in this performance.

Zephyrus: What was your favorite number to skate to?

Payton Puerzer: I enjoyed skating with my father in the father daughter skating number. It was fun to pull him around and see him struggle to keep up with me as I was skating.

Julia Eckberg: The senior high number was my favorite because i got to mess around and have fun skating with my friends.

Z: What was the most challenging thing preparing for this show?

PP: The most challenging thing in preparing for the ice show was balancing practice and my homework.

JE: Two weeks before the show opens we have lots of rehearsals so you are at rehearsal from when school lets out at nine almost every night in preparation.

Z: How many years have you been skating?

PP: Probably eight or nine years.

JE: I started skating classes in kindergarten so it’s been a while.

Z: What advice do you have for people new to skating?

PP: Don’t fall over.

JE: Stick with it. It gets so much more fun when you get older.

Z: What is your favorite part of the Skating Show?

JE: When they are playing the national anthem and we are all behind the curtain singing really badly.

PP: Watching everyone’s skating abilities improve from year to year.