The Kingsgate Skating Club is excited to wish Ashley Wu good luck for her performances at the Horsetooth Open collegiate competition this weekend! Ashley has been a long-time member of the Kingsgate Skating Club and now is a figure skating instructor at the SnoKing Kirkland arena, as well as a US Figure Skating trial judge. She will be competing in the Intermediate Team Maneuvers and Senior Solo Free Dance events, representing the figure skating team at the University of Washington.
Ashley sustains her passion for figure skating through the motivation she gains as a part of the collegiate team at the UW, which she founded in her freshman year. “We are constantly pushing each other and motivating each other to get better,” Ashley shares, “I also think that coaching has increased my passion for figure skating. I am constantly motivated by my students’ hard work and I also want to inspire them through my skating and teaching. Lastly, challenging myself and having new programs has sustained my passion for figure skating. Knowing that there is always something to learn keeps me engaged is always valuable, and having new music always inspires me.”
Continuing to pursue figure skating during college presents a unique but rewarding challenge to any athlete. Ashley states, “So far it has definitely been a lot of trial and error, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I like keeping a list in my Notes app of all my class assignments and club duties for UW Figure Skating and UW Phi Alpha Delta. I am someone who likes to plan, so planning out my schedule each week with when I am going to practice, times for keeping everything organized with the team, assignments, etc. really help me stay on top of everything. Having a set schedule every week with coaching, class times, and practice times has been one of my strategies to successfully balance everything while enjoying college life. Communication is also key, especially during the collegiate competition season!”
At the Kingsgate Skating Club, we strive to share our love for our sport to expand the skating community. Every skater enjoys different aspects of the sport, and Ashley finds joy in performing and meeting new friends. “I love getting to embrace new music and rhythms while portraying different characters/emotions on the ice,” she states, “Specifically with ice dance, I love getting to try out new styles, especially ones outside my comfort zone! Additionally, meeting new people through practice, our UW collegiate team, and competitions is so enjoyable and something that continues my love for the sport!
