Gliding effortlessly on a sheet of ice, Victoria Niu, ‘26, demonstrates both precision and power. Niu competes in ice skating, even though WHHS does not have an organized team. She has cultivated her ice skating skills over time, and her love for the sport has grown tremendously.
“One of my favorite things is the feeling of stepping on a clean sheet of ice and taking my warmup laps; it’s such an invigorating feeling, especially after a long day of school,” Niu said.
Many people aren’t aware that there are many different types of ice skating. There’s figure skating, which is what takes place in the Olympics, synchronized skating, ice dancing and more. Niu performs both as an ice dancer and a synchronized ice skater with the Team Precision Edge. Synchronized skating consists of a maximum of 16 people and includes different techniques like intersecting elements, disconnected and travel elements. Niu and her team compete in 4-5 competitions a season. They have placed second and fifth in previous competitions and have two more coming up.
“This weekend I’m driving up to Chicago to compete at Synchro Illinois, and then in two weeks we’re going to sectionals [2025 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectionals] to see if we can compete for a high enough placing for nationals,” Niu said.
Niu has been skating for a decade now. She started at age six because her mom enjoyed watching figure skating and decided to enroll her in public sessions. Later, Niu moved on to taking formal skating classes. Ice skating has always been something a part of Niu’s life, evolving from a hobby into a passion.
“It’s something that I’ve been doing for so long [that] I find it fun now because I’ve passed
all my levels and now I just do it for the sake of doing it,” Niu said.
Balancing academics with sports can be difficult, but Niu has a well-structured routine. She’s been skating for so long that it’s now part of her daily schedule, so she doesn’t struggle with managing school and sports.
“I have a really defined schedule; normally in a week I practice 2-3 times in a solo session for an hour to an hour and a half,” Niu said. “With my schedule, I’m able to allow time for schoolwork in between that. I’ve been doing it for so long that it just happens.”
Niu is also grateful for the support of her parents, who have helped her pursue her ice skating career.
“My parents have sacrificed so much to get me to practice and for me to be able to skate for this long; it’s definitely super hard,” Niu said.
Though she is still completing this season, Niu is already setting new goals. She is currently working to complete her free dance levels and take her test. She hopes to continue ice skating in college, ideally on a Division I team.
“My long-term goal is to skate on a Division I collegiate or senior team,” Niu said. “Miami has a really good synchronized skating program,” Niu said.
Ice skating can be challenging, both physically and mentally. Niu has been dealing with an overuse knee injury, which worsens the more she skates. She manages the injury by wearing a knee brace and attending physical therapy. However, despite the pain, Niu will always love ice skating.
“I try to think about my goals whenever I’m frustrated,” Niu said. “I think, ‘Wow, I’ve already come this far. Keep going.’ Thinking about my goals is something that keeps me motivated.”