The Shogiman twins, Anne-Sophie and Dominic, in action in
the junior ice dance competition at the Dunedin Ice Stadium
this week. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
The Shogiman twins competed in Russia last year and hope
to return there in 2014 as part of the New Zealand Winter
Olympic team.
Dominic and Anne-Sophie are two 15-year-olds who started
skating in Canada six years ago and have been partners in the
ice dance for the past three years.
They graduated to junior ranks four weeks ago, moved into a
new programme and won the silver medal in the junior ice
dance at this week's New Zealand championships.
Their long-term goal is to compete at the Olympics.
"To do this we must keep on improving and break through
barriers to reach a new threshhold," Anne-Sophie, a pupil at
Otago Girls' High School, said. The dance is her favourite
event on ice.
"We are expressing emotions on ice to tell a story to
entertain the audience," Anne-Sophie said.
"We have to smile and attempt to charm the audience."
Dominic, a pupil at Otago Boys' High School, defined ice
dancing as an art as well as a sport.
"You express many things on the ice," he said.
The twins' mother was born in Canada and their father in
Japan. They are citizens of three countries - Canada, Japan
and New Zealand.
They are coached by former Russian Olympic coach Fanis
Shakirzianau, who pushes them hard and sets a high standard
of discipline on the ice.
They get up at 5am for two hours of training on the ice
before school and also do off-ice training that includes
lifting weights and developing music.
They are both talented musicians. Dominic plays the cello and
Anne-Sophie plays the piano and violin.
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