But Brooke Cathro will.
The Dunedin figure skater is heading to Japan — considered one of the world’s elite figure skating nations — to represent New Zealand as part of an intensive training camp about two hours outside of Nagoya.
Cathro, 17, who heads away on Monday and returns home on February 16, will spend time with renowned coaches Michael Chih-I Tsao and Rene Tsai, alongside a group of talented international skaters.
The training camp will give Cathro a chance to refine her technical skills, including developing her jumps and spins under the guidance of the two coaches, alongside local Japanese coaching experts, and finalise the choreography for her new short programme in person.
It is a coup for Cathro, who has been among the national representative team of skaters for several years, and working hard under the guidance of Dunedin coaches Ricky Cockerill and Sarah MacGibbon, who have been instrumental in her progress.
Cathro, who will also stop off in Brisbane for more training, had a standout season in 2025.
She was awarded a gold free skate — the second-highest level available for figure skaters — after completing two rigorous tests late last year.
She was also undefeated in the junior women’s grade, including titles at the Otago-Southland, Ice Sports Southland, Christchurch Club, Queenstown Club and South Island championships, and the Corinne Gilkison Cup.
Cathro dedicates her life to honing her craft, having been a figure skater for more than 14 years and training six times a week.
