Pair move to Flintshire for its training facilities

Published date: 15 September 2010 | Published by: Helen Davies

---

AN ICE-SKATING duo are on their way to becoming the next Torvill and Dean.

Josh Whidborne and Charlotte Aiken are the British Junior Ice Dance Champions and have moved to Deeside from the south of England to train at its Olympic size ice rink.

Coached by former British and world professional ice dance champion Joan Slater MBE, Josh and Charlotte are now training to compete in an international figure skating competition later this month.

Josh, who moved to Deeside from Oxford, told the Leader: “There’s only a few Olympic-sized ice rinks in the whole country but most are really busy.”

Charlotte, 18, added: “We wanted better coaching and facilities. Deeside is better for training because it’s not that busy so we can get more done.”

The pair train at the Flintshire Council-owned leisure centre five or six days a week.

Josh, 21, has been ice-skating for more than a decade and plans to make a career out of the sport.

“I started skating 11 years ago,” he said. “I tried football and rugby as well and was on teams for them when I was younger but I couldn’t keep doing it all.

“I decided to put all my eggs in one basket with the skating.”

Choosing ice-skating over traditional male sports has not always been easy for Josh.

“I’ve had a lot of stick for it over the years,” he said. “A lot of mates ask if I wear tutu and tights.

“My mum said I used to be hyperactive when I was younger so she liked being able to shut me in the rink and watch me skate it off.”

Charlotte, who grew up in Guildford, started ice-skating when she was four.

She told the Leader: “It’s a really hard sport. I like it because it’s got the creative side of the dance but also the athletic side so it’s really interesting.”

The duo, who are currently working on a dance to a West Side Story medley, are now sharing a house together in Shotton.

“We’ve made a few friends from skating in the area. I like it up here,” said Charlotte.

Asked if he thinks they could be the next Torvill and Dean, Josh is optimistic:
“We’ve been working really hard and it’s been going really well so hopefully we will be.”

Charlotte and Josh are now training for the Sheffield Junior Prix at the end of September. They will also be looking to retain their title at the British championship in November. If successful, they will then compete in the Junior World Figure Skating Championships in South Korea next spring.