Sarah MacGibbon is no stranger to international competition, but this time she is taking along Lucie Holtz (11) for her first taste of competition outside New Zealand.
MacGibbon (20), who competes in the senior ladies, will also have one eye firmly fixed on Holtz when the youngster takes the ice against 21 competitors in the elementary ladies from Friday.
MacGibbon has been attending the interclub competition in Sydney for almost every year since she was 8, and she wanted to encourage others at the Dunedin ice skating club to have a crack.
"My mum [Jennifer Keen] and I were encouraging everyone in the club to get out there and give another competition a go - [Lucie] put her hand up.''
Both skaters are under the tutelage of popular Dunedin coach Fanis Shakirzianau, although MacGibbon chips in and hopes to be able to support Holtz as much as possible in Sydney.
"Her main coach is the same as mine [Fanis], but I just help out every now and then.''
"She's doing really well. She's started doing single axel and double sal [both clean and in her programme] so she's getting to the same level where I was at her age, and we're aiming for her to be better.''
Holtz has been skating since she was 5, and started taking part in competitions when she was about 8. She trains four days a week and loves the extra element of the ice when added to her natural passion for dance.
The St Hilda's Collegiate year 7 pupil hopes she will learn plenty from the trip.
"I know that it's a really big competition and there will be lots of people there,'' Holtz said.
"I don't really mind if I don't win, because there will be about 20 people [in her category], but I think it's good for experience since I've never done it before.''
MacGibbon is looking to qualify for international senior by earning the necessary amount of points. "You're always aiming for A [category] but B would be good as well.''
