No, this is not the start of a gag, but the story of a global friendship which was reaffirmed in Dunedin on Saturday.
Leslie Amacker (51) - from Colorado in the United States - was competing against her two good friends, Melissa Staples (Australia) and Elena Rickmann (Germany) - both 50 - in the women's 50-plus freeskating competition on the opening day of the New Zealand Masters Games.
For the record, Rickmann won the freeskating section, with Amacker second and Staples third, but the results are not a big factor for the three friends.
‘‘It's just for fun,'' Rickmann said.
‘‘Everyone spends time on it as a hobby.''
Staples agreed, and the hugs between the trio after each skater completed her routine backed up their statements.
‘‘It's more about us individually wanting to to the best that we can and hoping that each other does the same thing,'' Staples said.
Their work history is as diverse as their locations - Rickmann is a state inspector of power stations in Germany, Staples is a neuropsychologist, while Amacker has a background in teaching English as a second language.
Amacker and Staples struck up a friendship about a decade ago, and the pair befriended Rickmann a few years later.
‘‘We've made some very good friendships with our skating around the world,'' Staples said.
‘‘We each know how hard it is out there,'' Amacker added.
Rickmann trains five days a week on the ice, while Staples said her hours were more irregular.
‘‘It varies a little bit depending on work and Christmas,'' she said, laughing.
The trio will compete against each other next week in Melbourne, before Rickmann and Staples catch up again in Obertsdorf in southwest Germany.
Amacker said she would have to miss that competition for the first time due to a prior commitment.
‘‘My friends are still guilting me,'' Amacker said.
