Team Illusion, the all-female mixed-age synchronised skating team from Gauteng North and 2025 South African champions, are coached by Konrad Giering and Lejeanne Hennessy. Captained by Mathilda du Plessis, Team Illusion describes itself as a family. In their words, they are “truly united as one, with strong bonds that ensure no one is ever left […]

Photo credit: @Wilma.alberti In a sport that demands trust, resilience, and near-perfect synchronicity, Johann Wilkinson and Julia Mauder are proving what is possible when two determined athletes find the right partnership despite the odds and the oceans between them. The pair met during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting through icepartnersearch.com and quickly arranging […]

The South African Figure Skating Association (SAFSA) has added its voice to growing concern across the sports community following news that national federations will face major funding cuts and that it seems SASCOC itself will receive no government funding. “This is deeply worrying,” says SAFSA President Christo Viljoen. “We all want to see South African […]

Balancing school, skating, and a packed training schedule is no small feat. But for 9-year-old Alexia Easom, it’s all part of the journey. After claiming two titles at the 2025 SAFSA National Championships (one in singles and the other in solo dance), Alexia says the wins were both joyful and humbling. “I felt proud, excited […]

For most competitive figure skaters, a year without competition might seem like a setback. But for Cape Town student Mikhail Ajam, the past season has been a lesson in patience, perspective, andthe rarely spoken challenges of finding the right partner in ice dance. At eight years old, Mikhail’s first experience on the ice came during […]

For most competitive skaters, the journey begins not long after they can walk. But for Mathilda du Plessis, it started with a promise. “I was a very stubborn child,” she laughs. “Even at birthday parties, I refused to skate. But I promised my best friend I’d try for her 11th birthday. From the moment I […]

Her exceptional performances at the South African Figure Skating Association’s (SAFSA) recent National Championships in Johannesburg, not only earned Felicity Chase the award for the Most Impressive Performance at Nationals 2025, but also the honour to be the face of SAFSA for the 2026 season. No stranger to figure skating, Felicity — who turned seventeen […]

After more than two decades representing South Africa at the highest levels of international figure skating, Neil Garrard is stepping down from the ISU circuit. This marks the close of one of the continent’s most distinguished judging careers, defined by technical excellence, integrity, and a deep commitment to the sport he has served since 1965. […]

The 2025 Advanced Novice High-Performance National title was never a certainty for 15-year-old Tristané Schmulian. In fact, Nationals almost didn’t even happen at all. Plagued by injuries for much of the season and forced to adjust training, routines, and expectations, Tristané entered Nationals with the resolve of someone who had fought just to make it […]

Following her standout performance at the recent 2025 SAFSA National Championships, Junior Ladies Champion Jasmine Coetzee is making waves both locally and abroad. Her victory marks the next chapter in a journey that began on a small ice rink in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, and now points toward the 2030 Winter Olympics. “Despite all the challenges this […]