As many of you already know, ice skating is one of my greatest passions - alongside photography - and whenever those two worlds come together, it truly feels like a dream job.
It was a real honour to be invited by the New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Association to photograph the Clucas Cup, one of the selection competitions marking the start of the new skating season in New Zealand.
This event brings together some of the country’s top skaters, opening the season with powerful performances, technical precision, and beautiful artistry on the ice. It’s always exciting to see athletes returning to competition after the off-season, bringing fresh programs, energy, and ambition to the rink.
Among the competitors were many incredibly talented skaters, including Dwayne Li, Petra Lahti, Renee Tsai, Cara Tang, Mirika Armstrong, Nicca Wu, and Mia Chen, along with many other inspiring New Zealand skaters- including my own daughter, Anna-Bella.
The rink was full of energy from the very first warm-up to the final performance. It was truly “fire on ice”—a combination of passion, grace, determination, and artistry that makes this sport so special to witness and capture.
What I love most about photographing competitions like this is the variety of emotions and moments happening in a split second: focus before a jump, relief after a clean landing, joy in performance, and the connection between skaters, coaches, and families.
It was such a privilege to document the start of the season and to be part of such an important event in the New Zealand skating calendar.
I’m already looking forward to photographing more competitions throughout the season, especially the upcoming Nationals in October.
Exciting times ahead!
Enjoy highlights from the Clucas Cup.
