0:00:09 > 0:00:13Too many of you on this team think you're better than what you are.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Keep on the edge. No! Back, back, back.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Making it as a champion skater doesn't come easy.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26It takes years of practice...
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Keep going, keep going, keep going.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29..hard work...
0:00:29 > 0:00:32One more, then I'll be a very happy coach.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34..and dedication.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Yeah, yeah. Stop, let's go for it. Go for it, go for it, go for it.
0:00:41 > 0:00:47But even then only a few will become tomorrow's Ice Stars.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54This is Nottingham in the East Midlands.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Once home to Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01But behind these doors,
0:01:01 > 0:01:05a very different band of outlaws are planning to take over the world.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11The achievement I'm most proud of is when I won the British Championships.
0:01:14 > 0:01:20I'm currently holding the 777 metres British record.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22My biggest achievement so far is definitely winning
0:01:22 > 0:01:25the British Championships. I think it was one of the best days
0:01:25 > 0:01:26of my life, definitely so far.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Built to Honour Olympic gold medal winners Torvill and Dean,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32the National Ice Centre boasts two ice rinks -
0:01:32 > 0:01:36the Olympic and the Arena.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39We'll be following our Ice Stars over the coming weeks
0:01:39 > 0:01:43both on and off the ice,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46ending with a spectacular ice gala.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56Coming up...with a victory for the synchronised skating team in sight,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59there's trouble on the ice for new girl Afton.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- Stabbing pain... - Yeah.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06It's time for Charlie to prove he's worthy of the ice hockey
0:02:06 > 0:02:07scholarship he's been awarded.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09I'm never going to be able to keep up with them,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12cos they're like older and I'm younger,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and they've been skating longer than I have.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18And there's a new ice dance kid on the block
0:02:18 > 0:02:21who sends the girls into a spin.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30The Ice Centre in Nottingham has been no stranger to Olympic heroes
0:02:30 > 0:02:32over the years,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and many more skaters are following closely in their tracks.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42I do ice dance, so I skate with Ellie.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46It's like ballroom on ice.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50One of my main dreams
0:02:50 > 0:02:52is to be in the Olympics
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and be like Torvill and Dean, but better.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- Go.- Don't cut me off this time, yeah?- Yeah.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02- Go towards where Sophie is. - Curve it.- I am.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Josh and Ellie - or "Jellie" -
0:03:04 > 0:03:08have been training with their coach Sophie for five years.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12They become like your family, I see them five days a week,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14so you do form very close relationships
0:03:14 > 0:03:15and close bonds with them.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17You know on the skip,
0:03:17 > 0:03:22- skip straight away, otherwise it was good.- I was waiting for you, OK?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26They do bicker a lot. They always like to blame each other.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28For Josh it's always Ellie's fault
0:03:28 > 0:03:29and for Ellie it's always Josh's fault!
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- You need to go down...- You can't go down if you've got this hand on.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37We are quite good friends, but sometimes we do argue.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39It's cos he think he's always right, that's why.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44- I am usually right.- No, you're not. - Yeah, I am.- No, you're not.- I am.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Ow, you got me hair, ow!
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Sophie calls us an old married couple,
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- but we disagree. - I'd never marry you.- No.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I'd rather jump off a cliff.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55In spite of their bickering,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Jellie know how lucky they are to have found a partnership that works.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03If Josh walked away, I probably wouldn't find any other partner,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06so I'm really lucky to have Josh.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11But not everyone is as lucky as Ellie.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15There are lots of girls who can only dream of having a partner.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18And solo skaters Chloe and Ella are no exception.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21No boys, literally no boys.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24In Nottingham, there's just girls and there is one boy, Josh,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26but he's skating with Ellie.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It's harder for girls to find a partner cos there's not many boys,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32but if you're a boy, you can get the pick of what girl
0:04:32 > 0:04:33you want to skate with.
0:04:33 > 0:04:39I think the boys think it's too girlie and it's not masculine enough.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44There's a lot of girls that are looking for partners
0:04:44 > 0:04:47because in dance, it's not often
0:04:47 > 0:04:48that a boy comes over
0:04:48 > 0:04:50to start dance.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But watch out, girls - there's a new boy in town!
0:04:59 > 0:05:02I came from Italy to this country
0:05:02 > 0:05:04to learn better English
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and to ice skate.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I have a dream I would like to be in the Olympics
0:05:19 > 0:05:23and try and win first or second or third place.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:05:25 > 0:05:29As soon as news was heard that a boy was coming, straightaway -
0:05:29 > 0:05:33"How old is? Where is he from? What ability is he?"
0:05:33 > 0:05:35For both Chloe and Ella
0:05:35 > 0:05:38the prospect of having a partner was very exciting.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44The girls haven't long to wait.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Even though he's only just arrived in the country,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Adriano is going to be on the ice first thing in the morning.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Tomorrow morning I will get up at 4am
0:05:53 > 0:05:56and I will skate at 5am,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00and the teacher and I are deciding
0:06:00 > 0:06:03to skate with Ella or Chloe.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08It might be an early night for Adriano...
0:06:08 > 0:06:11but down at the rink, it's all go.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18And ice hockey-mad Charlie is far from sleepy.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Grrrr!
0:06:20 > 0:06:22You can stay.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27I would like to be a professional hockey player.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29It would be really exciting for me
0:06:29 > 0:06:31to be playing for a professional
0:06:31 > 0:06:34ice hockey team and when I score goals
0:06:34 > 0:06:38for the fans to start chanting my name.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42We'll have Jake and Charlie together and then we'll have Oscar
0:06:42 > 0:06:44and Arty and rotate Henry.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48His confidence is through the roof, you just see him come alive
0:06:48 > 0:06:51when he's on the ice, he is amazing.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57The most thing I like about playing ice hockey is that it's fun,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01it's enjoyable, it's tense
0:07:01 > 0:07:05and it sometimes gets a bit rough.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11He's a really good skater for his age, good strong legs,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14he's got good balance on the ice and everything and he's competitive.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20Charlie doesn't know it yet, but coach Mike is keeping an eye on him.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22If he likes what he sees,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25he'll give him a chance to train with the under-12s.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27OK, let's go.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30But if he gets picked he'll be the smallest on the team,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33so he's going to have to work really hard.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35He's going to be playing kids two years older than him,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and he's going to have a great experience. These other kids
0:07:38 > 0:07:41on that team's going to make him work harder and raise his game
0:07:41 > 0:07:42to the next level.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Let's hope Charlie makes the grade and gets his chance to impress.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Life on the ice for the skaters begins whilst of most of us
0:07:55 > 0:07:57are still tucked up in bed.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Early mornings are part of the gruelling schedule
0:08:01 > 0:08:05of an ice dancer and something Ella and Chloe are now used to,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08but this morning is a little more exciting than most.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Right, so if you can start warming up your short dance, yeah?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15With so few boys in ice dance,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Ella and Chloe have been struggling to find themselves a partner.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22But with Adriano now on the scene,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26dancing as a couple is looking likely - for one of them.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36When he just walked through the door,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39yeah, that was a definite buzz, like.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43All the girls are like, "Oh, who's he going to go with?"
0:08:43 > 0:08:46"He's probably going to go with me." "No, me." "No, me."
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Before I saw Adriano in person,
0:08:49 > 0:08:54my mum said that she thought he was good looking
0:08:54 > 0:08:57so that I should be happy, and he was.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01The main reason that I came to England
0:09:01 > 0:09:03is to find a partner to skate.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08When there's an opportunity to get a partner, you've got to work
0:09:08 > 0:09:12that extra bit harder because if they think, you can't do this move,
0:09:12 > 0:09:13"We can't be partners, sorry",
0:09:13 > 0:09:16so you've got to make sure every move is perfected
0:09:16 > 0:09:19so they think, "She's a really good skater, got to have her."
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I just tried to be myself when I was dancing with him
0:09:25 > 0:09:30because I didn't want him to think, like, I was someone else,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33and then if I did get him then I would act
0:09:33 > 0:09:36as a completely different person and he might not like me.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40The best thing about Chloe is spinning,
0:09:40 > 0:09:45and of Ella, she is very short, and is better for dancing.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It's a difficult choice for me.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51At the end of the day the decision, really, does need to be Adriano's.
0:09:51 > 0:09:57All I can do as coach is advise him as to who I think would be best.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00There is the little one, Ella,
0:10:00 > 0:10:06and Chloe, and I dunno how we will decide
0:10:06 > 0:10:08if I go with Chloe or with Ella.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11What a tough decision he has to make.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Until then, for the girls, it's going to be a long wait.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23It's another early morning at the Ice Centre.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27On the arena rink, preparations are in full swing for the biggest event
0:10:27 > 0:10:29in the synchronised skating calendar.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36And Synchro Team new girl Afton is on her way to the rink.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40I'm one of the newer members of the squad and this is my first
0:10:40 > 0:10:41season in juniors, so I've only been
0:10:41 > 0:10:43here for about ten months now.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Most of the girls have been skating since they were about eight,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49so I am definitely one of the newer members.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53I think it's a little bit unusual for something like this to happen
0:10:53 > 0:10:56where I'm in quite a high squad and I've only been doing it
0:10:56 > 0:10:58for a short while, but I think
0:10:58 > 0:11:01it's down to the amount of hard work you put in.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10500 of Great Britain's elite skaters will be fighting it out
0:11:10 > 0:11:14at the British Synchronised Skating Championships.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Nottingham's home team, the Icicles, will be competing.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25And new team captain Emily is the first Icicle to arrive.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28At the end you hear the music going, # Uhhhhhh-uh. #
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Just do the "Uhhhh" bit as the arm bit...
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The Icicles are already the country's highest-ranking team
0:11:33 > 0:11:37in their category. So for them, the British Championships are not about
0:11:37 > 0:11:42beating any rivals. Instead, the team need to get over 70 points
0:11:42 > 0:11:46so that they can qualify for the World Championships.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48So Emily has her work cut out.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51The British Championships is a lot of pressure
0:11:51 > 0:11:52because if we don't do well,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54there's no chance of us
0:11:54 > 0:11:56going to the World Championships and everyone wants to go
0:11:56 > 0:11:58to the World Championships
0:11:58 > 0:12:01because you want to be there for your country,
0:12:01 > 0:12:03so being able to get to that level is definitely exciting.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09While others have started their on-ice rehearsal,
0:12:09 > 0:12:14Emily and her team are using every spare bit of space to practise.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19Synchro is a team of 16 girls, and we all skate together.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21So it's all team work, you can't... You do nothing on your own
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and everyone's got to look exactly the same.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Get a quick drink and we'll do the end bit.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29It's my first year as captain, it's been a lot of commitment,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32more than it would be normally, you have to look after the girls,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35make sure they know what they're doing and make sure everyone's
0:12:35 > 0:12:36still positive.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Is everyone ready? Positions.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Everyone has got to have that commitment and fight,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43everyone's got to have the same amount inside them to make
0:12:43 > 0:12:46sure we skate our very, very best because if one person does something
0:12:46 > 0:12:51wrong, or doesn't have as much fight, it just brings the whole team down.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55For the Icicles to win a place at the World Championships,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58they don't just have to skate the same,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00they have to look the same, too.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06And all this styling is just for the practice session.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Every single one of those girls has to look identical.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12You couldn't go on the ice and one has a bun on top of their head
0:13:12 > 0:13:14and the other one has a bun at the bottom of their head.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Because they don't look the same, they look like 16 different skaters
0:13:17 > 0:13:20rather than one team and one lot of skaters.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24With her first British Championships getting closer,
0:13:24 > 0:13:25Afton is trying to keep calm.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30- It's the first time they would've seen me skate, so...- Nervous?- Very!
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It's nerve-racking because it's like so much pressure
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- at our own rink.- Like, the British Champs is here.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38I know - our home rink, it's just...
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- It's really good! - It's really good.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43I get quite nervous when I'm at competitions, say if we had
0:13:43 > 0:13:47a fall in synchro, it affects everyone because it's a team thing.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Those five minutes before you step on the ice and you're lining up,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53it's a feeling which is very nervous
0:13:53 > 0:13:56and I don't know if I can describe it.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59As the Icicles get ready for their final rehearsal,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01will Afton manage her nerves in time?
0:14:05 > 0:14:10Charlie lives and breathes ice hockey and his plan to make it
0:14:10 > 0:14:13to the big time is already under way.
0:14:14 > 0:14:20These ones are man of the match awards, that one is playing for the
0:14:20 > 0:14:26team, I got this award for being the most consistent player of the year.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Even if he didn't win them all.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33That one I bought for a pound.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I was six when I started playing ice hockey
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and I was talent identified,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42I got a scholarship to play hockey.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I'm actually preparing dinner,
0:14:49 > 0:14:51prawn stir fry.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55It's one of my most favourite meals,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59like, I'd say, second out.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Oh, so what's your favourite, Charlie?
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Black beans and rice.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11If you have like a healthy diet, that means you get more strength
0:15:11 > 0:15:13in your arms and legs.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Yeah, I love cooking.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Coach Mike has asked Charlie to come down to the under 12s training.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It's a big deal. And chef Charlie is doing all
0:15:22 > 0:15:24he can to up his energy levels.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Now there's only one thing left for him to do.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31You remember your little rhyme that Mummy told you.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Cos there's so much kit, once I even made up a rhyme about it.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39It goes like, skins, shins, box, socks,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42shorts, chest, elbows, neck,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45then it goes...
0:15:45 > 0:15:47shirt, stick....shirt, helmet,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49stick, gloves, water, skates.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52Come on!
0:15:55 > 0:16:00The longest time to get all my kit on is probably about half an hour.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03THAT is a lot of kit.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Charlie's heading to the Olympic rink.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18But right now, it's the arena rink which is really hotting up.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22The British Championships are in full swing,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24with one team after another taking to the ice
0:16:24 > 0:16:26for their final rehearsals.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34The Icicles are about to be called for their final practice.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37And Afton's still struggling with her nerves.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Afton is very new to synchro, obviously.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46She puts pressure on herself, so definitely the most nervous
0:16:46 > 0:16:47out of the rest of them.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Right, girls, we've told you ever since you was little, be aware
0:16:50 > 0:16:55of your feet, OK, points can be massively lost by falling over.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Don't panic, you've done this a million times on this ice rink,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00you're in your own ice rink now, aren't you, you've just got
0:17:00 > 0:17:04to perform it for the crowd. Right, I think we'll get going now.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06ALL: Icicles!
0:17:06 > 0:17:09The girls have just one chance to practise on the ice
0:17:09 > 0:17:11before the competition.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15It may be a rehearsal, but the squad know the judges are watching.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18Come on, girls!
0:17:24 > 0:17:27They'll get points for their synchronised facial expressions
0:17:27 > 0:17:28along with their synchronised steps,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31so it's time to get their game faces on.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Coach Esther has worked for months with her girls,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42choreographing this routine.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47But just as Afton gets in the swing of it all...
0:17:48 > 0:17:50..disaster strikes!
0:17:52 > 0:17:54And she crosses skates with another Icicle.
0:18:05 > 0:18:11Afton's dreams of performing her first British Championships
0:18:11 > 0:18:13seem to be in tatters.
0:18:13 > 0:18:14Lauren, take Afton up there.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16That wasn't bad.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Obviously we don't want to fall, come in.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Turns, spirals, pick it up from over on the edge, let's go, keep skating.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Maybe I was just nervous and I just tripped.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34- Are you OK? - It just hurts.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38We'll have a look at it after, don't think about it. You can do it.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40When someone falls at a competition,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43they're normally crying, by the end of the programme you're like,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45"Please, don't worry", and everyone is really comforting
0:18:45 > 0:18:48and nice to each other, even if inside they might be a bit angry,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52but it doesn't really matter, like, you can't change what you've done.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09OK, come in, girls.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12With not long to go before the girls perform in front
0:19:12 > 0:19:16of a panel of judges, it's not looking good for the Icicle newbie.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23So last week Afton fell over and one of the girls' blades went into her
0:19:23 > 0:19:26wrist, so she's had to go to the hospital and have it stitched
0:19:26 > 0:19:28and today she's fell on the practice again
0:19:28 > 0:19:30and she's just in a bit of pain.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35No, no, it's just like a stabbing pain.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- You can move all your fingers OK? - And can you move your wrist?- Yeah.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41It hurt because of my previous injury,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43I didn't really know what I'd done to it,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46I was worried I wasn't going to skate at British, that whole season is
0:19:46 > 0:19:49built up to British and if you have
0:19:49 > 0:19:52an injury that could jeopardise your skating, you get worried.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54This means everything to Afton, she's only been in juniors
0:19:54 > 0:19:58for a year and she's worked so hard to get into the team
0:19:58 > 0:20:00so it would absolutely devastate her if she couldn't skate.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03With less than an hour to go before the competition,
0:20:03 > 0:20:08it seems more and more unlikely that Afton will be able to perform.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21On the Olympic rink, it's Charlie's chance to shine.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25He's arrived for his training session with the under 12s.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29And this is the biggest break of Charlie's ice hockey career so far.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32It's my first time training with the 12As
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and it's going to be really exciting.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39I'm never going to be able to keep up with them,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42cos they're, like, older and I'm younger,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and they've been skating longer than I have.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49With the session starting, Charlie needs to step up his game
0:20:49 > 0:20:51if he's going to impress.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54I'm really, really nervous, but excited at the same time.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56COACH BLOWS WHISTLE
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Let's go, let's go! Keep it moving.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03The under 12s coach Mike is watching his every move.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Quick feet, quick feet, get those feet moving!
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Charlie needs to show he can keep up with the older boys
0:21:13 > 0:21:15if he's going to make the grade.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19And what better way to do that than with a shooting drill?
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I'll blow the whistle, you grab a puck, bang.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25You see the dot here, tight turn around and take a shot,
0:21:25 > 0:21:26everybody OK with that drill?
0:21:38 > 0:21:39You're up next, Charlie.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44And he scores!
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!
0:21:46 > 0:21:48I just scored!
0:21:48 > 0:21:49Whoo!
0:21:49 > 0:21:52But has he done enough to impress his coach?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Charlie's really impressed me, he's got a great attitude,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58he has passion for the game, he loves the game of hockey,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01he's the type of player, if I ask them to skate five times a week,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04he'd be the first guy in the changing rooms getting dressed
0:22:04 > 0:22:05and going on the ice.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08It's really full-on, I would compare it
0:22:08 > 0:22:13to, like, swimming, like, in really deep water and you're really far
0:22:13 > 0:22:16down and you can't get back up
0:22:16 > 0:22:20and you've got three oxygen tanks.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I'm really pleased that I came to this session
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and I really hope to come back again.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It looks like Charlie is one step closer
0:22:31 > 0:22:32to playing in the big leagues.
0:22:42 > 0:22:4530 of the very best synchronised skating teams are competing
0:22:45 > 0:22:48for the British Championships.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52Home team the Icicles are already ranked top in their category
0:22:52 > 0:22:55so they have no rivals to beat today.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Instead, they need to score enough points to see them through
0:22:58 > 0:23:00to the World Championships.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05To qualify for World Championships in Croatia, then it would be
0:23:05 > 0:23:08the best thing that's happened, we worked hard all season for this
0:23:08 > 0:23:11and that's really what we want to happen.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13With the performance not far away,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Emily and Sam go back over the practice.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Apart from the fall, we had a really, really strong skate.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23On the ice I was just speaking to Afton, telling her to calm down,
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- I think she's more worried about... - Doing it in competition.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Her fall instead of her hurting herself.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32She cares about other people more than herself,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35- doesn't she?- I think Afton will be all right though, won't she?
0:23:35 > 0:23:37- Yeah, she'll be OK. - She just panics a bit.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38- Fingers crossed.- Fingers crossed.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Cos if we don't get the points, then we won't be going to Worlds
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and everyone will hate that.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46While the rest of the girls perfect their make up,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Afton's wrist is still on her mind.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51I'm a bit nervous for the competition because obviously
0:23:51 > 0:23:53I've fallen and you're going to have nerves
0:23:53 > 0:23:56especially because it's British Championships, but my injury is not
0:23:56 > 0:23:58bad enough for me not to skate.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05OK, are we going to concentrate now? Breathe properly,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08vision what your programme you want to skate right now.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10OK? Come on, girls, we can do this.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12It's nearly show time,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Afton's been given the all-clear to skate.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19And the Icicles visualise the performance in their heads.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Full costume? Check!
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Florescent make up? Check!
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Buns secure? Check!
0:24:32 > 0:24:34So important.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37You will go the extra mile to do bigger faces in competition
0:24:37 > 0:24:38which is great,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40but control your feet,
0:24:40 > 0:24:44points can be massively lost by you falling over.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45Everyone get up!
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Jump up, no more yawning, no more sleepy face,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53I want a strong, fast performance.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56There's no-one we're competing against, so this year it's about
0:24:56 > 0:25:00getting the points to go to Worlds and that's what's most important.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03ALL: Icicles!
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Get into your one line, let's go.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Stand up nice and tall, arms down, come on.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15ANNOUNCER: From Nottingham, the Icicles.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16CHEERING
0:25:20 > 0:25:23You can do this - they can do this, right?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Everything rides on this performance.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29The Icicles need to have a perfect skate to get through
0:25:29 > 0:25:31to the World Championships.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Yes, come on!
0:25:33 > 0:25:35MUSIC: Heroes by Alesso
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Come on, girls!
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Come on! Come on! Come on!
0:26:00 > 0:26:02After months of hard work,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06head coach Esther is overwhelmed with emotion.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07I can't contain my tears!
0:26:07 > 0:26:09CHEERING
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Yeah! Whoo!
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Afton and the girls have done it.
0:26:31 > 0:26:32A perfect routine.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39That was great! Well done, girls. I started crying halfway!
0:26:39 > 0:26:41I couldn't contain my tears.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45I was crying in the moves, I am so proud of all of you!
0:26:45 > 0:26:47The Icicles have done the best they can
0:26:47 > 0:26:51and now all that remains is to find out the score.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54They need to get at least 70 points.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57- ANNOUNCER:- The Icicles score 74.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06Yes! The Icicles are off to the World Championships in Croatia.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07Yes!
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Girls, how fabulous, team hug!
0:27:16 > 0:27:18I'm so proud of all of you!
0:27:18 > 0:27:21We feel on top of the world, we started crying halfway, didn't we?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23We're so proud of them, they did great,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26couldn't have asked for anything more.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Let's go and get our trophy.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29THEY CHEER
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I am so, so proud of my team, it's been one of the best skates
0:27:33 > 0:27:36we've ever had, so I am so, so proud we got such a good score
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and everyone has worked so hard, so we definitely deserved it.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Next time on Ice Stars...
0:27:42 > 0:27:46With a big international competition just days away, figure skating star
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Josh has trouble landing his jumps...
0:27:49 > 0:27:50This is not OK.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53It's really frustrating when you do end up falling.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54..illness threatens to leave
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Maddie's speed skating dream in tatters...
0:27:57 > 0:27:58My breathing was really bad on that one,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01although I managed to like, not cough until the last lap.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04And Adriano finally makes a life-changing decision
0:28:04 > 0:28:06about his new partner.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09It was difficult because I needed
0:28:09 > 0:28:11to decide one, but I finally decided.