Make or Break Ice Stars

Previously on Ice Stars...

I've been in synchro for two years now, I went from Ice Pops,

which is the youngest team and then I went up to Icetastics.

Some of the people on Icetastics are already Juvenile.

I need to really practise hard.

I'm in Juvenile!

-I'm in... Dad, look! Foundation said he's Juvenile!

-Fantastic.

Said goodbye yesterday

to my dad, to my brothers.

-Ciao, buddy, ciao.

-See you again.

-Ciao, Victor.

-See you again.

It was a little strange without my brothers

because the house was empty.

-Do you think he'll stay or do you think he'll go?

-Um...

I'm not sure.

It's a massive week of competitions for our Ice Stars.

Charlie and best mate Freddie have more trials ahead...

PISTOL FIRES

I could have gone faster.

And emotions run high as Adriano

and Ella are left fighting to keep their partnership alive.

-Can't bear it.

-His face was kind of really disappointed.

I knew it wasn't a positive thing.

Making it on the ice means waking early, starting young,

and standing out from the crowd.

And one girl who knows all about trying to impress

is 12-year-old Asiyah.

Her synchro dreams have had a huge lift since being picked

to move up to a new team -

The Silhouettes.

Asiyah, eyes up!

Asiyah may have made the squad of 20,

but only 16 get to skate in competitions.

-And so far she's not made selection.

-Faster, Asiyah.

The hardest thing for me in being in The Silhouettes is trying

to get into the team to skate on the day of the competition.

-Then you just need to work harder than everybody else.

-Uh-huh, yeah.

-So that you get noticed.

-Yeah.

I would rather be on the ice because all you're doing is watching

them, even though you trained really hard to, like, get into the team.

But, now, that could all be about to change.

Two, three, four.

All season, the team have been working towards

the British Synchro Championships.

They were last year's winners, so there's a lot to live up to.

They're fighting for their places to make the team.

And Asiyah has spent the last six months trying to prove

herself to her coaches, Lauren and Esther.

I need to be better than everyone to, like,

stand out and make the coaches pick me.

It's a tough decision. At the moment, it's 50-50.

After months of waiting,

today's the day the competition line-up will finally be announced.

Asiyah has asked Bethany,

her friend from the team, to be with her for the big news.

Because this is Bethany's, like, third season,

she already knows that she's skating and we're just waiting for a phone

call to say if I got into the team or not and if I'm skating or not.

How are you feeling about the phone call?

Nervous. Yeah, I'm feeling a bit nervous.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

-Do you think you'll get in?

-I'm not sure.

OK.

Oh, thanks for ringing, bye.

THEY GIGGLE

-Asiyah...

-Yeah?

-Bethany, they've announced the squad.

What did she say?

She said it was touch and go but they've decided to put you in.

-You're skating!

-Yay! I'm happy.

THEY LAUGH

It's very exciting and good.

With both girls now heading for the British Championships,

they're wasting no time in trying to perfect their routine.

Five, six, seven, eight, twizzle.

-You go the other way.

-Oh, yeah.

I'm really happy.

Now we've got Asiyah, we're stronger and we're going to win.

Across town, there's another skating duo heading for the big time.

Ice hockey boys Charlie and best mate, Freddie.

THEY LAUGH

On my head, son! On my head!

THEY GIGGLE

Recently, this pair beat off the competition for selection

into the Conference Ice Hockey team.

And now there's another trial that could see Charlie and Freddie

take on the very best in Britain.

But hang on! They're not ice hockey players!

HE GIGGLES

That's speed skating. What's going on, Charlie?

Speed skating, you do in laps and ice hockey, you're playing

so you just skate around the entire ring.

This is Charlie's other passion.

Both boys are now so fast that they've been called to see if

they can skate two laps in under 34 seconds.

If they can, they'll qualify for the British speed skating championships.

Before the trial, there's time for a shake and a...

HE BELCHES

Charlie!

CHARLIE GIGGLES

-Do you know what the biggest thing on earth is?

-What?

-Earth.

-How many seconds do you think you're going to do it?

-Um.... 58.

I thought you were going to say 45.

-Why?

-I think you're getting faster

and faster every session on Saturday.

I think I'm going to do it in 58 seconds.

Oh, dear.

You're going to need to skate a lot faster than that to qualify.

Competitions season is in full swing.

And the dancing couples from Nottingham are going for gold

in Sheffield.

It's the day of the British Ice Dance Championships.

Adriano and Ella are competing here in the Basic Novice category

for the very first time.

And Jellie will battle it out in the category above -

the Advanced Novice.

Ellie and Josh are seasoned at it, if you like,

they've done a few years at the British Championships now.

They know what's coming.

It's a big competition and there's lots of people watching.

You have to be in the zone.

I don't think Adriano and Ella quite know

what to expect just yet until they get out there

and actually do their first skate.

Me and my mum used to watch on the TV and now it's happening,

it's exciting.

But for Adriano, the excitement isn't quite the same.

His mum and his brothers went home to Italy,

so he only has his dad around now for support.

'It feels so strange, because my family is not here'

and I am missing them a little bit,

but that is the thing,

so we need to go on - and win!

-Hello!

-Hello.

-Italian coffee?

-Italian. Italian-English coffee.

The family have been missing each other so much that Adriano

will only stay in the UK if he and Ella

do well at the competition.

The British Ice Dance Championships could be the last time that I am

skating with Adriano. It makes me feel like I need to put

loads more effort in.

If the British goes really badly,

probably, I will go back to Italy.

The thing that will make me stay is winning the British Championships.

-ELLA:

-I knew that we needed to do really, really well,

-so that Adriano stayed.

-This competition is really big.

A lot rides on today.

While Jellie head off to check out the competition,

Adriano and Ella get ready for today's dance -

the waltz.

In their last training session,

the couple really struggled to get their timing right and coach Sophie

-had to get tough.

-You have got to concentrate and got to count.

When you are out there, you are out there by yourselves.

What are you doing?!

Listen, don't worry.

When you come to do your waltz,

-you must count your three turns.

-Yeah.

-Hold each other's hands.

-Come on!

-Give each other a squeeze.

Look at him. Look at her. Look, look. Eye to eye. Smile.

-Are you going to do it?

-Yep.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

This is it.

With their rivals already on the ice, the score to beat is 11.99.

But Adriano and Ella have never scored more than 5

for their waltz before.

# Not giving in... #

Come on, you two. Count your timing and count your three turns.

Yeah?

-ANNOUNCER:

-Next to skate, from Nottingham, Ella and Adriano.

Once we have done the three turns, around the end,

I can't really relax, because we have another set to do

and if we go out of time, then it's all going to be over.

# This time We are going to be stronger

# I'm not giving in... #

# This time We are going to be stronger

# No, I'm not giving in. #

They have given it everything.

But have they scored high enough, giving them a chance of a medal?

The waltz went really well, I think.

We have got 11 points, I think, so it's a big jump.

I am really happy.

# Don't leave me behind

# Let me see the sunshine in... #

Adriano and Ella have scored a massive personal best today.

In their last competition, they scored five points,

so that is a massive, massive increase.

'We were, like, two points from the first,

so we need to, hopefully, skate really well in the free dance.

What an amazing start.

If the couple do as well in their free dance tomorrow,

it looks like Adriano won't be going anywhere.

Back at the home rink, two other skaters are also dreaming

of a national title - best friends Charlie and Freddie.

Today, I'm going to be doing my speed tests,

for the British Championships.

I actually don't know if I am going to do it or not.

I'm nervous.

Testing them today is speed coach, Mandy.

They have to do a two-lap race in 34 seconds.

And they only do have this one go at doing it.

It is quite a big deal.

We are going to go one by one. So Charlie is going first,

then Freddie will go.

You stand on the line. Two-lap race. Ready, steady, go.

Two laps, finish and then we will go and check the times, to see how

-you have got on, OK? Yeah?

-Yeah.

Good.

So, they need to skate twice around the ice in just 34 seconds.

To make that time, they will have to average a super-quick 15mph.

Just before the race, my thoughts were, "Don't fall over.

"Don't be nervous

"and just skate as fast as you can."

BANG!

Go, Charlie!

Let's go!

One to go!

While I am going round, I'm not really thinking about the time.

I'm just thinking about making it under 34 seconds.

I pushed as hard as I could, but I think...I could have gone faster.

Next one. Freddie.

-STARTER:

-Ready...

BANG!

Let's go, Freddie!

Keep going!

Good boy!

Let's go, Freddie!

The times are being checked and verified.

And the results are in.

Hi, guys, how was that, then?

-Good.

-Good? Yeah?

To get to the British Championships, you needed a 34.

Charlie, you did a 28.72, so well done.

And, Freddie, you did a 28.81, well done. OK?

So that means you are both in the British.

BOYS CHEER

They've done it!

Charlie and Freddie have qualified for the British Championships.

Celebration dance...

I'm really excited about being in the British Championships.

They didn't just get the time. They got well in the time.

The difference between a 34 and a 28 is huge.

Well done, boys! Next stop, the British Championships.

Back in Sheffield,

it's not all hard work for our ice stars.

Smile! Smile!

It's fun, knowing that you are seeing everyone there and you get

to meet all your friends from everywhere but, when the competition

-starts, you have to really focus.

-This is Ellie and Josh's last

competition at Advanced Novice level.

Moving up to Juniors next year.

It's going to be quite a big step for them.

'It would be good if we could win. We just need to make sure'

that we get down in the cantilever in less than six seconds.

If you don't do it in under that time, you get marks taken off.

In training, Jellie couldn't get out of their high-scoring lift in time.

You took ages to grab her on the way back up.

You were like, "Ooh, ooh!"

The ice is being prepared for Jellie's performance,

which is just minutes away.

But it looks like there are still problems.

Three, four, five, six.

It needs to be down before six. You need to count five and then get up.

-What are you counting in your head?

-1-1,000, 2-1,000...

No, that is not proper counting.

That little hand there, look.

Three, four, five, six.

That's ages!

Time's up, Jellie.

Six seconds or not,

the ice is waiting for you.

Their rivals have already set the standard with their lifts,

so Jellie can't afford to make any mistakes.

-ANNOUNCER:

-Next to skate, from the National Ice Centre, Nottingham,

is Ellie and Joshua.

APPLAUSE

'When I go into'

the cantilever lift, I just hope that I can stay in my position

and I can hold it long enough, without falling.

Three, four, five...

Down in less than six seconds!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The scores are in and Jellie have scored

39.94 - a new personal best.

I felt like our free dance went really well.

We have a personal best

-and it was at the British Championships.

-That's all you can

ask, really, that they put in their best performance of the season.

They did that today.

And in second place, from Nottingham,

Ellie and Joshua!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It's a podium finish for Jellie. A well-deserved second place.

Amazing work, guys!

-JOSH:

-We got a personal best, which is nice to have

-as our last competition in this category.

-Everybody smile!

Josh, stop pushing me!

They've shown the maturity it requires to move up to Juniors

for next year.

Well done, you two! Congratulations!

-Bye!

-Bye!

-Well done!

We came second, so that was really good.

It was a really big achievement, to get it at the British Championships.

I am really looking forward to moving up to junior next year.

As Jellie head off home to bed, it's training time

for Asiah and The Silhouettes.

Tonight is my last session, before the British.

I hope you like my dress.

# Everybody likes to engage

# Especially at the British Championships.#

Bye!

This is the main competition of the season for these girls.

They've worked really hard all season for this competition,

-so it's a big one.

-And this time, Asiah is a part of the team.

I have got to up my game, so that the coaches know they have made

the right decision, by picking me.

Just because they won the British last year doesn't mean they will

win it this year. They shouldn't be over-confident.

That is when the falls start to happen.

Five, six, seven eight...

Heads down.

-Down, up. Down, up.

-Flick, yeah?

So, the British is on Saturday.

So, tonight's practice, it's really important you skate it like

you are in competition, isn't it? OK, so each element we say today,

we want you to lock it into your heads and remember it. Yeah?

And...go! Come on!

Stretch! Stretch!

-Up!

-In less than 72 hours,

the girls go against the best in the country, to defend their title.

So, their routine has to be perfect.

Now, in, Hannah! Up!

Come on, Asiah, up you get!

But it doesn't take long before last year's win seems

a million miles away. Coaches Esther and Lauren don't look impressed.

Come here now, quickly.

Girls, we have had a fall and we have had two breaks.

That is already minuses. That is already dropping so many points.

You have to hold on. We cannot fall over.

We need to look where we're going.

After tough words, the girls can't afford anymore slip-ups.

Line, girls.

And look!

It's not going as good as it can be going.

Cos we've had quite a few falls.

If we did it like this, we would probably come last.

It only takes one fall to knock a point off and another team to win.

OK? And again, off we go.

They want to win gold, they have to skate good and skate clean.

The Silhouettes must work late into the night if they want to retain

their title.

Every Silhouette dreams of one day becoming an Icicle.

CHEERING

-Are you all excited?

-Yeah!

But, this morning, The Icicles are nowhere near the ice.

We are all here to have fun, out of synchro,

and just to chill out and not skate, for once!

To work well on the ice, it's crucial the girls know each other's

every move, so it's really important that new members quickly become

part of The Icicles' family.

We have brought Alex and Olivia along to have some bonding,

as they are the new girls in the team.

At training, coach Esther surprised both girls, with the perfect start

-to their season.

-We are going to have Alex skate the short programme

and, Olivia, you are going to skate the free programme.

You could feel quite nervous coming up into the team,

but all the girls do welcome you.

-Ready...

-Let's go! Yay!

It's quite nice to get away from all the training.

..steady...

It's nice to just take a break and do something fun with everyone.

..let's bounce!

It's really important to us that everyone feels welcome

and that we can all feel like a family.

They are like my sisters. Even if their boyfriend's, like,

broke up with them, it doesn't matter to us.

We are there for them, no matter what, cos that's what being a team

is really all about for us.

Oh!

Olivia!

It's nice to get to know the girls individually,

because you don't really talk to them when you are skating.

WHOOPING

'I thought it might be a bit intimidating,'

since I'm the youngest. I was a bit worried they'd all be so much older

and different, but I have just got on with them all.

-It's been nice to just mess about.

-Let's hope all that bouncing

has done the trick and the new Icicles team are just as tight

as the old one.

# These wings are made to fly. #

SHE GIGGLES

It's crunch time in Sheffield

and Ella and Adriano prepare

for the most important skate of their career.

With Adriano's family deciding he will only stay in the UK

if they win,

they smashed a new personal best in their waltz yesterday.

We did double our score of last time, so it went well.

I feel really happy with how it went.

Now, just one more skate stands between them and the title

of British champions.

It will be what will be. I am proud of them,

whatever they have done, you know. So...fingers crossed.

-ANNOUNCER:

-From the National Ice Centre, Nottingham,

it's Ella and Adriano.

# Nothing's gonna hurt me with my eyes shut

# I can see through them

# I can see through them

# I am drawing pictures I'm evading

# I will not use them I will not use them

# Cos I want to feel deep in the light

# Beside you, beside you... #

I think I was putting the pressure on myself, just because I knew

we needed to do well, otherwise Adriano would go.

APPLAUSE

# Nothing's gonna hurt me with my eyes shut

# I can see through them

# I can see through them

# And I am drawing pictures I'm evading... #

Our first turn was always going really, really well.

We were in sync and our elbow was above our shoulder.

But then, when it came to the second one, we crashed into each other

and he pushed my shoulder the wrong way and my foot carried on going.

So I twisted my ankle and it really hurt.

APPLAUSE

Oh, she's really upset, isn't she?

'I didn't really know if Adriano was going to go home or not,

'but his face'

was, kind of, really disappointed. I knew it wasn't a positive thing,

so I was a bit worried.

SOBBING

'I knew that'

we weren't going to win.

When we heard our scores,

it wasn't that good.

'Overall, we were fourth,'

and, in the end, we bumped together. So, we lost those marks there

and, for that, we lost the third place.

I think we are leaving after

and go to Rome.

She will understand why we are leaving.

It must have been really hard for Adriano, but it just wasn't

the right thing for his family, so he had to go home.

'For us, it is, kind of, end of an era.

'She will pick herself up.'

She will get through it and we will see what's round the corner.

I now know this is what I want to do,

so I am going to try really hard to try and find another partner.

Ella bounces back...

I really am very proud of her.

..the Silhouettes take on their biggest rivals,

in a fight to be crowned British champions.

-ANNOUNCER:

-And the scores for Silhouettes...

..and ice hockey brothers Aren and Rais travel 2,000 miles

for the trip of a lifetime.

I've seen that much snow in movies before,

but I've never seen it in real life.