Interview with Wesley Chiu

Maryam had the chance to chat with Wesley Chiu, 2024 Canadian National Champion, about his skating journey, his comeback post-injury, as well as his current interests. He just finished competing at the 2026 Canadian National Championships where he finished in 4th place with a score of 241.48. He has been assigned a spot to compete at the Four Continents Championships as his last international assignment of the season!

Interview, editing, and action shots by Maryam! Special thank you to Niamh for coming up with the questions.

This interview is also available in a podcast format. You can listen to it on Spotify! Or if you prefer Youtube, it is available on our Youtube channel as well!

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Maryam: So, good to see you. I wanted to ask how you got into skating. Can you talk about the CanSkate program? You started skating pretty young at four or five years old. Do you have any advice for young people getting into skating, especially at a year where there might be increased attention and a lot of parents and/or children find themselves wanting to get into the sport?

Wesley: I started skating when I was four, like you said. I was trying every different sport. I was really athletic as a kid. I really liked just moving around. And I think I had a lot of energy. And naturally, as a Canadian, I was put on the ice — just at my local rink at the Richmond Olympic Oval. That’s where I train now, and also where I took my first few steps. I started with their learn-to-skate program, then moved on quickly to the CanSkate program with Skate Canada. That's really when I started to enjoy just being on the ice. I didn't really know much about figure skating at that point. I just knew I wanted to continue this. One of the coaches at my rink back then suggested that I try figure skating. I went into their junior academy program, which is the next step after CanSkate — that's where I started to learn how to spin and jump. And I really enjoyed it.

I think in some countries, parents throw their kids into the water to learn how to swim. And Canadians, they throw their kids onto the ice.

I definitely did swimming as well. I actually played tennis for a while, alongside skating. 

Were there any other sports that piqued your interest, such that if you weren't skating, you'd be interested in doing? 

Wesley: I think tennis was the biggest one. It was the one that I did for the longest alongside skating, but eventually I had to pick one. 

I saw that you have a lot of interest in hiking and cycling as well. Do you have any trails you recommend on the West Coast? 

I live in Vancouver, so hiking is very accessible. One of the hikes I did a couple of years ago was called the Panorama Ridge. 

I've been wanting to do that one! I hiked up to Garibaldi Lake, so, half of it.

That's also nice as well. 

Did you do it as a day hike or did you end up camping?

Once I went to Garibaldi, and then another time all the way up to the top.  It's an insane hike. I definitely recommend you do a warm-up first.

Start extremely early. 

I started at 7 a.m., and it took nine hours, I would say. The view was totally worth it.

 You had a really good short program here with a personal best. You had a lot of fire and you attacked so many elements. You had a good fight in the free as well. How did it feel being back in front of a home crowd?

It felt amazing. It was something that I've been dreaming about for about a year with the injury. It's definitely nice. The energy here is on a different level, I would say. It just feels good to skate in front of a crowd again, feel the energy. They really help me push through even day-to-day training. I feel motivated.

Your skating club seems very supportive. How is that environment like for you to train in? One of the rinks that your club uses was built for the Vancouver Olympics. Does that ever motivate you? 

I skate out of the Richmond Olympic Oval, which was coincidentally where I first started skating. So it's definitely nice. I've seen the rink evolve from back when it was a speed skating track, to the full venue it is now. It's definitely nice to skate under the Olympic rings every single day. I've been with the Connaught Skating Club for over a decade, so it feels like home. We're all just one big family. I've seen so many other skaters grow up, and I've grown up alongside them. It’s a very homey environment. 

 There are a lot of great coaches and former skaters involved with Connaught. How has that helped your progression in your career? Can you share any advice or support that they've shared with you that's helped you move forward, up to this point? 

Having those amazing former skaters around the rink is nice. Being around them, being able to ask questions anytime I needed. Kirsten Moore-Towers is one of the coaches with our pair program at Connaught. Liz and Patrick also stop by from time to time. Having them so accessible in Vancouver is a great help. Being able to discuss my struggles and knowing what they've gone through, and to really just trust what they're saying. They know a lot more than I do, so it's really nice. 

A lot of people say that figure skating is such a niche and elite sport; that there's very few people that go through exactly what you're going through.

Exactly. It's nice to have that sort of support environment at home. 

You had a breakout season in 2023 and 2024 with your first national title, your first senior championship, making the final group at Four Continents, and a home Worlds. Then, you had your season cut short with injury. Can you speak about the ups and downs, and that juxtaposition in general? How does it feel like to be back?

Definitely a huge rollercoaster of emotions. The momentum really started in the Grand Prix series of 2023 with Skate Canada and NHK. That's where I really started to feel comfortable skating in front of big crowds. The crowds in Japan are huge and it’s an amazing place to skate in. That really inspired me and got me comfortable being in the midst of high-pressure environments. Everything kind of fell into place nicely at nationals, and I was able to continue that momentum leading into four continents and worlds. So many new experiences, great memories. I was definitely hoping to continue riding that wave going into this Olympic cycle. But unfortunately, things happen, and it's a sport. It is what it is.

You were out for quite a while. Did you have time to get into any other hobbies or learn any new skills?

The thing with injury and surgery is that you can't really do much. You're stuck in that rehab mode. It has been nice to reflect on my career up until this point — I could step back, re-evaluate where I was at in my career and ask myself questions. Like, why I was skating in the first place, and whether it was worth it to continue pushing forwards, especially being off for so long. The biggest thing for me coming back was the fans. Being able to skate in an environment like Canadian Nationals, hearing the roar of the crowd, I think that's something I didn't get to experience and I definitely missed for a long time.

Injury does place you in a different mental landscape. It does teach you some things.

It makes me more grateful for every opportunity that I get, because you never know what could happen.

You've been to a good number of Canucks games. Do you have any standout moments?

I'd have to say the year that they made the playoffs. It was after Worlds, and before Stars On Ice. That was crazy. The whole city was buzzing. I remember just going outside and seeing that all the cars had Canucks flags on them. Everyone, the whole city, was watching. I think Vancouver really loves their hockey, me included. I got a small mention on their stories while they were in the playoffs, so that was really exciting as well. It's been a long time since they've made the playoffs.

Similar energy to when the Blue Jays played the-

The Dodgers. So close.

They were so close to having a parade in Toronto. You mentioned Stars on Ice. Do you think that you'd be interested in doing show skating at some point? 

Stars on Ice was a great opportunity. I will probably remember that for the rest of my life. I definitely hope to do more in the future. How that plays out is really not up to me. 

Thinking forward, do you have any pieces of music that you'd like to skate to at some point?

Nothing too concrete. I have very, very rough ideas floating around. I have been so busy trying to prepare for this season with recovery that I haven't really thought about anything beyond this season. One of the artists that I really enjoy listening to is Jackson Wang. He's a Hong Kong singer, also doing K-pop. I really love his music. I would love to skate to one of his songs one day, maybe.

He's quite fun. Do you have a workout playlist, or a playlist that you use for when someone gives you the aux cord at the rink?

Yes, I do.

What does it mostly include? Do you have any specific genres that you like? 

I really like 2010-era music, like pop, One Direction, old Justin Bieber. Those songs are really nostalgic, growing up and being born in 2005.

Always brings you back. I skate myself as well, and sometimes, in a rink session, I notice that whenever there is very high-energy music, people skate a bit more intensely. Do you ever feel like that's the case on a day-to-day session?

Yes, for sure. Especially when you're skating competitively and have been doing it for so long. It definitely gets dull sometimes. When we switch up the music — that's where the energy comes from.

Well, thank you very much for your time. Are you going to stick around tomorrow to watch any other events? 

Wesley: Yes, I'll be around for the women's.

I hope you have fun. I hope you have time to rest.

Thank you!

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Wesley is set to compete at the Four Continent Championships! You can follow Wesley and what he is up to on instagram!

Interview with Eunsoo Lim

Eunsoo Lim is a very special skater who has been competing internationally as early as 2013 during her novice days. She officially retired from competition during a group number with other retired skaters at the Four Continents Championships held in Korea and we had a chance to discuss about her retirement as well as other skating related ventures she has done since her last competition!

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What made you decide to retire?

Eunsoo: I was thinking about skating and, well, I am still young and I know that. First of all, I was thinking about Olympics which I couldn't make and that's fine. I did a lot of things like I go to the World Championships and I went to Four Continents which was also held here [in Korea]. Now, I feel like I'm done. I tried my best and now I feel like what is my goal? I'm kind of lost and I just realized that maybe I want to try another thing. Maybe I want to move on to the next step. So that's why I decided to retire.

There's so many fans were really sad before that they couldn't see any sort of "final performance" since it has been so long since your last competitive skate, and now they finally got to see a final performance! How did it feel skating?

I was actually thinking, I never expected to do my last performance at Four Continents because I was thinking of skating at a little competition, and then I was suggested "What if you skated at Four Continents?". I thought that it could be very good because there's a lot of international fans who might come so that I could say goodbye to a lot of fans. At least more than a little competition in Korea. I'm very happy to stay here to be with everyone for my last time.

How did the joint performance with Dabin [Choi] and Seoyeong [Wi] happen?

I thought first time I was the only one at first. I'm not sure how it happened but there was more skaters which was good! They all retired this season so I think it's more meaningful to skate all together and retire in Korea. I think that's why that happened. I actually don't really know the logistics but yeah! I didn't decide it but it just happened like that one week ago!

What was a highlight of your competitive career?

There's so many... There were a lot of competition, Maybe I could say the senior Grand Prix [Rostelecom Cup 2018] where I've got third place or the World Championships [2019]. That was my first World Championships and there were a lot of skaters in that time and there were many Russian skaters. That was very hard, but still, I did my best. I am proud of what I did then.

You've traveled to a lot of places to compete internationally. Do you have a favorite place where you have competed?

I went Japan a lot, and China. Japan was pretty good! I think because they're very warm and very supportive. There's a lot of fans which made me nervous sometimes but it was still great to feel like there's a lot of people there to support me.

Looking back at your career programs. Do you have a favourite one?

There's a lot also but I could say Somewhere in Time as it is everyone's favourite. I also like Sabrina!

Since your last competition and now, you also did G-Show! Would you ever consider doing more ice shows in the future?

I would love to get a chance to do an ice show again, but in Korea, we don't have many ice show here so I don't know if I can. If I can get a chance to, I'd like be a member of an ice show again. I'm very open. It would be good. I would try if somebody would give me a chance.

That's good to hear! We want to see you on the ice if we can in the future!

You also did choreography recently for Jaekeun's short program. What's the process like doing choreography?

Actually, it was very hard. It was very difficult to be creative because I'm more of a realistic person so it was kind of hard but I I tried to learn, and I tried to be creative. I've learned a lot of things while doing choreography. I watched it a lot of videos. I tried to make progress to improve.

I feel like I enjoyed it! So really, if there is some any chance to keep doing it, I want to try it and improve.

A lot of people say that they see a lot of like you in Jaekeun's short program. Does it feel good that your skating shows throughout your choreography?

Yes! I am definitely sure that I have my kind of "thing" that I put in his program. Of course, I did that program! But I feel like I really tried my best for his short program. I tried something new for him because he always did something more classical. I was like, maybe, just to get ready for senior, it's better for him to try something new. Something more manly and mature.

You also did Minchae's free skate. How did you come up with that choreography? In the program she does an ina bauer and where it is in the choreography is really beautiful. When you come up with choreography for other skaters, do you make sure to play to their strengths?

Yes, of course, because in their program, they should be the centre of the program. So I try to make it like that. And for her, I think she kind of skates similarly like me. So it was easier than others. And she improved a lot! She picked the music and I tried to find out what's good ans what fits. So I think that works and is a really good program that I like.

Do you have a preference in choreographing for competitive or exhibition programs? Since you've done both.

For the exhibition, it's more free. If you're picking the music, also, you feel more free. For Chaeyeon's exhibition, I also thought she never does very adorable or lovely programs. I feel like some part of her wanted to try it but she's a little bit unconfident for that. But I feel like maybe the exhibition could be it where it could be work. So I just tried to make it something lovely and I think it really works!

When you do choreography for any skater, is there something you focus on?

Actually, my focus for now is that I'm not trying to put some crazy stuff. I'm not trying to make it too much. I want to try to make it clean. Like, if you do one movement, you should be clean and long and beautiful where you don't mess the movement. If you don't make the move 100%, it might look empty sometimes, but I try to balance between that. For now, I am very focused on the quality of the movements.

And is there a piece of music you'd like to do choreography for in the future?

For now, I think I kind of try something new. So I tried to put lines in the music so that the program looks like a short movie. I really like the music that feels lovely for women and I really like something a bit more sexy and mature for men. Like very manly. I prefer that music, but I don't know there's no music, but just the vibes.

You've also done a lot of coaching for the Choi team and you work with many of the younger skaters. Is there something you like to teach them when you're coaching them?

It's very hard to say which part I like. I'm just on my way to learning as well. The funny thing is that I kind of realized that "Oh, I should have done this when I was a skater". Sometimes I feel like I don't know... I can feel some parts where there are mistakes so it's kind of funny. I feel like I am there improving with the younger skaters and learning with them.

You did your commentary debut at Spot TV for Asian Games. How was that?

Oh my god, I did a lot of research. Actually, I don't really watch many videos of a lot for the other skaters during the time that I was a skater. However, this time I watched a lot of skaters and I wrote down a lot a notes because I didn't want to make a mistake. I studied a lot. I wanted to try something new. Just something I can do as a skater and as a coach. As a commentator, there are some things that I can see, that somebody can't see. I can say why a skater made a mistake or what they should they improve on. I can focus on that.

Would you ever do it again?

If I get a good chance for that, yes! I enjoyed it.

Your life outside the rink: you're graduating soon from college, you've retired, and you are coaching. What is life like?

For now, I'm coaching. I'm studying sports business so I am finishing university. I'm kind of balancing both of them which is not easy. I'm kind of on my way to figuring it out. What am I going to do for the future? Like, in figure skating, there's a lot of options. In the coaching system; you can coach jumps and choreography, be a choreographer, and I'm kind of trying to figure out what I am going to do? I am figuring out what's best for me and what is the best that I can do? I am still on my way to figuring it out.

Many people still remember and love you as a competitive skater. Some get into skating from watching a video of you. How would you like to be remembered to those as an athlete?

Well, that's a very hard question. Maybe for now, just thinking right now... Maybe I want to be remembered as a skater who was beautiful. Figure skating is not only a sport. We have an artistic part. So I want people to think of me like "Oh, she was different. She was something."

Final question is something you'd like to say to your fans?

Well, I'm gonna cry. I just want to say thank you so much with all my heart, because I don't really know them or some of the people, but still, they really love me.

They keep staying there for me when I'm invisible, when I'm not perfect, and when I made mistakes... they were still there. That really that means a lot. That meant a lot for me when I was a skater. That's why I didn't give up at times. I would say thank you so much for their warm support. Thank you for their warm hearts, their letters, their little presents, their words. That means the world to me.