How One Accidental Visit to an Ice Rink Changed Our Lives Forever

Sometimes, the biggest moments in life begin with a completely ordinary day.

For our family, it started with a trip to Paseo Interlomas, a shopping mall in Mexico City, where we lived at the time.

We weren’t looking for a new hobby. We certainly weren’t searching for a sport that would eventually shape our lives. We were simply walking through the mall when six-year-old Shaylee noticed something magical.

An ice rink.

She stopped in her tracks.

Like every curious child, she wanted to try it.

We rented a pair of skates, thinking it would be a fun activity for an hour before heading home.

We had no idea that those first wobbly steps on the ice would become the beginning of an incredible journey.

Love at First Glide

Something clicked almost instantly.

Instead of wanting to leave after a few laps, Shaylee wanted to stay.

Then she wanted to come back.

Again.

And again.

Every visit to the mall somehow ended at the rink.

Soon, recreational skating wasn’t enough.

She wanted lessons.

We thought we’d give it a try.

After all, what’s the harm in one skating class?

Little did we know…

One Lesson Became Hundreds

Weeks turned into months.

Months turned into years.

The once-a-week lessons became several days a week.

Then early mornings.

Private lessons.

Off-ice training.

Competitions.

Boot fittings.

Blade sharpening.

Road trips.

Airports.

Packing skating dresses.

Learning an entirely new language filled with words like Axel, Salchow, edge quality, rocker, and spin levels.

Our weekends stopped revolving around shopping malls and birthday parties.

They revolved around skating schedules.

The Sport That Changed Our Family

People often ask whether figure skating changed Shaylee.

The answer is yes.

But it also changed all of us.

We learned discipline.

Patience.

Resilience.

We celebrated medals.

We celebrated falls that became landings.

We learned that progress isn’t measured only by podium finishes, but by showing up every day, even when training is hard.

Figure skating became more than a sport.

It became part of our family’s identity.

A Journey Across Countries

What started at a shopping mall in Mexico City has taken us farther than we ever imagined.

Training camps.

International competitions.

New coaches.

New friends.

Different countries.

Every opportunity began with that one spontaneous decision to rent a pair of skates.

Today, we’re preparing for another chapter as we travel to Belarus for an intensive three-week summer training camp—something we couldn’t have imagined on that first day at Paseo Interlomas.

Why I Started Figure Skate Pro

Along the way, I realized how difficult it can be for parents entering the world of figure skating.

Questions about boots.

Blades.

Competitions.

Training camps.

Packing.

Costs.

Travel.

Recovery.

There was so much I wished I’d known from the beginning.

That’s why I created Figure Skate Pro.

This isn’t just a store.

It’s a place where I can share our experiences honestly—the successes, the setbacks, and everything in between—while helping other skating families navigate their own journeys.

If our story helps even one family feel more prepared or inspired, then it’s worth telling.

Looking Back

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we had chosen a different shopping mall that day.

Or walked down a different corridor.

Or simply said, “Maybe next time.”

Life can change in the most unexpected moments.

For us, it all started with one little girl, one ice rink, and one simple question:

“Can I try skating?”

The answer changed our lives forever.