From Bavaria to Billingham
A 17 year old German Figure skater has changed her training from the Regensburg rink in Bavaria to the Ice Arena at Billingham Forum.
Irmina Reithmair is the 2005 Bavarian Junior Champion and is currently ranked 5th in her age group in Germany. She has decided come to England to improve her English. She will be living with her godmother Marianna Fisher in Ingleby Barwick, whilst attending Teesside High School .
Irmina lives in Passau in the Bavarian forest and has been skating for nine years, she had to travel one and half hours to train at her nearest ice rink in Regensburg where she trained between 15 and 20 hours per week coached by Nicole Brunner.
Catherine McCabe, one of the resident ice skating professionals at Billingham Forum, will coach Irmina. Irmina is currently training 10 hours per week but is hoping to increase her training in the next few weeks.
This young skating star started her love of England when she made numerous visits to her godmother.
Irmina said, “I am enjoying my time on Teesside and my English is improving rapidly since I arrived in September. The rink at Billingham is so convenient after travelling one and a half hours every time I skated in Germany”
This talented youngster will be having a short holiday at Christmas when she returns to Bavaria to visit her parents but will return in January as she continues her educational and skating career on Teesside.
Irmina added, “My ambition is to qualify for the British Championships and to continue to enjoy my skating whilst improving my English”
If you are interested in skating please contact Billingham Forum on (01642) 551381