A hush falls over the crowd and a cold calm fills the air as Sacred Hearts Academy sophomore Karys Shimizu steps onto the ice. She gracefully glides into her routine the moment she hears the first note of the song, picking up speed and moving effortlessly across the rink of the 2024 Ice Sports Industry (ISI) World Recreational Team Championships in San Jose, Calif. 

“When I stepped off of the ice, my mom was in tears, as well as my coach,” Shimizu said. “I used the song ‘World War 3’ by Ruth B. for that competition because the song carried me through a difficult time in my life and has become very important to me.”

Also waiting off the rink, her younger sister and Academy seventh grader Khloe Shimizu, who just finished her own skating routine. Together, the sisters represent Hawaii on a national stage, bonding over their shared love for skating.

The ISI event welcomes skaters of all ages to compete in 25 different categories. Karys Shimizu placed third in the Artistic 5 event, marking one of her personal bests. Khloe Shimizu placed second in the Freestyle 7 event.

Skating in a tropical paradise

In Hawaii, where palm trees outnumber rinks and winter never arrives, the idea of a competitive figure skater thriving in Hawaii might seem improbable to many. Yet, the sisters, along with 40 to 50 other dedicated Hawaii skaters, defy the odds.

The sisters dedicate countless hours each week to refining their skills at the state’s only rink, Ice Palace Hawaii. They typically train five to six days a week, balancing early morning and late-night sessions around school. Their practices consist of on-ice drills, jump rotations and choreography run-throughs, followed by off-ice conditioning to build strength and flexibility. 

Karys Shimizu started skating at the age of six, inspired by both her father, who played hockey, and a family member who figure skated. For Karys Shimizu, figure skating is more than a sport—it is a vibrant expression of her passion.

“You can see it when I am on the ice,” Karys Shimizu said. “People can feel my emotions through my performance.” 

Their coach Robyn Ripley, who has mentored them since 2019, concurs.

“Karys will pull you in when she performs, and you can feel her passion and emotion on the ice,” Ripley said. “Depending on the program, you will laugh with her and feel absolute joy, or you will cry with her and feel the pain of a broken heart. This is the beauty of the sport.”

Khloe Shimizu, now 12, also developed a love for skating at an early age. She began at three years old, initially as a weekend activity before committing to the sport full-time. Like her sister, she took private lessons and quickly demonstrated a natural ability for jumping and rotation. 

“Khloe is very athletic,” Ripley said. “She has an effortless spring in her jumps and commands the ice with confidence.”

Evolving on the ice

From the beginning, the Shimizu sisters have shared not only the thrill of victory but also the challenges and sacrifices. Ripley has had a front row seat to the evolution of the sisters’ ice skating journeys, highlighting the differences in their personalities. Karys Shimizu is a perfectionist, dedicated to refining technique, while Khloe Shimizu has a more laid-back, yet equally-focused, approach. They share a strong bond of mutual support and humor that, according to their coach, makes their partnership on and off the ice truly special.

“They always share their wins and losses, the passes and fails, the falls and perfectly executed maneuvers,” she said. “They are each other’s biggest fans.”

Karys Shimzu is known for her artistry on ice. Her performances are fluid, each movement extending with careful control to create a seamless flow. Khloe Shimizu brings athletic energy to the ice. 

Over the years, Ripley has seen them progress from learning the basics of the sport to performing advanced skills like double and triple jumps, complicated spins and intricate footwork. Their mother, Erika Shimizu, acknowledges the dedication required to reach this level.

“Seeing Karys and Khloe’s progression in ice skating has been both exciting and rewarding,” she said. “The amount of hours they put in weekly for practice to refine their skills is commendable.”

Their father, Skyle Shimizu, also admires their perseverance.

“I am grateful for their inspiration, dedication and continuous hard work with early morning and late nights for skating,” he said. “As their dad, I couldn’t be any prouder of their accomplishments and have so much to look forward to.”

Khloe Shimizu has competed in six events, while Karys Shimizu has competed in four events, placing first in the 2024 ISI Hawaiian Open Ice Palace Hawaii event last year.

Facing challenges on the ice

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of Ice Palace Hawaii, skaters were left without access to real ice. Determined to continue training, several skating families invested in a 26-by-16-foot synthetic ice surface for the team to use.

The 200 synthetic tiles would be loaded and unloaded at an outdoor court, where skaters endured the sun, applied sunscreen and used umbrellas to shield themselves from the elements. The synthetic material, however, posed its own difficulties.

“I would tend to get stuck while skating and couldn’t glide and spin as well,” Karys Shimizu said. “Injuries occurred more often, and we had to be more aware not to step off of the synthetic ice.”

At the time, the sisters were part of Hawaii’s only synchronized skating team, the Tropical Blades. Their mother recalls the uncertainty of adapting to synthetic ice.

“There was great hesitation on all our parts, knowing that the synthetic surface was not the same as ice,” she said. “It was a sacrifice on their skates and their bodies…especially their hips and knees.”

The team remained committed.

“It was frustrating at times because we couldn’t practice certain jumps or moves the same way,” Khloe Shimizu said. “But we made the best of it and tried to stay motivated.”

Developing a sisterly bond

Skating has not only shaped the Shimizu sisters as athletes but also strengthened their bond as siblings. For them, their shared love for the sport and mutual support has made their journey together even more meaningful.

“We have bonded over skating, especially during practices,” Khloe Shimizu said. “We like to encourage each other and make jokes, and we have a really good time when competition season hits. We always comfort each other and support each other.”

Looking ahead, both sisters plan to continue skating. Khloe Shimizu hopes to skate throughout high school and into college, potentially joining a collegiate team. 

“I was hoping to go to Pennsylvania State University because I saw videos of the ice skating team and was really looking forward to it,” she said. 

Karys Shimizu also hopes to continue skating but is prioritizing other factors when choosing a college. 

“I hope to find a college with a rink in the area or one during the winter,” she said. 

Skating toward success

While their futures may take different paths, the sisters agree that the skills and lessons they have gained from skating will remain with them. 

“Skating has taught me to not be so hard on myself because not everything can be perfect,” Karys Shimizu said. “This has greatly helped me to become the person I am today because although I am a perfectionist, I need to have good self-care and remember that not everything can be fixed by me.”