‘I was lucky’ Olympian Ashley Cain reflects fondly on her career in Dallas
BY KAMA STIGALL As figure skaters progress in their amateur careers, many find themselves relocating away from their hometowns to train at the highest level. Ashley Cain, 2022 Olympian and two- time U.S. pairs champion, is an exception. Cain was able to remain in her hometown of Dallas throughout her competitive years. “Something that was really special to me was being able to train in the same city my whole ca- reer,” she said. “I started in skate school classes in the Dallas StarCenters and trained all the way to the Olympics in the same community. I was lucky to have the community follow and support me through my journey.” Within the city, there are many training options for skaters. The Dallas Stars, the NHL profession- al ice hockey team, have eight locations (known as the Children’s Health StarCenters) sprinkled throughout the metropolitan area. “The Dallas Stars have built rinks surrounding the metroplex that have added easier access to train in our sport,” Cain said. “All the rinks are equipped with resources needed to run strong skating programs. With the addition of the Aspire Academy, we can now fast track skaters into the figure skating programs, incorporating on- and off-ice training in a team atmosphere.” Though figure skating has surged in popular- ity in the Lone Star State in recent years, local skaters, including Cain, have remained closely connected. “Because Texas is a smaller skating community, we cross each other’s paths far more than in other big cities,” she said. “I feel like this brings a sense of familiarity and makes our community tighter knit.” That sense of community has been a key part of Cain’s success. “Throughout every aspect of my career, I have always felt like I was surrounded by the right people to help me grow and accomplish the goals I had within this sport,” she said. Unlike many high-level skaters, Cain had the same set of coaches throughout her amateur career — her parents, Darlene and Peter Cain. “I had the best coaches for me on the ice and off
the ice,” she said. “Because I had such a strong sense of stability coming from my team and my training environment, I was able to trust in the process and know that I was prepared for anything that came my way.” Cain, alongside her pairs partner Timothy LeDuc, stepped away from amateur skating in 2022. Since then, she has kept busy, coaching along- side of her parents and traveling the world as a professional skater. “When I stepped away from competitive skating, I knew that I still had so much joy for the sport,” she said. “I wanted to travel and still experience skating, but in a different way from all the years I committed to competing.” Cain joined the Disney on Ice tour after the 2021–22 competitive season. “I am touring with Disney on Ice, and my show is called 100 Years of Wonder,” Cain said. “So far, I have skated in front of audiences in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Colombia.” Cain’s parents, who toured with the Holiday on Ice, Ice Follies and Disney on Ice shows for almost 10 years, helped to spark an interest in professional skating. Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, where they finished eighth.
“Going on tour was something I always wanted to do because I had heard so much about their experience and it was so exciting to me,” she said. Show skating has enriched Cain’s life in many ways, including making connections with other skaters. “Getting to experience a country through their culture, food and sites is so important to your growth as a person,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to meet up with many skating clubs and skaters from different countries and been a part of the cast that is bringing skating to certain countries for the first time in history.” Through her experiences as both an elite and professional skater, Cain realizes there is a place for everyone in figure skating. “There will always be different avenues to take within skating,” Cain said. “Broaden your horizon in the sport and take the path that feels right to you. Just because one door might be closing doesn’t mean that you have to step away from the sport — it can be part of your life in whatever capacity that you want it to be.” Cain has thoroughly enjoyed her skating career’s next chapter with Disney on Ice.
2023 HUMANA SKATE AMERICA | ALLEN, TX
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