Felicity is determined to chase her dreams

Her exceptional performances at the South African Figure Skating Association’s (SAFSA) recent National Championships in Johannesburg, not only earned Felicity Chase the award for the Most Impressive Performance at Nationals 2025 but also the honour to be the face of SAFSA for the 2026 season.

No stranger to figure skating, Chase - who turned seventeen on 17 June - has been skating since age five, following in her sister Katherine’s footsteps. She joined the Junior Blades Figure Skating Club at the Grand West Casino’s Ice Station in Cape Town and immediately fell in love with the sport.

It was not until 2017, however, that she started to compete in local and national competitions, representing Western Province at various Inter Provincial Championships. The catalyst to take her sport to another level, was her first place in both Component and Free in the Pre-Novice category at the 2021 Gauteng Inter-provincials and placing first in the Component and second in the Free at National Championship in the same year.

She was also excelling in classical dancing. This excellent grounding proved most beneficial when she decided to move from single skating into the then new discipline of Ice Dance.

Since solo ice dance had at that stage not yet taken off in South Africa, Chase decided to try couples ice dance. After two seasons of competing both locally and internationally, she decided to move to solo ice dance, more so because SAFSA now recognised it as a competition division.

With her ballet background and stage presence, she has managed to integrate her love for both sports into mesmerising displays of musical interpretation and excellent skating skills.

What was her reaction when winning the awards? “At first, I did not even comprehend that they had called my name. It was only when my mom said: ‘Flee that’s you!’ that reality dawned on me. My two performances and the scores I received, was already more than enough for me.”

She says her main goal is that the audience and judges should enjoy her performance. “I like to see it as a ‘break’ for them from the competition. I really try hard with facial expressions and looking directly at the judges. I run my programme a lot during practices to make the timing of my elements and movements fit with the music.”

Chase admits there were many moments when she wanted to give up solo figure skating. “However, with solo dance, I haven’t so far wanted to give up. As much as it is hard work, I truly love figure skating. It is sometimes a bit hard to get up early in the morning, especially during hectic school time, but once I’m on the ice I feel ten times better. When things don’t go as well as I wanted, I just remind myself why I am skating and how the reward will feel after the hard work.

“I struggled a lot emotionally after skating overseas and seeing the talent and amazing skaters,” she adds. “Logistically it’s also tough. I am in Grade 11 at Springfield Convent, so managing schoolwork, friends, family and figure skating is very challenging. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world though.”

Her advice to young skaters? “Figure skating is a beautiful sport but what makes it better is if you do it because you love it. The goal does not always have to be to go to the Olympics. If that is your goal, then go for it. But remember that figure skating can also be a sport that you choose to do like any other one. Wanting to work hard at this sport, does not mean you have to give up your life for it. Figure skating should be something you choose to do, not because you are forced to do it.”

Felicity gives credit to her parents and coaches for what she has achieved so far. “My parents have been with me through my ups and downs. They have held my hand no matter what, even during my grumpy teenage phase.

“My coach, Barbara Ann Hawks, has worked with me since I was just able to walk on ice and has played a crucial role in making me the skater I am today. With the help of Oleksii Ishchenko, who makes sure my movements can be seen from all angles, she choreographed both my programmes. Barbie has also helped me with both the way I present myself on the ice and the technical details of each element.

“Coach Megan Allely Painczyk helps me with my power, edges and especially my combo spin that drives us both insane! There is coach Vage Evetts who never fails to make me laugh. Coach Lisa Stigant is always my rock and helped me find my love for the sport again. I also have an off-ice coach, Caryn, who helps me with fitness and strength, along with being my built-in psychiatrist. And finally, my entire family, who always come to support my competitions in Cape Town and my friends who keep my schoolwork while I’m at competitions.

"A special thanks too, to Michelle Cilliers who has designed and made all my beautiful costumes over the years."

Her short-term goals are to compete at the Epinal Solo Dance International in France in December and to pass skills level five by the end of the Season. “I would also like to get a personal best at the Western Province championships. I still have a lot to improve. Success to me is focusing on all the levels needed for my elements, no matter how long it takes.”

Chase your dreams, Felicity!