By Hayley Wildes
Berwick local Carissa Domrow first took up skating when she just six years old. Flash forward to now – 19 years later – the 25-year-old is reaching new heights on the artistic roller skating scene.
“I first started skating when I was six after I attended a school fundraiser when I lived Brisbane,” Carissa said.
“Then I moved to Melbourne and continued taking lessons from there.”
Carissa, who competes in the artistic roller skating discipline of freeskating – an individual performance that involves a choreographed routine to music – recently took part in the Skate Australia 2018 Australian Championships in Perth.
Qualification for the national championships isn’t easy; a top-three place in your respective state championships is required.
Competing at her fifth national championships, Carissa claimed a silver medal in the Masters Ladies Freeskating event in what was a very competitive field.
“It was a tight competition,” she said.
“I had competed against a lot of the skaters I was up against last year and then there were a couple of new faces as well.
“It’s always a little daunting when you don’t know who or what you’re going to be up against – it could be someone who has come back from a long break or is going fresh into the event.”
This isn’t the first time Carissa has tasted success. She looks back on her gold medal at the 2016 national championships as a career highlight.
“I was over the moon and my coach was too.” She said.
Having skated for the majority of her life, Carissa still loves the sport and the freeskating community.
“It’s great for fitness and you get to meet new people from your own state as well as skaters from other states,” she said.
“Everyone gets along really well and there’s a strong community with all the freeskaters.”
Carissa has also previously competed in precision skating – a team event – winning bronze at the 2011 Australian Championships.
She explains how participating in a team event helps keep things fresh.
“It gives a bit of variety and it’s a great opportunity to work in a team,” she said.
“You get to work with people of all different levels and you can pass on your own experiences to other people.”
There is no doubt that Carissa Domrow is skating in the right direction.
