From Alabama to International Ice: A Pelham Skater's Journey
The journey to competitive skating often begins in unexpected ways. But for local skater Adria Liliac, it all started in the heat of the Alabama summer. At the time, the then five-year-old skater could never have imagined that she would one day compete internationally. Still, on a Thursday morning in December, the staff at her home rink in Pelham, AL, crowded around a small screen in a corner office to watch her take the ice nearly halfway around the world.
It all started when Adria's grandmother visited from her family's country of Romania. Unaccustomed to the heat, she was looking for a place to cool off. Luckily, the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena was just a short drive from Adria's home in Hoover. The two went ice skating, and what began as a simple way to beat the heat became a lifelong passion.
Not long after that initial visit to the ice rink, Adira's mother enrolled her in skating lessons. "I can remember my mom taking me to group skating classes, and that is when I fell in love with the beauty of skating," she said. By the age of six, she was entering her first competition. She continued to skate season after season, increasing her skill with each lesson. She embraced the challenges and joys of the sport, enrolling in additional classes and eventually working with private coaches in Pelham.
In 2020, she decided to dedicate herself fully to competitive skating, and in December of 2024, that dedication landed her in her first International Skating Union (ISU) competition abroad. She finished 3rd in the Romanian Junior Women's National Championships.
Competing internationally presented unique challenges compared to local events. Adjusting to a new time zone disrupted Adria's schedule. "My eating and sleep schedule was a little bit off," she explained. "Also, the weather was a lot colder than what I am used to." A nod to that first moment when her grandmother took her skating to beat the heat! Despite these hurdles, she embraced the opportunity to share the ice with skaters from other countries, describing the experience as both inspiring and eye-opening. "Competing with people from so many different countries is a very different but amazing experience. I learned a lot about people there."
Preparing for the event required months of planning. With the help of her coaches and parents, Adria mapped out her training schedule and competition goals over the summer. Then, school started again, and Adria had to balance training with schoolwork, which was challenging. "It got a little stressful, but I learned to balance the many hours of training and staying on top of school," said Liliac.
Her first international competition took place right around midterms. Adria credits her ability to manage the many aspects of her life, in part, to the discipline she learned from skating. "The many hours of training have become a regular part of my life, and I truly do love the challenge. I don't know what I would do without skating. The dedication that I have from this sport has not only helped me as an athlete but also as a person."
Besides school, Adria had several other things on her mind. She worried about managing her nerves, adjusting to a different setup for official practices, and recovering from the effects of long travel days and jet lag. Fortunately, her coaches in Pelham have had extensive experience with international competitions and prepared her well for the experience.
In the end, her hard work paid off. It was a moment of pride, but more importantly, it was an opportunity to grow as an athlete. "I am glad I managed to place in the top three in Romania," Adria said. "My goal is to add harder elements into my program to raise my points. I am currently training new jumps and spins."
With one international competition under her belt, she is already setting her sights on the next competition. Training is already underway, and with more experience, she hopes to become even more confident on the international stage.
Looking back, she reflects on how far she has come since her early skating lessons. "When I was younger, I never even imagined I would be training at the level I am now, let alone competing out of the country and with the top skaters."
Adria dreams of competing in the Junior Grand Prix and holding a first-place international title one day. With the support of her coaches and family, she is determined to continue growing and taking advantage of every opportunity skating offers. For her, the sport is a passion and a way of life that has given her purpose and motivation for the future.