This was previously published in our December 2025 issue.

Picking up speed, Javier Asuaje’s skates scrape against the ice — a sound he has been familiar with for 10 years. With an inhale, Asuaje attempts a catch camel, a skill he had been mastering for several months. Having executed the spin flawlessly, he exhaled, seeing his own breath in the frigid air, and continued to glide through his competition routine. 

Junior Asuaje has been working hard on competition routines in figure skating for four years, and has been skating for around 10 years.  These many years of hard work have brought him to win first place in two national competitions in Colombia. 

Growing up, Asuaje took an interest in skating and began taking “Learn to Skate” lessons following his brothers. 

“My brothers were figure skaters and they were older than me so they got into it first, and then they just kind of threw me in there too,” Asuaje said.

Having fallen in love with the basics of skating, Asuaje decided to further his passion and begin competing in figure skating despite the stress that comes along with doing so.  

“It’s really a sport that has so much pressure on you as an individual, because everybody’s looking at you and what you do,” Asuaje said. 

According to Asuaje, figure skating is more complicated than people may think. He has experience in all areas of figure skating, as well as competing in singles and pairs. The scoring is meticulous, adding to the competition stress. But, to Asuaje, the importance of details in the artistry is part of what makes the sport distinctive. 

“I think it makes it really unique that you kind of have to show everyone else otherwise,” Asuaje said. “Everybody’s expecting you to do great or do bad or do a certain way, and you just try to navigate that.” 

 Through the judges’ and audience’s opinions, Asuaje has striven to find individuality within his sport through competing. 

“It’s mostly like how you want to show the world your art, how you move your body, how you spin, how you jump,” Asuaje said. 

Asuaje’s originality also stands out off of the rink, particularly shining in the classroom. According to social studies teacher Brian Pum, Asuaje’s dedication is what sets him apart. 

“[Asuaje brings] a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, which not all kids have,” Pum said. 

Paige Grubbs, Asuaje’s skating partner and junior at Freedom High School, has had a similar experience with Asuaje’s level of commitment while preparing for their first performances together.

“He definitely loves skating a lot, [he’s] very dedicated,” Grubbs said. “He’s gonna be a really great partner, he’s dedicated to all of it.” 

In addition to practicing with Grubbs three to four times each week in preparation for a New Year’s Eve show and following competitions, Asuaje has also begun coaching.

With this new coaching opportunity, Asuaje is able to share his artistry with his students at Steel Ice Center in Bethlehem and teach them how to express themselves. Having years of national and local competition experience, Asuaje understands the importance of a coach that brings positivity and teaches their athletes how to maintain such a positive mindset. 

“You could do so many skills, and you know you can do them well, but if your mind is not there, you won’t be able to perform as best as you can,” Asuaje said. “There’s different jumps, different spins, but they all value in different ways and they all show what you are as an individual.”