Skating Without Borders: La storia di Enrico Kusnady

And then, when did the idea to start skating again come up?

It all started during the lockdown, at the end of 2021. I was stuck at home — the gym was closed, the dance school was closed, even the yoga studio was closed. Everything that normally brought me joy and movement was suddenly out of reach.

Then one day, almost out of nowhere, I had this idea:
“What if I try ice skating again? Outdoors. Just for fun.”

It felt like something deep inside me started to wake up again. The moment I stepped back onto the ice, I knew: this was more than just a fun distraction. It was a part of me I had left behind for more than 20 years.

That was my way of expressing emotions when I was I child: through movement, through music, through feeling. And that’s exactly what ice skating gives me today. It’s something hard to put into words — but I feel completely like myself. Like a bird: free and light.

Skating as an adult isn’t about chasing a childhood dream. It’s about rediscovering a part of myself I thought was lost — and that’s what makes it so meaningful.

What are the main differences between skating as a child and as an adult skater?

Skating as a child is a completely different experience compared to skating as an adult.
As a child, you don’t overthink, you don’t analyze much — you just watch what your coach shows you and try to imitate it. There’s a kind of freedom in that simplicity.

But as an adult skater, the mindset is totally different. I tend to ask a lot of technical questions!
When I was a kid, none of these thoughts ever crossed my mind. I just repeated movements over and over again until, somehow, I could do them. Looking back, that may not have been the most effective way to learn — haha!

As adult skaters, we also face different physical and personal challenges. We have jobs, responsibilities, families.
That’s what makes adult skating so special: it’s a choice — a conscious, passionate decision to keep learning, growing, and flying on the ice.

What are the 3 best moments of your skating life?

1. Skating with Ye Bin Mok in Sheffield
   I was in Sheffield attending an adult summer camp, and Ye was, by coincidence, in the same rink. I had admired her since I was a child and had also attended one of her Zoom off-ice training courses.
   She came up to me and asked if I wanted to skate with her after the camp — and suddenly, I was on the ice with her!
   It was a privilege to learn from her, especially the importance of fundamental skills. Her body alignment and edge quality are simply incredible. Truly inspiring.
2. Winning gold at the Winter World Masters Games 2024 in Lombardia, Italy
   I won the gold medal for my free skating in the Men’s Silver I category — and it was an indescribable feeling. I still get goosebumps every time I think about it. But it wasn’t just about the medal. I met so many amazing people from around the world and received so much support — even from people I had never met before.
   They cheered for me, encouraged me, and it really touched my heart. Through this experience, I also made new friends (some of them even from Skating Diaries) who now feel like family. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank Pietro, Mari, Giulia, Tatiana, and Ayinie Nurul. We still keep in touch and sometimes have Zoom calls together.
3. Landing a double flip as an adult skater
   Back when I was a young figure skater, I could only land double Salchow and double toe loop. Unfortunately, I quit before learning other double jumps. But now, as an adult skater, I’ve managed to land double loop, double flip, and even butterfly. It’s fascinating what the human body can achieve with the right mindset and approach.