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Please visit our Latino Skating Interview Section

Latino Skating Interview - October, 2005

October, 2005 - Interview with Corenne Bruhns
Q&A conducted via email by Arsenette Reiter
Photos © Bruhns Family 2004

This month we have Corenne Bruhns. She's a Novice Level Skater for Mexico and defending Silver Medalist from last year's Mexican Championships. She was gracious to email us her answers in the middle of the busy season.  She's in between Novice Internationals and now upcoming Estatales (which is equivalent to Sectional Championships) and in November - Mexican Nationals.  From what I understand Mexican Nationals are going to be from the 13th to the 19th of November of 2005 in Cuatitlan Izcalli, Estado de Mexico.  It's going to be in a new ice rink that its going to be ready by nationals and its an Olympic size rink.

General questions

AR - To start I wanted to have just a brief description or bio of yourself for the readers so they can get to know you better - What’s your full name, any nicknames you like to be called, how old are you and what town are you originally from, and if you have moved since - where are you from now?

CB - My full name is Corenne Ariana Bruhns Alonso, and my friends usually call my Cor or Rinny. I’m 14, and I’m originally from Wilmette, Illinois, but I have since moved to Hackensack, NJ.

AR - When did you start skating and what got you hooked?  Did watching skating on TV inspire you? Did you live close to a rink? Did you have siblings in any ice sports?  Or was it a combination of any of them or something else entirely?

CB - I started skating when I was 7 years old because my older sister started skating and I wanted to be just like her.

AR - When did you decide to compete in general?  What drew you to it?  When did you decide to train more for this sport?

CB - I decided to compete when I was 11 and I moved to NJ, because it wasn’t until then that I really realized that I wanted to skate.

AR - Do you prefer competition or exhibition?

CB - I like both equally as much. Competitions are a lot of fun because you get to show all of the work that you have done, and exhibitions are fun because there are no requirements and you can just perform.

AR - What was the most exciting thing that has happened to you in this sport so far?

CB - The most exciting thing that has happened to me in this sport so far is competing internationally for Mexico.

AR - What are you most proud of in terms of your skating career thus far?

CB - I am most proud of representing Mexico in the international level.

AR - What goals do you have for yourself?  (Both short term and long term)

CB - My short-term goals are to place well in Nationals and to land another triple, and my long-term goals are to make it to Worlds or the Olympics.

AR - What keeps you motivated in keeping up skating?

CB - My family and myself keep me motivated in skating, because skating is just something that I really can’t live without.

AR - How much does finance keep you from achieving your goals in skating?  What sacrifices have you and your family had to make to keep you on the ice?

CB - We’ve been very fortunate up to this point, although the budget is tight; we’ve been able to manage to continue. My family has had to make adjustments to our everyday life, and my parents have had to put in a lot of work to keep affording my skating.

AR - How has skating affected your life?  (Both Positive and/or negative)

CB - Skating has been nothing but positive for my life because although I left my hometown and I stopped going to school, I have benefited from all of the changes and become a better skater.

AR - Where do you see yourself.. say 10 years from now?

CB - 10 years from now, I see myself still skating, maybe competing, but I think I might be professional by then, depending on how the future turns out, but I’ll definitely still be skating.

AR - Do you have other hobbies, interests or activities you pursue outside of skating?

CB - Yes, I love reading, dancing, playing the piano and viola, and spending time with my friends and pets.

AR - How has skating impacted your school career?  How complicated has it been?  Have you changed your lifestyle at all to accommodate skating?

CB - Skating has definitely impacted my school career because we had to switch to home school, and fitting in the time for schoolwork can definitely get difficult sometimes but I find time to get it done.

Latino based Questions 

AR - Where do you trace your Latino routes?  Which family members and what Latin country is included in your background?

CB - My mother was born in Mexico, and I have a lot of family currently residing in Mexico.

AR - Have you always embraced or otherwise brought to light your Latino heritage?  Any reasons why you chose to do so or not do so in the past?

CB - Yes, my family and I have always been very proud of our Mexican heritage.

AR - What aspects draw you to celebrating your heritage in the sport of figure skating?

CB - The fact that I’m very proud of being a Mexican, and that I would love to help make Mexico more known in the figure skating world.

AR - Do you speak Spanish?

CB - Yes, I do speak Spanish.

AR - For those who were not born in a Latin Country but have relatives from there - have you visited or lived in that country and have any memories?

CB - Yes, I have visited and spent a lot of time in Mexico because my family and I frequently go there to compete and spend time with our other family members.

AR - Has being Latina affected how you approach the sport?  Have you tried to compete or perform to either Latin music or even compete for a Latin Country?

CB - I compete for Mexico, and I have competed to and performed to Latin music in the past.

AR - What are the obstacles, if any, have you come across since you decided to support your Latino Heritage?

CB - Thankfully, we have not yet had any obstacles since I decided to support my Latino Heritage.

AR - How would you explain or support your desire to continue supporting Latino skating (in general - not just the website/organization).

CB - By competing for Mexico, and helping to make Latin countries more known in the figure skating world.

AR - How rare are we in the sport?  Do you feel isolated sometimes or have you met more Latino skaters throughout your career?

CB - I train with several people that are from Mexico and compete for Mexico, and there I have met some people from Argentina that are figure skaters as well, so I don’t think that Latinos are very rare in this sport.

AR - What do you think could be a misconception, if any, about being Latina in this sport?

CB - I think that sometimes there is a misconception that Latinos are slightly lower levels in this sport.

AR - Since you embraced your Latino roots and continued as such in this sport has it affected you in any way?  (Both Positive and/or negative)

CB - It has positively affected me because I have been able to represent Mexico internationally.

AR - Have any special opportunities or support from the Latino community arisen since skating with a conscious effort to promote Latino Skating?

CB - No, no special opportunities or support from the Latino community has arisen since I have begun skating with a conscious effort to promote Latino Skating.

AR - What would you like to see happen as a result?  How do you think Latinos can contribute to this sport?

CB -  I think Latinos can contribute to this sport by representing your country, and working towards getting recognition at the international level.

AR - I appreciate your time for not only supporting our own organization but also for your time in this interview.  Hope to continue following your career!  Wish you much success and happiness!  Go Latinos!  Andale!