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Rousing music, elegant pirouettes and dazzling dresses – that’s Art on Ice. In addition to big names from the figure skating and music scenes, Switzerland’s best up-and-coming talent will once again be showcasing their skills this year. Thanks to the Art on Ice young talents initiative and the support of AXA Switzerland, dreams do come true.
Figure skating is a sport that requires tremendous dedication. Not only from the athletes themselves, but also from their families. For most people, getting to the top is a challenge that can’t be achieved with talent alone. Without the right support and opportunities, the big dream often remains unattainable.
This makes it all the more important for young athletes to have the chance to demonstrate what they can really do – and to receive support that really drives them forward. This is exactly what Art on Ice young talents is all about – it’s an initiative that works with AXA Switzerland to open up new perspectives for young figure skaters.
Art on Ice has been working with AXA Switzerland to promote young figure skaters since 2023. A commitment that not only promotes young talent, but also the sport itself.
Former figure skater and 2011 European champion Sarah van Berkel has been leading the Art on Ice young talents project since its inception. She knows the level of dedication needed from the young skaters and their families, and how important it is to promote young talent. Sarah van Berkel is convinced that “Switzerland could also compete more regularly with the world’s best in figure skating if the infrastructure and financial support were better.”
“We’re incredibly grateful for AXA’s support, because it’s very difficult to find sponsors as a niche or individual sport in Switzerland.”
Promoting young talent has a decisive influence on success in top-level sports. Without this investment in young people, international competitiveness will fall by the wayside. Such programs offer support that goes far beyond technical training and opens important doors for skaters. The same applies to young talent.
“We provide support with show placements and paid hours from our experts. We look at where they still need something, which is very individual, and we take action,” explains Sarah van Berkel.
After a successful first year, the Art on Ice young talents casting took place for the second time in November 2024. The talent from the novice and junior national teams showed their skills to the top-class jury, which included world champion and figure skating legend Denise Biellmann and Art on Ice CEO Oliver Höner. After challenging tasks and performances in the fields of technology, dance, choreography and improvisation, eight young skaters were able to prevail: Vivienne Blöchlinger (14), Elisabeth Dibbern (14) and Gion Schmid (14), all from the Dübendorf ice skating club, as well as Ava D’Andrea (12) from the Zurich-Oerlikon ice skating club and Tammaro Wyss (17) from the Bern ice skating club.
Already part of the team in 2023 and again this year: Ean Weiler (17) from the Champéry ice skating club and Olivia Bacsa (15) and Leandra Tzimpoukakis (15), both from the Dübendorf ice skating club.
It will also be exciting for the skaters who were there last year. As Sarah van Berkel points out, the show is not a “remake” of Art on Ice 2024. “The choreography, the concept, the video: Everything is different and is individually tailored to the selected skaters. The choreographer doesn’t start until she knows who’s really in the show. We don’t want to copy-paste, that wouldn’t be authentic and wouldn’t help the development of young talent.”
Everything will be ready in February. Five talents will be on the ice together with international stars from figure skating and music icons such as Paloma Faith, Stress, Marius Bear and Birdy in Zurich, Fribourg and Davos. This makes a big dream come true for the young skaters Elisabeth Dibbern, Ava D’Andrea, Tammaro Wyss, Ean Weiler and Olivia Bacsa. And tens of thousands of spectators will experience an evening full of magical moments.
Zoe Stauffiger is a Content Manager at AXA, where she writes texts about anything and everything to do with insurance.
