Meet Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez. 

Hi Valentina and Maximiliano, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I (Valentina) started skating at the age of 12 in a rink in Pembroke Pines, Florida. I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed being on the ice and very quickly progressed with my coach Britni Kelly. With many accomplishments and local triumphs, I competed at the collegiate level. Single skating was fun; however, I knew it would be difficult to ever be at the top on a national level. I was always told I should take on pairs skating because of my small stature. 

Maximiliano started figure skating at 13 years old, following his older sisters’ steps. He quickly advanced through the levels and was able to compete in the Sectional Championships a couple of times. Around the age of 17 he followed his dream to switch from single to pair skating with Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora. Between the years of 2013 and 2017 Max (Maximiliano) found success with his previous partners in the Novice and Junior divisions. However, in 2017 Max came to step away from figuring skating. He took on piloting and drone racing during his retired years. 

Finally in June 2019, our paths crossed, with Max coming out of retirement and I wanting to test out change, we had a tryout. Since I was mid-season, it was a short tryout at a rink in Pembroke Pines. A couple months later, in December, Max requested another tryout in Ellenton, Florida with Peterson and Evora. We went there for 4 days and it was eye-opening the amount of possibilities we could have as a team. After 7 months, I finally accepted Max’s request for a partnership. With that, we know that this meant a move to Michigan. 

For the first 2 months of 2020 Max and I trained by ourselves, as he taught me the basics of pair skating. In March the Pandemic hit and we were forced to practice strictly off ice. The 1st of May, Max and I decided to train in Tampa, Florida with Peterson and Evora. Because of the pandemic, our plans of moving to Michigan in April were pushed back to September. September of 2020 finally came and we all packed our cars and drove to Canton, Michigan. 

In Canton, Michigan we found a new home and a new family. Training at The Arctic Edge of Canton, we were able to meet a dream staff and a dream facility. Peterson and Evora have started their pair school in Canton with us as role models for the younger generation. With the off-ice training of Aaron Stickle and the on-ice training of Peterson and Evora we have been able to show progress, determination, and early success. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
This process has definitely been everything but smooth! The Pair discipline is one of the hardest discipline to learn. Staring at a later age in comparison to the norm, our elements- specifically throws, jumps, and twist- took a bit longer to develop. We had a developmental year of 2020 in Junior, and in 2021 we moved up to the Senior level. Unfortunately, in 2021 at the US Senior Nationals Championships we had a mishaps in our short program where we missed a throw. I split my chin open and with that miss we ended in 6th place overall after our free program. 

In 2022 we made Team USA and were able to represent the United States at 5 international competitions in a matter of 2 months. Although it was an honor to be able to compete for USA, we had to maintain our peak for a longer period of time than usual. We were exhausted and met many mental and emotional blocks throughout the season. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As pair skaters, we are known for our athleticism and power. With our three years of partnership, we have been recognized for our Lifts and our Twist being one of the best in the country. We take lots of pride in that because those are two of the hardest elements in the discipline and it sets us apart from others. 

Although it is still a work in progress, I (Valentina) very proud of our throws and how they are coming along. Throws are a big WOW factor in pair skating and ours are coming along in terms of consistency. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
The biggest luck we have had in our lives is beings so unbelievably lucky to have such a wonderful team with Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora. Jim Peterson is an Olympic-level coach and has taken 3 teams to the Olympics; including Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig. Both Peterson and Evora have become our family and we are lucky to have a coaching team that goes above and beyond for their teams in every way imaginable. 

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114473.htm?fbclid=PAAaYQX0oJg8xvBD03xKd2Bu9GKEWqbN0pn8qXbeT4mPcpJmS-XaLd3uOvX5Y
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/vmskates?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=