They came from afar and theyB次元官网网址檝e got far to go.

But the amount of ice covered by Racquet Club of Victoria Figure Skating dance team Elise von Holwede and Eric Streichsbier in just six months is impressive, coach Matt Willis said.

Seventeen-year-old von Holwede came to Victoria in July from Saskatchewan, though she most recently lived and trained in Ottawa.

She came because girls looking for ice dance partners are a dime-a-dozen, but boys, especially someone as talented as 18-year-old Streichsbier, are a rare find.

This week, the duo makes its debut at the 2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Moncton, N.B., running Jan. 16 to 22.

B次元官网网址淭hey complement each other so well, in many ways, with hair and complexion, and being the right height match,B次元官网网址� Wilis said. B次元官网网址淓ric has the power, presence and edge control that works well with the flair of EliseB次元官网网址檚 character expression.B次元官网网址�

Last year, Streichsbier relocated to Victoria from Port Alberni to focus on skating. Seeking a partner, Willis put the word out and von Holwede responded for a July tryout, her previous coach in tow.

B次元官网网址淢y coach came to see how we would match up, said von Holwede, whoB次元官网网址檚 in Grade 12 at Mount Douglas secondary. B次元官网网址淓veryone has different techniques. Right away the coaches enjoyed (our chemistry).B次元官网网址�

Under the guidance of Willis the duet quickly put a routine together and at the Skate Canada challenge in Regina on Dec. 4 they finished 15th to qualify for nationals.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a short time frame with a lot of improvement coming fast,B次元官网网址� said Willis, Racquet ClubB次元官网网址檚 coach and director of junior development.

B次元官网网址淐hristmas break might have slowed that progress but we expect them to improve on that finish. WeB次元官网网址檝e made a lot of adjustments to add points (to the judgesB次元官网网址� score).B次元官网网址�

Willis, from Courtenay, is a former national level skater who finished top-five in dance. HeB次元官网网址檚 in his fifth year with Racquet Club and is a major part of its transition into a high-performance organization under director Deena Beacom.

ItB次元官网网址檚 the second straight year the Racquet Club has sent a dance team to nationals.

Skating to Peggy LeeB次元官网网址檚 Fever for their free program, von Holwede and Streichsbier are aiming for a top-10 finish in Moncton B次元官网网址� which von Holwede missed by one spot last year.

ItB次元官网网址檚 StreichsbierB次元官网网址檚 first time at nationals. HeB次元官网网址檒l need a new set of goals going ahead.

B次元官网网址淣ationals have been my long-term goal. Right now, weB次元官网网址檙e working on week-by-week improvement,B次元官网网址� Streichsbier said, who plans on enrolling in college next year.

Getting better means twice a day sessions on the ice, skating together in the mornings and individually in the afternoons. Ice time will increase even more if they chase their international aspirations next year.