Netta
Netta Schreiber (De Lagrave Codina)
Age: 23
Hometown: Born in Tel Aviv, but lived mostly in Rye, New York, USA
Spirit Animal: “I think I’d be a tiger, because of my inner passion. I was actually born in the year of the tiger as well!”
Fun Fact: “I have a crazy weird sense of humor! Only my closest friends and family usually see this side of me.”
“The ones who succeed are the ones that persist, not the ones that quit”.
-Unknown
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“I can definitely say that I moved around a lot during my life. I was born in Tel Aviv and moved to NY when I was around 5 years old. My grandmother introduced me to skating when I was 7 because she wanted me to “not be helpless” at birthday parties.”
“Sooner or later the ‘bug’ caught me, and I was waking my parents up at 5 am for them to take me skating at the local recreational rink. “
Just before her 16th birthday, Netta made the move to Toronto, alone, to train at the Toronto Cricket Club (TCC), her dream location.
“Since then, I have fallen in love with Toronto, and even met my husband there! He’s not a skater, thank God, and is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me. He’s taught me how big life actually is and is the only person that makes me laugh as hard as I do.”
Netta participated in Junior Worlds during the 2013, 2014, 2015 seasons as well as Senior Worlds also in 2014 and 2015. Winning her first international title in 2014 on the junior circuit, she also placed in the top 10 during the Junior Grand Prix that season and went on to compete at the European Championships in 2015.
“My latest achievement, after a long hiatus is getting all of my elements back, and learning new ones, consistently, as well as making the 2021 Skate Ontario Tier 1 team.”
Although she represented Israel from 2011-2018, this past June, Netta received a release to skate in the Canadian system and she currently trains in Oakville, Ontario.
“I aspire to internationally represent [Canada] one day.”
“This season is going to be especially interesting because it’s my first one skating in the Canadian system. Normally, I would be trying to compete for a spot at the Nebelhorn Olympic qualifier.”
Q: Who is someone in your life that inspires or motivates you?
“My twin brother is one of my biggest inspirations because no matter how hard life has gotten for him, he would always stay positive and push through. He’s one of the strongest people that I know, and I will always hold that dear to my heart.”
Q: Who was your skating ‘role-model’ when you were younger?
“Yuna Kim has been my role model since I was 9 years old. Of course, as I got older, I started to appreciate many other skaters, such as Carolina Kostner.”
Q: What is your favourite element in skating?
“My favourite elements are a back camel layover and triple lutz - it’s the first triple I warm up in practice!”
“My least favourite ‘element’ is actually doing full run throughs in practice, especially towards the end of the week. I motivate myself to do them by doing separate parts frequently, in-order-to make the actual run throughs less daunting. It also helps me to remember that run throughs are the best preparation for competition.”
Q: What is your favourite type of off-ice training?
“Every Sunday I do a workout full of coordination and quickness exercises, as well as off ice rotations. This and some cardio always leave me feeling set for the week.”
Q: Do you do any type of visualization or meditation?
“I usually visualize myself going through my elements throughout competition week, but right before I try not to think too much. I just set my body on autopilot and let it do its thing.”
Q: What is it that you love most about skating?
“I love that skating makes me feel like myself the most, as well as the freedom that it makes me feel. When I’m gliding on the ice, nothing can bother me.”
Q: On days that you don’t feel like training, what keeps you motivated?
“On days where it’s exceptionally hard to go train, I focus on all the little things that I love about skating. Getting up early, getting a coffee beforehand, dressing really comfortably, and letting my body warm up slowly on the ice.”
Q: Do you have any pre-competition rituals or superstitions?
“I try to stay consistent with my warm-up routine, and on competition days I actually prefer to get to the venue a bit later, so I have less time to stress. I wouldn’t say it’s a complete ritual, but I’ve noticed that very often I have pizza the night before a competition. It’s one of my favourite foods and it always gives me the energy that I need for the day of.”
Q: What are you typically thinking just before you perform or compete?
“Before my program, I always think to myself to be fearless, and to ‘let it fly’, which is an encouragement to trust my body and training; an old expression I used with one of my former coaches that stuck to me.”
Q: Did you ever endure some type of adversity in your career?
“I describe my ongoing skating career as the wildest ride of my life, and I hope to use it as a reason to inspire others to persist despite life’s challenges. Initially training at a small town rink in NY, I unexpectedly qualified for my first Worlds as a 15 year old kid who had absolutely no idea what she was doing, [and then moved to Toronto].”
“For a year and a half, I had the privilege to train and compete on the International/World stage. My first serious injury abruptly ended this time period, which led me back home for a year to recover and train. I describe this year as the toughest year of my life, as I was enduring [physical] and mental issues alike.”
“The aftermath of this year led to my first time quitting [the sport]; when I felt too frustrated to do it anymore. Of course, this wasn’t true, because my burning passion for skating has never actually left. For many years after my first injury, I felt that I was continuously motioning through a cycle of working back and then quitting when things started to get difficult again.”
“I know that I am not the only skater who has faced these challenges. Thankfully, an ‘aha!’ moment struck me no more than two months before COVID hit, after I was tired of going through a cycle of constant fear of judgment and negativity. I realized that my true passion for skating lies in the overlooked everyday things, such as getting up before the sun rises, going to the rink to warm up, feeling the first few glides on the ice, and most of all feeling the satisfaction after a gruelling practice.”
“I realized that skating simply makes me happy to be alive, and with this mindset, not only does a bad training day not inhibit me like it used to, but I am actually performing better because of the underlying joy in what I do. I am so grateful for my incredible coaches, Michelle Leigh and Kathy Zahakos, who stuck by me during this process and continue to do so. I wish for other skaters to find the joy in the everyday work, and I truly believe that this brings out your best self.”
“I was always told that being resilient was the key to success. “The ones who succeed are the ones that persist, not the ones that quit”.
Q: How did skating prepare you for life?
“Skating has taught me countless things, but the main lesson I’ve learned was how to recover from failures again and again. Success happens when you refuse to give in, not when you stop failing.”
Q: What is your favourite skating memory?
“My most memorable life moment - of course - is getting married, which happened last October under abnormal conditions. Despite the circumstances, I felt so surrounded by love and happiness.”
“My most memorable skating moment was the 2014 World Championships in Tokyo. Being in that city, skating on their ice, and connecting with the Japanese audience was an incredible experience that I could only wish to go through again.”
Netta also notes her time training and competing in Oberstdorf, Germany.
“The rink is so warm and beautiful; I really appreciated every second I had on the ice there.”
Q: What is your ultimate goal with skating?
“Like most, my initial goal was to go to the Olympics and World Championships. Because of my recent country switch, I know that it’s a lot more difficult to obtain, but I believe that if I focus on my work, things will fall in place.”
Q: Any advice for young and aspiring skaters?
“To take perfectionism with a grain of salt, and to be softer on yourself. Learning how to handle mistakes, is in my opinion, one of the best ways to develop as an athlete. Makes the daily grind of training easier as well since you won’t be so hard on yourself all the time.”
Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of skating?
“I love drawing, playing the piano, dancing, and graphic design. I actually taught dance classes to skaters of various levels for a year!”
Q: If skating didn’t exist and you could be anything else in the world what would it be?
“Can't imagine myself without skating at all, but if I had to be something else, I’d definitely be a dancer!”
Q: What are your aspirations outside of skating?
Currently in her 5th year at Ryerson University, currently known as X University, Netta is pursuing a degree in Creative Industries.
“My dream outside of skating is to become a graphic designer specializing in branding, logos, and illustrations. I am currently completing my degree which specializes in the creative industries, and I hope to get a graphic design internship next summer. I have already done some pro bono work which I include in my design portfolio, so things seem to be on the right track.”
Q: Where is one place that you have never been but hope to visit?
“I would love to visit Korea one day. I’ve already been to China and Japan, so I feel like it would definitely close the circle.”
Q: What type of music gets you ‘in-the-zone’?
“I actually have a competition playlist, but a classic that’s stuck with me is Higher by Tiao Cruz.”
Lastly, what does it mean to you to have a #ChampionshipMindset?
“To me, having a #ChampsionshipMindset means a couple of things. First of all, it’s the persistence of getting through the tough days, when you’re in a bad mood, sore, and don’t feel like training. It’s that same persistence that gets you through tough circumstances, such as what we've been dealing with for the past year and a half.”
“Secondly, it’s the ability to work independently and do things solely for yourself. Every day when I go train, I remind myself that I only go through this process because I want to, not because I want to please anyone else.”
“Lastly, it's setting a good example to others, such as keeping a positive attitude on hard days.”
