Skating with Confidence: Sarah Everhardt Reflects on Her NHK Trophy Experience

Sarah Everhardt is one of the rising stars in U.S. figure skating. This season marks her second year on the senior circuit. After competing at Skate Canada International last week, she will participate in her first NHK Trophy this weekend. Fully aware of the physical and mental challenges posed by back-to-back Grand Prix events, she faces them with calm resolve.

Last season, despite being notified just weeks before the competition, she delivered an extraordinary performance, surpassing the 200-point mark multiple times and captivating audiences with her talent and determination. This remarkable achievement has strengthened her belief in herself, and she approaches this season with the same confidence and aspiration of stepping onto the podium. But her journey is not just about refining technical skills; it’s about infusing her performances with unique emotional depth and a profound understanding of music.

She takes pride in her Irish heritage, while being fascinated by the thrill of Formula 1 racing and the magical world of Harry Potter. These seemingly disparate elements coalesce in her being, shaping a distinct and captivating style that is entirely her own.

After the competition, we had the privilege of sitting down with this talented young athlete to delve deeper into her mindset and the stories behind the programs she has chosen to bring to life on the ice. Read on to find out what makes her a rapidly growing skater in this Q&A.

Nice to meet you today! Is this your first time competing in the NHK Trophy? How do you feel about the atmosphere here?

I've always wanted to come to Japan and compete in Japan because the audience is always very supportive and very helpful. So I'm glad I was given an opportunity to come here this year and compete here. It's very fun competing.

How do you feel competing with these world top skaters? Which part do you feel more: excited or nervous?

I think it's a bit of both. I'm excited that I got to share the same ice with them and that I'm competing with them, but also nervous because I wanted to do well, but I know they're very very good, but I also wanted to be competitive with them.

Can you feel the tension on the ice?

I wouldn't say there's tension on the ice but it's fun competing with them. I began enjoying competing more with world people. it's more interesting and fun for me.

You just finished your competition last week in Canada, the two Grand Prix events are so close, maybe there are some potential impacts from the tight schedule or jet lag?

I'm sure there were some impacts, like dealing with jet lag and being like very physically exhausted from traveling back and forth. But I knew they were back-to-back competitions so I just had to prepare for further competition and just prepare myself knowing that I had some back-to-back competitions.

Do you have any tips to adjust this uncomfortable situation?

I think you just need to work as much as you can to be like extra ready. Because obviously I'm not training at all since I competed in Canada until really Thursday, I wasn't doing anything. So it's a couple of days of not skating and you just need to prepare for those kinds of conditions and prepare yourself and know that. That's what you're going to have to deal.

So before you came here you didn’t have regular training after Skate Canada?

Because it takes too long to go home and skate there. I was only there for like a little bit of time and then I flew straight to Japan.

Yeah, in your official practice on Thursday, I noticed you paid special attention to the triple Salchow. It maybe your more comfortable, and confident part so you could put it on the last part in the free skate but have you had any issues with it now?

I mean, it’s...I don't like Salchow; it’s not my favorite jump.(laugh). But it's the last jump in the program, I’m tired. Yeah, I just need to work on it too. I make that mistake sometimes. I just need to continue working on it to make it safe.

We always think that skaters put their most comfortable jump in the last part of the program, don't they?

Sometimes, it's easier because I prefer kind of the second half of the program. Because I think less and I focus more. I just focus on what I actually need to do and my muscle memory kicks in and I just kind of flows. But I think like last jump I start thinking, "Okay, I'm almost done, don't screw it up", "just do it, and it'll be fine". And sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't take. (laugh)

After the short program you were in 6th place, but by the final result you moved up to the 5th. How do you evaluate your performance and this result?

Short program could have been better. I made a mistake on the loop jump and I was pretty upset with it. I know that I can skate much better than that. So, I knew going into the long program that I just needed to focus on delivering a good program, without worrying about placement or points. Yeah, that’s what I tried to do—just focus on what I can control, which is how I skate.

For this competition, did you meet the goals you have set originally? Maybe earn the experience or something else?

I think it's good traveling and learning competition experience. I'm relatively new to the senior stage so I think it's good for me to be traveling and competing. It gives me experience and helps me learn how to deal with my nerves and the competition environment. As for placements, I was hoping like podium, but I mean sometimes things don't work so you just have to adapt and continue working and use it as a learning experience.

You had experience on the podium last season. You’ve earned 200 points multiple times, which may have helped boost your confidence in competitions. What do you consider your main strength and what weakness do you hope to improve?

I think my main strength is being able to pull myself together and try to deliver when it matters. I try not to crack under pressure and usually I try to use that pressure and put it towards my performance. I think that helps me when I'm nervous, I think it's good; when I'm not nervous it's not good.

But I think my weakness point is probably that I always hyper-focus on elements and jumps so I just need to relax a little bit more and on programs, and not be so like focused on everything and just kind of believe in myself.

Do you have any tips or habits before you go on the ice for a competition? For example, some athletes like to listen to music.

I always like listen to music. I always try to keep the same schedule like same warm up. I always try to be consistent at every competition because I know that if it worked at a previous competition, it will work at this competition. So I just try to stay consistent with my schedules and competitions.

You handle stress very well which has helped you make progress in your free skate.

Then, let's talk about your two programs. You have two very different styles. Your short program, “Reel Around The Sun”, has a dramatic and powerful dance style. While your free program is set to the movie “Poor Things”, which is very unique. It blends humor and surprise into a complex atmosphere in a very creative way. What do you like most about these two programs?

The short program is very special to me, it's about my Irish heritage. My grandparents were always very like showing that they have their Irish heritage so it's to honour that. As for the free program, it's quite different, but I enjoy skating to it. At first, it felt a little weird, but I've grown to really enjoy it and really love the program.

Jason Brown has chosen the same music this season. Have you watched his performance?

Yeah I have watched it. I watched it a couple of seasons ago, when he first used it. This is also one of the inspirations for my short program and I watched it this season too. I think it's fun we have twin program.

What do you feel is the main aspect of your short program performance that stands out from others?

I won’t say a different style but it's just the way I skate. It may be different from others, and I think that's why it stands out.

You might be the first skater to use “Poor Thing” as a skating music. It may seems like a big challenge for a young skater, especially It’s a very special movie music. So has Shae-Lynn Bourne (choreographer) given you any special guidance on how to interpret it?

Before we picked the music, I was very tentative to skate to it because I had watched the movie, and I was a little starstruck by it. It’s a bit of a crazy film, but she gave me a story that she saw for the program.That's about the growth and development of Bella, the main character, throughout the movie, showing how she goes from not having any idea what's going on to traveling the world by herself and learning how things work and experience in life.

And that's the story I try and skate in the beginning. It's very like 2D (two-dimensional) , with everything is black and white. The movements are sharp and very contrasting. But as the program progresses the movements get softer and even in the middle I try to do like more like sensual movements cause that's when she like started to experience emotion and love. By the end of the program, she’s happy, she’s with her family, and she’s grown into a woman in the world.

So the atmosphere of the program shifts from something deeper to more like sunshine, right?

Sometimes, yeah , like even in the movie in the beginning of the movie it's filmed in black and white and then when she goes out into the world the movies filmed in color. I think this represents how she begins to see the world in different colors now.

Also, I noticed you changed your costume before this competition. What happened with your original costume?

The other costume needs some adjustments and I also received feedback from the federation and judges suggesting I go with this one, so I just wear the costume for that.

We know this season is the Olympic season, so many skaters have set their goal of making it to the Olympic team. For you, what do you think is the most crucial factor right now to achieve that goal?

Right now I think it's important for me to not think about Olympics at all. In the beginning of this season, I was very focused on just the Olympics, and I kind of forgot about everything else. I want to enjoy this season by going to different competitions and learning new things. So I think it's best for me to not focus on Olympics at all and just try to work as hard as I can to prepare for the U.S. Nationals.

Just know you have another competition in two weeks in Tallinn, are there any adjustments you're making for the next competition?

I just try to go in and not really think about placement or points or anything and just try to deliver two good programs and gain more experience in international competitions.

I’ve heard you’re a fan of Harry Potter! Well, What spell or magical object would you use to cheer yourself up or good luck?

I’m not sure which spell, but I think I mentioned in a previous interview that the spell I’d use is “Expelliarmus”. That's the number one spell for me.

At the end, maybe let’s talk about a bit about yourself and your personality. For example, how would you describe yourself?

I think at very beginning, when I meet people, I can be very closed off. But the more I talk to them and trust them, the more I open up. I’m an extroverted person with people that I'm very good friends with. I feel like I can relax and just have fun with them.

What is your favorite skating movement or element?

I really enjoy jumps and my favorite jump is Lutz and I really like doing Lutz.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I like watching Formula One, listening to music, traveling, and shopping.

What's your favorite food?
I think pizza maybe.

Thank you very much, and the best of luck with your competitions this season.