Since then, the East Union High senior has taken figure skating to the next level – as in the intermediate class.
The daughter of John and Adelicia Munoz is keeping her eye on the prize, training five or six days a week while commuting bright and early to Solar4America Ice at Fremont. That’s the same practice facility used by the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.
“I’m used to the (practice) routine,” Christa Munoz said.
Part of that routines consists of keeping up in her studies at East Union – regular homework, gearing up for finals, etc. – and trying to get a good night rest before her 3 a.m. wakeup call to train in Fremont.
She’s thankful for her father, John, who drives her daily to the Bay Area practice facility during the wee morning hours and back to Manteca in time for classes. Christa Munoz is planning to attend the University of the Pacific, majoring in Political Science, while maintaining that same routine to the Fremont ice rink.
At the same time, she’s looking forward to teaching younger skaters.
Munoz practices at Solar4America Ice under the watchful eyes of Sherri Krahne-Thomas and David Glynn, both highly reputable coaches with standout resumes.
Krahne-Thomas is the former coach of U.S Olympic figure skater Karen Chen while Glynn was one of the coaches for retired world class skater and two-time U.S. silver medalist Polina Edmunds.
Munoz is currently working on perfecting jumps such as the double axel and triple sow cow. Her favorite maneuver on the ice is the double flip.
She’s gearing up for U.S. Figure Skating-sanctioned Spring Jubilee on May 14 in San Jose.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said, adding that her friends will also be there.
Munoz just competed in last month’s 41st annual Crystalline Classic Showcase in Santa Rosa, qualifying each time for these sanctioned events via local figure skating competitions.
Last year, she qualified and took part in the Showcase Nationals in Ft. Collins, Col.
Christa Munoz, who is the youngest of three in her family, remembers watching the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Her father encouraged her to watch the women’s figure skating competition.
Kim Yuna of South Korea won the Gold Medal that year followed by silver medalist Mao Asada of Japan. Munoz was inspired by those two along with U.S. skater Mariah Nagasu.
She has strong love for the sport and is hoping to compete in the Championship series.
Christa Munoz hopes to follow in the footsteps of her heroes on the ice, striding to someday compete on the international stage and possibly the Olympics.
