Yulin Kuang, the screenwriter behind Netflix’s recent hit People We Meet On Vacation, isn’t just crafting compelling love stories; she’s also chasing a childhood dream on the ice. While best known for adapting Emily Henry’s novels into swoon-worthy screenplays, Kuang leads a surprising double life as an adult recreational figure skater, fueled by a decades-old obsession with Olympic champions.
A Late-Blooming Passion
Kuang’s journey to the rink began with the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where she became captivated by Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan’s rivalry. Despite begging her parents for lessons at age seven, financial constraints kept her off the ice. It wasn’t until 2018, inspired by both Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir at the Pyeongchang Games and the depiction of skating in several novels, that she finally took the plunge.
“Why not me? What’s stopping me?” Kuang asked herself before booking a lesson with Sharon Carz, a stunt double from the film The Cutting Edge. The coincidence allowed her to tap into inside knowledge about the movie’s skating scenes. She even took lessons with Frank Carroll, Kwan’s former coach, as a birthday gift – a “full-circle” moment made even more poignant by Carroll’s passing in 2024.
Obsession and Improvement
Kuang embraces the demanding nature of skating, admitting it attracts “a certain obsessive type.” She commits roughly five hours weekly, including lessons with Carz and independent practice, supplementing her training with dance classes to enhance fluidity. While she has no interest in competition (“I think that would trigger my ultra-competitive psychotic side”), she performs in her rink’s Christmas shows, including a memorable routine as a skating nun to “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?”
Lessons on and off the Ice
For Kuang, skating is more than a hobby; it’s a mental reset and a source of unexpected professional wisdom. Her coach’s advice – “Don’t try to jump down, just jump up. Gravity will take care of the rest” – has become a guiding principle in her career. Similarly, the late Frank Carroll’s mantra – “Mileage, dear, that’s the key” – reinforces the importance of consistent effort.
“It’s such a cliche, but the very first thing you learn in skating is how to fall and get back up,” Kuang reflects. “I think that’s very important because not every movie’s going to do well and not everyone’s going to love what you do. So then it’s like, All right, time to get back up and get back to work.”
Currently, Kuang is balancing her athletic pursuits with her next project: writing and directing the adaptation of Emily Henry’s Beach Read. Though casting details remain under wraps, speculation surrounds the possibility of Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams joining the production. Kuang describes Williams as “lovely” and “a star,” hinting at potential collaboration.
Kuang’s story illustrates a broader trend: professionals increasingly pursuing demanding hobbies to balance high-pressure careers. Her dedication to skating, like her commitment to storytelling, underscores the power of perseverance in achieving both creative and personal fulfillment.
