When Jose Talavera first started taking his daughter to the rink, he never thought his time there would go beyond holding a camera and cheering her on. But as his daughter's love for figure skating grew, so did Talavera's involvement.

"I got into figure skating by watching her and the rest of the kids practice," Talavera said. "That world just kind of pulled me in."

Today, Talavera is an adult figure skater, ice technician and U.S. Figure Skating announcer, all while taking on the role that started it all: skating dad. A member of the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona, he has gone from knowing almost nothing about the sport to building much of his family's life around it.

For Talavera, though, the journey has always been about more than skating. It helped him forge a stronger relationship with his stepdaughter, Brooke, the one who introduced him to the ice in the first place.

When Talavera first started forming a relationship with his daughter, he wanted to find some connection they could share. That became skating.

"Seeing a parental figure doing the same thing they're doing and giving the effort that they're giving started to create that bond with my wife, her, and my son," he said.

About three years ago, Talavera began working his way through classes. Last Christmas, his journey came full circle when he and Brooke performed together in their rink's holiday show.

"The smile on her face, the laughs that were coming from her were just unheard of," he said. "I've never heard them in my life."

Skating has since become a shared family experience. His wife and son, a football player, help at competitions and shows. And Brooke is skating on the national stage, having just competed at the 2026 National Solo Dance Final in September.

"It's a great thing to watch," Talavera said on seeing the growth of his daughter's skating. "As parents, we aspire for our children to be better than us. Watching her get better and watching her and my son grow as athletes and characters … sports have really molded our children."

For Talavera, a first-generation Mexican American, watching his children pursue their passions carries a deeper meaning beyond a shared connection. His parents came to the United States from Mexico hoping to build a new life for their family. Now, he watches the next generation find opportunities of their own.

Growing up, figure skating was rarely part of Talavera's world. He remembers hearing names like Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan, but his family rarely watched the sport. That makes seeing Mexican Olympian Donovan Carrillo on the international stage particularly meaningful.

"When I saw Donovan Carrillo come on stage this last year and him qualify for Mexico, it was so cool to watch," Talavera said.

Carrillo's visibility has also given Talavera something he did not experience growing up: a recognizable connection between his heritage and the sport he now loves. Talavera hopes that visibility continues to grow.

"I want to do my part being Hispanic and bringing it into the rink," he said. "I do my best with what I know and what I have to bring it to my rink."

He does that unapologetically, often arriving at competitions in his signature cowboy hat, boots and belt buckle. At home, his family celebrates Mexican traditions, and Talavera makes a point of sharing his heritage with his children.

"If we don't share that heritage, we're going to lose it," he said. "Everywhere from my cooking to my speaking, to the way that I interact with people, to the way I dress, I'm an American citizen, I'm American, but I'm also Mexican. My heritage is Mexican. So I wear both of my flags proudly."

His involvement in skating continues to expand. As an announcer, Talavera takes particular pride in giving each athlete the introduction they deserve. Someday, he hopes to combine that role even further with his heritage.

"It's a dream to be able to announce in Spanish and maybe be able to announce Donovan Carrillo," he said.

The Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona appreciates everything Talavera brings to the rink. 

"As one of our Cactus Classic announcers, Jose brings warmth, enthusiasm and plenty of personality, often topped off with his signature cowboy hat. We are grateful for his dedication to our club and the sport of figure skating," Sarah Gahan, club board member, said. 
 
Yet, of all the titles Talavera has accumulated, his favorite remains the simplest: parent. It's also at the heart of the message he hopes others take from his journey.

"Parents, show up," Talavera said. "Show up for your kids. Show up for everything they're doing."

That advice goes beyond parents. Talavera began skating in his 40s, entering a sport he never imagined would become part of his life and finding a community, a passion, and a greater connection with his family along the way.

"You're never going to find out how great you are until you show up," he said. "If it's to represent your culture, your heritage, whatever it is that you're going for, just show up."