Fourteen years, seven combined Olympic appearances and a shared silver medal later, ice-dancing coupleMadison Chock and Evan Batestook a break from theStars on Icenational tourto recreate the moment where all began: their first date at Bahama Breeze.
Of course some things were very different. Some things, though, were almost exactly the same.
“It was very nostalgic,” Bates, now 33, tells PEOPLE. “Madi even wore a black dress like she had back on our first date, and it brought back a lot of memories.”
Then as now, the couple dined on a menu of jerk chicken pasta and coconut shrimp. Years later and Chock, 29, says she still remembers “Evan’s charm and how thoughtful and chivalrous he was [at their first date]. He opened the car doors for me. He was so thoughtful at dinner.”
As the story goes, Bates took Chock out for her 16th birthday back in Michigan, where they both grew up.
“It was really fun and he got me a hoodie, a zip-up hoodie from Pink, and it had turquoise letters,” Chockhas said. (And yes,she still has it.)
Though that date didn’t immediately spark a romance, a few years later the two reconnected as skating partners, became friends and the rest, well, as they say…
“So many memories from that night honestly stick out, and being back here now kind of brings them all flooding back,” Bates tells PEOPLE. “It’s wonderful because it’s a core memory for us in our relationship and it’s special to get to relive it like this.
This time, though, they were old enough to indulge a little with a mixology course and a few cocktails.
From left: Madison Chock and Evan Bates.Lotus Eyes Photography
“It was really fun to revisit it so many years later and to look back on our journey,” Bates says. “That was kind of where our love story began.”
The pair dined out Monday night at a Bahama Breeze in Orlando, Florida, where they had stopped for a show forStars on Ice, the annual tour that features the country’s most prominent figure skaters.
Lately, though, they’ve had more downtime.
“It’s been amazing to be able to enjoy our off-season and celebrate the end of a really intense and wonderful competitive season,” Chock says. “With the Olympics and the World Championships being finished, it’s so nice to be able to unwind and enjoy ourselves.”
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They previously told PEOPLE they weren’t ready to retire (“We are still really passionate about skating; we still feel young and we still feel like there’s room for improvement and growth,” Bates said), but that once they did step away from the rink, it would be time for another milestone.
“When we do decide to retire, we will definitely be having a big celebration. And that will probably include a wedding,” Chock told PEOPLE earlier this year.
As for that first-date recreation in Florida, she and Bates gush.
“Big thanks to Bahama Breeze and the team for welcoming us and helping us recreate our first date,” Bates says. “This is going to be super memorable for us forever.”
source: people.com
