The ice rink has been a second home for Natalie Buck since she first strapped on a pair of skates almost 20 years ago.

But the 23-year-old returns to her real home in Kings Langley this week after ranking 26th at the World Championships in Germany.

The result was a personal best for Buck and her partner, Trent Nelson-Bond, who spend up to 40 hours a week training on and off the ice.

"We beat a number of couples at this competition that have beaten us all year in the smaller international events, so we are very happy," she said.

"This was definitely one of the toughest competitions we've ever done as the standard was so high."

Renowned coach Natalia Dubova approached the two-time Australian champions after a competition in 2001 and has been training them in the US for the past 15 months.

"We needed to put everything we had into our skating if we were to continue to improve and to try and make a stand for Australian ice dancing on the international circuit," Buck said.

"Natalia has taken us back to the basics of skating to improve our technique because without the basics you can't perform the difficult elements."

Buck started skating after watching the 1984 Winter Olympics but only teamed up with Nelson-Bond four years ago, having previously skated solo.

"I used to dance around the lounge room when the skating was on, so my parents decided to take me down to the local ice rink and I haven't stopped since," she said.

"My dad discouraged my early interest in ballet on the grounds that he didn't want me walking like a duck."

The couple will defend their National Title in August as part of their campaign for the 2006 Winter Olympics.