Zhou started skating in 2005.[8] As a young child, he had lessons with Julie Lowndes and Charlie Tickner. He was coached by Diana Miro at the juvenile level and represented the Peninsula Skating Club until the 2011–2012 season. When he was nine, Zhou started to be coached by Tammy Gambill[15][14] and became a member of the All Year Figure Skating Club in Riverside, California.