Terrace’s only Special Olympic skater is making the northwest proud.
Laura Dale, 22, qualified for provincials at the Totem Skating Competition in Fort. St. John March 1 and 2, skating above standard in the Level 3 Special Olympics event.
It’s year one of a four year cycle in Special Olympics competition, and this was Dale’s first time at qualifiers. Special Olympics provincials are February, 2015 in Kamloops.
“This is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Dale, who is in her sixth year of figure skating with the Terrace Skating Club.
To qualify, Dale skated a required element routine and a freeskate solo to music from Romeo and Juliet. The slow piece allows Laura to show off her interpretation and emotion, combined with jumps and spins.
Her spins include the ‘back spin’ and the ‘sit spin’. Her jumps consist of ‘waltz jump, toe-loop jump, and salchow jump’.
She also had a chance to meet Level 6 Special Olympics Skater Darlene Jakubowski.
From Dawson Creek, Jakubowski has progressed past provincials to nationals and on to the Special Olympics world championships twice.
And the Terrace Skating Club’s winter season is winding down, with skaters returning from the final tournament in Kelowna with strong results. Newcomer Maya Lecuyer brought home two silver medals and Jorden Hendry, in her final competition with club, bringing home a bronze.
“We are going to miss her very much,” said the club’s Elaine Sanchez of Hendry, who is off to university in the fall.
The club now moves to spring school in Kitimat, and plans on keeping the athletes motivated with a spring/summer off ice schedule with gymnastics, yoga, off ice jumps, and strengthening.
