A dance specialist has been added to the coaching staff at Summerland Skating Club.
Patrick O’Brien, who has been coaching since 1979, has joined long-time coach Dale Wood this year.
The two have known each other for many years.
In 1962, when O’Brien was skating with the Glengarry Skating Club in Penticton, he skated pairs with Wood’s sister.
He continued with figure skating and has held coaching roles throughout British Columbia.
He said he and Wood will work together in coaching the skaters this year.
“A lot of figure skating is going to team teaching,” he said. O’Brien will work with a power skating class, once a week for 45 minutes, to give young hockey players the skills they need for their sport.
“They’ve got to be able to skate to control the puck,” he said.
He will also work with dance students in the club. Last year, four of his students passed their gold dance certification.
O’Brien believes skating is a lifetime sport and over the years, he has worked with skaters as young as three and as old as 80. He is considering offering instruction to adults who wish to develop figure skating skills.
“If you’ve got the will and if you’ve got the fitness level, we can teach you to skate,” he said.
Private skating lessons are also available through the Summerland Skating Club.
