Some skaters might be trying to land their first double lutz in competition. Some might be a few years away from that sort of achievement. No matter the level, Nanaimo Skating Club athletes will be performing routines worth watching this weekend.
The club hosts the Lynn Hetherington Memorial figure skating competition Friday (Jan. 27) through Sunday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The event will start Friday afternoon with some skaters aged four-10 who will be competing for the first time.
“I think it’s the most fun,” said Carrie Hawkes, the club’s coach. “For them it doesn’t matter how they skate, they are always just thrilled to have the opportunity to get out there and skate.”
At that level it’s about participation, she said. All the skaters will win awards.
“As a coach, it’s not nerve-wracking; it’s just really fun and can be somewhat entertaining at times as well.”
As the weekend progresses, the higher-calibre divisions will take the ice. Nanaimo’s Mei Pond, a B.C. Winter Games qualifier, will be skating in her juvenile division Saturday evening trying to land the aforementioned double lutz for the first time in competition.
“She wants to go out, she wants to lay down a good, solid program so that her confidence is built,” said Hawkes. “These athletes only get five or six times a year to perform and to compete so they need to take full advantage of every time they step on the ice and build on the last time.”
There will be entry-level pairs teams, and a Special Olympics division. All told, there are 350 athletes from around the Island registered, including about 15 from the local club.
“The more people sitting in the stands, cheering them on, the better,” said the coach. “That’s how they’re going to gauge how they’ve done. So if Nanaimo comes out to watch and everybody claps, then they’ll all be winners.”
ICE CHIPS … The Lynn Hetherington Memorial figure skating competition starts Friday (Jan. 27) at noon at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. The more competitive divisions go Saturday and Sunday. The highest calibre, juvenile ladies, are scheduled to skate Saturday evening. Admission is free all weekend at the NIC.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
