Barbara Rasmussen’s family attended the final Memorial Figure Skating Competition this weekend (March 9-11), held at the Comox Valley Sports Centre on Vanier Drive.
This event, in memory of Barb, has been running for 36 years. Barb was a coach at five North Island skating clubs when she sadly lost her life in an automobile accident. Barb was a talented and popular instructor who loved everything about skating.
Saturday was a particularly poignant day for the family when Elizabeth Kines’ student from Port McNeill won the gold medal in the senior women’s category. Elizabeth was Barb’s student and was also in the accident with Barb and Barb’s son Darren. Darren was touched to be able to present the medal to the Port McNeill skater.
The family announced, at a wine and cheese celebration on Saturday night, that the Port McNeill Skating Club had won the trophy for overall medals for this final competition. Since Barb coached at the Port McNeill Skating Club and Elizabeth now coaches there, the family found it a fitting end to Barb’s memorial, that her student was taking the trophy home.
The family in attendance were: Shirley Nixon (Barb’s mom); Darren, Stephanie and Daniel Rasmussen (Barb’s son, daughter-in-law and grandson); Kathy and Bill Brooks (Barb’s sister and brother-in-law); and Rick and Lorraine Ashdown (Barb’s brother and sister-in-law).
– Barbara Rasmussen family
