The Revelstoke Skating Club is hosting its first competition at the Revelstoke Forum this weekend.
Forty skaters, including at least 10 from Revelstoke, are expected to attend the Mountain Gems Invitational Simulation Competition this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This is the first time Revelstoke has hosted a skating competition,” said Jen Walker-Larsen, the vice-president of the Revelstoke Skating Club.
The event will simulate a Skate Canada event, but because Revelstoke was deemed too far from a major airport for official judges to attend, it is not sanctioned.
Instead, it will be a fun event, but skaters will be judged by Skate Canada coaches so they can get feedback on their routines.
Skaters will perform several solo routines. They will do a pre-determined routine that they practiced in advance and an interpretive skate where they will get to listen to a piece of music, then do a spur-of-the-moment performance.
The skaters will be grouped by age and ability level, and judged based on the elements they complete.
It’s the first event of the season in the B.C. Interior, and the skating club hopes it provides a good lead-in to the competition season. Rossland, B.C., hosts a similar event.
The skaters started practicing in late-August, several weeks earlier than usual.
“This is something that’s a little different,” said Walker-Larsen. “It gives the skaters a chance to go through their programs and get a good run of them.”
Admission to the event is by donation and the club is hoping the community comes out in support.
The club will also be hosting its annual Christmas and Spring shows this winter.
