Skating season not over yet

For most youth figure skaters in the region, the 2012-13 season is over.

That’s fine. But don’t suggest offseason to the group of competitive skaters who have been training at the Elksentre.

Under the guidance of coaches Rory Allen and Andrea Ludditt, nine skaters have been preparing for the Super Series Victoria Day competition: Ally Norum, Asia Gill, Valyce Mamic, Jessie Drover, Erin Brown, Shelby Scott, Justin Hampole, Samara Thew and Jayna Mason.

The event runs from May 18 to 20 in Surrey.The skaters range in age from nine to 15, with different levels of experience. Hampole is the only member of the group who’s competed in the Victoria Day event before, having entered last year.

Allen, the Spruce City Skating Club director of skating, notes that two years ago the club had zero members at the competition.
“It’s pretty competitive,” Allen says of the meet. “It eliminates a lot of the smaller clubs just because of the time of year it’s at.”
But in Prince George, there’s been a push for more year round training.

Allen says they’re in the process of making the city the home of the province’s third Centre of Excellence. Centres already exist in Burnaby and Kelowna.

“We’re again trying to build a very big figure skating population in the area, so part of that is trying to be a draw for other clubs to send skaters to participate in our programs,” Allen says.
The Victoria Day competition is the club’s first meet since March.
“That’s what’s so big about this is that normally the season is done,” Allen says. “But we’ve been trying to push for Prince George to become more involved and more competitive with the other centres.”
For Skate BC event listings and other information, visit the website at www.skatinginbc.com



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