SUNDRE – Famous hits spanning back in time to the 1950s provided a melodic ambience that invited spectators who attended the Sundre Skating Club’s ice carnival along a stroll down a musical memory lane as they watched the skaters demonstrate a variety of solo and group routines.
Called Skating Through The Decades, the club’s year-end event held on March 21 at the Sundre Arena featured classic oldies like Splish Splash, My Girl, as well as Twist and Shout to retro hits including Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Eye of the Tiger.
It was the first themed ice carnival since 2020, although the club wrapped up last season with an informal skills showcase.
Coach Lyndsay Edgar expressed pride in the skaters’ performances during a follow-up phone interview with the Albertan.
“It was amazing; the girls had so much fun,” Edgar said on March 22. “It was awesome watching them go out there and show their loved ones what they’ve been working on all year.”
There were a little more than 30 skaters ranging from the similar Can Skate and Learn to Skate classes as well as the Pre Star Skate and Star Skate programs.
The first portion of the spectator stands at the arena were fairly packed, with the coach calling the attendance awesome and adding that the number of guests seemed to be up this year.
“The turnout was awesome,” she said. “I think our numbers were up for guests, so that was good.”
Overall, 2022-23 was a good year, she said when asked.
“The season went absolutely wonderful; honestly, I think one of the best yet – every girl accomplished something new, learned something new, had a first competition in a first Star Skate competition,” she said, adding friendships were also forged along the way.
“Looking back at the season, it was really good,” she said, expressing pride for what the skaters accomplished.
Although there were no members from the club who competed on either the provincial or national stages, Edgar said Jaycee Clark attended her first-ever Star Skate competition in Lethbridge, where she received an overall assessment of silver.
While the carnival represented the club’s last time on the ice this season, an awards night and celebratory pizza party that was held on March 23 at the arena was the official end of another year.
Asked whether she intends to stay on as coach, Edgar without hesitation expressed enthusiasm to once again return for the 2023-24 season.