The one-year-old Innisfail Skating Club is off to a good start.
Not only does it have more than 70 skaters registered this year, many of whom are practising for testing and competitions throughout the province, but also they are preparing for the 50th Anniversary Ice Show to be held in March 2014.
“Our local girls recently competed in the Winter Ice Fest Open held in Airdrie and placed very well,” said Lisa Allan, skating club executive member. “It was an amazing experience for the girls to compete with other skaters from all over Alberta and as far away as the Northwest Territories.”
The Winter Ice Fest Open held on November 22 to 24 saw many of the girls win gold, silver, and bronze medals for their performances.
The Innisfail Skating Club teaches the CanSkate program which consists of four levels: CanSkate, CanPowerSkate, PreStarSkate, and Star Skate. Each program focuses on a different style of instruction and activity. CanSkate, coached by Cory Newton, teaches young skaters the basics of skating.
CanPowerSkate is an action-packed, high-energy instructional power skating program coached by Mark Dowler that focuses on balance, power, agility, speed and endurance.
StarSkate introduces the fundamental basics of ice dance, skating skills, freeskate and interpretive skating. Jill Neilson instructs PreStar while Charlesly Whittemore teaches StarSkate.
Several club members are going for testing this week.
Kennedy Jackson will be testing a High Test (Junior Silver Dance) in Red Deer. Competing in a low test in Crossfield will be StarSkaters Alyssa Allan, Tiana Leonard, Kiersten Hepburn, Ashley White, Erica Rafuse, and Ali Russell. Reanna Phillips will be testing a junior bronze dance as well. Other students continue to work on their skills and testing is ongoing.
“We are looking forward to the show in March celebrating our 50th year of operation. It will be an exciting show and hopefully skaters from our past will show up and lace up one more time,” Allan added. “We are looking for more volunteers to make this a successful show.”
For more information on the skating club go to http://innisfailskatingclub.weebly.com/
