2010 is turning into a remarkable year for the Sunshine Coast Skating Club, with a record number of skaters qualifying for high-level competitions, and even helping out with the Olympics.
"It's been a year of firsts for the club," said director of coaching Lesleigh Farr. "We held the regional development seminar here for the first time, we have skaters attending all three provincial events (Section Provincials, Starskate Provincials and B.C. Winter Games), and we have four club members involved with the Olympics: Ali Camenish (ice patching for figure skating), Ray Konrad (performing in closing ceremonies), Caitlin Jarvis (torchbearer) and Susan Heffernan (international judge and honourary club member) who is working with VANOC."
Caitlin has been busy the past few weeks. She carried the Olympic Torch in the Sunshine Coast Relay in Gibsons and will compete at the B.C. Winter Games in Terrace March 4 to 7 and the Starskate provincial championships in Kamloops March 11 to 14.
"It's been the best year of my life, but the highlight had to be carrying the Olympic torch. It was awesome," Caitlin said.
Caitlin, along with fellow club members Reanna Popp, Madison Welch and Jaymie Capron, recently took to the ice in Chilliwack for the B.C. Coast Winterskate and Starskate Competition.
"It was an excellent showing by all our skaters," said club president Jill-Marie Jarvis, who is scrambling to find ice for skaters to train when local arenas close over the next few months. "We're still working on finding ice for these kids so they can continue skating and training for the important upcoming competitions in May and August. We're in negotiations with the curling club as a last ditch effort to keep these kids on the ice without having to travel to Vancouver to train."
"In spite of the lack of gaming funds (which we rely heavily on as a non-profit organization) and the lack of year-round training (as recommended by Skate Canada for those wishing to compete), we are still showing progress," Farr added. "The club should be proud."
