While their friends flocked to the beach to beat the summer heat, young figure skaters with the Sunshine Coast Skating Club were chilling out and cooling their blades on Vancouver ice.
Caitlin Jarvis, Madison Welch, Jaimie Capron, Eleni Antonia, Maya Moudahi and Beres Clements were just some of the up-and-coming figure skaters catching early morning ferries and braving the long return line-ups to continue their training at Vancouver's year-round ice rinks.
Figure skating is a year-round sport, with the most intense training taking place during spring and summer months, while competition season starts in early October.
"Without summer training, our skaters would be far behind the eight-ball when competition season starts," said club president Jill-Marie Jarvis. "They are already working on half the ice time as their competitors during the winter months. To lose spring and summer would be devastating to their young careers."
Local skaters return to home ice as the skating club gears up for an exciting new season with an opportunity for hockey, figure skaters, casual and retired skaters to get back on the ice as volunteers with the Learn to Skate program (CanSkate).
"It's a fun way for experienced skaters (13 years or older) to fill a few hours a week, and a great opportunity for students to earn valuable CAP hours for high school," Jarvis said, adding that training and insurance are provided.
Interested volunteers can contact Jarvis at 604-886-3445 or [email protected] for more details.
Can-Skate, figure skating and CanPower Skate resume in Gibsons and Sechelt in September. Registration information will be posted on the club website at www.sunshinecoastskatingclub.ca.
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