Sunshine Coast figure skating fans packed the Gibsons and Area Community Centre March 11 for a pair of sold-out performances featuring Olympic medalist Elvis Stojko.
Stojko and his wife Gladys Orozco, a former Mexican national champion, joined the Sunshine Coast Skating Club for Elvis Rocks the Coast, showcasing skaters from the club’s learn-to-skate program all the way up to their competitive Star Program.
Fifteen-year-old Beres Clements, who got his start with the Sunshine Coast club and now competes out of Vancouver, was also on the program. He recently returned from an event in the Netherlands where he finished first in the Advanced Novice Men’s short program and second overall.
Stojko skated twice in both the afternoon and evening shows, thrilling the crowd – especially the lucky ones sitting at ice level, who were treated to a visit from Stojko during his routine.
On Sunday, the club hosted seminars where Stojko worked with figure skaters and hockey players from the power skating program.
The Saturday evening performance was broadcast live on Coast TV (Coast Cable channel 10). During an intermission interview, Stojko offered some advice for aspiring competitive skaters.
“The biggest thing I tell the kids is you’re going to have to deal with the fact that you’re going to be uncomfortable, and you have to get used to being comfortable with being uncomfortable. If you’re always comfortable, you’re not moving forward … When you compete you’re never comfortable, you have anxiety, the tension, all of that’s there, but it’s how you deal with that – how you progress through that,” he said.
After the show Stojko told the TV audience, “The crowds were fantastic – both crowds. It was packed. I love coming into small communities … I grew up in a small town so this is kinda like home to me, it’s great.”
Kate Turner, who sits on the board of both the skating club and the Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association and was one of the event organizers, said, “We received an overwhelming amount of support from our community and are extremely proud of the end result.”
Turner also said the money raised will help to fund skating programs on the Coast. The club will be headed to Powell River to train once the ice in Sechelt is removed April 2, in preparation for their next competition: Skate BC’s Vancouver Island Super Series, in Parksville.
Coast TV is rebroadcasting Elvis Rocks the Coast March 17 at 5:30 p.m. and March 18 at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
You can see more photos from the show, and the Mar, 10 meet and greet event here.
