The Quesnel Figure Skating Club kicked off the new month with not one, but two competitions.
The first OK Inter-club in Kamloops on Nov. 25-26 was one of the best competitions the club has had this season. Starting off with Quesnel’s youngest up-and-comers, Ashley Burke was scored gold, Jordyn Kronebusch was ranked silver and Sophie Hayner placed silver, with all three girls crushing the star 3 level.
The next level, star 4, included skaters ranging from nine-year-old Katlyn Grant to the skating sisters Presley L’Heureux and Jersey L’Heureux. The three placed second, third and fifth respectively.
Katlyn (Katie) also competed in a second event, placing seventh in star 4 elements.
For our star 5 skaters, Casey Fisher placed 11th and Quesnel’s only male figure skater Michell Dunn placed fourth, owning the ice with their explosive energy and skilled skating.
Annaliese Hunter-Omega, a star 6 skater, came 14th in interpretive, fourth in elements and third in creative improv, and was our most ambitious skater in the sheer number of events entered.
Finally, Quesnel’s highest-level skater in star 8, Beverly Smetaniuk placed fourth in Kamloops.
She also competed the very next weekend in Kal-How-Ya Inter club in Smithers, placing fourth in interpretive, first in solo dance, and third in star 8 women, giving her a new personal best.
Not only were the scores stellar, but there were some highlights that deserve noting as well. Katlyn, a young talent rocketing up through the levels, landed her first axel in competition, which is no small feat for someone so young.
Following her up was Michell Dunn, who landed his first double salchow in competition. Its looking like it will be between him and Katie for Quesnel’s new powerhouse talent.
Casey, a true performer, improved her score by two points over last competition, attesting to her hard work. Presley competed in star 4 for the first time, making her placing of third all the more impressive.
All of Quesnel’s skaters have had breakthroughs over the week, leading to and following the competition. Many have landed new, harder jumps for the first time, or have had breakthroughs on other moves they are learning. It’s a good sign, seeing as there is no rest to come for these girls (and Michell), with the Cariboo Regional competition fast approaching.
With the senior skaters growing up and beginning to turn their sights to their lives after graduation, it is exciting to see the young talent progressing so quickly through the ranks.
If these skaters keep up their momentum, Quesnel will stay on the podium for years to come.