The Quesnel Figure skating Club took a handful of firsts in the recent Cariboots ‘n’ Blades event in Williams Lake.
Cassandra Greenwood took first place in the Jr. Ladies Silver freeskate singles and the Gold Interpretive. Carmen Huang took first in Sr. Silver Ladies freeskate singles. Selena Van Aert also stood atop the podium for Gold Ladies freeskate singles.
Jo-Ann Nadalin, the girls’ coach, said Van Aert had improved her score the most in the tournament.
“She scored the highest in the program with a perfect level four on her first spin, which is impressive,” Nadalin said.
Greenwood, gambling a little with a new performance that had her stepping outside her comfort zone, drew in the audience, Nadalin said.
“I really put a lot more feeling into the performance,” Greenwood said.
Rounding out the top tier standers, Carmen Huang was happy with her skate, citing a general improvement in her skate, including her jumps and ‘movement.’
“I’m holding the moves longer with certain poses so the judges can see them,” she said.
The girls put up huge points to assist them in their pursuit of the Pond to Podium Super Series provincial standings.
The club brought a full compliment of skaters to the event, all of which represented the club well, Nadalin said.
Besides the skaters, Olivia Marleau sat rink side at Williams Lake, learning the ins and outs of judging.
It’s a choice that Nadalin is happy to see in a young skater, as the judges are all volunteer and can be hard to come by.
For Marleau, the choice was made by her desire to keep active in the skating community after she graduates from skating with the club.
“In 20 years when I’m not skating, judging is a good way to keep in the sport,” she said.