Issue in this issue >>> 54.4 2016 Sectionals Skate Canada Challenge Event Club News Gold Feet Thin Ice current topics >>> BC/YK SKATERS SHINE At Skate Canada Challenge Event 2017 BC/YK A historic Junior women‟s result...two Na- dance title with what is believed to be a record Sectionals tional champions...positive results from our ice 78.92 points. And to make the Pre-Novice dancers...strong team heading into Canadian event a total success, Connaught‟s Wesley Kelowna, BC championships...that‟s the highlight box score Chiu won the silver medal in the men‟s compe- for BC-Yukon Section skaters following the tition with 91.53 points. Skate Canada Challenge event held recently in Following on the heels of the performance of Skaters hit the ice in Kelowna to Montreal. Makita and Gunara, our Section ice dancers compete for a spot to Challenge. The Challenge event dictates skaters, based on felt the incent and let their presence be known their performance, who will carry on to repre- as overall the Megan Wing/Aaron Lowe sent their Section at the National Champion- For a full list of results and photos coached competitors (seven in all) captured one ships January 15-22 in Ottawa. gold, one silver, two bronze and two fourths please go to page. 09 BC-Yukon Section will be sending a plane load and a fifth. as 32 of our skaters qualified for The other ice dance medalists: the Ottawa event. Overall, BC- Junior women’s event Nina Mizuki and Veniaminus Yukon skaters won three gold, setting a Section mile- Volskis, silver, Novice dance; five silver and four bronze med- Ashlynne Stairs and Lee Royer, Pictured below: Miku Makita/ Tyler als at Challenge, with the Junior stone. We finished 1-2-3 bronze, Junior dance; Haley Gunara - Pre-Novice Dance Team women‟s event setting a Section for the first time. Sales and Nikolas Wamsteeker, milestone. We finished 1-2-3 for bronze, Senior dance. the first time. The Section also brought home Kelowna‟s Olivia Gran led the way with a great medals in Senior competition, reigning Junior free skate to score 161.52 points for the gold. national champion Sarah Tamura of Champs, She had been in third place following the short. competing in her first Senior event, won the Champs International Skating Centre of BC, silver medal and former national Junior cham- Emily Bausback finished in the runner-up spot pion Mitchell Gordon, also Champs, finished with 158.52 points (leader after the short) while third in the Men‟s competition. Kelowna‟s Mckenna Colthorp made the triactor Look out Nationals, here comes the BC-Yukon complete finishing with 151.57 points. Section. The Section‟s two national champions came in Pre-Novice when Kelowna‟s Daria Carr won - By: Brian Pound the women‟s event with 103.86 points follow- ing her lead after the short program. Champs‟ Miku Makita and Tyler Gunara took the ice INSIDE THIS ISSUE Results 09 2017 Sectionals & Challenge 04 Results Coaches Corner 22 National Coaches Week Featuring Coaches from around the Province Welcome 05 Club News 23 Message From Our Chairman Hilary Quick Club Profiles Club Updates News 06 Gold Feet 47 A Letter to Santa BC Skaters Achieve Gold By Brian Pound All across the Province skaters pass Gold Tests Award Nominations & Athlete Trust Reminders Special Olympics Events Calendar 50 BC/YK Skating 2015/2016 Calendar Upcoming Competitions and events A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN December 2016 hat a wonderful season very proud the Section is of all of you, we have had to date. It and your dedication to the sport. A spe- W cial thank you to our BC/YK Team Lead- Rock. Despite the snowy condi- was great to see things kick off with a more seamless registration pro- ers, Joan Omasta, Gail Weber, Diane tions all the volunteers, officials, cess. There have been many competi- Nielson, Danielle Williams and Ted Bar- coaches, and skaters came together for tions, test days, simulations, and Can- ton who are there for support and encour- a great day of Synchronized and Adult skate activities held around the prov- agement the entire competition. It really skating. ince. was great to see everyone in action, and Congratulations to all of our medalists at BC/YK had great results. Good luck to I wish everyone the Happiest of Holi- the BC/YK Section Championships held everyone that qualified to compete at days and I hope it includes getting out in Kelowna this year. The Kelowna Canadians in Ottawa next month, I know and skating at your local club, commu- Skating Club once again did an amazing you are all training hard for this big nity center, or maybe even outdoor job in organizing this great weekend of event. rink! skating. This year we saw the BC/YK It was great to see so many Synchronized Hilary Quick team have a very successful Challenge in Skating teams both at monitoring ses- Chairman BC/YK Section Montreal. Skaters please know how sions and at BC/YK Open held in White Tickets are On Sale Now Click Here Page 5 >>> A LETTER TO SANTA BY BRIAN POUND - A LONG TIME VOLUNTEER Dear Santa: I know I haven‟t written in a while, but what they were. I remember the friend- opportunity to get to know many incredi- this letter is not of asking but, instead, of ship of the Mitchell family, Billie, ble coaches, some who even questioned giving thanks. As I enter my 59th year of Donna Lee and JD, who early on sat by my reporting of their athletes and others involvement in figure skating, it‟s my my side and introduced me to the peo- who said thanks, but despite it all we way of extending gratitude to all the ple I should know. I remember cover- became friends....people such as Jean wonderful things you put on my Christ- ing a young skater from Inlet SC, Tracy Westwood, Alex Fulton, Linda Brauck- mas list. Wilson, who would grow up to win an mann, Helmut May, Edy Rada, Ron Vin- Let‟s go back to the late 50s when I lost Olympic medal and become the best cent and Joanne McLeod. a coin toss to another Junior reporter at figure skating analyst in the world. I So many people...so many memories. the Province and you made me the pa- remember those great kids who per- Now the clock is ticking on a whole new per‟s full-time figure skating reporter. formed so well for our Province and era, and what an era it promises to be, You changed my life. You introduced me our country....the McKilligans, Barry Santa, a incredible lineup of skaters, to a whole new world of sport, the ath- and Louise Soper, Joni Graham and coaches and officials who will continue letes who competed, the coaches who Don Phillips, Shirra Kenworthy, Jay to work to make the BC-Yukon Section coached and the people who made it all Humphry, and many, many more. the envy of the skating community in this work. Those early “pioneers” of the And then there was Karen. The last country. So, with your permission, Santa, sport, people like Billie Mitchell, Anetta Canadian woman to win the world title one more request. Wish them all a very Pagliaro, Joselyn Thacker, Jean Heffer- (1973) and become a tremendous Am- Merry Christmas and a prosperous New nan, Audrey Moore, Bill Lewis and bassador for our sport, although in Year. many others, volunteers all, who shaped some quarters she was never given And the opportunity for me to say thanks what would become the best Section in credit for it. As you know Santa, Karen for an incredible ride. the country. has suffered a severe health setback I remember the late Guy Nick keeping and my one request in this letter is to - Brian Pound his skater Norma after practice one day give her strength to continue the fight at the old Forum and having her go back to good health. through jumps to teach a novice reporter Santa, you also gave me the Page 6 >>> 2017 AWARD NOMINATIONS Photo: Tracy Wilson awarding Gail Weber the 2016 Skate Canada Section Volunteer H ere is the perfect Award of Excellence opportunity to high- light valuable volun- teers in your skating community. There are a variety of Skate Canada achievement awards to choose from! All of the awards and their descriptions are listed on our website under clubs > awards. Any questions can be directed to bcyksec- [email protected] 2017 ATHLETE AUCTION The Athlete Auction is just a few short months away! This past year we were able to distribute over $15,000.00 to the BC/YK Team. Help us keep this momentum going! Any size of donation is valuable! If you have any questions or for more details please contact Diane Nielsen [email protected] Page 7 >>> SPECIAL OLYMPICS BC/YK SKATING News from Special Olympics BC figure skating: Coaches and athletes elevating performance pecial Olympics BC‟s in all sports, including figure summits where coaches come “The athletes loved seeing Performance Program skating. together to learn from experts, each other‟s programs and they is a 10-year plan for The program involves three share their experience with loved giving positive and con- S enhancing the skills components: others, and talk about their structive feedback,” Graham and performance of coaches training camps where athletes sports. said. and through them, all SOBC and coaches from all over the The next SOBC Figure Skating SOBC – Surrey skater Stepha- athletes.