For hundreds of aspiring 麻豆社国产figure skaters, Kari-Ann MacDonald has been a direct link to the ice.
Since 1993, MacDonald has assisted in the training and development in the sport of figure skating for countless young athletes with the 麻豆社国产Skating Club (SSC) 鈥� and she鈥檚 still going strong.
The coach has over 28 years experience and has coached all over the province, and she said it鈥檚 all about the joy of the sport.
鈥淲hat I get out of it is the smiles on their faces and the achievement,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or me to teach someone a skill and see the joy when they obtain that skill is what I do this for. My husband thought I would retire from coaching when my daughter graduated, but I didn鈥檛 teach because she skated 鈥� I taught before that and I鈥檓 not ready to leave yet.鈥�
MacDonald glides onto the ice as the leader of the SSC six times a week and mentors youth of all ages. She said it鈥檚 almost like a second family.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e like my kids,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the family outside of the family I raised. Once they hit a competitive level, you almost become tuned in with them. You really grow with them.鈥�
MacDonald doesn鈥檛 do it alone; she works with coaches Dominic Turgeon and relative newcomer Mike Whitehead.
鈥淢ike is new to us last year from Ontario and he brings a lot of talent in dance,鈥� she said, explaining that Whitehead was very competitive as a junior in dance. 鈥淢ike works with the kids on dance and partnering them for their tests. Dom and I really complement each other well through our work with the singles competitors. We鈥檙e a great team and have a lot of fun out there.鈥�
The competitive season for the SSC usually runs from the fall to the spring, but training for the competitive athletes never ends. The first competition of the season occurred in Kamloops from Oct. 17 to 19, with seven SSC athletes all having strong showings.
MacDonald said figure skating has evolved over the years and it鈥檚 mostly been for the better.
鈥淪kate Canada is always trying to improve the sport, and for kids, a lot of the changes have been in judging,鈥� she said. 鈥淜ids starting out now compete against themselves and get marked solely on what they do.鈥�
She explained that new figure skaters start out as a one-star level, with the level of competition increasing as you reach the five-star level. At the four-star level, skaters are judged against each other, and after the five-star level, you can choose to go competitive or non-competitive. Generally younger skaters start at the one-star level but it depends when you attain the skills.
MacDonald said the competitive skaters with the SSC need to hit the ice a minimum of three days a week., but many skate six times a week. She said having only one sheet of ice hampers both the SSC and the 麻豆社国产Minor Hockey Association (SMHA).
鈥淗aving two sheets of ice would allow both clubs to grow a lot,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so restricted with one sheet and we could open up and do more programs. We work well with the SMHA and Derek Cranfield [SMHA president] has been awesome to work with, but our town is growing and there鈥檚 so many young people. It would also mean we wouldn鈥檛 have to go to the city in the offseason to train because our skaters need ice from April to September to keep training.鈥�
Competitions for SSC skaters usually occur about once a month at arenas all across the province. The March event in Kelowna is regarded as a season ender and the biggest for many of the youth skaters. Another big event coming up for the club is its Nutcracker Christmas show on Dec. 10 at Brennan Park Arena at 5 p.m. Admission is by donation, with proceeds going to local charities.
MacDonald said the SSC is always accepting new members and the best way to get involved is to visit the club鈥檚 website at . Those interested can also call registrar Crystal Tress at 604-848-1249 for more information. MacDonald said drop-ins are possible and they usually turn into more than drop-ins.
鈥淲e encourage people to try us out, and if you don鈥檛 like it, you can get your small insurance fee back,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut usually once they hit the ice, it鈥檚 hard to get them to leave.鈥�
