Frozen Fest showcases skills

By Lethbridge Herald on January 30, 2023.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Skating Club’s Brier Jentink does a spiral during her STAR 2 Freeskate program performance to Love Story by Taylor Swift during the club’s Frozen Fest on Saturday at ATB Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Skating Club hit the ice with other southern Alberta clubs to participate in Frozen Fest at the ATB Centre on Saturday.

The annual event attracted approximately 180 skaters and it allowed the opportunity for CanSkate and StarSkate skaters to showcase their skills and be ranked  for medals.

“That’s the highest number we’ve had yet,” said Marnie Gunnlaugson, LSC president.

“We’re the only club in the whole south region that offers a full-day event like this for skaters to come in and showcase their skills,” said Gunnlaugson.

There were skaters participating from four-years-old up to adult.

“The younger skaters, typically the CanSkaters, work on their skills from their balance control and agility that they learn in their regular CanSkate sessions, “ She said 

“And they just do a path that’s drawn out with a circuit ,with the specific skills that they’re working on. And they get evaluated on that — a bronze, silver or gold level. The StarSkaters can perform in multiple events (in) elements and isolation. They can do their solo for a fun team elements event and adults participate in a variety of events as well.”

 Individual Elements and  isolation is an indivudal skill such as a spin or spiral.

LSC has 580 members this year and run programming six days a week.

“Great so far,” she said on the season.

“Our StarSkaters have competed in a few competitions so far, with a few more to go and we’ve seen more bronze, silver and gold medals this year than we have in previous years. Our skaters are improving and bringing home quite a few medals from events.”

She added, “ Every year for the last six years, we’ve been building  and growing . And this is by far our busiest year. Our programs are all full. We hope to be able to continue to grow by adding more programming as ice is available.”

LSC has been teaching skaters since 1939.

Programs offered include  CanSkate ,StarSkate, AdultSkate, CanPowerSkate and have three Synchronized Skating teams.

Next up is the 28th Annual South StarSkate invitational in Lethbridge from March 3-5.