INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Skating Club will help usher in spring with its skating carnival.
The event takes place at the Innisfail Arena on March 17 from 1 to 3 p.m.
“The theme for our ice show this year is soul, skating with soul,” said Erica Rafuse, a coach with the Can Skate and pre-Can Skate programs.
“(It shows) how much we love skating.”
A total of 21 pre-Can skaters ages three to five and 35 Can-skaters, ages five to 10, will perform group numbers in the carnival.
“We have two different Can-Skate group numbers (in the carnival),” said Rafuse. “Some things we’ve been working on this year are jumps and we’ve done lots of gliding.”
In addition, several pre-Star and Star skaters will also be performing.
“All of the skaters in the Innisfail Skating Club will be in the carnival,” she added, noting there are seven group numbers and 15 duets and solo numbers in the carnival.
Other coaches helping Rafuse and head coach Nicole Sabasch with the carnival this year include Devlyn Beeman, Teagan Peddy and Julie Roy.
The club has been practising for the annual carnival for several weeks, said Rafuse, noting it's been another successful skating season.
“The kids are really excited to perform for their parents and family members. There’ll be a lot of excitement on the ice,” she said.
Head coach Nicole Sabasch agreed.
“All of our skaters, in our pre-Can Skate program all the way up to our Star skaters, have worked really, really hard this season,” said Sabasch. “This is an opportunity and chance to show those successes and how much they’ve improved.
“They’re going to go out on March 17 and show family, friends and our community members how hard they’ve worked,” she added.
There will be several guest skaters for the annual carnival, noted Sabasch, including Wiilliam Oddso and his partner Mia from the Huntington Hills Skating Club.
Innisfail Skating Club president Marcia Dyer also applauded the hard work of skaters this season.
“Our Can-Skate and pre-Can have been working really hard on their skills,” said Dyer. “Our club is very proud of how hard our skaters have worked this year.”
Sabasch said the annual skating carnival theme sums up what skaters aim to accomplish every time they step on the ice.
“Skating comes from the heart and soul,” said Sabasch. “The skaters put their hearts into it and skate with a lot of soul.”
