INNISFAIL - For 53 years the Innisfail Skating Club has been featuring skaters' progress and skills with its year-end showcase production.
This year the 2017 year-end showcase takes place March 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Innisfail Arena.
"(We) are all very excited for skaters to showcase their talents that they've learned and worked on all year," said Marcia Dyer, ice show coordinator.
"The Can-Skate kids will do two different group numbers, the pre-stars will do group numbers and our senior star skaters will do their free skate number and a group number as well."
There are 72 skaters with the club this season, she noted, adding skaters have been practising their numbers for several weeks.
"Star skaters are doing their free skates which they've been working on for a year, sometimes more, with their jumps, spins, footwork patterns and all the elements that they work on," she said.
The year-end showcase has no theme this year but will see skaters present individual and group numbers set to a variety of music.
"The little kids like to go out and show what they've learned because lots of them have made huge progress from the beginning of the year. From not being able to skate at all, to being able to skate the full length of the arena," she added.
"For the pre-stars it's about showing that they're in time with the music, working together and showcasing what they've learned as well."
Over the years the year-end showcase has received support from family and friends as well as the local community, noted Dyer.
In addition to the showcase, the Innisfail Skating Club will have a raffle table set up with all proceeds raised from the raffle going towards the Innisfail Skating Club.
"Someone has donated four Stars On Ice tickets to raffle off (for the club)," said Dyer, noting the importance of volunteers both throughout the season and in the year-end showcase as well.
"Without families volunteering we couldn't put our showcase on."
The showcase on March 11 will feature all levels of skating performed in the club including Can-skate, pre-star and star-skate.
"All three levels will be seen in the year-end showcase. It's exciting for the kids and for families too," Dyer concluded.
Marcia Dyer, ice show coordinator
"All three levels will be seen in the year-end showcase. It's exciting for the kids and for families too."
