INNISFAIL - The Innisfail Skating Club has been practising several times a week since the start of its season last October.
“We start our fall school in mid-September and then right after Thanksgiving our regular season starts,” said Nicole Sabasch, head coach.
Despite having several skaters graduate at the end of last season, the club still sits with just over 60 skaters this year, including eight pre-star skaters, 14 star skaters and about 40 pre-Can and Can skaters.
“The season is going great,” said Sabasch. “Our flagship program that you see within our pre-Can and Can skate program is really just a learn to skate program. (It’s) a grassroots program that can lead you into hockey, ringette, speed skating or figure skating.
“The other two groups (pre-star and star skaters) are figure skaters,” she added, noting they focus on the technical side of figure skating such as jumps, spins and other elements.
Innisfail skaters will be competing in several regional competitions, as they do every year, said Sabasch, including the Central Alberta Open, which takes place in Rocky Mountain House this year.
“That is a Star Skate Invitational on February 8, and we’ll have a lot of skaters going to that,” she said. “There’s a lot of other competitions too, slated throughout the year that they could be going to as well.”
In addition to head coach Sabasch, this year the club has four other coaches and three minor hockey players that act as P.A.s (professional assistants), who are helping with the pre-Can and Can skate programs.
Sabasch noted how skaters who graduate locally often return to help out and give back to the Innisfail club.
“The pay-it-forward attitude is really great in our community,” said Sabasch. “I really appreciate how strong our community focus is on that and with our club. It’s great to give back.”
She said no matter the level, skaters can achieve success through hard work and striving towards their best.
“It’s just like hockey. We work hard, we practise hard and hopefully we can attain our goals through testing and through competition,” Sabasch concluded.
