INNISFAIL - Local and area skaters have been working hard to perfect their technique and skills this season.
That commitment was evident during a Skate Canada test day that was hosted by the Innisfail Skating Club (ISC) on Jan. 20.
The daylong event included 12 Innisfail skaters participating in 24 tests as well as several other skaters from around Central Alberta, including those from Olds, Crossfield, Sundre, Stony Plain and Cremona.
Olds skaters included Davina Merritt, Breanna Karmazinuk, Alyssa Focker, Emily Williams and Madison Byrt. Cremona skaters included Xian Kerfoot, Gracie Pawson Smith, Hannah Rathwell, Samantha Cameron, Hailey Ekert and Keeley Belcourt. Deshann Valentine from Sundre also skated during the Skate Canada test day.
"(Skaters) normally get to a certain level before they test," said Nadine Korsiger, test chair for ISC. "There's 19 (Innisfail skaters) that have the ability to test but 12 are doing it today. It's a matter of making sure the skater is ready."
Test days are designed to help skaters with their development, progress and goals. The Innisfail Skating Club held one test day in November with five area clubs participating. For the second test day on Jan. 20, the ISC welcomed 10 area clubs.
"The whole point (of today) is to pass tests to get to a certain level," she said.
Mona Ivan of Skate Canada was in Innisfail to evaluate skaters during the test day.
"Sometimes you need more than one evaluator, depending on what's being tested," said Korsiger. "We haven't tested (here) in quite a few years. This is our second (test day) of the season. We're going to be holding one more on Feb. 17."
In previous years, noted Korisger, the local club has had skaters ready but nowhere to have them tested. She wants to open the lines of communication with other area skating clubs to help ensure skaters have that opportunity.
"Every skater has goals that they want to accomplish for the year," said Korsiger, noting they wanted to ensure skaters who were ready had that chance to be tested. "We didn't have the opportunity to give them the test.
"They either pass or they get a re-try. The evaluator makes sure that if they do get a re-try (skaters) understand what they missed so they can work on it and pass it the next time," she said.
One category skaters were tested on that day was the interpretive category.
"It's really interesting. They have to interpret the music and (skaters) can do a theme," said Korsiger "It's been a successful season for the Innisfail Skating Club."
"This season has been great. I've seen skaters pushing harder and working harder because they know a test day is coming," she added. "They know they have that opportunity to test. I think our club has come a long way this season in just giving that opportunity to those skaters."
Nadine Korsiger, test chair for the Innisfail Skating Club
"This season has been great. I've seen skaters pushing harder and working harder because they know a test day is coming."
