Submitted by Nelson Skating Club
The Nelson Skating Club was represented at the East Kootenay Invitation competition in Kimberley by a small but inspired team of skaters.
In the STAR 5 artistic category Ceili Kooznetsoff earned the silver medal in Group 1, while Makayla Pickering won gold in Group 2 at the event, which ran Jan. 17 to 19.
Pickering and Kooznetsoff went on to tie for a silver medal each in the STAR 4 elements event, with Makayla collecting a third bronze medal for STAR 4 13 and older free skate program and Ceili finishing in seventh place after a challenging program with a painful fall.
Raisa Nazaroff received a gold rating in STAR 2 elements and a silver rating in STAR 2 free skate program. For their STAR 3 elements Aili Brackett received a gold rating, Sage Wanhella a silver rating and Tiia Brackett a bronze rating. For STAR 3 free skate, Aili Brackett earned a gold rating, while Wanhella earned a silver rating.
In the STAR 4/5 Solo Dance competition, Aili Brackett won the gold medal in Group 1, with Tiia Brackett placing fourth. Wanhella came fourth while Nazaroff was sixth in Group 3. Pickering placed fifth in the STAR 6/7 Solo Dance.
Skaters are now preparing for the Kootenay Region Championship in Creston, which will run Feb. 21 to 23. The team will perform a group routine as well as individual events.
Of special note, Nelson Skating Club has two adult figure skaters entered in the adult open interpretive event. The club wishes its skaters the best of luck as they work towards the championships.
The Nelson Skating Club is a non-profit society run by volunteers, dedicated to developing skaters for every ice sport including hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating. The Nelson Skating Club offers CanSkate which is Canada’s No. 1 Learn to Skate program, CanPowerSkate and STARSkate, including programs for adults at all levels.
For more information, visit nelsonskatingclub.com or email info@nelsonskatingclub.com.