Treacherous winter roads and lingering injuries resulted in a smaller than usual squad from the Nelson Figure Skating Club travelling to Creston for the Kootenay Regional Competition on January 20 to 22.
Although weather prevented a pair of skaters and a coach from reaching Creston, the team put in an excellent showing at the year’s first competition.
Soleil Babcock, 11, and Sophie Borhi, 10, both turned in gold medal performances for their free skate programs while 12-year-old Sebastian Bodine-Shah captured silver in the men’s preliminary free skate, performing his program with power and style.
Christina Champlin was the busiest Nelson skater, competing in both the Ladies long and short programs as well attempting to achieve three test levels. Competing for the first time at the Pre-Novice level, Champlin finished fourth in a very strong field.
Naomi Perkins didn’t let that fact that a car accident prevented her coach from attending the meet get in the way of things. Perkins, 14, nailed two double jumps in her Jr. Bronze Ladies program to finish 8th in the standings. For Angelica Ross, 8, and Tao Measures, 9, Creston marked their first competition.
Ross achieved a gold assessment from the judges in the Performance category, while Measures took home the silver medal in the Pre-Preliminary men’s field. Both skaters enjoyed their first taste of competition and plan to compete more this season.
While several skaters will travel to Penticton for the Ogopogo Free Skate early in the month, most club members are training hard for the Rocky Mountain Free Skate Competition in Cranbrook on February 25 and 26.
The club is also preparing for its annual ice show gala in early March that will include performances from all members of the club as well as special guest skaters.