For about 70 Connaught Skating Club members, it was equivalent to receiving a summer report card after weeks of hard work.
Last weekend’s Super Series B.C. SummerSkate event in Burnaby provided athletes the opportunity to put their programs in front of judges for the first time as they head into the fall competition season.
“It gives you a good idea of where you stand in the province,” explained Connaught’s Director of Programs/Competitive Team Keegan Murphy. “All these kids have been training all summer long for five days a week.
“For us coaches, if there is a risk element that is in the program, we will see how the skater handles that. Is it something we should be pushing forward with or do we save it for next year? Do they really need it in their program? All of these kids have worked so hard all summer.”
Among them was reigning 2015 B.C. Yukon Sectional Juvenile champion who has moved up to Pre-Novice Men this season.
The 11-year-old showed he is more than ready for the challenge by winning the silver medal this past weekend, thanks to a program that now includes triple jumps. His total score was 20 points above his previous personal best and he was just 0.47 points away from the gold medal.
He hopes it will take him to the 2017 Canadian Championships in Montreal.
“For his age, he is progressing very well,” added Murphy. “He is putting a lot of time and energy into it and it’s paying off. He loves to jump and is fearless about falling. Wesley has always been that way and that’s one of the things we are looking for in skaters at a very young age.”
The other 13 Connaught podium finishers included:
STAR 4: Claire Lin (bronze medal).
STAR 5: Stephanie Yee (bronze medal).
Pre-Juvenile Men: Neo Tran (silver medal), David Li (silver medal).
Pre-Juvenile Ladies: Ria Mesatopitis (silver medal), Dorothy Yuen (bronze medal), Madeline Kim (bronze medal).
Juvenile Ladies: Isabella Arney (silver medal), Catherine Yuen (silver medal).
Junior Ladies: Elvie Carroll (bronze medal).
Junior Men: Micah Lynette (bronze medal).
Senior Ladies: Danielle Gordon (bronze medal).
Senior Men: Mitchell Gordon (bronze medal).
Connaught will be holding tryouts and auditions on Sunday Sept. 11 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All ages and levels are welcomed. Contact [email protected] to book an appointment.
