By Jamie Nye
paNOW staff
Some of Canada's top skaters have converged on Regina for the Skate Canada Challenge.
Over 500 skaters will compete in their disciplines over the next five days at the Co-operators Centre.
“It's a great event to come and watch. Lots of colour, lots of great music, and of course lots of great skating,” says Debbie Rodger with the Local Organizing Committee.
The Skate Canada Challenge is the National Championship for Pre-Novice skaters, and also serves as a qualifying competition for Novice, Junior and Senior skaters who will advance to the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Moncton.
And a future Olympian is likely on the ice over the weekend.
“At one point in time (former Olympians) have definitely skated at Challenge or what used to be called divisionals. 2014 may be for some of the older kids and definitely 2018 and maybe 2022, you might be able to see them here in Regina,” explains Sherry-Lyn Zuro, Manager of Events for Skate Canada.
Jessica Dube will be skating at the event to qualify in singles. Dube has represented Canada at the Olympics as a pair with Bryce Davidson. Davidson is also in Regina for the event but as a coach, not a skater.
National Bronze medalists Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers of Saskatchewan are also competing this weekend with some of the country's other top pairs skaters.
While some top notch skaters will be taking part, the future of Canadian skating is being showcased.
Saskatoon's Shelby Stupak is hoping to finish in the top 18 in women's singles to qualify for Nationals. She says it's great to be skating in Saskatchewan.
“We got tonnes of support here. I feel really blessed to have all my fans and supporters here in Regina. It's really awesome to see some familiar faces in the stands.”
This event has taken place in Mississauga over the better part of the decade and Skate Canada is happy they've found another location they can house such a high demand event.
“To have everything under one roof is great,” adds Zuro.
“It makes our life a little bit easier. We've heard some great feedback from our managers and coaches that they can just walk a few steps and be at the next rink and see their other skaters.”
Regina organizers are hoping they impress enough to pull a bigger event into town.
“That's sort of the aim of us as volunteers doing a great job and impressing Skate Canada. Hopefully, we'll able to bid on larger competitions such as Skate Canada International or even the Canadian Figure Skating Championships,” explains Rodger.
For a parent like Stephanie Stupak, it's nice to have a break from travelling across the country to watch her daughter compete, “It's a good experience to get a lot of skaters out here. There is a very good organization in Skate Canada Saskatchewan. Skate Regina and Skate Saskatoon have some of the biggest clubs around.”
Stupak also sees the advantage to have up and coming skaters be able to watch the senior competitors take to the ice in competition.
“It gives them the ability to see what can be done. It gives them drive to get better and be that person that everybody is looking up to.”
And after putting in 3 hours of skating per day for 12 months a year, her daughter is looking for big things this week.
“I've done the program hundreds and hundreds of times and I know the jumps.”
“It's about beating yourself … not beating yourself up but doing better than what you did before.”
Stupak will try to improve on her 36th place showing at last year's event.
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