For my first ice show, I was a lollipop. The only thing I remember is touching my toes because my long hair fell in front of my face. I was a Beginner under the National Skating Test (N.S.T.) stream. This changed for the 1983/84 season when the Canadian Figure Skating Association (CFSA., now Skate Canada) … Continue reading CanSkate Then and Now – Retro CFSA Badges to Skate Canada Levels and Ribbons
Winter Sports
Qualifying for Skate Canada Challenge with Faith and Gratitude – An Interview with Chanel Cabak
SUBMITTED PHOTO/Chanel Cabak Chanel Cabak's figure skating season was almost thrown for a loop. Luckily, the ambidextrous skater can perform a double in either direction. "I can write with both hands," said Cabak, via an email interview, "and I can do an Axel, a double Salchow, and a double loop the other way." The global … Continue reading Qualifying for Skate Canada Challenge with Faith and Gratitude – An Interview with Chanel Cabak
Skate Canada Cancels Competitions and Events from Coast to Coast – A Complete List
On the heels of the 2020 World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Skate Canada has announced further skating competition cancellations and restrictions in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. From the coast to coast, over 20 competitions have been cancelled, including Skate BC/YT's STAR Competition in Burnaby, BC from March 21 to 22, 2020. Skate … Continue reading Skate Canada Cancels Competitions and Events from Coast to Coast – A Complete List
From Eight to Sixteen – The Story of a Synchronized Skating Team
Skating isn't all about the medals. It's about the memories. Medals are a bonus though. During the Arborg Skating Club's 1988/1989 season, our coach produced three successful synchronized (precision) skating teams. I was on the eight-member senior team, winning two silver medals. Two competitions, two silver medals. Not too shabby. We won our second silver … Continue reading From Eight to Sixteen – The Story of a Synchronized Skating Team
To The Worlds – An Interview with Donna Bergvinson
Donna Bergvinson/CBC POV Promotional Photo/Submitted "I feel like I'm going through a second childhood." Adult skater and preschool teacher for the Boys and Girls Club in Kelowna, Donna Bergvinson, uses the lessons she teaches to the ice. "I wasn't the best skater. I had to figure it out. I learned how to do a three-turn from … Continue reading To The Worlds – An Interview with Donna Bergvinson
To The Worlds – An Interview with Wendy Ord
"To The Worlds" is getting plenty of attention. From television, radio, online news, blog posts, four-time world figure skating champion Kurt Browning ... Yes. That Kurt Browning. Wendy Ord, the film maker and 59-year-old adult skater said, "(Kurt) He actually heard about this documentary about these crazy ladies going to Germany." Ord plays two roles … Continue reading To The Worlds – An Interview with Wendy Ord
The Issue at the 2018 Canadian Tire Nationals – How is this Live Streaming?
It's 2018. And we still can't fix figure skating. No pun intended. Today, I was watching the free dance from the 2018 Canadian Tire Nationals via live stream. With Ted Barton and Debbie Wilkes. It was going swimmingly until it was announced the final six ice dance teams could be seen on TSN. So, flip … Continue reading The Issue at the 2018 Canadian Tire Nationals – How is this Live Streaming?
Manitoba Skaters Closer to the Stars Thanks to Bursary Fund
It was a cool show. Complete with a Stars on Ice warm-up section. On Saturday, April 8, 2017, skaters shared their skills at the Manitoba Grassroots Bursary Trust Ice Show before a receptive crowd at the St. James Civic Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The show included bursary winners - plus skaters who had a remarkable … Continue reading Manitoba Skaters Closer to the Stars Thanks to Bursary Fund
Manitoba Synchro Team Fearless at Nationals
Ice Intrepid lived up to their name tonight. The University of Manitoba team were fearlessness at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships on Friday, February 24th. They skated the first portion of the competition, Free Program I, with endurance and poise, garnering a score of 52.30. They skate their Free Program II on Saturday, February … Continue reading Manitoba Synchro Team Fearless at Nationals
A Transition to Further Success – Nicole Rogowsky in Profile
It was Nicole Rogowsky's first gold medal. As a synchronized skater. On January 21, Rogowsky competed in the 2017 Skate Manitoba Synchronized Championships with the University of Manitoba's Ice Intrepid team in Morden, Manitoba. After the competition, the 18-year-old watched the broadcast on Shaw TV Winnipeg. “It was really awesome … ” said Rogowsky. “There … Continue reading A Transition to Further Success – Nicole Rogowsky in Profile
Interlake Regionals Succeed Through Fog
They would've skated to the competition. On January 22, through the fog and slick roads, skaters from nine clubs travelled to Teulon for the 2017 Interlake Regional STARSkate Championships to vie for medals and ribbons. The competition went “All and all pretty smooth,” according to club president, Audra Nesbitt-Hume. “Nobody cancelled due to weather surprisingly,” … Continue reading Interlake Regionals Succeed Through Fog
You’ve Been Warned – The Dangers of Flash Photography in Figure Skating
It was the 1990 Arborg Skating Club competition. Pitting Arborg skater against Arborg skater. While skating to Rick Springfield's "Don't Walk Away," a skater - who was pegged to win the gold medal - threw herself into an Axel. However, at close range, someone flashed the skater in the face with a camera. She tumbled … Continue reading You’ve Been Warned – The Dangers of Flash Photography in Figure Skating
Camel Spins Ready to Fly at the Arborg Skating Club
Skaters, start your sit spins. On January 11, the 2015 Interlake Regional STARSkate Championships land at the Arborg Skating Club. A total of 66 skaters will vie for medals and ribbons, plus the opportunity to represent their club at the Manitoba Open and STARSkate Championship. Skaters will travel to Arborg from East St. Paul, Stony … Continue reading Camel Spins Ready to Fly at the Arborg Skating Club
This isn’t a Guns N’ Roses Song – Why Synchro Should Be an Olympic Sport
2015 Grand Prix Figure Skating Final, Team Paradise/Wikipedia Synchronized figure skaters must have a lot of patience. There was hope synchro might be included in the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, but it didn't happen. As the 2010 Vancouver Games inched closer, another carrot was dangled and then chopped up. In 2014, a glimmer … Continue reading This isn’t a Guns N’ Roses Song – Why Synchro Should Be an Olympic Sport
The Arborg Ice Show – The New Generation
Growing up in a small town - or village - there are a few certainties. You have two grocery stores, two or three restaurants, and there's a summer and winter carnival. In Arborg, Manitoba, there's an annual summer fair. And we used to have a winter carnival. The Arborg Winter Carnival was a three-day, family-friendly … Continue reading The Arborg Ice Show – The New Generation
Mandatory Compulsory Silence – Figure Skating’s Nemesis
I almost miss compulsory figures. Those horrible, former mandatory double-bubbles of trouble. Or three circles for a serpentine. Scratching out figure eights for up to four hours a week was not my idea of a good time. However, when we skated patch, our arena was so quiet you should hear a skate rivet drop. The … Continue reading Mandatory Compulsory Silence – Figure Skating’s Nemesis
It’s Time To Revive Synchronized Skating
The first synchronized figure skating competition my team competed in no longer exists. It was the Interlake Regional Precision Competition. There were nine teams in three different categories, divided by size and skill. Five towns from our region were represented. Today, there are approximately four teams in the same region of 88,000 people. The Arborg … Continue reading It’s Time To Revive Synchronized Skating
Figure Skating Needs CPR
The judging system in figure skating is leading to the inevitable demise of our sport. That’s probably what some people thought after 2013 World Figure Skating Championships. It won’t die, but it might become one of those sports only watched online because it’s so rarely picked up by a network. I predict the only time … Continue reading Figure Skating Needs CPR
Not a Novice – An Interview with Kira Gallant
Last November, I covered the Skate Alberta-NWT/Nunavut sectionals for the Edmonton Journal. Once home, I wrote my story and compiled competition results, and live–tweeted – for fun(!) The deadline loomed, and my computer screens constantly changed — the adrenaline definitely flowed. I stepped away from the computer for not more than three minutes, and I … Continue reading Not a Novice – An Interview with Kira Gallant
Based on Fictional Facts of Realism – You’ll Need More Than a Throw Double Salchow, Doug
What makes a good skating movie? From the vast catalogue of titles out there: just about anything. And you would think with the vast catalogue of titles to research, a screenwriter might say, “Hmm, maybe this should be accurate.” Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy an unbelievable and unrealistic skating movie, because unless it’s a … Continue reading Based on Fictional Facts of Realism – You’ll Need More Than a Throw Double Salchow, Doug
Skating Scene 