The local figure skating club offers a lot more than just ice dancing.
While its StarSkate program sees a number of talented figure skaters every year, the 100 Mile House Figure Skating Club also has weekly PreCanSkate and CanSkate classes, and a new CanPowerSkate class, for children and youth helping them learn the basics – for recreational skating or if their sport is hockey, ringette or figure skating.
The new CanPowerSkate program is designed for hockey players and teaches them balance, power, agility and endurance.
100 Mile House Wranglers players can attest to that. The local Junior B hockey team has players lacing up and stepping onto the ice every week helping the youngsters.
Wranglers goalie Quinn Ferris, a 17-year-old from Prince George, makes it pretty clear you need to be a good skater at any position – even between the pipes.
“You have to learn it early and create good habits when you're younger,” he explains. “There's an old quote some junior coaches used to say: 'If you can skate we can teach you how to play hockey.' Everything is from the ice up. If you have strong skating you can pretty much learn how to do everything else.”
Ferris is one of a number of rookies out on the ice at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre regularly, which is something the young skaters in the club really seem to enjoy. Ferris says he remembers being in the same position when he was younger and what it was like to have an older person to look up to.
“You want to set a good example for the little kids. Hopefully one day they can have as much fun as we do.”
The classes, which go Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, are taught by certified coaches LaVerne Howard and Alyssa Lindberg. Howard has close to 50 years of coaching experience and Lindberg is a longtime figure skater.
For more information on the programs – PreCanSkate, CanSkate, StarSkate and CanPowerSkate – call the club at 250-395-1842 or email 100figureskatingclub@gmail.com.
The 100 Mile House Figure Skating Club is hosting a Skate-a-thon at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre on Nov. 3 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15.