Dozens of skaters from the Ashcroft Academy of Skating will be showing off their skills at the “Heroes on Ice” year-end celebration on March 8.
The theme of the event is meant to celebrate all of our heroes, explains Faye Morrell, the academy's treasurer.
“Heroes are anyone we look up to who sets an example for children. They can be fictional characters, or they can be first responders. Sometimes when we think of heroes we think of Batman and Superman, but we also have heroes in our community, and we want to think of them as well.”
The academy — now in its second year — has participants ranging in age from two years old to adults, who are able to take part in figure skating and power skating. The former is everything from learning the basics to mastering jumps, spins, and turns, with figure skaters going through various levels and getting tested on them.
“A Skate Canada judge Zooms in to do the judging,” explains Morrell. “On March 8, children will be doing dance, skills, free-skates, and elements, which is interesting for people to see.
“We have some kids coming from Delta, but they’re registered out of Ashcroft, so when they skate they’re representing Ashcroft. They’ll be doing a synchro number in the show and some free skates.”
In order to take part in power skating, participants have to reach a certain level and already know how to skate backward, forward, and stop.
“Power skating gives them drills and teaches them their edges, starting, stopping, gliding, and pushing, which really helps in hockey. We have two groups of power skaters, junior and senior, as we have lots of children in hockey. We teach them how to skate properly first, then move into skating with a stick, and then equipment, and doing it properly.
“A lot get equally good skating backward and forward, and quite a few end up being defencemen because they can do both equally well and can move well.”
Skating season began at the end of September, and the upcoming exhibition will feature duets, groups, and solos from dozens of skaters.
“Most of the junior academy members and up will be doing one-minute solos, to show what they’ve accomplished this year,” says Morrell. “It gets them ready for the next step, which is competition, and gives them the experience of performing in front of others.”
Quite a few people returned after the first season, and Morrell says they’ve gained a lot of people in power skating, which was also offered last year. “People are very pleased to have skating back in Ashcroft. We have a local resident who is taking a coaching course this summer and will be doing some coaching next year.”
She adds that the skating celebration will be a fun event for the entire community.
“People will have a wonderful time supporting our local kids and seeing what they’ve accomplished this year. They’ve done an awesome job, and we want to show everyone what they’ve learned.”
“Heroes on Ice” takes place at the Drylands Arena in Ashcroft starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8. Admission is $5 per person; children under 5 are admitted free.
