Skaters medal big on road

Members of the Whitefish Figure Skating Club competed in three different events over the past three weekends, more than holding their own against skaters from all around the region. Sanctioned events in Cranbrook, BC, Billings and Spokane offered the club's skaters solid competition and recognition.

At the Canadian Skating Association's Cranbrook competition, on Feb. 19, 2005, Kyla Roy garnered a 6th place in Junior Bronze Free Skate program and a 1st place in the Elements event featuring required moves. Emma Marchetti took home a 5th place out of 12 skaters for her Pre-preliminary Free Skate program set to music.

The following weekend, Feb. 26-27, Roy was the only skater to travel to Billings to compete in the United States Figure Skating sanctioned Future Champions Series event. Kyla earned two Silver medals for her solid performances in the Intermediate Short and Long programs. In the levels above Intermediate (Novice, Junior and Senior), these events are normally combined to give the skater one score. Kyla also added a third place finish to her tally in the Intermediate Spins event.

Six skaters from the Whitefish club went to Spokane on March 4-5 to compete on an outdoor rink at "Skate at the Park." With tough competition coming from the Spokane Clubs, sisters Michelle and Collette Maddock took top honors. Michelle grabbed a Gold Medal in the Pre-Juvenile Free Skate and Collette took Silver honors. Later that day, the two switched places in the Artistic event, with Collette taking the Gold and Michelle the Silver at the Pre-Juvenile level.

One level down, in Preliminary, Perrey Sobba took home a gold for her Artistic performance with Abby Motes-Conners and Madison Grady right behind her in second and third respectively. In the Compulsory event, requiring a routine of specific elements without music, Motes-Conners skated to a Silver medal, with Sobba close behind in third and Grady hanging on for sixth. Grady however, had the best finish in the Free Skate event, gliding and jumping to a fifth place out of ten skaters. Motes-Conners finished 8th and Sobba 10th in this event. Madison Grady was also awarded the Artistry Trophy for her performance in this same Free Skate event, demonstrating the best overall interpretation of her chosen music.

Alexandra Moe took Gold Medal honors in her Non-test level Free Skate, beating out five other skaters and she also won a Silver medal for her performance against the book in the Non-test Artistic event.

Eight members of the Whitefish club are traveling to Jackson, Wyoming this week to compete in the largest regional competition in the Northern Rockies from March 10 to 13. Over 225 skaters from Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Nevada Wyoming, Montana and Alaska are expected to attend.

For more information about the Club or its events, please inquire at the Stumptown Ice Den or call Dave Grady at 862-8905.