Skaters dance the night away at annual Ice Carnival

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The High Prairie Skating Club’s Ice Carnival March 7 at the Sports Palace played host to an estimated crowd of about 500. People attending thoroughly enjoyed the performance of all the club’s skaters, who performed a variety of dances to all types of music. The club is coached by Rebecca Zajic, who has coached for 19 years overall and three in High Prairie. She not only does a highly commendable job coaching the skaters but ensures they have fun, as was evidenced by the smiles of many skaters during their performances. Zajic not only dedicates herself to figure skating, but other people. She was instrumental is bringing sledge hockey to High Prairie. The club held a short demonstration before intermission to showcase the sport. After the carnival, the club was scheduled to attend two more competitions before calling the season over. Look for results of the competitions in future South Peace News editions.

Junior Group 2 skaters Brooke Monteith, left, and Jessica Smith do the splits at the end of their performance of ‘Let’s Dance’ at the carnival. Emily Dueck and Mercedes Winterburn also performed with Monteith and Smith.

Senior skater Kennedi Strebchuk, above, takes her skating seriously during her performance of ‘Hot and Cold’ with Marie Ochran and Allyson Gauchier.

Canskate and Special Olympics skaters performed ‘Do a Little Dance’. Daeira Dominguez, front, and Amir Sharkawi were two of seven to perform.

Mercedes Winterburn is part of the Junior Group 2 skaters and performed ‘Let’s Dance’ with Brooke Monteith, Jessica Smith and Emily Dueck.

Senior skaters Michelle Laboucan, above, and Jesslyn Alguire performed ‘Vienesse Waltz’ for the audience. Their skills were very appreciated.

Skaters young and old enjoy skating. Above, Canskate skater Paydin Young waves to a well-wisher in the crowd during his performance.

Senior skater Jesslyn Alguire helped present the colours during the singing of the national anthem, done by Terryn Gauchier. It’s a tradition at the carnival to open with O Canada and present the flag by skating around the ice.

It always good to see skaters enjoying themselves during the pressure of performing at the carnival. Kerry Garnder, above, was one such skater.

Senior skaters Samantha Laboucan, left, and Shelby Thunder performed ‘Untouched’ at the carnival. Both are residents of Atikameg and attend Atikameg School. Both should be commended for making the long trip to town to practice all winter.

Senior skater Rhiane Jamieson performed a solo entitled ‘Breathe’ at the carnival. She performed was a pre-introductory interpretive dance.

Senior skater Leslie Dueck, above, performed ‘Jump, Jive and Wail’ with Evan Griffiths and Dyanna Monteith. All showed the pure grace and beauty of the sport. Judging by their smiles, all had a good time performing in front of thebig crowd.

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