Laboucan and Sebo make club history at Slave Lake

Michelle Laboucan, left, and Erin Sebo became the second and third figure skaters in High Prairie’s history to pass their Gold Interpretives March 8.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

High Prairie Skating Club coach Rebecca Zajic could not be prouder of Michelle Laboucan and Erin Sebo.

Both passed their Gold Interpretives March 8 in Slave Lake to become the second and third skaters in club history to reach the esteemed level.

“Only one other skater in the history of the High Prairie Skating Club has achieved this level, Devon Jones,” says Zajic. “This is a really big, big deal!”

Jones achieved the level in March 2006.

Sebo describes Gold Interpretive skating as “everything without the jumps”. Each skater interprets the music chosen and performs.”

Laboucan, 19, has skated for 15 years with the club and is currently taking college courses through Athabasca University.

“It really made me feel good,” says Laboucan of her achievement. “I was able to accomplish something.”

Laboucan, who also helps coach PreSchool, Canskate and Junior Groups as well as giving some additional lessons to senior skaters, says credit must be given to Zajic.

“She has a lot of heart and she cares a lot,” says Laboucan. “She pushes you and she puts up with a lot of attitude.”

Making Laboucan’s feat even more remarkable is she was unable to skate during the 2006-2007 season due to knee surgery.

“Last year when she came back to skating she worked through a lot of pain with her knee and was able to complete two levels of Interpretive; her Bronze and Silver,” says Zajic.

This season, Laboucan turned her goal toward Gold Interpretive and succeeded.

Sebo, 16, has skated for 12 years. She attends E.W. Pratt High School and also works part-time at the High Prairie Aquatic Centre.

“It’s exciting,” she says of her accomplishment. “I worked hard and I am happy I did it.”

Sebo started working on her Interpretive two seasons ago and passed her Introductory Interpretive to Elton John’s version of ‘Candle in the Wind’.

“Last season Erin worked doubly hard and passed both her Bronze and Silver Interpretive,” says Zajic. “This season, Erin has been working a lot of hours at the pool and was only able to commit to two days a week at skating. During those two days Erin worked as hard as possible . . .”

Sebo also credits Zajic for her success.

“I couldn’t have done it without her,” says Sebo. “She’s number one! She’s an extremely hard worker and doesn’t give up.

“She puts up with our attitude; (skating is) her life and she wants us to do well.”

Sebo has also honed her craft on an outdoor rink her father makes.

Zajic says credit must be given to the girls for her dedication and hard work.

“We are very proud of Michelle and Erin and we wish them the best of luck in their next endeavour,” says Zajic.

“We know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” she adds.

Laboucan is the daughter of Michael Laboucan and Charlene McLay; Sebo is the daughter of David and Lasha Sebo.

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