Terrace figure skaters sharpened their skills and were re-invigorated at a recent Terrace skating seminar, led by a level three certified coach from Kelowna.
“All the skaters have a new vigour, a new love for their sport,” said club president Elaine Sanchez after the seminar.
“It really does inspire them and motivate them and gives them more drive to succeed and keep pushing themselves.”
The September 12 and 13 seminar was taught by Coach Steve Muff, a 15-year coach who has produced multiple provincial champions and national competitors, and has been involved in a B.C. and Yukon skater development committee.
It is key for local skaters to get a fresh perspective and learn new techniques and skills, said Sanchez.
“[Coach Muff] is in the heart of competitive skating and those skills that he is teaching down south, he is bringing that to the north and keeping us on par with the rest of the province,” she said.
The two-day seminar drew 24 skaters, 18 from Terrace and 6 from Kitimat.
The skaters cycled through four stations in four groups based on their skill level.
One station was off-ice training to build strength and agility and learn techniques for jumps and spins.
Two stations were on ice, with one focused on mastering the jumps and spins and the other focused on speed, pushes and basic strokes like cross overs.
The fourth station was yoga, where skaters did stretches with a local instructor to improve their flexibility.
Muff also evaluated and critiqued performances by the senior skaters, giving them tips to enhance and improve their personal program.
The seminar was run by the Terrace Figure Skating Club with a $5,000 grant from Rio Tinto, half for this seminar and half for a second seminar that will run later this winter.