In competitive Skating (there is a difference) Skate Canada, holds competitions at Juvenile, Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior, and Senior levels..
Most TV coverage for Nationals (Canadian Championships) are directed at Junior and Senior levels...
Last year 2009, our second daughter Stacy Rau (Hicks) had her daughter, Shalena, in competition in Calgary, for Skate Canada Jr Nationals.. The Junior Nationals, have always been held in a different city than Nationals (Canadian Championships)..
At Calgary, our Shalena (then 10) and her 13 year old partner Phelan Simpson, won the GOLD in Juvenile for Canada!!!
Shalena was 10, 4 ft nothing, 70 lbs of muscle, and a big girl skating attitude! lol We were all so proud!!!
Fast forward to 2010.. Her coach, (a former Canadian pairs Champion) decided to move her "up' to Novice level (skipping pre-novice) They skated well all year, and easily earned trip to finals at London On.
Yesterday Dec 12-10, they skated their short program, and placed 3rd , which was "huge" .. There are teams there, from Quebec, who had "edged them" out all season! "These pairs" are "late teens- early twenties" This year as a"trial" Skate Canada held BOTH Nationals and Jr Nationals at London Ont (yea)
Shalena is 11 (Nov) but still considered 10 by Skate Canada!!
TODAY :
They skated the long program, and nudged out, 3 teams that should have beat them, and won Novice Bronze medal !!!!!!!
This is great as she will be able to win Gold (lol) next year, before moving to Juniors.. She cannot skate at 2014 Olympics (because of her age) but can skate at 2018 She is a sweet girl, and modest, and we are very proud Carl (Papa)
2010 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals
January 11-14, 2010 Western Fair Sports Centre London, ON
This was last March 2009 at Calgary see how little she is...C2
They did a perfect triple twist today She can do a Quad but not allowed in Novice..
She LOVES Papa's PONTIAC!!!
-- Edited by 427carl on Wednesday 13th of January 2010 06:59:00 PM
-- Edited by 427carl on Wednesday 13th of January 2010 07:10:52 PM
Yes I am very proud, but it is bittersweet.... I wish Hiller could have heard about her today! I like to think that these children of ours (ALL OF US) are Poncho kids... I was a speed skater in N.B during high school and enjoy seeing her succeed The cool part, is when she comes off the ice , she's just Papa's girl....
Did I mention she the youngest Canadian skater to do a triple twist and can do a quad!! This child has cost us a LOT of $$ support, but maybe she can win some money, and buy me nice toys lol
-- Edited by 427carl on Wednesday 13th of January 2010 07:21:18 PM
Congratulations there Carl. I've enjoyed following your stories about her success. I hope you can just enjoy every minute of it, that's what parents and grandparents are for.
