It’s a big weekend ahead for the Fuller Lake Skating Club in more ways than one.
It’s big in terms of scope, hosting the Vancouver Island Interclub Competition at Fuller Lake Arena with nearly 300 skaters from around the Island and some from other parts of Canada encompassing more than 40 events.
It’s also big in terms of importance, as local skaters get ready to put all those skills they’ve been honing in practice into the competition spotlight to see how they stack up against others in their same categories.
This competition has been a mainstay within the Island skating community for decades. It’s a crucial part of any skater’s development, with many debuting new programs and working towards attending the StarSkate provincial level competition final in March.
Star, Podium Pathway, Special Olympics and Adult events are all included.
The Fuller Lake Skating Club, under the direction of president Jenn Torres Hernandez, has everything in place required with volunteers and amenities for the enormous task of hosting the event while Fuller Lake’s head coach Kailee Bowman has her skaters prepared to give it their best.
“The Fuller Lake Skating Club is honoured to be hosting such a prestigious event,” Torres Hernandez and Bowman remarked in a joint statement. “It takes a lot of hard work on the part of our special subcommittee board of volunteer parents and community members to make it all possible. Hours of volunteer time has already been spent in preparation to give the best experience we can to our visiting athletes, their families and esteemed judges.
“By its opening on Friday afternoon, 20 volunteers will have already worked tirelessly for months, starting last fall to get the event off the ground. Another 60 volunteers will come together over the course of the three days of skating to ensure a successful competition. Infrastructure has been specially designed and built for the occasion, food has been prepared with care and decoration has been assembled, all with our visitors in mind. We are hoping that it is not only those visiting us from afar who can enjoy the event but that others from within our own communities can also partake of the spectacle. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, come check it out as admittance is by donation.”
The action begins Friday, Nov. 17 at noon with the Special Olympians. Skating continues throughout the afternoon with Star 2 and 4 skaters rounding out the schedule until 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 18, the competition begins at 9 a.m. with Star 7 women followed by the top skaters in the field throughout the morning and culminating in the Juvenile Women and Men’s events at 1:50 p.m. It’s just a small part of a full day that goes until 8 p.m.
The Sunday, Nov. 19 morning program commences at 9 a.m. with first-time competitors followed by some seasoned athletes at the Star 3 level and everything wraps up by 3 p.m. to allow all the skaters time to return home following what’s sure to be another memorable weekend.
