Bryn Hoffman is back better than ever.
Just months after suffering a broken leg during practice, the 13-year-old Hoffman, a member of the Arctic Edge Skating Club, was back in action over the weekend, winning two medals and setting two personal best scores, at the Jingle Blades Competition in White Rock, BC.
“I thought it was pretty good because I hadn’t been skating for a while because I injured my leg,” said Hoffman. “It was the first competition since that, so I think I did pretty good considering.”
The Whitehorse skater won gold in the silver interpretive event scoring 44 points, not only exceeding the scores of those in her division, but those in the gold level as well.
Adding final touches to her interpretive routine right up to the last minute, Hoffman tossed in a few new additions just two days before performing.
“I’m just glad I remembered them,” she said.
Hoffman also took a silver in the pre-novice ladies event, successfully performing a bevy of combinations, including a double flip-double loop, a double lutz-double toe, and a double flip-double toe.
For the program, Hoffman received a personal best score of 44.57.
“Bryn is such a smart girl and works so hard,” wrote Hoffman’s coach Michelle Gorczyca in an e-mail to the News. “Each day she brings a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and, most of all, heart. That powerful combination has helped bring her this far and will continue to allow her to excel in the future.”
In the short program, Hoffman produced another personal best of 44.57, but ended in fifth place. Being the first event of the weekend, Hoffman had to overcome some nerves before hitting her stride.
“I was kind of nervous, I fell on my first double lutz - it was kind of tough,” she said.
Hoffman’s previous competition was the BC SummerSkate in August where she won gold in the senior bronze ladies division.
Near the end of last season, Hoffman won gold medals in the short and long programs at the Arctic Winter Games in March. Together the two golds earned her another for best overall in the Ladies 3 division.
Hoffman will be back directly representing the territory on Team Yukon at the Canada Winter Games in February. Joining her in Halifax will be Arctic Edge teammates Teneil Caron and Rachel Pettitt.
“Bryn had a good weekend at the Jingle Blades competition and it was a great way to help prepare her for the Canada Games in the New Year,” wrote Gorczyca.
If you want to see her routine, Hoffman will be on the ice this Saturday with many other Arctic Edge skaters for the Yukon Gold Nugget Interclub Competition at Takhini Arena.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com