Considering the team’s name and the performance of its skaters so far this season, it is fitting to say the Arctic Edge Skating Club is looking sharp.
Although it seems like ice was put into Whitehorse rinks only yesterday, a pair of Arctic Edge skaters have already achieved results at competitions.
Over the weekend, Arctic Edge’s Millie Austin, 17, competed in the junior ladies division at the Autumn Leaves event in Kamloops, BC.
With combined scores from her short and long programs - both personal-best scores - Austin was awarded first place.
“It was really good, but it was a really small competition,” said Austin. “It wasn’t a really competitive one so it was good for practice.
“I landed my double axel in my short program, so that was pretty good. The long (program) was good too.”
At a much larger and more competitive event at the start of August, the Wildrose Competition in Edmonton, Austin finished sixth in her division.
For Arctic Edge’s Rachel Pettitt, 10, just getting invited to the Saskatchewan First Skate in Saskatoon on Thanksgiving Weekend was an honour.
Pettitt was one of only four skaters to represent BC and the Yukon in Saskatchewan. Competing in the pre-juvenile ladies category, Pettitt won a bronze medal.
“It was really fun because I had never been to Saskatoon or that competition before,” said Pettitt. “The first thing I said when I came off was, ‘That was so much fun.’”
At the event Pettitt pulled off five of six double jumps, only missing the double axel.
“I started a new short (routine) for the Arctic Winter Games because I’m going to try out,” said Pettitt. “I just started my double axel. I’m working on it.”
Rachel earned the opportunity to go to Saskatchewan by winning a gold medal in August’s BC SummerSkate Competition in Burnaby.
In fact, Arctic Edge brought home three gold medals from the event, with Pettitt’s teammates Kelcy Armstrong and Bryn Hoffman topping their respective divisions.
Both Pettitt and Austin, and teammates Kevin Caron and Teneil Caron, will be going to the Sectionals in Richmond, BC November 12-15.
This weekend, Caron and Hoffman will be competing at the BC Coast Regionals in Chilliwack.
Arctic Edge will be hosting its first local event December 5 and 6. The Yukon Gold Nugget Interclub Competition will double as the Arctic Winter Game trials.
With the hiring of a CanSkate co-ordinator, Arctic Edge is having success recruiting as well. According to a media release, the club has reached its maximum of 60 skaters in each of its three programs.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com