Forget the Arctic Edge Skating Club’s skill tests, team trials and Yukon Championships, Whitehorse’s Kevin Caron had his own reason to stick the landing.
Producing consistent performances in his short and long programs last weekend, Caron qualified to compete at the 2010 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals being held January 11-14 in London, Ontario.
“I’m going to try my best and have fun,” said Caron. “It’s the kind of competition I’ve been aiming for to see how it goes.
“I’m pretty much training right through Christmas and I’ll take my time off after nationals.”
Caron qualified for the national competition in the junior men’s event at the Western and Eastern Challenge in Mississauga, Ontario. He finished 17th in both his short and long routines for a 17th place finish overall, needing to finish in the top 18 to advance.
Because of travel and jetlag, the Arctic Edge member was a little groggy during the first day of competition.
“I arrived Wednesday and my short (routine) was Thursday morning and I had to get up for practice at five - two o’clock in the morning our time,” said Caron. “That was a real shock to the system.”
The Team BC/Yukon skater completed a triple lutz and a triple loop in his long program plus a “beautiful” double axel with some “really good spins” in his short.
“I think my performance was OK; I did what I needed to get done,” said Caron. “To make it to nationals was my goal for the competition, so I feel pretty good about that.”
It will not be Caron’s first foray into national competition when he competes in London. In 2006 Caron competed at the junior nationals in a younger age group, finishing 11th in the field of 16. Last year Caron was an alternate for the nationals.
Caron qualified for the Western and Eastern Challenge by finishing third in the junior men’s division at the 2010 BMO Skate Canada Sectionals (BC/Yukon Section) in Richmond, BC last month.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com