Those committed to doing well in their chosen sport understand that achieving success in that sport means putting in the time to train and develop their skills.
For six skaters from the South Shore, that commitment has meant training 15 hours a week, even throughout the summer.
Heidi Clattenburg, who coaches local figure skating clubs on the South Shore, explains that even though it was summer, these six skaters, who range in age from five to 12, came to the rink every week, except for the first week in July.
“They have all been really dedicated and have been working really hard,” she says.
As a result of their commitment, the skaters — one from the Queens County Blades and five from the Bridgewater Skating Club — are heading to St. John’s, N.L. on Sept. 15 and 16, where they will be participating in a national skills seminar.
These sessions, Clattenburg explains, are designed to develop the skills of the up and coming skaters who are the sport’s future competitors.
In total, 40 skaters from the Atlantic Provinces — 10 from each province — will take part in the sessions, and Clattenburg says she’s pretty proud that six of Nova Scotia’s participants are coming from South Shore clubs.
Skaters going to Newfoundland are Hannah Chetwynd from the Queens County Blades, Ava Meisner, Olivia Golden, Ryann Bates, Hailee Hopkins and Chloe Herman, all from the Bridgewater Skating Club.
Also accompanying Clattenburg and the skaters to St. John’s is assistance coach Janessa Keans.
Clattenburg says she is really proud of all the girls chosen to participate.
“They all worked very, very hard,” she says. “They are a dedicated group of skaters and they have earned this.”
