Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Photo Submitted

LEADING THE WAY – Mikayla Kramer earned gold in Silver Interpretive and bronze in Open Elements. Photos courtesy of BOB ORR/FREEZE FRAME PHOTOGRAPHY

Image title

Photo by Photo Submitted

MEDAL HAUL – Anika Kramer claimed silver in the Star 2 division of the Vancouver Island Super Series. Photos courtesy of BOB ORR/FREEZE FRAME PHOTOGRAPHY

Yukon skates to 19 medals at Super Series event

The territory’s top figure skaters finished their season on a high note last weekend.

By Marcel Vander Wier on April 17, 2015

The territory’s top figure skaters finished their season on a high note last weekend.

The team from the Arctic Edge Skating Club collected 19 medals at the Vancouver Island Super Series event held April 10 to 12 in Parksville, B.C.

“It was probably one of the best well-rounded weekends that we’ve had,” coach Michelle Semaschuk told the Star. “We wanted to see more of what type of goals they could set, aside from making jumps and clean skates. It was one weekend where everyone had something positive happen.

“We’re really proud of them.”

Twelve local skaters competed in 30 events, scoring seven golds, eight silvers and four bronze medals.

Mikayla Kramer scored gold in Silver Interpretive and bronze in Open Elements, while her younger sister Anika Kramer nabbed a silver in Star 2.

Also contributing to the medal count were: Alissa Russell (gold in Star 5 U13, silver in Elements 2); Tessa Moore (bronze in Introductory Elements); Jamie Nickel (gold in Introductory Interpretive and bronze in Star 5); Bronwyn Hays (silver in Star 4, silver in Elements 1); and Sarah Milton (gold in Pre-Juvenile Solo Dance, silver in Elements 1).

Battling nagging injuries, Landyn Blisner scored gold in Star 5 U13, while Janelle Clethero settled for fourth in Star 5 Over-13.

Most of the Whitehorse club’s skaters attended the meet, which serves as an annual end-of-season event.

The event also featured a number of athletes who were competing in their first meet Outside of the territory – including Mikayla McCain, Chloe Van Lankveld and Lenneah Timmermans, each of whom scored medals.

McCain earned gold in Star 2, Van Lankveld took silver in Pre-Introductory Interpretive as well as bronze in Star 2, and Timmermans claimed gold in Elements 1, and silvers in Pre-Juvenile Solo Dance and PreStar 3 U13.

“They all did such an amazing job,” said Semaschuk, who coached alongside Anne Milton and Chantal Edmond this season in the absence of stalwarts Charlene Donald (injured) and Trish Pettitt (moved to Kelowna).

“This year was a different year, but a good year,” Semaschuk said. “It was such a group effort.”

Semaschuk said the club received several compliments from judges regarding the level of skating talent in the North.

Lotteries Yukon provided travel assistance to the club for this trip.

– – –

Figure skater Michael Sumner received an unexpected surprise at the 2015 Special Olympics Festival Dinner Auction last Saturday – a bronze medal from the recently-completed Canada Winter Games.

Sumner finished third in the Special Olympics Level 2 solo male category in February, but did not receive a medal as organizers only present gold in events featuring three athletes or less.

Yukon chef de mission Trevor Twardochleb said he called in a few favours in order to have the 18-year-old Sumner presented with the medal, which will not be part of the Yukon’s overall total.

“It was special,” Twardochleb said of the surprise presentation. “Just to see him react, it welled me up.”

The Special Olympics festival featured former Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury – who won gold for Canada in 1992 – as the guest speaker.

The auction reportedly raised $60,000 – an event record.

Be the first to comment

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.