The Arctic Edge Skating Club held their Gold Nugget Interclub Competition on Friday and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre. The competition only featured skaters from Whitehorse.

“It’s our club competition, it’s just our local skaters,” said coach Michelle Semaschuk. “In the past we have had outside skaters from Juneau, and NWT, and it is right from Star 1 all the way to the competitive skaters.”

For some of the skaters, the Gold Nugget Competition is their first opportunity to get a competition under their belts for the season. For some this will be their only chance to compete this season. It’s about giving them a feel for a competitive atmosphere.

“A lot of the younger ones with us, we go outside in the springtime, we go to one competition, or we try to as a club, in Vancouver,” said Semaschuk. “But for some of the skaters, this is the only opportunity they will get to compete because of where we live.”

Getting used to a competitive atmosphere is one part of the competition, but it is also about learning to love the sport and what they do, as well as meeting personal goals.

“They are all so individual in their goals,” said Semaschuk. “For some it’s their first time competing ever, so it’s just a new environment for them. But mainly, for all of them it’s about enjoying what you do, and going out and skating because you like to regardless of the level. They all have personal goals in what they want to accomplish, but the general view is just go out and show everybody what they are capable of.”

Some of the winners over the two-day competition were Mickayla McCain, who won the Star 7 Women – Short Program with a score of 14.86. McCain also won the Star 6 Women – Free Program with a score of 18.68.

Anika Kramer won the Star 5 Women – Free Program with a score of 17.76. Kramer also won the Bronze Women (Interpretive) with a judges score of 35.26. Cloe Van Lankvekd won the Star 4 Girls – Free Program.

Van Lankvekd edged out Kramer’s score of 19.52 to win the Creative Improve Women (3) with a final score of 19.77.

In the Creative Improv Women (4) category Jamie Nickel won the skate with a score of 24.43. Alissa Russell (21.16) and Bronwyn Hays (20.93) rounded out the top three.

The older skaters were the ones who skated in full programs. The younger skaters performed elements to show what they had learned.

Semaschuk says that all the girls who performed did excellent, and that their hard work is beginning to show.

“One of the things we say to them, it just go out and do it like you do in practice, show everyone,” said Semaschuk.

“They have all done really well so far and all of us coaches are really impressed and we are all having a good time.”

Arctic Edge will be sending three skaters and one Special Olympics athlete to the Canada Winter Games in Red Dear, Alta., in February.

The rest of the athletes will be competing in the Vancouver skating competition.