Figure skating may be, for the most part, an individual sport, but the Yukon's Arctic Winter Games squad is proving there are a lot of advantages to practising together as team.

On Sunday, the group held their first practice at the Takhini Area, since being selected to the team last weekend.

'I am really pleased,' said Lori Austin, a coach on the team. 'The kids are enthusiastic, they are trying really hard and they want to know where to improve. They are really open to that, so that is great.'

In total there are eight members on the team, which ranges from categories Lady's One to Lady's Four. The categories are based on age and skill level. This year's team will feature five members who have prior experience competing at the Arctic Winter Games.

Practices are held at the Takhini Arena from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Sunday. The team will hold about eight practices before leaving to compete at the Games.

Sunday's practice began with a stroking warm-up with edges and turns. Stroking is a technique in figure skating that is done when a skater increases his or her speed by using the inside edges to move across the ice.

Skaters on the team then broke up into teams based on their category and practiced techniques such as spins and jumps.

The practice ended with each skater's individual program run-through.

Austin, who coached the last Arctic Winter Games team, thinks holding these team practices are important.

'Figure skating is an individual sport, but because we are going as team it is good for us to build some team spirit,' she said. 'Also it gives the coaches a chance to look at the programs and figure out what needs to be worked on.'

She said the kids are all skating well, but they need to work on things such as presentation, polishing and choreography in their programs.

'I think it's a good team,' Austin said. 'I think they are going to get better after they start focusing more on the things that I want them to focus on.'

Austin said she doesn't really have a goal for the Games.

'I just want the kids to skate their best and do their best,' she said.

Samantha Jarvis won three bronze medals at the 2006 Arctic Winter Games in the Ladies One group. Jarvis is currently in Ladies Two and hopes she can finish third or second in her category at the Games

Her favourite event at the Games is the Team Compulsory Event, which is held at the Arctic Winter Games to promote team building in a sport that is mostly individually based.

Jarvis said practising with the team is not only fun, but it's also helpful in preparing for the games.

'We practice together and then we run through our programs and we watch each other, so it helps a lot,' she said. 'You get to learn from each other and you get to see how the higher levels do and you can help out a couple of people in Ladies One if they need help, so it just really helps.'

The 2008 Arctic Winter Games is going to be special for Jarvis, not only because she has improved a lot since the previous Games, but because her younger sister, Maddison, made the team for the first time and will compete in the Ladies One category.

'I think the most exciting part is that this year it's lots of friends who are going and we all know each other really well and also my little sister is going,' she said. 'I am just excited that we are going to Yellowknife because last time we roomed with the Yellowknife people, so we know them pretty well. One of the best parts is meeting new people.'

Jarvis hopes she just skates well and added that no matter what happens on the ice she will have a good time at the Games.