Whitehorse Daily Star

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Mikayla Kramer

Kramer, Pettitt qualify for Skate Canada Challenge

Mikayla Kramer became the third Yukon figure skater to propel herself onto the national stage last weekend.

By Marcel Vander Wier on November 10, 2015

Mikayla Kramer became the third Yukon figure skater to propel herself onto the national stage last weekend.

The Whitehorse native, who just turned 13 on Friday, finished fourth at the 2016 Super Series B.C./Yukon Section Championships in Coquitlam, B.C. – good enough to qualify her for Skate Canada Challenge.

Kramer scored 91.49 points in pre-novice women, finishing just off the podium behind Burnaby’s Vasilisa Matantseva (110.89), Kelowna’s Ashley Sales (96.87) and Vancouver’s Leah Lee (94.15).

In total, 41 skaters competed in the pre-novice women division.

Sectionals took place at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex Nov. 5 to 8.

Whitehorse native Rachel Pettitt, 16, also qualified for Skate Canada Challenge, with a second overall finish among junior women.

Last season, Pettitt won the national title for novice women in Kingston, Ont. – the first Yukoner to do so.

Pettitt finished with 139.15 points, behind only Megan Yim of Burnaby, who scored 158.06.

Two clean programs did the trick for Kramer, who noted she was shocked by her result – a personal best by 15 points.

“I was really relaxed,” she said. “My goal for the season was to qualify for a national competition. It’s quite exciting. I was very happy with my skates.”

Kramer’s toughest jump is the double axel, but she completed all four of her attempts at sectionals.

She has also improved her artistic flair, taking home a Super Series award for the season in her category.

The daughter of Mike Kramer and Christine Benedek, this is easily the biggest achievement of her young career.

Kramer made the decision to spend six months training at the Kelowna Skating Club this season, joining Pettitt. The move has clearly paid off.

“I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements here,” Kramer said. “There’s more girls here at my level and I get more ice time.”

“Mikayla has always worked so hard,” said Michelle Semaschuk, who coached Kramer ever since she graduated from CanSkate at Whitehorse’s Arctic Edge Skating Club.

“She’s one of the most determined athletes I’ve ever worked with. I told her that ‘this is what you get for your hard work.’ I’ve always said that to her. Sometimes things don’t come right away, but if you keep persevering, nothing is impossible.”

Semaschuk said Kramer has always been talented as well, and her extra time on the ice under world class tutelage in Kelowna has worked wonders.

Skate Canada Challenge will be hosted in Edmonton Dec. 2 to 6, with 500 of the country’s finest skaters expected to attend.

The event serves as the national championships for pre-novice skaters, while novice, junior and senior athletes use the event to qualify for the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

By qualifying for Skate Canada Challenge, Kramer is following in the footsteps of both Pettitt and Whitehorse pairs skater Bryn Hoffman.

Hoffman, 18, and partner Bryce Chudak have twice skated in Junior Grand Prix events this season,

Alongside a date at nationals this year, Hoffman and Chudak are expected to compete at the ISU World Junior Championships in Hungary next March.

The trio’s recent success has only validated the work put in by the coaching staff in Whitehorse.

Semaschuk said she watched Kramer’s performance alongside fellow coach Chantal Emond at her home in Whitehorse.

“I told Chantal: ‘This is why we coach. This is why we keep going.’ It’s about achievement and hard work. For the skaters in our club to see what can be possible ... it definitely gives us a lot of drive to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Kramer’s younger sister, Anika Kramer, is also a member of the Whitehorse club.

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