Hometown favourites Bryn Hoffman and Rachel Pettitt are on their way to the medal podium.

The two local figure skaters performed clean short programs Tuesday afternoon at the Canada Games Centre ATCO Ice, along side level four skaters from The Northwest Territories, Alberta, Alaska and Yamal.

Hoffman is currently in first place with a score of 26.85 an Pettitt in third with 24.99.

16-year-old Yamal skater, Anna Gorodnicheva has edged into second place with a score of 25.54.

Medals will be determined after the athlete skate their long programs late this afternoon.

Outside the ATCO rink yesterday, athletes and spectators danced to Krush Grouve and watched local break dancers spin on the floor during a noon hour performance Inside the rink the energy was a little more tense.

Hoffman skated a clean routine in a bright blue dress, coming off the ice smiling and sharing a hug with the team's two coaches, Lori Austin and Michelle Gorczyca.

"I'm really happy with it,” the 14-year-old athlete said of her performance. "I feel that

I skated the best I could today. I landed everything and I had fun.”

Hoffmann has been skating since she was three years old. She competed in the Games in 2008 and 2010, taking home a gold in the latter year. She placed 8th last year at the Canada Winter Games and 9th at the B.C./Yukon sectional championships.

Hoffmann trains six days a week with Gorczyca. She said she skates because she loves performing in front of an audience.

The young skater is still unsure of the big-picture goal.

"I don't know,” she said. "I'll just take it year by year.”

Pettitt came off the ice with a similar grin on her face.

The 13-year-old skater had a wobbly landings but stayed on her feet throughout her performance. She was worried about her double axle as it's "kind of newish” but landed it cleanly.

Pettitt and her mom, who is also her coach, chose the song upbeat song Moroccan Role and a pink velvet dress for her energetic short program.

"It felt great skating in front of a home crowd because I've never done that before,” she said after coming off the ice. "I had so much fun.”

Pettitt said her goal for the Games is to do her personal best.

"I think this is my first and only Arctics,” she continued.

Both Pettitt and Hoffman will perform their long programs today at 7:40 p.m. this evening.

Austin and Gorczyca said that for the most part, their team is skating to the best of their ability.

Austin said some skaters are getting judged more harshly than they have been in previous years.

"We've had a few little bobbles on things, and in the new judging system those bobbles could cost you big time,” she said.

Austin explained that every element is assigned a value and if a skater deviates from that, it will drop their scores a lot.

"In the old system the penalties for little mistakes weren't as high.”

Yukoner Marika Kitchen is currently in 7th in the ladies 1 category Tuesday, while Kristen LeGrow is sitting in 9th place. In ladies 2 Maria Peters and Taylor Schneider are in 8th and 9th place, respectively. Kelcy Armstrong is in 6th place and Maya Austin in 9th in the ladies 3 category.