WLU to host Women's Figure Skating Invitational
Dave Gadsden

When I was first approached about writing an article for our women's figure skating team, I shook my head and laughed. "Good one," I said. "What do you really want me to write about?"

"I'm serious," my friend replied, "our women's figure skating team is holding a big event next week and we need someone to cover it". I replied "You get me a team and I'll get you an article!" You see, my jesting reaction did not come from the request to cover figure skating; I have absolutely no problem with that. The problem was that I, much like most of you, had no idea that we had a women's figure skating team. So, needless to say, my friend found me a team and now here I am, writing this article.

It turns out that WLU has competed in Women's Figure Skating for several years now. Our current team consists of 13 skaters who have varying levels of competitive experience.

"Some of the girls have been test skaters in the past and a few have even competed at a national level" noted Coach Stephanie Robert. "We have girls competing in many different events including solo dance, singles, similar dance, similar pairs, fours free skate, fours dance and precision," added Robert.

Laurier competes against nine other schools in three events annually. This weekends competition will include McGill, the University of Waterloo, Guelph, Western, York, Ryerson, the University of Toronto, Brock and Queens. Laurier is the smallest of the teams in the OUA, icing only thirteen skaters. The rest of the teams have closer to sixteen members on their rosters.

Part of the challenge that Laurier faces is that we have a much smaller population of skaters to draw from. Despite this difficulty, Laurier skaters continue to leave their mark. As Robert beams "we have a continuously improving group of very dedicated girls."

If you happen to think that figure skating is as simple as lacing up a pair of white skates and twirling leisurely around the ice surface, then you had better think again. These girls put in at least seven hours a week of intense training, several of which take place before you or I have arrived at school for our dreaded 8:30's. While we sleep peacefully in the comfort of our warm beds, these girls are trudging through the snow in the dark, lacing up their skates in cold, empty arenas and enduring countless bangs and bruises as their tired bodies meet the hard, unforgiving ice.

Each season, the team competes in two invitational events in preparation for the OUA finals. Traditionally, Queen's hosts the first event of the year, which always takes place in November. The host for the second invitational rotates and this year, for the first time ever, Laurier has the honour of holding the event.

The Invitational will consist of skaters from ten different schools competing in fourteen different events. Schools accumulate points based on the placing of their skaters in the different events. At the end of the competition, the team with the most points will take home the gold.

There has been a tremendous amount of work put into the organization and the preparation for this event. Aside from the dedicated efforts of the coach, the team members, and several volunteers, the team's technical representative Virginia Gillham, an international level figure skating judge, has been instrumental in the planning of the event. The invitational will be held this Saturday and, of course, all spectators are welcome. Admission is free and it will be a great opportunity for you to exhibit some school spirit, witness some excellent skating, and show our varsity skaters some support.

Good luck girls!