WO Skaters - Well Done!!

 WO Results - for all WO competitions
 Skate Canada Results
 International Assignments - we're proud of our WO athletes!
 WO Synchro

The first thing is to love your sport. Never do it to please someone else. It has to be yours. Peggy Fleming, 1968 Winter Olympics

The following skaters represented Skate Canada, and our Section at the 2010 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Jeonju City, Republic of Korea January 25-30, 2010.

A special congratulations to Ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje both of Waterloo who earned their first career victory, winning GOLD. This year they have won bronze medals, first at HomeSense Skate Canada International and then at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

• Watch Kaitlin & Andrew's Gold Medal Free Dance

Diane Szmiett of Watford, made her first trip to these championships placing 10th after placing fourth at the 2010 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto made their first appearance for Canada at this prestigious event in the pair category, placing 9th. This was their first year on the competitive circuit as a team, placing fifth at their first BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships together.

Congratulations to 17 Skaters who represented WO at the BMO Skate Canada Championships in London, January 14-17, 2010.

Olympics bound!!! Ice dancers, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and the Pair team of Bryce Davison and Jessica Dubé were named to represent Canada at the Vancouver Olympics!

• CTV Olympics - Figure Skating
• CTV Olympics - Virtue and Moir's unquestionable chemistry

BMO Possibilities Award - Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch performed perfectly in both their programs and didn’t miss an element and for that reason were awarded the BMO Possibilities Award.

• More from Skate Canada

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, 3 time Senior Dance Champions, set a new Canadian record with an overall total score of 221.95 points.

Daniela-Bella Favot	Erin Scherrer	Kurtis Gaskell / Brittany Jones

Photos with thanks, Erica Armstrong, Skate Ontario

A heartfelt Congratulations to 34 skaters who represented our Section at the BMO Skate Canada Junior National Championships in London, January 11-14, 2010.

BMO Possibilities Award - was given to Junior Ice dancers, 16-year-old Abby Carswell and 20-year-old Andrew Dolman of Western Ontario. They had three solid performances in all three areas and with a second place performance in the free dance. They created a wonderful overall impression, winning the bronze medal.

• More from Skate Canada

2009-2010 Skate Canada Senior National Team

• Diane Szmiett - Watford SC
• Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir - Ilderton SC / Ilderton SC
• Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje - Sault FSC / Kitchener-Waterloo SC

2009-2010 Skate Canada Junior National Team

• Rob Schultz - Preston FSC
• Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa – Burlington SC
• Daniela-Bella Favot – South Windsor FSC
• Brittany Jones / Kurtis Gaskell - Kitchener-Waterlo SC

2009-2010 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating National Team

• Senior – Nexxice
• Junior – Nexxice

[International Assignments & Results]

3 Pair teams were sent to represent Western Ontario at the Indy Challenge 2009, Indianapolis, IN, USA, August 1-2, 2009.

3 Dance teams were sent to represent Western Ontario at the Pikes Peak Classic 2009, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, September 26-27, 2009.

“I would like to thank Western Ontario Section for the opportunity you gave Ben and I by sending us to Colorado Springs to compete in the Pikes Peak Classic. It felt like my first International assignment by having to fly there and skate at altitude. Besides, the competition, Colorado Springs was an awesome place with plenty of things to do and see. The experience was one I’ll never forget and with the monitoring it was a great learning experience. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity.” Kylie Knight

Michaela & Scott Botsford, Kylie Knight & Ben Mulder in Colorado

6 skaters were sent to represent Western Ontario at Sask Skate 2009, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 9-11, 2009.

Congratulations to these skaters for representing WO section so well!

Congratulations to All Our WO Skaters!

Skate Canada BMO Possibility Award Winners

• Brittany Jones and Kurtis Gaskell showed focus, determination and commitment to perform two clean programs in Junior Pair.

Featuring WO Medal Winners

• Senior Dance Champions - Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir
• Junior Pair Champions - Brittany Jones / Kurtis Gaskell
• Junior Women Bronze Medalist - Riley McCulloch-Casarsa
• Senior Pair Champions - Bryce Davison / Jessica Dubé
• Senior Dance Bronze Medalist - Andrew Poje / Kaitlyn Weaver

Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir © Skate Canada / Brett Barden	Brittany Jones / Kurtis Gaskell © Skate Canada / Gérard Châtaigneau	Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa © Skate Canada / Gérard Châtaigneau

The following WO Skaters have been named to the 2009 World teams. Congrats and Good Luck from

• Worlds Team - Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
• Junior Worlds Team - Diane Szmiett

The following WO skaters competed February 11-14, 2009 in Calgary, Alberta. Congratulations everyone!

Skate Canada BMO Possibility Award Winners

• Phelan Simpson - 2009 Juvenile Men's Champion and 2009 Juvenile Pairs Champion with partner Shalena Rau
• Carleigh MacDonald - Pre-Novice Dance with partner Matthew Mills - The 2009 Underhill Martini Scholarship to a skater showing great potential and overcoming adversity on the path to success

Featuring WO Medal Winners

• Novice Pair Champions - Katie Bobak / Matthew Penasse
• Novice Pair Bronze Medalists - Margaret Purdy / Michael Marinaro
• Novice Dance Champions - Carolyn MacCuish / Tyler Morris
• Juvenile Men's Champion - Phelan Simpson
  Juvenile Ladies Champion - Taylor Hunsley
  Juvenile Pair Champions - Shalena Rau / Phelan Simpson

The following WO skaters competed March 14-15, 2009 at RIM Park, Waterloo. Congratulations everyone!

4 of our WO Special Olympic athletes were named to the Team Canada 2009 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, USA February 2009 Tim Goodacre, Stephanie Rowe, Vicky Vale and Jessica Young. Stephanie and Vicky were unable to compete. Congratulations, Tim and Jessica.

• Jessica Young - Silver - Level 4 Ladies
• Tim Goodacre - Gold - Level 3 Men and Gold - Level 1 Solo Dance
• News Release from Special Olympics Ontario
• News Release from Skate Canada
  

Two WO skaters from the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Centre, Maddie Germann and Caitlyn Hogkinson and coach, Kim Biddiscombe are making a trip of a lifetime to compete in figure skating at the International Children's Games.

The ICG was founded in 1968 by professor Metod Klemenc to promote peace and friendship through sports, for students from different countries. It is for children ages 12-15 years. This event is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and is the largest International games of its kind for youth.

This year's event was held in the cities of Vevey and Montreux in the Swiss Riviera.

Kim Biddiscombe, Maddie Germann & Caitlyn Hogkinson

Congratulations to Diane Szmiett, 17, who qualified and competed as one of the top eight Ladies in Singles at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Diane represented Canada in Seoul, Republic of Korea, December 10-14, 2008. Diane trains at the Competitive Skating Centre of Strathroy with coaches Scott Rachuk and Alison Purkiss. Diane qualified as a result of her 3rd place finish at the ISU Junior Grand event in Courcheval, France, August 27-31, and 2nd place finish at the ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Cape Town, South Africa on October 8-12. Quite the world traveler she has been! Western Ontario Section wishes Diane Continued Success Always! From Pat Woods, Chair - Skate Canada - Western Ontario Photo © Skate Canada / Brett Barden

An extravaganza ice show was held to open one of the largest outdoor ice surfaces in the world, November 27-30, 2008. Many thanks to the Nexxice Team Captains Jen Beauchamp, Morgan Harper and Danyel Dwystra for sharing their experiences and photos with us! More...

• Judges Speak Out - What Gives a Competitive Performance the EDGE?