Glitter On Ice in Gleichen

Manny Everett  

Times Contributor

 

The Gleichen Arena was filled with many figure skaters of all age groups from Strathmore, Bassano and Gleichen, and their families as they performed their various routines for the packed arena.

Before these performances happen there are many hours of hard work, practicing, make-up, costume buying and bundles of nerves from the skaters, parents and, of course, their respective coaches. There is a lot of hard work and a culmination of time and effort put into the performances that happen in matter of a few short minutes.

Coach Carrie Lassiter encourages her girls a few seconds before they go out on the ice with smiles and a “go do your best, you can do this.” She, along with parents waiting in the stands to see the performances of their children, holds her breath while she waits for her students perform their routines well. 

When the skaters come off the ice, she is just as encouraging to the skaters as she was when they were going out on the ice. A great coach who loves the sport, her excitement spills over into her teaching of the young ladies who dream of being figure skaters. 

Lassiter says, “All the girls skated extremely well, and seemed to all have fun. I am very proud of their hard work preparing for this event. The highlight for me was seeing the smiles on the skaters’ faces when they received their medals. The organizers all worked very hard to make this day successful. Glitter on Ice grew to 38 skaters this year and we hope to increase again next year.  Great job girls.”

Coaches Leanne Woodcock and daughter Lindsey Woodcock from the Strathmore Figure Skating Club take the sport seriously as well. Lindsey is a figure skater herself, and for many years has enjoyed the challenge of instilling the love of skating in the youngest of girls. Both ladies were proud of their girls’ accomplishments of the day and look forward to more competitions in the spring.