INUVIK - Figure skating and winning medals for doing so has become a family affair for the Larters of Fort Simpson.

J.C. Larter, six, beams while performing in the CanSkate stage two elements at the territorial figure skating championships in Inuvik. Larter won a silver medal in the event. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Between them siblings Nikita, 14, Tiffany, 12, and J.C. Larter, six, won three gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the territorial figure skating championships held in Inuvik from Feb. 12 to 14. This was the first year that all three of the Larters have won medals at the competition but their figure skating heritage goes back much further.

It all started with the skater's grandmother, who pushed her children – including Nic – to skate. She loved figure skating but never learned how to herself, said Nic Larter.

When Nic and his wife Lynn started their own family they decided that figure skating was an activity they'd carry forward.

"We figured that it was one thing we could all do in the wintertime," said Nic.

"In the summer we switch it to golf. We're better at skating than golf."

Under their father's tutelage Nikita, Tiffany and J.C. all started skating when they were three years old.

Nikita began competing at the territorial level eight years ago and was joined by her sister five years ago and most recently by her brother in 2009. This year all three skaters reached personal bests at the territorials.

Nikita won first place in the canasta tango and the CanSkate program. She took third in the pre-preliminary creative solo. It was the first time she's competed in three events.

The most challenging event was the creative solo, said Nikita. All of the competitors listened to the song The Twist twice and then immediately had to create and perform a solo program moving gracefully and following the rhythm of the song.

"A lot of us had a hard time," she said.

Some of Nikita's favourite figure skating moves are spirals and salchow jumps. Nikita said she figure skates because it allows her to," show people your creative side and express it in a fun way."

For Tiffany the draw to the sport is having fun. Tiffany won gold in the stage seven elements and second in the CanSkate program where she competed against her sister. This was the first time the two have skated in the same event so there's no sibling rivalry, said Tiffany.

In the element event Tiffany had to combine a number of skills including a one-foot spin, a toe loop, backwards and forwards inside edges and skating quickly forward together in a way that was presentable for the judges. To prepare she and her siblings practiced whenever possible during family and public skating times at the arena after school, during lunch and on the weekends.

"They like to go out and practice," said Nic.

One of the challenges of figure skating in Fort Simpson is getting enough ice time, said Nic. Most clubs have artificial ice and are skating by October. The girl's competitors get approximately 10 hours of practice a week compared to the between two to four hours that are available in the village, he said.

Although Nic coaches them the girls designed their own programs for the territorials. They pick up ideas from the competitions and from watching professional skaters on television.

The two sisters also help their brother on the ice. J.C. won a silver medal in the CanSkate stage two elements where he had to display a number of skills including backwards and forwards skating and proper stops. J.C. said he was "happy" to win a medal. His goal is to someday be as good if not better on figure skates than his sisters.