Skaters train over summer
Athletes develop their skills off the ice to improve conditioning, strength and flexibility
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 7, 2016
INUVIK
The ice may have melted but that's not stopping Inuvik's figure skaters - and many others - from honing their skills off the ice.
Skaters from the Inuvik Figure Skating Club put on their end-of-year show in March. The dance program is a chance for skaters to hone their off-ice skills and those who just love to dance to get in some practice. - NNSL file photo
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"Dancing means strengthening, conditioning, flexibility, balance," said coach Jessica Sawkins-Crawford.
"It all relates to figure skating, or any other sport."
The Inuvik Figure Skating Club has been running its summer off-ice dance program since 2014 and fill up with participants quickly every year.
With about 40 spots available, there were only three positions left after the first session June 30. It runs for 10 weeks, and is open to children as young as three years old all the way up to teenagers.
"A lot of our current members are away this summer, so we have about 40 per cent new members," Sawkins-Crawford told the Drum.
"Some kids maybe don't like figure skating, they don't like to be on the ice, but they do love music and dancing, so it's great to have them out."
Broken up into groups by age, the youngest children, starting at three years old, are introduced to dance-play, which Sawkins-Crawford said is all about having fun accompanied by bunch of current songs, all the while incorporating different choreography, strength, balance, and co-ordination exercises.
"It's so important for development at that age, and the kids don't even realize they're doing it, they're having so much fun," she said.
"And there are creative and imaginative components as well."
For the older children, the program is about 60 per cent dancing and 40 per cent conditioning and working out.
Sawkins-Crawford noted the dance program is one of the only organized sports activities available for children in the summer in the community, and reiterated how pleased she is to see so many new faces swelling the ranks.
Last year the program included a final show, where dancers get to show off what they learned over the course of the summer.
While it's a fun way to involve parents and the community, it also contributes to the skills with which the children leave.
The show will likely be held at the Midnight Sun Complex later this summer, but Sawkins-Crawford hinted there may be a second recital during the season.
"The kids love it," said Sawkins-Crawford.
"But it's huge for their development in the sport too. It builds their confidence, helps them get used to performing in front of a crowd. Presentation is 50 per cent of your mark in figure skating, and it's great for them to practice aspects of that."
