Alicia Wallace
Rossland News
Rossland Figure Skating Club (RFSC), has won the bid to host the West Kootenay Invitational (WKI) skating competition for a second consecutive time. The invitational event will be held this Friday, Jan. 9 through to Sunday, Jan. 11 at the Rossland Arena on Second Avenue.
Some of the region’s best skaters will descend upon Rossland for the weekend. 110 skaters along with their families are coming from as far away as the Okanagan, Armstrong, Revelstoke as well as multiple East and West Kootenay clubs. 12 Rossland skaters will be competing at the WKI, between five and 18 years old.
The WKI is the only skating event on the West Kootenay skating calendar this year. The competition allows skaters to go on to participate in regional, sectional and provincial level skating competitions.
Skaters will be judged on dances, interpretive and free skate styles. Skaters will be awarded medals and for the juniors certificates are presented.
The event is open for the public to attend free of charge. The arena seats 800 people and has plenty of parking. Teri Mack, RFSC co-president and WKI competition chair, invites the public to come out and support the skaters.
“I still get shivers watching the skaters,” said Mack. “We are absolutely honoured (to be hosting the WKI).”
Spectators can come and watch from Friday 8 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. with the competition starting at 2 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s competition kicks off at 8 a.m. and continues through until 6:15 p.m. There is a little more time for a lie in on Sunday if you want to watch the figure skating — the competition goes from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.