Skaters shine in year-end show “Operation: Ice Show”

Tim Brody - Editor

The Sioux Lookout Skating Club wrapped up its season on April 6 at the Sioux Lookout Memorial Arena with its presentation of “Operation: Ice Show.”
Kayleigh Bates, CanSkate and Star Senior Lead and Director of Skating Programs for the Club, said of the spy and action themed year-end show, “Every year we try and come up with something a little bit different and more creative. Last year was “Our Skating Mixtape” theme, which worked really well because it was our first big show coming back since the pandemic. This year we really wanted to make it a little bit more specific. All of our kids are into that action and adventure kind of thing so that’s where this idea came from.”
During their routines, skaters showed their family, friends, and community members the skills they had spent the season working on.
For Geneva Otto, one of the club’s coaches and a skater in the show, this year’s year-end show was extra special as she is heading off to post-secondary education and won’t be back next season.
“I will miss it,” she said. “I understand the struggles of a lot of the skaters face because I too had a hard time with certain jumps and certain spins.”
Laine Helbling joined the club this past season as an adult skater.
“I started skating at probably four years old in Dryden. I took a 25 year break and then I’ve picked it back up again,” she explained.
“It’s been amazing to rediscover something that I loved so much as a kid and our club is so supportive and it’s just been a very joyful experience,” she added.
Rilynne Cospito said of skating with the club this past season, “It’s been really fun, and I’ve made friends at the club. It’ a really fun thing and I learned a lot of new things that I never thought I could even do. It’s just been a lot of fun.”
Club President Kim Savoie said after the show, “I have to say Operation: Ice Show was a huge success for our club. It represents all the hard work and determination, dedication that all of our skaters have had this season.”
Aubrey Bates, Lead for Star 1-5, said, “I think it went really well. I’m really proud of all the skaters and all the hard work that they put into it. Honestly I think it went really well.”
Kayleigh Bates shared, “This past season has gone really well. We’re in our second year of Skate Ontario’s Club Modernization Pilot Program, which is super great. We’re very thankful to be a part of that. This year we did face a little bit more challenges stepping away from just the basics and moving more into targeted things. Overall, we’re super proud of the skaters and how they did this season.”
“We’re really excited for next season as well,” she added. “Some of us will have an opportunity to continue in our coach’s development with Skate Ontario. There’s more opportunities coming up within that organization as a whole, so we’re just looking forward to implementing that and bringing back a great skating program to the community in the fall.”