The 2022 Skate Saskatchewan Canada Winter Games Staging Camp held at the Event Centre on December 29th was organized for Saskatchewan skaters who will be participating in the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.
“This is a staging camp for our skaters that are going through to the Canada Winter Games,” said Neil Tymoruski, skating coach from Saskatoon. “I think everybody’s doing really good and are enthusiastic.”
He says two pre-novice ladies, two pre-novice men and a pre-novice pair team, plus alternate female skaters are being selected. This camp is to prepare the skaters for the actual games that will be held at the end of Feb. in Prince Edward Island. Tymoruski is trying to get some team spirit going as the kids get to know each other better, as well them getting some feedback from the judges.
“I love skating. It’s a great opportunity coming here,” Pre-Novice skater Aya Burrell said.
She says she loves this camp, and it is helping her to hang out with friends and get to know her team better. She wants more feedback from the judges to help her excel forward.
“The camp is to help us skaters learn for competitions like Saskatchewan Winter Games and Canada Winter Games,” Saskatoon Pre-Novice skater Azizza Kowalchuk said. She says the camp helps them to become independent on their own and fix their mistakes to improve themselves. She also says this program is probably the cleanest and most finesse program one can possibly have so that their spins become fast and strong.
“I also have some things to work on and it’s good to have something to work on because it helps everyone to learn,” she said.
“I am really excited for the team, and I heard the closing ceremony is quite the show.,” 2018 Pre-Juvenile (U11) gold medal, 2022 Pre-Novice Men’s gold medal and 2023 Pre-Novice Saskatchewan Winter Games competitor Eric Swalm from Moose Jaw said.
He says that the team will go there at the beginning of March and is hoping to place around mid-pack during the competition.
Apart from these participants, there are also Rowan Gray (Pre-Novice) and Sydney Schultz (Pre-Novice) from single skating and Julia Shindle & Stefan Lotz (Pre-Novice), Caidence Derenisky & Raine Eber (Senior) and Ashlyn Schmitz & Tristan Taylor (Junior) participating in pairs and representing Saskatchewan.
