Michael Nelson and Sophie Potvin-Begin have been skating together as a pair for four seasons. But considering he’s 14 and she’s just 10, bringing home an all-Ontario first-place finish is no small feat.
The local duo returned home from the 2008 Trillium STARSkate Championships in Waterloo last week having captured top spot in the Introductory Pairs event—beating out 11 other impressive teams in the process.
At an age when most kids are at home playing video games, the pair qualified for the event at the Festival of Stars in Sault Ste. Marie earlier in the year.
But it’s not the first time that Nelson and Potvin-Begin have made the trip to the all-Ontario championships; this is the third time they’ve competed there.
Their first trip came when Potvin-Begin was only eight. In 2006, she and Nelson finished in fifth place at Waterloo.
They improved on their performance in 2007 when they came away with the third-place prize. But this year saw them reach the top of the category.
“After finishing third last year, I wanted nothing else than the gold for them,” said a thrilled Marie-Josee Potvin, their coach.
“They skated very well; almost a perfect program,” she enthused.
Nelson also took part in the Senior Bronze men’s singles event, capturing fourth place. He had qualified for the all-Ontario event following a first-place performance in Sault Ste Marie.
Next up for the pair will be the Border Skating Club’s annual ice show at the end of the month. “Disney Magic” will be held March 29-30 at the Ice for Kids Arena.
Following the ice show, Nelson and Potvin-Begin already have made their summer plans—the two will head off for another trip to the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.
They will spend four weeks training at the 16-acre campus that has produced some of the top figure skaters in Canada (Taylor Latimer of Emo attends the school, as well).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
