Joey Payeur
The Border Skating Club has pulled off a major coup in securing the appearance of one of Canada’s brightest young figure skaters for this year’s ice show.
Club president Anne Renaud officially announced yesterday that 2014 Olympic silver-medalist Kaetlyn Osmond will take part in the two-day event in April.
“This year, Kaetlyn is only doing two shows in her hometown, one show in southern Ontario where her choreographer is from, and two shows in Edmonton where she trains—and us,” a thrilled Renaud enthused.
“Her choreographer said in an earlier interview for the choreographer’s hometown to be able to get her is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and now we’re going to get her, too.”
Osmond will skate two routines in both the April 11 show at 7 p.m. and the April 12 performance at 2 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
She also will hold two on-ice seminars for senior-level club skaters earlier on the first day.
As well, Osmond will be available for autographs and pictures on both show days, though details of when that will occur still are being ironed out.
“Our skaters hear about people like Kaetlyn and Jeffrey Buttle, and Kurt Browning and the team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, and see them on TV,” noted club public relations director Amy Wilson-Hands.
“But to get to see someone like Kaetlyn up close and actually learn right from her, to have her knowledge being given in a club the size of Fort Frances’, is a rare occurrence.”
Osmond was part of the Canadian group of skaters that finished second in the inaugural edition of the team skating event at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia last year.
The 19-year-old from Marystown, Nfld. suffered a broken foot this past September, which kept her off the ice until December and eliminated any chance of her competing in this season’s national and world championships.
“We figured with her not competing this season that it would be a good year to try and get her [for the ice show],” Renaud explained.
A connection between the Border Skating Club and Osmond was formed 13 months ago when Osmond responded to the club’s online request of several high-profile skaters to throw their support behind its bid to win the grand prize in the “TbayTel for Good” contest.
“Kaetlyn retweeted our request to her social media followers a few times . . . it was amazing,” recalled Renaud.
The local club wind up finishing first in the online voting contest to earn $5,000, which was put towards new sound systems in both the Ice For Kids Arena and the ‘52 Canadians Arena, as well as a new portable sound system.
Tickets for the ice show will go on sale in the next few weeks, with the skaters and their families being allowed first crack at them before they are opened to the general public.
“I think we may have the best crowd we’ve ever had and I would advise people to get their tickets early,” stressed Wilson-Hands.
