The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Local figure skaters are set to take over the Whitney Forum in the evenings. The Flin Flon Skating Club will be holding three registrations Ð one tonight, one next Monday and one the following Monday. Heather Powell, a three-year coach with the club, says she hopes to see a good turnout this year. Last season, the club hovered around the 70-skater mark. "It's always nice to stay the same," said Powell, "but it's always nice to have some new faces." Along with the registrations in September, the skating club will be hosting a Skate Manitoba Day in October. Powell says the day gives all Manitobans a chance to try skating Ð free of charge Ð and see how the programs work. In the past, the coach says there have been people who have registered with the program because of Skate Manitoba Day who otherwise wouldn't have tried it. "It just gives people a chance to come out and try it," said Powell. She adds that sometimes parents don't think their children are ready to join skating, but the Skate Manitoba Day is the perfect way to find out. This year, the club is putting a big push and focus on their younger skaters. The season "won't be quite as busy because we won't be hosting Regionals," Powell said. "So, we'll be able to host more programs for our younger skaters." Powell, along with Alan Church, will be coaching this year's Power Skating program As well, Powell will be on the ice for the CanSkate program Ð as well as a few older skaters who help out. This year, the coach is putting focus on the PreCan Skate program, which gives three- and four-year-olds the opportunity to learn to skate. Powell says the program offers half-hour lessons that give the skaters a chance to get out on the ice and introduce them to the sport. The StarSkate program will be busy this year as there will be many "little ones" joining the older skaters. While Flin Flin isn't hosting any events this year, the skaters will travel to The Pas for their test days and then on to Gillam for Regionals.
