Local skaters take the ice in Valleyfield

The Kahnawake Figure Skating Club (KFSC) is only participating in two external competitions this year, but they are making the most of it.

Three skaters from KFSC took part in the South-West Regionals in Valleyfield over the weekend - with it being the first-ever event for two of its skaters.

“Overall, it was a very good competition,” said Donna Meany Griffith, KFSC’s head coach. “For Teioronhiathe:ton McComber and Ienonwine Printup, this was their first competition, so they were a little nervous but once they were on the ice, the nerves disappeared.”

In figure skating events like this one, each skater is evaluated on numerous techniques, and once that is tabulated, they are given an overall medal evaluation.

McComber, KFSC’s youngest competitor in Valleyfield, received an overall evaluation of silver. She is in the CanSkate program, which helps beginning skaters learn in a supportive environment, and has six stages - or categories - that ascend in difficulty. McComber, for instance, competed in Stage 4, which includes spins and jumps.

Printup is in STAR Skate, which also has categories going from one to six. Printup is in STAR 1 and was evaluated silver as well.

The third skater, the one with the most experience by far, was Kaylani Delormier, who is in STAR 2 and has been doing figure skating for five years now.

Delormier received an evaluation of bronze and is hoping to do better at the Vaudreuil Invitational in early March.

“I tried my hardest,” said Delormier. “I just do the best I can, to the best of my abilities, because I can’t go beyond that.”

She said that some of her proudest moments in Valleyfield came when she was able to execute two specific moves, skill-intensive moves.

The first was the six spin.

“The six spin is something I was very proud of, because usually I fall down trying to come back up because I lean too far the back of my blade,” said Delormier, who did not fall doing it this time.

The second was a backspin, done by another competitor.

“When I saw her do that back spin, I was like, ‘Holy moly, I want to do it like that,’” said Delormier. “I can do a backspin, but not as good as her usually. But this time, I did!”

Although she is quite experienced at this point, the Regionals did have one first for Delormier, according to Griffith.

“This was the first competition that Kaylani skated to music doing her own solo. It was similar to what you see on television,” said Griffith. “She was a little nervous, but once her music began this was her time to shine.”

“Due to the constant support of my friends and family, I was able to get through the fear of competing, and I did what I could do, and that’s all what matters,” said Delormier, for her part.

Kaylani’s grandparents, Laurie Delormier and Alan Beauvais, are usually in the stands to watch their granddaughter and cheer her and the club on.

“She impressed me, she always does. I’ve been watching her over the years, I’m almost at every practice, and I see the improvement,” said Beauvais.

“Donna is a really good coach. We’re damn lucky to have her and the other coaches that we have. It makes a big difference.”

Griffith said that the focus for them now will be to iron out her program before the Vaudreuil Invitational to improve any little detail that could give her a better evaluation there.

As for the reason the club will only be participating in two external competitions this year, Griffith said that the pandemic is to blame.

“It has taken a while since the long COVID break for the club and skaters to prepare for competing again,” said Griffith. But, slowly and surely, they are getting back into the swing of things.

[email protected]