350 figure skaters from across Ontario to compete in Brockville this weekend
Local athletes are lacing up their skates and getting ready for an action-packed weekend on the ice.
The Marching to Brockville Star 1-4 Figure Skating Competition, hosted by Skate Brockville, is expecting to bring in over 350 young skaters to the Brockville Memorial Centre to showcase their skills and dedication.
From March 14 to 16, hundreds of rising figure skaters from 46 clubs across Ontario will take to the ice to glide, spin, and jump their way to success.
Skate Brockville president Jacqueline Aaron told Brockvilleist, “This is the first time we’ve hosted a Star 1-4 competition in five years. We have been working on the organization for two months to arrange volunteers and planning.”
Skate Brockville coach Sabrina Hinson told Brockvilleist, “Skaters will compete in solo events, element events, ice dance events and the crowd favourite showcase events where skaters pair up with a partner to skate a routine with a theme…and the sole purpose is to entertain an audience.”
The skaters from Skate Brockville have been working on their solos or elements since September 2024 and are ready to take to the ice to show off their progress. Jacqueline’s daughter Abby Aaron is one of the local skaters who will be competing this weekend, along with 10 other skaters from the area. Abby started competing in 2022 when she was nine years old.
Abby, a Star 4 skater, told Brockvilleist, “I am most really looking forward to seeing all of the different clubs that are coming to Brockville and skating my showcase with my friend Danica Dutkewich.”
Abby’s goal for the Marching to Brockville competition is to land her axel in her solo. “I have been working on this for a long time and finally started landing it last Monday. So this is my first competition since landing it.”
Coach Hinson shared, “It’s been a busy season coaching the Skate Brockville skaters. They all work so hard and they are all so excited to perform for a hometown audience this weekend. For some skaters, they have been competing all season and for others, this is their very first competition ever.”
Aaron is grateful for this big opportunity to welcome skaters to the community and show them what Brockville has to offer. “We are also proud to show our skaters’ hard work off to the other clubs and show how our skaters are progressing. It is nice for our skaters to see that small Brockville can host events like this and not just the big cities.”
With affordable $5 spectator admission, families, friends, and fans are encouraged to cheer on the athletes and celebrate the beauty of the sport. Aaron shared, “Please come out and support these local skaters. They are amazing young athletes and work tirelessly each week. They would love to show off their hard work to the community.”