Over 130 figure skaters from across northern B.C. are putting their routines to the test in Vanderhoof’s arena this weekend.
From Dec. 2 to 4, the Nechako Figure Skating Club will be hosting a Cariboo North Central regional competition, titled Kla-How-Ya, for the first time in seven years.
The world Kla-How-Ya, meaning “welcome” in indigenous languages, was also used as the name of Vanderhoof-hosted competitions in the past, said competition chair Jody Pedersen.
Skaters, varying in age from Grade 1 to 12 and hailing from as far as Williams Lake and Kitimat, will be competing in age categories as well as events, such as bronze and gold interpretive and team elements.
A jamboree for young entry-level skaters will kick off the weekend event on Friday morning at 8 a.m., and the competition ends on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Eight-year-old Dyllan Beal, who has been skating for two and a half years, will be competing in the Star 2 Quad Threat category.
Practising two to four times a week since mid-September, she’s excited — and “just a little bit nervous” — about the upcoming event, she said.
Her favourite move is the salchow jump.
Six-year-old Kinsley Beal, in her second year of skating, training went well this year and is excited for the event, she said. She will be competing in the individual Star 1 Quad Threat category.
Nechako Figure Skating Club’s annual Christmas ice show will take place in the following week on Dec. 10.