Newsletter

Arctic Edge Newsletter
August 2011

Greetings!

Another great Yukon summer school session has wrapped up. A big thank you to all those who worked hard organizing ice and gym time for our skaters. We had great attendance for all four weeks of school. There was tremendous improvement by all skaters and some amazing dedication shown by our skaters.

Fall Seminar

Arctic Edge will be hosting a fall skating seminar featuring guest coaches Zdenek Pazdirek and Kelly-Lynn Champagne. Our own coach Michelle Gorczyca will be helping out as well. The seminar will be September 2 thru 4. Cost is $125 per skater; registration deadline is August 19, 2011. Forms can be either delivered or e-mailed to Christine Benedek or Val Neufeld. Forms and contact information can be found on our website at www.arcticedge.ca.

Can Skate

It is time to register your can skaters for this up coming season. You can find registration forms at www.arcticedge.ca. Or visit us at the registration fair August 27, 2011 in the Canada Games Centre. Please note that it is now required that all can-skaters wear a CSA approved hockey helmet for all lessons.

Junior Academy formerly Jumpstart

This year jump-start has been changed to Early Academy. The change was made to help skaters who are ready to begin preparation to figure skating continue to develop their skills through figure skating and to get a better orientation to the sport of figure skating. Early Academy skaters will participate in at least one can skate lesson per week and they will also participate in a one half hour group lesson and one 45 minute group lesson, one of which is held on the same ice as junior StarSkate and the second on the Saturday CanSkate time which has typically been a low enrolment time. They will have a good chance to use their speed and have space to attempt figure skating manoeuvres during those times.

Fire at CGC and confirmation of fall ice times

Due to the fire at the CGC early in the summer the city is not able to give confirmation of ice times for the club at this date. We are told we will have confirmation after August 22. As soon as we have confirmation notice, we will let inform your. September ice for Star Skaters will be held at Takhini Arena.

Star Skate

Registration forms for both Junior and Senior Star Skaters will available on www.arcticedge.ca the week of August 22 as soon as ice time is confirmed. Due to lack of funds and limited numbers of skaters, we will be returning to two StarSkate groups rather than three. The groups will be split by skating qualification. The junior program will include skaters at the preliminary freestyle level or lower and the senior program will include skaters who have passed the Junior Bronze test level.

Fees and Fund Raising

Our revenues from bingo to continue decline. Ice fees continue to rise. While we have been successful in increasing grant funding for additional program offerings we continue to struggle financially. As a result, the club has been forced to use its reserve funds to cover ice costs for the past few years and they have now been depleted. As a result, you will notice a significant increase in registration fees this year. While these fees are in line with what you will pay for other sports in our community and lower than many clubs elsewhere, Yukoners have been used to lower fees.