Rusnak makes the WO Development Team
Article content
It doesn't matter how hot it gets this summer, Tillsonburg Skating Club's Aalanna Ramona Rusnak will have a chance to cool down. The 10-year-old figure skater is on the ice five days a week, training at the Colin Campbell Community Arena.
A member of the WO Development Team, Rusnak recently attended the May 21st one-day development seminar. To be selected to the team, skaters accumulated points over three WO Development competitions in the 2014-15 season. A total of 32 (including singles, dance and pairs) skaters were chosen.
Skating at Level 2, Rusnak had won a gold medal at the John McKay Memorial in Tillsonburg (Nov. 22-23), another gold at the Charles Dover Memorial in Grimsby (Jan. 9-11), and finished with silver at the Dennis Silverthorne Memorial in Woodstock (Feb. 6-8).
"I improved all of my jumps, all my doubles and my axel, and my spins, and my skating overall," said Rusnak, who showed steady improvement scoring 14.88 in Tillsonburg, 16.67 in Grimsby and 17.50 in Woodstock.
Coached by Penny Jelsma, Rusnak will continue skating through the summer preparing her new freeskate program for the 2015-16 pre-juvenile season, the first level for WO Sectionals, which begins with her first competition in August.
"And I'm probably going to be competing in Level 3 (Development), too."
Her new program has more doubles, including the double salchow from Level 2.
"I still have my double sal, and I have axel-double loop, and I also have a double loop."
About the Development Team
The Development Team is made up of skaters in singles, dance and pairs (Level 1–3) who have been selected through an evaluation process that includes competing in three designated competitions over the winter season and collecting points for their protocol and evaluations at each competition.
Written report cards are given at each event with an interview on the skater's performance from a competitive skating evaluator. For Singles Skaters, the program is directed to skaters ages 6-11 years that are potentially future competitive skaters.
Parents and coaches of Development Team skaters are invited with the skaters to participate in a special spring seminar which took place on May 21 where both on-ice and off-ice techniques were instructed.
Program Goals
- To provide enriched competitive experiences for young skaters in WO.
- To provide assistance to young skaters, their parents and coaches with learning opportunities to aid in skaters’ competitive development.
- To provide feedback and guidance for future development to the skaters.
- To provide a seminar for skaters who are registered in the program.