Carolyn Grant
Only two skaters will represent the Kootenay Zone at the BC Winter Games in Penticton later this month. They are Geneve Miller from the Cranbrook Skating Club and Bianca Marina from Kimberley's North Star Skaters.
Geneve, 15, will skate in the Pre-Novice category and Bianca, 13, in the Juvenile. They qualified for the games at Sections in Coquitlam earlier this year.
Both girls are as excited as they could be about going to their first BC Winter Games. They are not sure what to expect, but are working as hard as they can in the run up to the Games to polish their jumps, fine tune their programs and be ready for the competition.
"My best jump is a double flip," said Bianca. "I'm working on a double axel, which is the most difficult double. I'm looking forward to the experience at the BC Winter Games and meeting other skaters."
Geneve says her best jump is the double Lutz.
"It's my first BC Games. I'm just looking forward to the experience and being around a lot of skaters. And the competition."
Both girls acknowledge that the toughest competition will come out of the coast and Kelowna, where they have access to year round ice.
"I have competed against some of them at Sectionals," Geneve said. "The biggest competition comes from the big clubs. I would be happy with a personal best."
Bianca also wants to beat her best score, and of course stay on her feet for the whole program.
In the Juvenile category, skaters only skate one program in competition. In Pre Novice, it's two. Geneve is on the ice five days a week training before the Games. Bianca skates Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and has added an extra Tuesday session.
Bianca and Geneve will be accompanied to the Games by Lorinda Nelson, the head coach of the Cranbrook Skating Club.
The BC Winter Games begin on February 25 and run through to February 28, 2016.