Skaters set to dazzle at carnival

By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com

Taber Figure Skating Club’s carnival on March 18 at the Taber Arena has historical significance as coaches and skater alike prepare for ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go.’

“This is our 50th year as a member of the Skate Canada family,” said Heidi Hofer, president of the Taber Figure Skating Club. “One of our numbers will be an anniversary number. It’s a celebration, being a pretty big deal being a member for so long.”

The places Taber Figure Skating Club members will be going will be plentiful for spectators, be it outer space, or if you wish to keep it to this planet, the jungle, Antarctica, Scotland, Spain, France, Sweden, Greece, Australia or a good old party in the USA. There are nearly 60 members of the Taber Figure Skating Club that will be performing 19 different routines for spectators, from kids just learning to skate at three years old to adults. There will also be a guest skater in Emma Gross, who skates out of the Calalta Figure Skating Club in Calgary.

“Traveling is expensive, so you got to have a dream so there is a dream performance as well,” said Hofer. “There’s also a gypsy that travels around anywhere she wants to go.”

The skaters have been honing their skills right from the start in September, but have been preparing specifically for the skating carnival since January with the various routines.

“Right from when the carnival ends this year, we start with the ideas (for next year), picking out the music which the coaches do and co-ordinate it with a theme. Each coach knows what age group they will be coaching and skill level they will have and pick routines within that theme,” said Hofer. “When it gets closer to the event, they work out the choreography. The older, more skilled kids get to do the solos and smaller groups.”

Oh, The Places You’ll Go goes Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m. Cost for entry is $5 for general entry, $3 for seniors and $2 for youth under 12 years old. The Taber Figure Skating Club will be giving free tickets out to various elementary schools to take in the skating carnival.

“The costumes are really exciting and the music is fun with a lot of fun numbers this year,” said Hofer. “It’s really the kids’ day to shine. They have worked really hard and they deserve the recognition.”