Maritimers will have the opportunity to catch a rare glimpse of the best figure skaters in the world as they hit the ice for 2013 Skate Canada International in Saint John this weekend.
Some students had the opportunity to see the skaters put in some practice time on Thursday, inspiring some to dream of lacing up their own skates.
“I think it would be really hard to do that,” says one student. “I can’t believe I’m here. I hope someday I’m going to be doing this too.”
“I hope someday I can be like that. I couldn’t imagine being thrown in the air like that, it is awesome,” says another.
The skaters say they are looking forward to a weekend of intense competition.
“We want to win,” says skater Meagan Duhame. “We want to set new personal best scores. We set new personal bests at the World Championships in London and our goal is to up that and start the season better.”
Competition begins Friday at the 2013 Skate Canada International, with skaters taking the ice for the short programs in pairs, ice dance, men’s and women’s.
“We feel incredibly lucky, being able to host this event three times in their 40 year history. It puts the city back on the map again. The hotels are full, the restaurants are full,” says Mike Caddell, general manager of Harbour Station.
In addition to skating fans, the event has drawn media from across the globe.
“We have over 90 journalists accredited from all over the world. We have fans from all over the world. We will have live TV coverage going throughout the world, especially Asia,” says organizing committee co-chair Cynthia Benson.
With skaters such as three-time world champion Patrick Chan and five-time Canadian champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in town, fans can hardly contain their excitement.
“It is my home and I can actually go and see professional skaters,” says one young fan.
Skate Canada events go all weekend and wrap up with an exhibition gala Sunday afternoon.
TSN and CTV will have full coverage of the event this weekend.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron
