BALMERTOWN -- Balmertown’s Skating Club will be having their annual year end performance on April 9 with special guest’s Olympian skaters Eric Radford and Vanessa James. This year’s theme is Trip to the Tropics.
The skate club hasn’t had a year-end show for the last two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a hard hit the skaters, as they also haven’t been able to go to their usual skating competitions. This year, they are hoping to begin a return to a normal season.
Earlier this year, the skaters were even able to participate in the Stoney Mountain skating competition, where some skaters won gold, silver and copper medals.
“I was just so happy to go out and see them skate again,” says coach Debra Geary.
The Balmertown Figure Skating Club currently has about 70 members registered.
Eric Radford is originally from Balmertown and started skating in the Balmertown skate club when he was eight years old. His former skating coach, and supporter, Geary is still coaching the club today.
Radford has attended the world Olympics three times. He had won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and a silver medal in 2014. His new skating partner Vanessa James has attended four times; winning a bronze medal in 2018, and a silver medal in 2014. The pair won bronze medals at the Beijing Olympics in February this year.
The pair has only been skating together for one year, after meeting when they were both in Battle of the Blades.
Before leaving for Beijing, Geary hosted a Zoom call with the pair to wish them luck. She had invited all of the area’s schools to be there. Radford’s brother and family, who still live in the area, were also able to attend.
“It’s great for him to be able to connect with kids, to show them no matter what or where you’re from, you can have those big dreams,” says Geary.
Geary is planning to do a meet and greet with Radford and James on Thursday, April 7 at the Evolution Recreation Centre in Balmertown.
The Trip to the Tropics year end carnival will have two showings, one at 1 p.m. and one at 6 p.m. tickets are available now for purchase online at www.balmertownskatingclub.ticketspice.com
