Team Okanagan enjoys success in Germany, earning 7 medals

Okanagan’s adult figure skaters brought home seven medals at the ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition held in Oberstdorf, Germany, from May 14 to 18.

Japan’s legendary Olympian Midori Ito headlined this year’s competition, while B.C.’s Gary Beacom — a 1984 Olympian — skated to a new all-time record of 107.84 points in the Masters Elite III Free Skating category.

There were 68 Canadians among the 771 skaters representing 34 ISU member countries. Canada had a record number of skaters this year, bringing home 24 medals with 13 from B.C.

Team Okanagan consists of members from West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country who range from 46 to 77.

Donna Bergvinson, who skates out of the Mount Boucherie Skating Club, struck gold with a personal-best score of 27.24 in the Bronze Ladies IV Free Skate event consisting of 16 skaters. She also skated to second place in the Bronze Ladies IV Artistic event.

Kelowna Skating Club’s, Isabella Ciocoiu received a silver medal in the Silver Ladies III Artistic event and a bronze medal in the Silver Ladies III Free Skating event.

In the Silver Ladies IV Artistic and Free Skating events, Maureen Barnes placed third in both.

Wendy Ord of Winfield won a bronze medal in the Bronze Ladies III Free Skating event and placed sixth in the Bronze Ladies III Artistic event.

Corinne Macasso, skating out of Mount Boucherie, finished 19th out of 29 skaters in the Silver Artistic III category.

The remaining members of the Winfield Skating Club include Henrietta Penney, fourth in the Bronze Ladies V Artistic event; Lesley Ricci, 11th in the Silver Ladies III Artistic and 10th in the Silver Ladies III Free Skating; and Karen Smith, who finished a close fifth in the Gold Ladies II Free Skating event and also fifth in the Gold Ladies II Artistic event.

This marked the 14th year for this well regarded ISU competition open to adult skaters between the ages of 28 to 80 from around the world. The competition is divided into five age classes I to V consisting of 10-year increments.

The event also included synchronized skating as well as free skating, artistic free skating, pairs free skating, pairs artistic, pattern ice dance, free dance and short dance.

For the third consecutive year, Vancouver will play host to the North American edition of the ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition. This event will be held at the Canlan Ice Sports Burnaby 8-Rinks Arena from Oct. 10-13, 2018.

Team Okanagan will be featured in a CBC documentary with an expected release of January 2019. The trailer is available at www.totheworlds.ca.