Hampole strengthens approach to Skate Canada Challenge

Justin Hampole knows the drill. He went through it last year in his first time cut the ice at the Skate Canada Challenge when he was still in the novice men’s class.

Now 16, the nine-year veteran of the Northern B.C. Centre for Skating is feeling physically stronger, mentally tougher, and emotionally ready to take a serious run at being one of the best figure skaters in the country.

Today in Pierrefonds, Que., Hampole will be one of 28 skaters in the junior men’s short program trying to impress the judgel to try advance to the 2018 Canadian Tire national figure skating championships, Jan. 8-14 in Vancouver.

Only the top 18 will make the cut and Hampole has no reason to doubt he will be part of that group once the free skate session is over on Sunday.

“I’m feeling really confident, I came off of practice earlier today and it went really well,” said Hampole. “It feels good going into this competition with a few (national events) under my belt and I’m just super-excited about tomorrow. I’m ready for it.”

Last year as a novice skater, Hampole stepped up his program to add several tough elements but his lack of endurance, especially while skating long programs, proved his downfall. He still skated well enough to qualify for the Skate Canada Challenge and made his first appearance at the national championships in Ottawa, finishing 14th out of 18, but Hampole knew if he wanted to continue to improve, he’d have to make his body stronger. So he got serious about pumping iron.

“I’ve been spending lots of time with the Engage Sport North school at the university in the weight room and doing cardio classes and that’s definitely helped with my stamina and endurance and my overall fitness and my mental fitness is just starting to peak right now,” said Hampole.

“It comes down to being a trained athlete and knowing what to do when you’re under the spotlight and that’s changed in my skating compared to last year. You definitely feel a lot of pressure but you just have to let go and enjoy the moment and trust what you’ve been working on all year and enjoy it.”

Hampole worked out the bugs in a revamped program that added more triple jumps and spent the off-season getting used to putting all those elements together. He had a great summer, finishing second overall in the six-event Pond to Podium B.C. Summer Skate series.

But two weeks ago at the B.C./Yukon Section championships in Parksville, he placed a disappointing fourth. Hampered by a back issue that cut into his training in the weeks leading up to that event, the injury didn’t help, but it wasn’t the only thing ailing him. His club coaches, Andrea Ludditt and Rory Allen recognized there were adjustments needed in his program before Hampole left for Montreal.