Bow Island Skating season a success

Commentator/Courier Photo by Brylan Span Stars: Members of the StarSkate level perform “Mario and Luigi”.

By Brylan Span
Commentator/Courier

The Bow Island Figure Skating Program wrapped up its year on March 16 with their “Variety Show” year end carnival.

Amanda Conquergood, who has been coaching figure skating for 11 years in Bow Island and 16 years in total, reflected on the carnival. 

“I feel like the carnival went very well. We had 36 skaters in the carnival and some new families this year.”

It was a packed house in the Bow Island Servus Community Arena, with countless family, friends, and members of the community in attendance.

“It was a great crowd turn out,” said Conquergood. “I am always happy to see the rink full with community members coming out to support their local skaters.”

Conquergood made it clear that “the carnival would not have gone as smooth as it did without my skating club board’s contributions, the parents, my volunteers on and off the ice, and the arena staff. It takes many hands to pull it all together.”

The passion that Conquergood has for coaching skaters has been recognized by those familiar with the program, as she recently received an award that she was nominated for by the Bow Island Skating Board and was chosen by Skate Canada to receive. The 2024 South Region Volunteer Coach Award was given to Conquergood, for going above and beyond on ice duties as a coach.

“My favourite part of being a coach is truly watching a skater’s face light up when they master a skill, whether they just started working on it or if it has been a tricky skill they have been trying to master for awhile,” said Conquergood. “Watching the skaters have fun, practicing hard and growing out on the ice is very rewarding for me.”

The help of more experienced, older skaters was a big help for the program this year. 

“I would like to highlight how fortunate I was this year to have so many of my StarSkaters available to help my CanSkate program run smoothly,” said Conquergood. “A handful of the same girls were out every week with me, and super thankful for them and their dedication.”

With the great success that this skating year has brought to the program, Conquergood has already began looking forward to next season.

“We grew substantially as a club this year and I hope to see all our skaters back, and more next season,” said Conquergood. “We offer learn to skate programs on a competitive and non competitive route, and next season we will have quite a few skaters who are ready to move up to the next level offering more tricks and skills for those individuals.”