Figure Skaters Going to Quebec Winter Games

“They’ve already done great,” said Zoe Lodge, the coach of David Alcoloumbra, 16, his brother Sasha, 14, Astrid Fusiller, 10, and Robyn Gathercole, 11. “Whatever they do at the Games is an added bonus. They really exceeded my expectations.”

For David, a skater in the Novice category, it will be his first Winter Games. At the sectionals held last October, he came 16th. However, he expressed confidence that he’ll be able to move up to the single-digits against the same competitors. “I’ll have to keep working hard on my triple jumps and my choreographer.” (The biannual sporting event will take place this year in Blainville from March 2 to 10 during school break).

His brother Sasha will participate already in his third Games. In the pre-Novice category, he finished in 11th place in the sectionals, but came fourth at a meet last summer before he suffered a hip injury. “I then learned how to train properly. Now I’m confident that I’ll be fourth again or better.”

It’s also the first Games for Astrid who’s in the Juvenile class. (For the Michel-Proulx Memorial Competition to be held a week later, she’ll be in the pre-Juvenile category). At the sectionals, she came fourth. “It would be nice to get a medal this time.”

Robyn will be in the Junior Bronze category for the Michel-Proulx competition in the Star Skate (non-competitive) stream. In another provincial meet last year, she won a silver medal. For that competition, she would like to win another medal.

This year, the local Figure Skating Club has about 400 members. “It has a very good atmosphere. Everyone works together and helps each other out,” said Lodge, a former member of the Quebec team and a Canada Games Bronze medallist.

Unfortunately, his 19-year-old partner re-sprained her ankle in practice just a couple of weeks before the mid-January Skate Canada competition. However, through taping and extensive physio-therapy, Bouchard was able to perform at the practice.

During the actual official competition, they were able to complete the short and long programs quite successfully. “Not knowing whether we would even skate or not, we wound up with personal bests.” They finished in 13th place.

At the closing banquet for all of the skaters, Eden and Bouchard won the HomeSense Personal Best Award for best improvement in that area over last year. For next year’s meet, he expressed hope that they will be able to do just as well.