Figure skaters shine at KZN champs
The event allowed participants to develop themselves, show determination, and prepare for bright futures in figure skating.
This year’s SAFSA KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Provincial Figure Skating Championships were one for the books.
The event at the Galleria Ice Rink in Amanzimtoti on September 5 and 6, brought together athletes from across the country.
Sixty-one skaters took to the ice and showcased their talents. The event allowed participants to develop themselves, show determination, and prepare for bright futures in figure skating.
Representing KZN’s mid-South Coast were Scottburgh’s Cassidy Baker and Umkomaas’s Tate Wilson.
In the Competitive Section, Wilson secured first-place in the Silver Boys U14 category. In the Championship Section, Baker placed fifth in the Intermediate Novice Girls category. The other KZN athletes performed well in the numerous other divisions.
A noteworthy element of the weekend was the iTheku Future Stars Championships, which gave developing skaters valuable competition experience before they enter the formal competitive stream.
Rather than require young athletes to wait until all their formal tests are done, this initiative provides a structured opportunity to step onto the competitive stage early in their journey. Built on the philosophy that “development begins when opportunity is provided,” Future Stars successfully bridges the gap between recreational club skating and competitive figure skating.
SAFSA KZN chairperson Jo Cossavella referred to the Zulu proverb, “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” (a person is a person through other people) as a core expression of Ubuntu, which emphasised that true strength and success are realised through connection, compassion and mutual support.
“Ubuntu reminds us that no athlete succeeds alone, and every skater standing on the ice represents a network of people who have supported, taught, encouraged, and believed in them,” explained Jo.
“That is how we grow a sport – not simply by producing champions, but by building a community that that allows every skater to become one.”
SAFSA KZN looks forward to welcoming South African skaters to future events in the province, and continuing to build a stronger, more inclusive and fiercely competitive future for the sport.
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