Ice skaters polish up for nationals
The pair have been keeping their fitness levels up 'off ice' at Toti main beach.
Two young Toti figure skaters will pit their skills against the country’s best at the South African National Figure Skating Championships in Cape Town from 10 to 13 May.
Megan Coetzee (10) and Michaela Brown (15) were elated to make the KZN team and are hard at work preparing for nationals, even though they are without a rink to practice on.
Galleria’s ice rink is currently closed for refurbishment, while the Durban rink is only set to open in June or July.
The pair have been keeping their fitness levels up ‘off ice’ at Toti main beach, where their coaches drill them on the sea sand to strengthen their core muscles. They will also leave for Cape Town on 6 May in order to spend time on the ice before the competition gets underway.
Megan, a grade 5 pupil at Athlone Park Primary School, was born in Johannesburg, but her parents relocated back to Toti in 2007.
“I started skating three years ago,” she said. “When I saw the Galleria ice rink, I tried it and enjoyed it. Then I started getting coached by Wendy van der Hammen. I enjoy ice skating so much, I’ve had to give up all other sports to concentrate on it.”
The young skater, who won her juvenile division at the KZN inter-provincials at Galleria in March, is excited about nationals where she will perform the same routine that won her a place in the KZN team.
For Michaela, this will be her fourth appearance at nationals since she started skating in 2006. “I loved figure skating after I watched the movie ‘Ice Princess’ and when I started it, I found it a lot of fun although it is hard work,” she said.
She has been training ‘off ice’ four times a week to give her the best chance of excelling at nationals.
The novice skater is home-schooled in grade 9 and thanks to her coach, Dean Fox, finished third at the inter-provincials.
“I hope to do really well at nationals and finish on the podium. My experience should help me and I don’t think I’ve been disadvantaged by not having a rink to practice on.”
Michaela needs financial help to get to Cape Town. If anyone can assist, contact her mother Ciena on 072-340-1770.
