The largest group ever from the Cochrane Skating Club has advanced to this weekend's StarSkate Provincials in Tsuut'ina.
The hard work and dedication of Bentley and Piper Halliday, June Gartner, Claire Moore, Atera Kirkpatrick, Megan Lewis-Moore, and Evalea Foley have been rewarded with an appearance at provincials, many for the first time.
Karen Ellison, who coaches five of the skaters and the Cochrane director for StarSkate, says to qualify they competed in two Alberta-based competitions. There's a cap on how many skaters advance in each event and those with the highest scores are selected.
Evalea Foley won a bronze medal in the U13 Star 5 freestyle event in her first appearance at provincials last year. She's now competing in Star 6 free skate.
Atera Kirkpatrick has appeared in four previous provincials and two Alberta Winter Games and is competing in both Star 6 free skate and Star 7 artistic.
Piper is making her second appearance at provincials and is competing in Star 5 artistic.
Bentley and June Gartner are both making their first appearances and are competing in Star 5 free skate.
Claire Moore is making her first appearance and is performing in Star 5 artistic.
Provincials are also new to Megan Lewis-Moore, who is competing in both Star 5 U13 free skate and Star 6-7 solo dance.
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Lynanne Bjerke, who coaches two of the skaters, says all the skaters worked very hard to reach this point.
"I think they'll do a great job presenting for the club."
Typically, coaches provide a few words of advice to relax and inspire the skaters their performances.
"The main thing I always say to them is that they're trained and they're ready, and they simply need to let go and let their training take over," says Ellison.
"I breathe with them to keep them calm, and I try to make it light," says Bjerke. "You don't want them to be too stressed right before they go out. I give them some compliments, and tell them they can do it."