The skaters in the Barrhead Figure Skating Club are preparing to show how far they have progressed this year during the club’s annual Christmas Gala on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Misty Blake, Barrhead Figure Skating Club coach, said so far the skating club has had a very good year and they are anxious to showcase their talents in front of their friends and family.
“Often a lot of the events or competitions our skaters go to are out of town and not a lot of people outside the skating club or their immediate family get a chance to get to see the strides our skaters are making,” she said, adding the Gala gives people that chance.
However, Blake said the club’s Christmas Gala isn’t like the galas figure skating fans may see on TV or the club’s annual ice carnival in March.
She said unlike those types of events, the Christmas Gala is designed to be a much more informal event.
“It’s really just meant to be a fun event, where skaters can just go out, have some fun and show-off their routines and what they have learned,” Blake said, adding even though it’s just for fun the skaters really get revved up for the event. “The skaters are always so excited about the gala and to be able to perform in front of everyone.”
The gala starts at 4 p.m. with performances starting at about 4:30 p.m.
The performance portion of the evening is expected to take about 45 minutes after which the club members will get a chance to Skate with Santa.
Unfortunately due to insurance concerns, the Skate with Santa, or at least the on ice portion of the event, is only open to the members of the Barrhead Figure Skating Club and their families. Blake said friends and family members are invited to stay and watch from the sidelines as Santa skates with club members, adding perhaps the skaters and Santa may be coaxed to the board area for pictures.
After the gala, the club will break for a potluck, before reconvening in the Agrena’s Multipurpose room for their annual awards ceremony.
“The awards are based on last year’s StarSkate performances,” she said. “Throughout their season skaters take tests and at the end of their year or season what they have passed is tallied up and they are awarded points that go towards earning awards. Those awards are always presented the next year.”
The gala, as well as the awards portion of the evening, is open to the public. The gala starts at 4 p.m. with performances starting around 4:30 p.m. The awards portion of the night is slated to begin at about 7 p.m.
