“Skating has been such a huge part of my life, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”

 

Program: Varsity – Singles & Synchro
Skating university and town: Brock University, St. Catharines
Previous skating club and town: Scarboro Figure Skating Club, Scarborough

After eight years of competitive ice dancing, including a Grand Prix in Estonia, Katie Desveaux decided to move on. “I was at the point where I was graduating Grade 12 and I had a decision to make.  I decided to move on and peruse my education. I was passionate about business and sport so the Sport Management program at Brock was the best program for me! Once I decided to go to Brock, I saw that they had a skating team and I wanted to stay physically active in a sport I love and meet more people on campus and thought, ‘What better way to do that than on a Varsity team?’

“My favourite moment of my varsity career is when I won Female Athlete of the Year for Brock and my coach won Coach of the Year at the 2017 athletic banquet,” says Katie. “It was such an honor to be nominated and to win and be the first ever Figure Skater at Brock to win this award – such an amazing feeling!”

Katie trains four days a week on-ice – one of which is reserved for synchro, because Katie explained, “In varsity skating you do both individual and synchro.”

Before she joined Varsity, Katie attended a lot of training camps. “I attended many training camps which included different on-ice and off-ice components, and feedback that helped improve our fitness and programs. It was really helpful,” says Katie, “and interesting to learn from many different coaches, specialist and judges.  They were a lot of fun, and a great opportunity to bond with other skaters outside of a competitive environment.”

Katie previously skated for the Scarboro Figure Skating Club and she ended up competing against some of the friends she grew up skating with.

“My advice for new and upcoming skaters would be to never hold back and you have nothing to lose by trying that harder jump or spin. Show up to every practice with an open mind and determination but most of all have fun!”