By: Pj Kwong

There’s a lot going on this weekend in the middle of the country. I’m talking about the Skate Canada 2024/2025 Challenge event which will see about 150 athletes vying for spots at the upcoming 2025 Skate Canada National Championships taking place in Laval, PQ in mid-January. The athletes qualified for Winnipeg’s Junior and Senior competitions by advancing through their own province’s sectional championships.

Hetty Shi

For Skate Ontario, there is a lot to celebrate as 57 athletes, or over a third of the entries, are set to take the ice including former Senior National Men’s Champion Roman Sadovsky, reigning Junior Pair Champions Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov and 2024 Women’s Challenge bronze medallist Hetty Shi.

“I am incredibly proud of all the athletes who are stepping up to compete at this pivotal qualifying event. Their dedication, hard work, and perseverance have brought them to this moment, and it’s inspiring to see them give their all in pursuit of their goals,” said Lisa Alexander, Skate Ontario’s Executive Director. “Competing at this event is a testament to the strength, passion, and resilience of our athletes. We all wish them the best of luck as they continue to push the boundaries of their potential.”

Ava Kemp/Yonatan Elizarov

For those who don’t know, the figure skating season is long and many of the skaters have already been competing since the summer, not to mention the selection of music and choreography taking place in the Spring.

For skating fans in Winnipeg, admission is free. For those fans looking to enjoy the event online, head to Skate Canada’s website and check out their event page for the link.

We are on the ground in Winnipeg so follow us @skateontario on your favourite social media platform to stay up to date with what’s happening here through exclusive content.

As always, we are #SkateOntarioProud of all our athletes!