Kelowna skaters show exceptional early-season form in Alberta

A Kelowna Skating Club contingent of 12 showed they can more than hold their own against some of the top competitors in Canada at the Wild Rose Invitational in Leduc, Alta. on the weekend.

Seven of the KSC members returned home with medal in the event that serves as one of four Canadian summer competitions in which figure skaters can earn direct berths to the Skate Canada Challenge, rather than through their respective provincial championships.

Emma Bulawka, 15, led the way with a gold-medal performance in the Junior Women’s Group 1, skating two strong programs and recording a season-best score of 143.64.

Kelowna’s Daria Carr finished with the silver medal in the same group, while clubmate Olivia Gran did likewise in Group 2.At the Novice level, 13-year-old Vienna Harwood won the silver medal in Group 2 with a personal-best total score of 111.44. Earlier this summer, Harwood competed at Milwaukee in her first international assignment.

The KSC also demonstrated depth at the younger levels, as 10-year-old Gabrielle Jugnauth struck gold in Juvenile Women under 12 Group 2, while teammate Konstantina Lock won the bronze. Jugnauth’s score of 31.21 was a personal best. Meanwhile, Kelowna’s Emily Sales won the bronze medal within Group 1 of Pre-Novice Women.Next up for the Kelowna Skating Club will be the BC Summer Skate competition, another National Summer Series event.