Highlights from the Skate Ontario Annual General Meeting

Please click here to read a document summarizing key points from the 2009 AGM.

2009 Provincial Training Camp

The 2009 Provincial Training Camp takes place from July 3rd - 5th in Waterloo, Ontario. Skaters from across Ontario will join together to train and be inspired for the upcoming competitive season.

Important Documents for all participants:

- Letter to all participants (PDF), including information on directions, accommodations, meals and a special workshop opportunity for parents
- Training camp groups and schedules (PDF; Revised June 26th) .

We're on Facebook and Twitter - Join Us!

Come connect with us and the skating community of Ontario by joining our facebook page or following us on twitter. We'll be tweeting about the latest news and events on twitter - starting with some live updates from the Provincial Training Camp next weekend. On facebook we can join together to share happenings throughout Ontario - don't be shy to post on our wall, share pictures or videos to let us know what is happening in your section, region or club!

Don't worry, for those of you who do not use facebook or twitter, the website is not going anywhere and we will continue to post all the latest news here as well. Stay tuned for a brand new redesigned SkateOntario.org in the near future.

Skate Ontario and COS Coaches Technical Seminar

Skate Ontario and Skate Canada - Central Ontario are hosting a technical seminar for coaches on July 20th, 2009. It takes place from 4 to 9 pm at the BMO Institute for Learning in Toronto. Facilitators Louis Stong and Ted Barton will bring updates from the ISU Congress, discuss updates to levels and a new approach to teaching the five program components.

For further information and to register, visit the COS website.

Long Term Athlete Development

LTAD focuses on the general framework of athlete development with special reference to growth, maturation and development, trainability, and sport system alignment and integration. It is a 7-stage Canadian model of LTAD, a training, competition, and recovery program based on developmental age — the maturation level of an individual — rather than chronological age. It is athlete centred, coach driven, and administration, sport science, and sponsor supported. Athletes who progress through LTAD experience training and competition in programs that consider their biological and training ages in creating periodized plans specific to their development needs. (Source: Canadian Sport for Life)

Learn More:

• Read more about LTAD at the Canadian Sport for Life website.
• Skate Canada Members - Read more about Skate Canada's implementation of a figure skating specific LTAD model by logging into the "members only" section at SkateCanada.ca

NEXXICE wins World Synchronized Skating Championships

Skate Ontario congratulates the NEXXICE synchronized skating team for their win at the 2009 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. The team is from the Burlington Skating Club and is coached by Shelley Barnett. Watch their spectacular free program, which earned them 143.46 points and first place, below:

Black ice, coached by Cathy Dalton out of the Upper Canada North York Skating Club, also had an excellent showing, finishing 5th of 23 teams.

Congratulations to both teams for an excellent season!

Skate Ontario extends congratulations to the following award recipients who were recognized for their achievements in 2008, at the Ontario Sports Awards in Mississauga, on March 26, 2009:

Mary Burdon

Recipient of the Syl Apps Special Achievement Award for her contributions to the development of sport in the Province. Mary has been a volunteer and judge for over 50 years in singles, pairs, dance and synchronized skating.  She is also the recipient of the (national) Elizabeth Swann Award which was presented in recognition of her involvement of the development of synchronized skating in Western Ontario.

Lee Barkell

Top 3  Finalist as the Male Coach of the Year.  As a well being a well -respected national and international coach, Lee’s most recent accomplishments in 2008 include being the coach of  the 2008 World Champion, Jeffrey Buttle and 2008 Canadian Pairs Champions Annabelle Langois and Cody Hay; as well as Canadian Junior Pair Champions. Monica Pisotta and Michael Stewart.  Lee has coached at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games as well as 16 consecutive World Figure Skating Championships.

Shelley Barnett

Top three finalist as the Female Coach of the Year. Shelley coached the Nexxice, Synchronized Skating Team to two consecutive Canadian Senior Championships in 2007 and 2008 and then onto the Bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships. In 2008, Shelley was the recipient of the Petro Canada Coaching Award of Excellence for the second year consecutive year.

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir

Top three finalist for Team of the Year. Tessa and Scott have quickly established themselves nationally and internationally as a strong creative force.  In 2008, Tessa and Scott won the dance event at the Canadian Championships, as well as Four Continents Championships and then went on to win the Silver medal at the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships.