In her third competition of the year, 12-year-old Powell River figure skater Jaya Nouwens achieved the top prize. Out of 11 skaters, Nouwens won in the Star 4 Under 13 category at Skate Canada’s 2018 Super Series in Parksville earlier this month.
“She was very happy,” said Jaya’s mother Wendy Nouwens. “It’s a first gold and her first medal.”
The grade six student has been involved in the local skating program for four years.
Competition can be especially fierce for local skaters as competitors from the Lower Mainland get more ice time and training than skaters in smaller communities, said Wendy.
“It can be a challenge because we’re with the BC coast region and sometimes you’re competing against skaters who skate year-round,” she added. “We only have ice until the end of May and that just started happening. Before we would end in March.”
Jaya practises six hours per week, which is considered full-time, according to Wendy.
“In Vancouver some of those skaters are 10 to 20 hours a week, so it’s stiffer competition,” she said.
The competition in Parksville may have provided a more level playing field as it had more skaters from Vancouver Island and Yukon, said Wendy.
“They’re a bit more on par with us for their ice availability,” she added.
Jaya changed up her routine in her third competition and added a more difficult component that may have boosted her points with the judges.
“She added an axel combo,” said Wendy. “She was pretty nervous about doing it twice in a program because it’s easy to fall.”
The routine also had a 1920s flapper theme and music from the film The Great Gatsby, which seemed to go over well with the audience, added Wendy.
“The judges seemed to really like that,” she said.
