Emily Walzak remembers what prompted her to look at figure skating as an athletic endeavour.

B次元官网网址淚 got inspired by watching the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 liked the ice dancing, especially (CanadaB次元官网网址檚) Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.B次元官网网址�

Walzak, 25, who only picked up the sport four years ago, skates at this weekB次元官网网址檚 B.C. Winter Games in Penticton in the Level 3 womenB次元官网网址檚 freeskate event of the Special Olympics category.

The View Royal resident has been a fast learner, having taken lessons for two only years before diving into competition.

She took a silver medal at the Special Olympics provincial games in Kamloops last year and finished fifth in the Canada Winter Games in Prince George.

B次元官网网址淢y main goal is always to skate better than I did the time before,B次元官网网址� she said.

That last competition would be the Vancouver Island Regional Championships at The Q Centre, where Walzak earned another silver medal.

This week sheB次元官网网址檒l skate to music from the Romeo and Juliet ballet, and she expects to have a shot at doing well again.

She admits that sheB次元官网网址檒l probably feel nervous stepping on the ice, but said, B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 more adrenalin.B次元官网网址�

It always helps to visualize her routine, she added. B次元官网网址淚 know I can do it. The training is there.B次元官网网址�

Off the ice, she looks forward to meeting different athletes and making some new friends in Penticton, as a part of the Vancouver Island-Central Coast team.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com