Langton skaters’ busy season on ice continues

By Wanda Backus-Kelly

Langton Skating Club has had a busy season and is now getting ready for the annual ice show!

It’s been a banner year at Langton Skating Club, with numerous highlights and successes. The club’s programming included the ever popular learn-to-skate program, CanSkate, along with figure skating instruction in the StarSkate program. It was also a banner year for the club’s synchronized skating program, with five teams skating. Ranging in age from beginner skaters to seasoned adults, all teams enjoyed successful competitive results, with some podium placements.

Synchro coach Alexandra Casier-Smith reflected on the accomplishment of the synchro program. “The 2024–2025 Ice Crystals Synchro season has been one of incredible growth, new challenges, and unforgettable moments,” Coach Alex said. “Adding another adult team this year, for a total of five teams here at our club, has been both exciting and demanding! Watching our elementary team take the ice for their very first competition was a proud and emotional milestone.”

Coach Alex said that the year hasn’t been easy, considering the workload of coaching five teams.

“However, it hasn’t been without its challenges—every season brings its own unique hurdles—but seeing our skaters push themselves, support each other, and grow as a team makes every bit of stress worth it. This journey, with all its highs and lows, is exactly where I want to be, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Team manager Lynda Grzech, one of the club’s longest standing volunteers, echoes that sentiment. Lynda has over two decades of experience supporting and managing various synchro teams at the club.

The club’s volunteer board has also thrown their support behind Coach Alex and the synchro program, and is very proud of the work being done at Langton to promote the discipline of synchro skating. Members of the five teams are drawn from all over the area, including several other neighbouring skating clubs.

The skating season for the teams isn’t quite over, though, with a couple of events yet to come. In particular, some members from the Adult 2 and 3 teams will be travelling to an invitational competition in Belgium in April. Excitement is building about this international event! Coach Alex looks forward with excitement to this opportunity, saying “Here’s to the rest of the season and everything still to come!”

While the synchro teams finish their year, the rest of the club members now turn their attention to getting ready for their annual ice show happening on April 5. This year’s theme is “Down On The Farm” and will showcase aspects of farming life, with a few local twists. Carnival practices begin in March, and carry on through the month until the show date of April 5. Times are 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Originally printed in The Good News, March 2025.