Paris figure skater representing club at Provincials

By Casandra Turnbull

A lot of hard work and dedication has paid off for 14-year-old Erin Plaquet who is representing the Paris Figure Skating Club at the 2023 Skate Ontario Provincial Championships in Stratford this weekend

She’s competing in the Star Skate 5 Artistic Level after qualifying for the competition following a very successful points season. She scored 22.2 points at the LaSalle Invitational Competition in January to qualify her in fifth place in the province. She is among the top 30 skaters in Ontario competing this weekend for the ultimate title.

“Erin has worked very hard and put time into her training to advance her skill set,” said her coach Penny Colwell, a 40-year coaching veteran in the sport. “She is very determined and has a great love of the sport. She communicates well in her lessons and gives feedback, which has been instrumental in her improvement this season.”

Her strongest skills, said Colwell, is her power, her speed, and her beauty on the ice, backed of course, by a good set of technical skills Leading up to the provincials, Colwell said they’ve worked hard on improving those technical skills within her free skate program to boost her scores from the judges.

“I have never attended provincials before and I am really excited for this opportunity,” said Plaquet. Cont’d on P.18

Her goal this weekend is to have fun and achieve a personal best when on the ice

Asked what her favourite aspect of free skate is she replied, “It is really hard just picking one. I love the challenge of the jumps but if I were to pick a favourite it would be the artistic aspect of the routine. When I skate, I love to bring the audience in and feel the music with me ”

Plaquet started skating at the age of 3, learning the basics on a backyard ice rink built by her dad. Skating in the backyard as the snow fell, illuminated by spotlights, is a memory she says she will carry with her for her entire life. Plaquet, who is a Grade 8 student at St. Jude’s Catholic School in Ingersoll, plans to continue skating until she achieves all her gold levels in free skate, dance and skills. Right now, her short-term goal is to execute her double jumps, this after successfully landing her axel under Colwell’s mentorship

“Penny is very supportive and she always wants the best for me. She provides constructive criticism which helps me reach my full skating potential,” said Plaquet. She also recognized the ongoing support she receives from her family and her skating community at the Paris Figure Skating Club.

“Some of my best friends I have met were through skating over the years.”

As for Colwell, the feeling is mutual “Erin is a joy to teach and we have developed a great relationship with mutual respect. I look forward to continuing on Erin’s journey and helping her achieve her goals.”