High River duo win bronze in skating competition

Dan Marcinkowski
Nov 11, 2020  •  November 26, 2020  •  2 minute read
Cassidy Tutt (12) And Caleb Hovelan (16) perform the death spiral Photo by Onsight photo

Two High River skaters won bronze medals at a recent competition and will now have a chance of going to nationals.

The High River Skating Club’s two skaters – Cassidy Tutt (12) And Caleb Hovelan (16) captured bronze at the 2021 Skate Canada: Alberta-NWT/Nunavut Pre-Novice Pair Sectional, making their supporters, parents and coaches proud.

They will now have an opportunity of qualifying for nationals. The skaters will be required to compete at the Calgary Winter Invitational in February to determine their readiness to compete at the Skate Canada Junior Nationals.

The Section Athlete Review Task group will review and name the team that will represent Skate Canada: Alberta- NWT/Nunavut Section at the 2021 Junior National Skating Championship after the event in Calgary.

The High River Skating Club’s coaches – Liat Kobetitch, Shaelyn Case, Lindsey Lord, and Okotoks coach Barbara Westhaver and also the choreographer for Tutt and Hovelan’s freeskate program – Sir Bernard Ford are all very proud of the young duo.

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The skaters worked hard preparing for this past competition, skating six times a week in High River, Nanton and Calgary. They also started their choreography on dry land as many skaters had to do this year, because of COVID.

Kobetitch has taught both skaters for about eight years, since they learned how to skate. She put them together as a duo three years ago. She was pleased with what she saw at the Sectional.

“They just recently learned in September on how to do a full press lift and they performed it very well. I was very proud of them for doing it successfully in a competition,” said Kobetitch.

“They also got a level one grade on their death spiral, which is a big accomplishment that the top skaters around the world do.”

“Really, really proud of them. They skated their best. They’re super fun to work with and they are very devoted with their skating goals.”

Coach Kobetitch wanted to thank all the parents of skaters who commit to many hours of driving.

“It’s just a team effort all around,” she said.

For more info about the High River Skating Club go to hwww.hrskate.ca/ or visit their facebook page.