NEW MEMBERS: Welcome to new
members, Logan Zammit, Leah McKenzie and Duncan Elgar. Its
fantastic to have you join us, we are sure you’ll enjoy skating. Others are always
willing to help so if there is anything you’d like to know please ask.
PATCH PASSES:
Congratulations to Alana Doyle who has passed patch 4.
Not many patch passes this
month, because skaters are learning routines, figures and dances for Club
Champs. Even if you/they are not competing at Club Champs (and we hope everyone
will be) practising a routine is an excellent opportunity to put all the patch
elements together, time them to music, have fun and to see purpose in what’s
being taught in class.
SKATER OF THE MONTH: Congratulations
Nadia van Dalen who is Patch Class Skater of the Month for October.
During the month Nadia didn’t miss a class and put in good consistent effort.
Her attitude and effort meant steady improvement in her skating. Well-done
Nadia!!!
COACH OF THE MONTH: Michelle Crosby is Patch Class Coach
of the Month for October. After recent
surgery, Michelle still took the time to be at patch class every week to help
others improve. We thank Michelle for giving generously of her time in this
way. Coaches at Patch class give their time voluntarily because of their love
of the sport – we thank all coaches for this.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Birthday wishes
to Emma Hazelwood, Steve Phillips, and Stephanie Voice for your
special November day.
KIWI SUCCESS AT WORLDS: Congratulations
to Sarah-Jane Jones who last week was placed fifth in International
In-line Freeskating at World Championships in Italy. It’s pretty amazing that
one of our own club members is among the top five in-line free skaters in the
world!!!!
CLUB
CHAMPIONSHIPS: Entries close this week for Club Champs – so make
sure you enter urgently. This fun competition for all club skaters will be
happening at the rink on December 11 (artistic/precision) and Riverstone
Recreation on December 18 (speed). There is a grade for every club
skater from Patch 1 through to international level. The club pays for
everything – judging expenses, certificates, programmes, medals, trophy
engraving etc. The only cost to skaters is a $5 registration fee. This year the
speed section is being run one week later than artistic to allow artistic
members to compete at both. The speed section will start with time trials at
around 4pm and for those artistic skaters wishing to compete there will be
grades for your ability (you won’t be racing in ages grades with experienced
speed skaters). Both days are lots of fun so plan to be there.
NATIONALS TEAM
PHOTO:
A reminder to all Nationals team members that we will be taking the team
photograph at noon on December 11. Please plan to be there, as we would
like everyone in it if possible.
Complete new Nationals uniform to be worn please. For those who would
like to buy a photo the cost will be the same as last year - $10 per photo. Order
and payment required on December 11.
PATCH CLASS
PARTY:
The last Patch Class night for 2005 will be held on Tuesday December 13
– and it will be FUN, FUN, FUN. Please bring a plate and the club will supply
drinks for the skaters. It will be an hour of games, finishing with something
to eat and drink. Skaters from Kiwi Speed, most welcome. Will be a 5.30
pm start. Don’t miss it.
CHRISTMAS NIGHT
DISCO: Don’t miss our
Christmas themed night Disco on Saturday December 17 from 8 – 10.30pm. There’ll
be a live band, disco lights, spot prizes for those in Christmas themed
costume, games, great recorded sounds, and a skating demonstration or two. So
invite your friends and family now!!!!
Cost is $7 per
person for non-club members and a discounted rate of $5 per person for club
members. The entry charge includes skates or blades for those who need
them. All money raised will go directly to help our National skaters get to
Christchurch in January 2006.
INFORMATION FOR PATCH
CLASS SKATERS:
Presentations:
On the last Tuesday of
each month we have a special presentation ceremony. This is a celebration of
success and includes a trophy for Skater of the Month and Coach of the Month
and presentation of certificates for any skaters who have passed patches during
the previous month. Parents, please try to be here for this and celebrate with
us. Its also a time when any announcements about upcoming events are made, so
it’s a good chance to catch up on what’s going on. Skaters – if you pass a
patch (other than patch 1), bring your certificate back on the last Tuesday of
the month so the next sticker can be added and it can be presented to you. If
you have been awarded a trophy, please bring it back the next month.
Dress Code:
There are no rules about
what to wear at Patch class but it helps if skaters wear comfortable stretch
clothing. Jeans restrict movement and make it harder for skaters to learn.
Clothes that are too loose and need adjusting the whole time are distracting.
Leotards are ideal for girls; particularly from about patch 3 on, as they are
stretchy, stay put and allow the coach check correct leg movement and body
position better.
It pays to tie long hair
back so it doesn’t flick in the skaters face during jumps and spins.
Drinks:
As the weather is warmer
and skaters are now learning routines for Club Champs, it is likely they will
need to have a drink during patch class. All skaters need to bring a drink
bottle every week, as we have no access to water at the rink other than in the
toilet area.
Skates
All Club skates – those on
loan and those hired – must be handed in over the Christmas break. If you have
a pair of club skates please make sure they are handed on Tuesday December 13
after the Patch Party unless you are attending the Disco on December 17. If you
are attending the Night Disco, they must be returned at the end of the evening.
TROPHY
SPONSORSHIP: A big thank you to the McCarthy Family, the Hazelwood
Family and The Upper Hutt Sports Awards Committee who have donated
trophies to the club to be awarded at Club Champs. Trophies are held by the
winning skater for the year until the following Club Champs – some date back to
the club’s beginnings and are a neat record of who has been involved. If you
would like to donate a trophy it’s a lovely way to help the club and record your
family or business in the club’s history. Please talk to Mary-Anne (ph 5289127)
for more details. Thanks also to the Thomson
Family who have donated a trophy to be awarded at Nationals for Youth
Figures.
SPEED KING
TOUR: The
UHRSC Speed King Tour happens the first weekend of December (Dec 3 and 4)
attracting speed skaters from all around the country. All grades from Novice
through to Masters will compete at four different venues (hence the name tour).
As the last major speed skating event before National Championships in January,
the Speed King Tour always provides extremely competitive racing
culminating in
the Cue Design Power 500 race on Sunday. This is an exciting event to watch and
club members are encouraged to attend to cheer our members on. There is no
entry charge.
The Tour
consists of:-
Sat Dec 3 8am-11am IBM Carpark Petone
Sat Dec 3 1pm-4pm Wellington
Kart Track Kaitoke
Sat Dec 3 6pm-8.300pm Riverstone Recreation, Upper Hutt
Sun Dec 4 8am-12.30pm Avalon Banked Track, Lower Hutt
TROPHY RETURN: If you have a
trophy from last year’s Club Champs please ensure that it is returned to Bruce
Crosby, cleaned and shiny, ready to be presented to its next skater, by
December 3 thanks.
If you have a trophy
from Nationals please don’t forget to clean it and take it with you to
Nationals.
NATIONAL
SKATERS (FREESKATING AND CSD): Please make sure you give
your Freeskating and CSD music to team manager, Fiona Patrick at Club Champs.
Fiona needs to hand in all Upper Hutt Club competitors’ music. Fiona asks that
all tapes and CDs be clearly labelled with the competitors name, artistic
number, the event the music is for, and the Club name.
Also for
National skaters, please give a contact phone number and address where you are
staying in Christchurch to Fiona, preferably on Club champs day at the rink
MORO BARS: All the Moro
Bars are finally sold – thanks to everyone who sold a box/boxes for your
efforts. This fundraiser makes around $900 for us so its great money for not
too much hard work for any one person. We still have some outstanding money
– if you have sold your box and haven’t returned the money yet, please give it
to Mary-Anne Thomson or David Linney urgently. We need to get the finances
tidied up this year.
UPCOMING
COMPETITIONS/MEDAL TESTS:
Please Note: Dates/Venues
maybe subject to alteration. Please check with event management
RINK CLOSURE: The rink will
be closed for its annual maintenance and paint from Jan 1 2006 to January 22
2006. This means the last day for skating will be December 31. If you are a key
holder, please do not use the rink during the closure – there may be wet
paint!!!!!