Skate Manitoba's Winter Blast and Prairie Regional Synchronized Skating Championships were held this past weekend at the Access Event Centre in Morden.

The Winter Blast competition was an open event for participants of all disciplines from STAR 1 through Gold, as well as Special Olympics, Adult, Pre-Novice through Senior.

Approximately 400 skaters from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario took in the event which included skating clubs from Winnipeg, Morden, Altona, Carman, Waskada, Kenora, Killarney, Neepawa, Brandon, Melita, Russell, Portage la Prairie, East St. Paul, Thunder Bay, Rivers, Pilot Mound, Boissevain, Carberry, Minnedosa, Dauphin, Virden, Elkhorn, Roblin, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Seine River, Beausejour and Winkler.

hockey_2023Winkler Skating Club Star 2+ skaters Naomi Hildebrand, Hailey Penner, Alexis Enns, Abigail Nelson & Stella Klassen (missing) Makenzie Enting & Sheridan Penner

"The weekend was excellent," texted Winkler Skating Club head coach Sydney Dyck. " It was high pace. Many girls compete on the Pembina Pizzaz synchro team as well as skate singles, so it was a busy weekend full of skating!"

10 skaters from the club competed including Aria Enns, Emma Penner, Alina Dimova, Sahana Sura, Abigail Hildebrand, Naomi Hildebrand, Hailey Penner, Alexis Enns, Abigail Nelson & Stella Klassen.

"We're lucky to have such a large skating competition so close to home," noted coach Dyck. "The girls had a fun weekend spending time with their skating friends! Friendship bracelets were even exchanged. Everyone skated incredibly well and overcame the challenges they were faced with. As their coach I'm incredibly proud of them."

The below photo gallery from the weekend competition were submitted by Charmaine Enns.