The Walkerton Figure Skating Club (WFSC) is celebrating a major accomplishment by one of its skaters, one that had never been accomplished since it was formed in 1985.
Josie Girodat became the first member to earn Gold Status from Skate Canada in all four disciplines of figure skating: Skills, Dance, Artistic, and Freeskate.
The accomplishment was truly a family affair, as Girodat's aunt, Luanne Fockler, was the first club member to get a Gold Level in any discipline.
"May favourite is Freeskate, which is like jumping and spinning. That's what my Aunt Luanne got and she was the first one to get it for Walkerton... she was very happy and very proud, she sent me a message very excited."
Girodate completed the feat at Winning Techniques skate camp in Burks Falls this summer. In order to reach gold level, she had to advance through ten star levels set out by Skate Canada first. Girodat has been skating for 10 years and says this has always been a dream.
"Everyone works toward getting their gold, and there's only a few other people who have got their Gold Freeskate in Walkerton so I wanted to be one of them," she said. "I've always wanted to get all the other ones, but Freeskate was always a really big goal of mine."
Along with being a historic feat, Girodat says the gold levels will help unlock doors as a future skating coach.
"It looks good for when you're older, like when I'm able to coach it will open up more opportunities for the kids that I coach," she said.
This season, she will be competing in short and long programs in the star 7 and 8 level. As she looks ahead to the upcoming skating season, Girodat says she’s excited to return to the ice, reconnect with familiar faces, and welcome new skaters to the club. She encourages anyone interested in skating to come out and give it a try.
"WFSC is a great place to learn, grow, and fall in love with the sport," she said.