7 Rivers Figure Skating Club and Tomah High School seniors Grace Bardeen and Kylie Moake started their journey with ice skating fourteen years ago.
Both were age four when they took part in a Learn to Skate class. And both opted for figure skates over hockey skates. Over the years, both girls have come to enjoy the challenge figure skating brings in being a go-at-your own-pace kind of sport.
“I like that figure skating is mostly an individual (sport) that’s about setting your own goals, but you still have people around you to learn and grow with,” Moake said.
Bardeen likes the challenge figure skating brings and how hard work shows in your accomplishments.
Both Bardeen and Moake have accomplished quite a lot in their fourteen years on the ice.
Figure skating has multiple test tracks that skaters can move through as they advance in their skills. To date, Bardeen has passed eight figure skating skills tests and is a gold-level tested skater in figure skating skills. She has passed three figure skating singles tests and is Pre-Bronze tested in figure skating singles. Since completing her gold skills test, she has also taken up ice dance and has completed four ice dance tests to be bronze tested in ice dance as well.
“Grace is a quiet work horse; she comes to skating and works hard at her craft, always willing to share tips and tricks with others who are learning skills that she has mastered,” Ellen Fink, Seven Rivers Figure Skating Club coach, said. “Through her hard work, Grace is a great example for the club’s younger skaters, showing how an individual can progress with hard work and focus.”
Moake has passed four skating skills tests to be bronze tested in skills, and three singles tests to be pre-bronze tested in figure skating singles.
Fink said Moake’s impact on the other skaters during her time in the club has been significant, going beyond just helping others in their own skating skills.
She said Moake brings a quiet patience, is quick to share a laugh, makes everyone feel included, and reminds people we all do silly things, like falling while standing, and it is ok to laugh at ourselves.
Along those lines, Moake said she’s learned an important lesson from figure skating — don’t compare yourself to others.
“You can’t compare yourself because everyone is going to have a different plan and goal,” she said.
She’s also learned to trust herself and her capabilities.
“I’ve learned not to think too hard about what you are doing and to trust yourself because the worst that’s going to happen is that you’re going to fall,” Moake said.
Both are valuable life lessons that apply both on and off the ice and are sure to carry her as she moves on from high school.
Off the ice, Moake is involved with Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society, 4-H, and the Tomah-Sparta High School Figure Skating team, along with showing goats and sheep around the state. Her post-high school plan is to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study animal science and later go on to vet school for large animal veterinary.
Bardeen’s high school career has included taking part in student council, Health Occupations Students of America, National Honor Society, and the high school figure skating team. She will be attending St Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona next fall, majoring in biochemistry, with aspirations of becoming a physician assistant.
For Bardeen, lessons learned from figure skating include how to set a goal and achieve it.
It’s also taught her discipline — a trait that has come in handy throughout her school years as she has learned to balance her time on ice with off-ice activities.
Accomplishing this much as this point in life doesn’t come without the help of a support system. Bardeen said her parents have supported her throughout her whole skating career.
“They drove me to all my practices and never missed a test session or a competition,” she said, adding, “They always cheered me on when things got tough and encouraged me to do my best.”
Along with her parents, Bardeen said her coach Katie Wales has had a big impact on her life, teaching her an important lesson in the midst of her skating journey, that improving yourself is more important than a first-place medal.
“She taught me that skating has to be fun even when working towards your goals,” Bardeen said.
For Moake, her coach Myah Kenyon has been someone she can go to on and off the ice. Myah was one of the “big kids” in the Seven Rivers Figure Skating Club when Kylie first started skating and has watched her “grow up” on the ice over the years.
Moake’s family has also made ice skating possible over the years, helping her get to practices, test, and competitions, and coming to her shows.
“They have supported me, making sure that I'm not overbooking myself and when I do, they help me to get everything done and to reach the goals that I have set,” she said.
With similar journeys and all they’ve been through together, Bardeen and Moake are both looking forward to one last skate in the Seven Rivers Figure Skating Club’s annual spring show, taking place the weekend of March 27-28 at the Tomah Ice Center.
“We skated our first show together and now we get to skate our last one together,” Moake said.
Looking back on what their time on the ice has meant, both girls encouraged others to try figure skating.
“Skating teaches you how to work hard, reach your goals, and not give up when things get hard,” Bardeen said.
Moake added, “It’s a great way to meet new people, have new experiences, and make memories getting out of your comfort zone, trying something new all the time, and growing yourself as a person.”
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here