They’ve only been partners for a month, but Hailey Birdsall and Jase Ritter’s first outing as an ice dance team was successful.
The pair won the pre-juvenile ice dancing gold medal at the Skate Canada Alberta-Northwest Territories/Nunavut Sectional Figure Skating Championships, Nov. 3-6, in Grande Prairie.
“We really didn’t expect to win gold because it’s only been a month,” said Ritter. “We were absolutely amazed that we could do that.”
“I was really excited about that and we were really surprised,” said Birdsall.
Coach Karen Allison said the team’s second program, the Willow, helped pull Birdsall and Ritter to the top of the leaderboard after they stumbled in their first dance, the Fiesta.
“When they skated the Fiesta, they had a little trip, but they finished strong,” she said. “With the Willow, they skated really strong and that mark had more weight. They were able to take first from the score in that dance.
“They did really great despite the fact that we didn’t have a lot of time in preparation. We decided later on that they were going to compete as a dance team.”
Allison also said that Birdsall and Ritter’s friendship is what makes them a successful team.
“They communicate well even when they’re dancing,” Allison said. “They get along really well and they’re enthusiasm and they’re love for skating makes their job easy.”
“Hailey’s really fun to dance with,” said Ritter.
“She’s upbeat about everything and she’s great.”
Birdsall said her favourite part about competing in ice dance is partnering up with Ritter.
“You get to team up with your friends and have fun,” she said.
Ritter, who has been skating for three years, and Birdsall, who has been skating for two years, also compete in the singles disciplines. Ritter brought home bronze in the pre-juvenile men’s competition.
“I was hoping for a little higher, but I was still very happy,” he said.
The two will continue to compete as a dance team this season.
They will compete in the Winsport Canada Invitational Figure Skating Competition, Feb. 18-20, at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.
