Local figure skaters are excited for the Alberta Winter Games to begin

The Alberta Winter Games are set for this weekend in Lakeland County, and CTV Calgary is profiling some of the figure skaters headed up north.

Five figure skaters from the Glencoe Club and two from the Crowfoot Club were getting in some last-minute work at Flames Community Arena Thursday before heading to Cold Lake and Bonnyville for the 2026 Alberta Winter Games.

Fourteen-year-old Amelia Meisner of the Glencoe Club is already heading to her second games so she knows what to expect.

“I learned it’s a lot less stressful when you’re with friends,” said Meisner.

“It’s easier to regulate yourself when you’re hanging out with friends and laughing and having a good time.”

Excited for first game

Meisner is the veteran as far as the games are concerned. The rest are going to their first Alberta Winter Games.

Fourteen-year-old Victoria Cho of the Crowfoot Club said she can hardly wait to experience what the games are all about.

“I’m excited to represent Calgary because it’s such a big city,” she said.

“At the same time it’s a little nerve-wracking because I want to do the best for Calgary.”

Fifteen-year-old Addie Buitelaar of the Glencoe Club is also looking forward to her first time at the games.

“I’m excited for the experience -- especially with the Olympics going on right now,” she said.

“I feel like it will sort of be our mini -level Olympics in Alberta and I have a lot of friends going too.”

Olympic dream

Hanging out with friends and meeting new ones is part of the fun of going to the games. But you also want to perform well and who knows? Maybe, for the right competitor, it could serve as a stepping stone to one day realize the dream of competing against the best in the world on the biggest stage.

“Oh I would love to go to the Olympics,” said Meisner.

“If I could go to the Olympics, that would be so much fun.”

The Alberta Winter Games run from February 13^th to the 16^th in Lakeland County.