The 2018 National Skating Championships coming to Vancouver are poised to be great news for local businesses.
Vancouver’s economy is expected to boom during the week in early January, Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, said at a Dec. 7 press conference.
This will be the sixth time that Vancouver has hosted the event and it’s expected to generate approximately $6 million in economic activity.
“Events like the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships draw thousands of people to our province,” Beare said when announcing$110,000 in provincial funding.“More visitors to our province means more business for our tourism sector, and more jobs for British Columbians.”
The Nationals have an even greater significance for some of the skaters taking part. The competition is a qualifying event for Canada’s team in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Skate Canada senior ice dance pair Haley Sales and Nikolas Wamsteeker are looking forward to the Nationals taking place in their hometown.
“Finally,” Sales said. “Our families are coming — aunts and uncles, everyone.”
“It’s awesome. We’ve been waiting for this for years,” Wamsteeker said. “It’ll be cool to see a home crowd.”
The ice dance pair recently finished first in their division at the Skate Canada Challenge in Quebec and, while they already know they won’t be on the Olympic team, are second alternates for the World Championships.
“It’s even just an honour to train to be an alternate,” Sales said. “After the Olympics are done all the big dogs are out, so we’re kind of the new up-comers.”
“Stepping in the shoes that have been worn by some of the greatest athletes ever in the sport, it’s awesome,” Wamsteeker said.
The Nationals are at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from Jan. 8 to 14 and tickets are still available on Ticketmaster.
This Sunday, Dec. 10, is National Skating Day and the Vancouver Park Board is celebrating by offering free admission and skate rentals at all of their rinks. Hours for free skating can be found on their Facebook event page.
