Port Alberni figure skater Kennedy Lavertu capped an eventful season with a silver medal at the STARSkate provincial championships in Surrey on March 24.
This was Lavertu's first season competing in the senior bronze category (13- 17-year-olds) and she was one of 20 competitors from around B.C. Other Vancouver Island skaters came from Victoria, Kerry Park, Nanaimo, Parksville, Comox, Campbell River and Port McNeill.
Her silver medal was a personal best performance and it also vaulted her into fourth place overall in B.C. in her category.
Lavertu has enjoyed a successful skating season considering it's her first year in a new category. "I love performing my program, and being consistent...helps my confidence in my skating," she said.
Lavertu has a solid support system in family, coaches and friends, and mother Karen Lavertu said that has been a key to Kennedy's growth.
"There have been obstacles to overcome in the past few years so considering these, along with coaching changes and travel, I am really proud of her accomplishments," Karen said.
"She knows what she wants now and is going for it."
Lavertu travels to Parksville four times a week to work with coaches Larry and Leslee Rushton and also to visit former coach Jan Norman. She is affiliated with the Oak Bay Skating Club for her competitions.
Spending this amount of time with her skating is key to her development, Karen said.
Kennedy Lavertu starts her new season in two weeks at the Super Series Vancouver Island event in Parksville.
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