Kincardine figure skater warms up for Special Olympics worlds in Austria

Rosie Laidler is fine-tuning her routine as she looks forward to competing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria next month.

The Kincardine figure skater was at the Tiverton Arena, Saturday, Feb. 18, rehearsing with her coach Lorilee Nelson, and receiving plenty of encouragement from her family and friends as they cheered from the sidelines.

Laidler leaves March 12 and arrives in Austria March 14, said her father, Ray. Part of Team Canada, she will participate in a “Host Town” program for a couple of days before travelling to Graz.

The opening ceremonies are March 18 in Schaldming, and closing ceremonies are March 24 in Graz. The skating competition is being held in Graz.

Laidler will compete in the Level 5 freeskate event. The compulsory-element part of the competition is March 20, and her freeskate is March 23. She returns home March 26.

A member of the Kincardine and Ripley-Huron skating clubs, Laidler won gold medals in dance and freeskate at the nationals in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, in March, 2016, making her eligible for Team Canada and the worlds.