The Pacific Northwest Interclub (PNIC) association of United States Figure Skating (USFS) has selected Bremerton Figure Skating Club to host its annual figure skating competition Aug. 3-5, 2012.
Bremerton Ice Center, the club’s home rink, will host the event, which is expected to attract an estimated 150 competitive skaters and their families and approximately 20 officials.
Previous PNIC events have attracted skaters from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska and other states as well as Canada. United States Figure Skating, the nation’s governing body for competitive figure skating, has sanctioned the event. It is the first time that Bremerton Figure Skating Club has been selected to host a USFS competition.
“We are pleased that Bremerton Figure Skating Club will have the opportunity to host this important competition, which will make a positive economic impact on the area and helps to put our club on the map for future competitions,” said Christina Schmitt, club president. “Our dedicated volunteers, as well as volunteers from throughout the state, will work hard to ensure that our competitors and their families have an enjoyable visit to the area.”
Organizers estimate that the economic impact to the area during the three-day event will be between $80,000 and $100,000 from lodging, food, equipment and ice rental and other visitor spending.
The competition, which offers free admission for spectators, will feature numerous individual and group events for skaters of all ages and also is a part of US Figure Skating’s National Solo Dance Series.
With combined scoring used for the skaters who have short and long programs, the competition is considered a “warm up” for the 2013 Pacific Northwest Regional Championships, which will be held Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2012, in Eugene, Ore.
Founded in June 2006, the Bremerton Figure Skating Club currently has 47 members, including skaters of all ages, and several residents of Gig Harbor. The club includes among its ranks skaters who have medaled at the Northwest Pacific Regional Championships and have competed in events such as the US Junior National Championships and the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships.
To learn more, visit http://www.bremertonfsc.org/.
