Olympic medalist Kaetlyn Osmond stops by Lethbridge for a seminar with local skaters

She now resides in Edmonton for much of the year, and that played a role in her stopping into town.

“It’s not too far out of the way for me, and the clubhead reached out to my family a while ago so we were just trying to find a good time that lined up with my schedule,” Osmond continued. “This is what I’ve been doing lately, a lot of shows and seminars, and I’m happy to be able to come here.”

Skating fans in Lethbridge and across the country will remember Osmond’s skating in the “Thank You Canada Tour” back in the fall that came through the bridge city, along with Elvis Stojko, Patrick Chan, Scott Moir, Tessa Virtue, and others.

Osmond says she’s been doing a lot of seminars recently because it helps bring her back to why she started skating in the first place.

“I started skating mainly because of shows because I wanted to be in our show carnival every year. Then it also reminded me of when I used to travel away for seminars, and when coaches used to come into my club. It’s a great time, I remember when I was with my friends growing up and doing them.”

The session was pretty interactive, with skaters meeting at centre ice to get some instruction from Osmond on moves before trying them out for themselves.

That interaction between Osmond and the skaters led to a funny remark, as when asked what it’s like she laughingly replied most of them don’t actually say a thing.

“I think I’m a little terrifying, I try not to be, but for the most part, they want to know what it’s like,” Osmond joked. “What the Olympics were like when I started doing things when I grew up and just ultimately why I started skating. Then I get to hear the other side from their side of it, and it brings back a lot of joy in my own skating.”

It’s a big change this year compared to last for Osmond, as a year ago she was gearing up for the Olympics where she would go on to win two medals.

“It’s still hectic, but a little different. Just thinking about everything that’s happened since then I’m still in shock. Coming here and being able to teach another seminar is like another celebration from last year, it’s fantastic and I’m happy I’m able to share that with other people,” Osmond said.

As far as her teaching style is concerned, she believes that sometimes skaters just need someone to tell them the exact same thing they might’ve heard before, but in a different way.

“That’s what I like to do, and also for me I get to reiterate what I know from my technique and it helps me with my skating. So, I get a little bit extra out of it too.”

And what’s next for Osmond? A trip to the east coast, and then a little further.

“I’ll be heading back east for the Order of Newfoundland ceremony, and then I’m heading to Switerzland for Art on Ice which is about ten shows. Following that I’ll be doing some shows in Newfoundland and Boston, then I’m heading to do the Stars on Ice tour. It’s going to be pretty busy until probably the end of June, and then I’ll finally get a summer.”

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Olympic medalist Kaetlyn Osmond stops by Lethbridge for a seminar with local skaters

What's Happening