Two members of the Kelowna Skating Club gained some valuable international experience late last month at the 2017 Challenge Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.
Olivia Gran and Emma Bulawka were both selected to represent Canada based on their performances over the season.
The Challenge Cup featured top skaters from Canada, the USA, and numerous European nations.
Gran, a 13-year-old Okanagan Mission Secondary student, opened with a second place effort in the short program in the junior women’s event. She followed with an excellent and winning free program, including six landed triple jumps.
Her total score of 147.43 put her in second place, just over a point shy of winner Emmy Ma of the USA.
This was the third appearance for Gran on the international stage this season, and second medal win.
Bulawka, a 13-year-old Aberdeen Hall student, made her international debut in the Novice Women’s division. She skated two strong programs to finish fifth overall in the field of 18 skaters.
Bulawka is the current Canadian Novice Women’s silver medalist.