ERIN – Last year she placed fifth at the provincial championships, so this year she had to out-do herself.
Ella Stamenkovic, 15, of Erin, placed first in the artistic program at this year’s Skate Ontario Provincials in Brampton on March 22.
“It was super cool because I got to choose my music … I skated to Elastic Heart by Sia … it was a really cool experience and I hope I can do it in the future again,” she said.
Stamenkovic, who has been skating since the age of five, now trains 15-plus hours per week and is on the ice more than she is at home.
Capitalizing on her background in ballet, Stamenkovic refined the self-built choreography into first- place material with the help of coach Patty Lambertus from the Dufferin-Peel Skating Club.
“Ella has never skated in the artistic program before, this was her first time,” said Ella’s mom Heather VanSlyke.
The artistic program combines skating aspects such as turns, edges and field moves with creative spins and the ability to project emotion and artistry.
Stamenkovic also completed two free skates.
But her road to success wasn’t always easy.
On her journey to the provincial championships, the teen had to deal with the loss of her dog and her grandfather.
“It was hard to have such a great weekend and then hear that terrible news,” she explained. “But it honestly helped me a bit because I tried to not only skate for myself, but skate in their memory. It pushed me for that emotion to come out even more … it was noticeable how much emotion I put into that program.”
Stamenkovic added it was “really challenging” and at some points, “it was hard to keep going every day.”
“I learned a lot about myself and how brave and strong I was,” she said with a tremble in her voice.
VanSlyke explained it would have been easy for her daughter to give up with all that happening, or to use it as an excuse, but she persevered.
“She comes alive when she steps on the ice,” VanSlyke said of her daughter.
Ella Stamenkovic performing at the 2024 Skate Ontario Provincials. Submitted photo
Inspiring next generation
For Stamenkovic, the competition was about more than just a place on the podium – it’s about inspiring the next generation of skaters at her club.
“And just to hear how they want to be like me, that is better than winning any medal,” she told the Advertiser. “Just that I get to inspire new people, because that’s how I became the kind of skater I am – by the kids who inspired me when I was little.”
Stamenkovic will be welcomed to the Erin-Hillsburgh Skating Club’s annual show on April 6 to perform her championship skate of Elastic Heart before the number is retired and she starts next season’s routine.
“I’m honestly so honoured to be able to skate for them because that’s where I first learned how to skate,” said Stamenkovic.
“It’s so cool for me to go back, having accomplished everything I have, and show everyone what I’ve been working on.”
Next up for the star skater is the 2024 Skate Ontario development camp in Ottawa this April, which will be run by Olympians Kaetlyn Osmond and Ravi Walia.
“Then I’ll be continuing to work towards completing all the levels in my Skate Ontario program requirements up to the Gold Test, building my new free skate and artistic programs for the 2024-25 season, working on new jumps and space and to keep moving up and continuing to compete because I love it so much,” she said.
Stamenkovic aspires to one day be a skating coach.
