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20 $ â€" kC 1/ 1 Z < After two consecutive gold medal performances, the Kâ€"W Skating Clubs ice dance teams are hoping for gold again at the Canadian National Skating Championships in Calgary this week. Last year Danny and Sheri Moir struck gold again when they won the novice ice dance competition at the Nationals held in Ottawa Two years ago Josh and Rebecca Babb brought home the gold in the juniar ice dance competition at the Nationals held in Hamilton Both teams are legitimate contenders to medal again this year The Babbs compete in the The Waterloo Warriors climbed back into the race for second place in the OUA West with backâ€"toâ€"back wins over crossâ€"town rivals the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks last week. The Hawks built an early 2â€"0 lead against the Warrtiors last Wednesday at the Rec Complex before losing 5â€" 2. The Warriors broke the home ice jinx in the Battle of Waterloo Sunday with a commanding 7â€"2 win at the Columbia Icefield. Warriors ground Hawks in backâ€" toâ€"back battles Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Staff Ice dancers look to a rendezvous with the podium won o ommc mne mvine w stcan in ut o i mcA im CELEBRATE SENIOR‘S DAY Jamie Plaskett semior division left wide open by an injury to Shaeâ€"Lynn Bourne And the Moirs have created a buzz by winning their sectional and divisional competitions in their first year of junior compeâ€" tnon There is also some excitement THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2000 injoy special savings throughout the whole mall Register at Shoppers Drug Mart *See stores for details 38 around the club‘s youngest team, Alexandra Nino and Andrew Poje. The 12â€"yearâ€"olds won the bronze medal in the preâ€"novice division of Tomarrows Champtâ€" ons competition last March. "We‘re trying to get to the top 10, do our best and not fall like we did at divisionals," said Poje They‘ll be competing in their first Canadian Nationals in the novice division The two Grade 7 students, with an obvious rapport, will also look to each other as they skate in front of the biggest crowds they‘ve ever face in their young careers "Before competition we can get our head on the same page," said Nino. "Then we just go out there and do what we‘re supâ€" at Waterloo Town Square The Kâ€"W Skating Club‘s Blair Smith knows that having nerâ€" vous feet will hurt him as he shares the same ice as Elvis Stoâ€" jko this weekend. That‘s why the 18â€"yearâ€"old skater hopes to work the butâ€" terflies out during the warmups to the Canadian National Skatâ€" ing Championships being held in Calgary. "Its really important to have good practices throughtout the week," said Smith. Smith, who finished second in the nationals in the junior division last year, is making the jump to senior this year. posed to do They‘ve also learned from the success of other teams at the club. The novice competition will also be a learning experience for Jamie Plaskett and his partner Gillian Hinnegan. _ And the lanky skater knows that he‘ll have to hit his jumps to fit in with the big guys. "We‘ve added a lot of flow and expression to our perforâ€" mance," said Poje. "We‘re trying to raise it to the level of our technique," chimmed in Nino. "We didn‘t make it last year which was kind of disappointâ€" ing," said Plaskett. "It‘s a lot difâ€" ferent than being at any other competition I‘ve been at." Other club skaters include Lehlia Hefton and Rhett Myers, and Jennifer Beauchamp and Ben Boucher Skaters make the jump Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Staff Greg More "The triple axle is critical," said Smith. "You‘re not in senior men if you don‘t have a triple axle." * A quick start is also imporâ€" tant for setting up later posiâ€" tion. "I‘d like to hit a good short program because they set you up more or less," said Smith. "Then I want a solid long which 1 have been doing all year through the qualifying seaâ€" With two solid skates behind him, the firstâ€"year senior skater hopes to be in the top five. â€" "I hope to, if 1 skate really well, fit around the fourth. fifth or sixth spot and make the national team," said Smith "That‘s a big step for a first year senior." 5 King St. South, Uptown Waterlao Blair Smith Alexandra Nino and Andrew Poje g OPEN N EVERY SUNDAY 5 * Ipcluding Holidays * meiest Monâ€"Fn 10â€"8 Sat 9â€"6 181 King St. S., Waterloo Sun LLâ€"6 â€" liaies s â€" 6 3 450 ce Tpogadker. \\: l-Skl-\\H(\ s While Smith looks to make a smooth transition level to the senior level, the Kâ€"W Skating Club also has two junior skaters with the potential for a podium finish. Connie Coldwell, 13, is one of the youngest competitors in the junior division. Experience could be the difference as she already has a year of junior competition under her belt. "I‘m really ready to go this year," she said. "I really wasn‘t quite ready last year." He hopes his artistry carmnes him past some of the bigger jumpers in the competition. â€"Another year of experience should also serve 19â€"yearâ€"old Greg More well. _ _ "You always want to perform the whole week," said More. "That‘s what makes it so tiring." Connie Coldwell 886â€"4190