The pair has more seminars coming up, including a couple in communities like Fort Frances and Kapuskasing, well away from big-city training centres.
“Especially in Northern Ontario, this is the area of the world that we’re both from, and right now, it’s really lacking in competitive skating,” Duhamel said. “If we can just inspire some kids to stick with figure skating, to watch competitions and be inspired to take part in competitions, to take that path instead of leaving the sport of skating and going to other activities, that’s kind of my hope for skating in this area.
“We want to teach the kids something new, to challenge them and to teach them persistence. We work on something a dozen times, but then you have to go home and work on it a dozen times a day if you want to improve. So you’re teaching them life skills, as well.”
