Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club glide into National Championships

Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club will have four single skaters and a synchro team representing NSW at the National Championships.

From left: Emily Imber, 13, of Emu Heights, Lowanna Gibson, 22 of St Marys and Chelsie-Rose Osaghae, 16 of St Clair have been selected to represent NSW at the Australian Figure Skating Championships next week.

Four Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club (PVFSC) singles skaters have been picked to represent NSW at the Australian Figure Skating Championships in Brisbane commencing next week.

Emily Imber, Ladies Primary Division, Chelsie-Rose Osaghae, Ladies Intermediate Division, Lowanna Gibson, Ladies Senior Division, and Sasha Graham, Adult Ladies Division, were selected after their success at the State Championships.

Lowanna, 22, has been skating since she was five and has competed at numerous National Championships.

Skaters on the ice ahead of the national championships. (Matt Sullivan)

“When you’ve been to nationals so many times you get used to it, but it’s a lot harder because it’s the top people in the country,” Gibson said.

“It’s a good experience, you have to have fun and just do your best.”

RELATED: Emily Imber wants repeat success at figure skating championships

ICE SKATING AUSTRALIA

PENRITH VALLEY FIGURE SKATING CLUB

Chelsie-Rose, 16, has been skating for six years and said she liked that the sport was technical and fun at the same time.

“It’s not boring to watch and not something everybody does — this will be my second year at Nationals. I came 7th last year, which is pretty good, but I’ll definitely try and better it this year,” Chelsie-Rose said.

Emily Imber and Chelsie Osaghae on the ice last season. (Peter Kelly)

“Preparation is all about getting really familiar with your music and the moves.”

This will be the first experience at nationals for both Sasha Graham and Emily Imber.

Emily, 13, has been striving to go up two test levels within nine months so she could vie for a position at nationals.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it but I got in and I was so excited. I wasn’t expecting it,” Emily said.

JSS nominee Emily Imber, 13, of Emu Heights. (Matt Sullivan)

“I just want to see what it’s like, I won States last year but this is the first year I can do nationals.”

As well as the single skaters, the club’s newly formed Synchro Teams, Sydney Synchronicity, will also be representing Penrith in the Novice B and Open Divisions at the National Championships.