Leo Rutledge This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. www.quesnelobserver.com

   www.quesnelobserver.com/portal - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/18/2004   Last Visited: 10/18/2004

   Leo Rutledge is the new president of the Quesnel Figure Skating Association and he has a strong philosophy that drives his efforts to reinvigorate the sport. "I feel there are three things that kids have to know," Rutledge said. "They have to know how to skate, how to ski and how to swim. Those are things, when you're going out with other children, they typically know how to do. There's always ski trips, there's always skating parties, and there's always going to the lake." Rutledge first got into figure skating nine years ago, when his eldest daughter Kayla took up the sport. Ever since, he's been a fixture at the Twin Arenas. "There's a wonderful social aspect to it," Rutledge says. "It gives the kids something to do in our long, cold winters. It keeps them off the streets. For me, it's just been an all around great experience." And the fact that the Quesnel Figure Skating Club has had some great skaters and coaches come through the ranks doesn't hurt either. "We've been very fortunate over the years to have some of the people we have had," Rutledge said. "For example, one of our coaches right now, Jennifer Dibblee, is one of the best coaches we've ever had. She's really in tune with the kids and it makes a huge difference." To add to Dibblee's experience and rapport with the kids, Rutledge brought in the club's newest coach RoRy Allen from Prince George.
   ...
   "I saw some of the things he had been doing with skaters from Prince George and it was just amazing," Rutledge said. "He's extremely talented and his presence on the ice is phenomenal. As soon as he came open, I scooped him up right away because I knew there were certain to be others looking to sign him. We're really lucky to have him working with our kids." Rutledge himself has never pulled on the tights and strapped on the picked skates, but he says he has great respect for those who do. "It's way harder than anything I'm willing to do," Rutledge said. "To watch them practise and learn to do jumps, I'm always amazed. They'll fall 1,000 times before they get it just right. The perseverance of these kids is something we can all learn from. No matter how much pain they're in, they get up and go at it until they get it right. My kids have come home battered and bruised and they carry right on without as much as a complaint." Rutledge pointed out that people often think of figure skating as a sport where athletes prance around to music and do some beautiful jumps. But it can be more than that, he said.
   
   "Just about anybody can stand up on a pair of skates," Rutledge said.