Local skater to compete in the Santa Claus Cup in Czech Republic

A Fourways High School learner, Zoe Bywater, will compete for her country in synchronised figure skating on December 18 and 19.

The Grade 12 learner has been figure skating since the age of six and she and her fellow synchronised skaters of Team In-Sync will compete in the Santa Claus Cup in the Czech Republic.
Zoeywater said she was excited to be announced alongside her teammates in the mixed-age team and hopes to learn a lot while overseas. “I will be able to pick up on a new language and learn some new skills from the other teams competing in the competition,” she said.

Team In-Sync participated in the National Figure Skating Championship in June where they placed first. They earned a gold medal and Zoe received her provincial colours for the sixth time.
“It was late and we had several teammates who were not feeling well, so we were not sure of the results. When they announced our score and that we came first, we were excited and shocked,” she said, recalling the moment the team placed first in the competition.

This will be the 18-year-old’s first time competing at an international level. Since the country’s Covid-motivated lockdown and regulations, training and tournaments of various sporting codes were placed on hold, but because figure skating was not a contact sport, Zoe said they were able to do some training.

“We managed to have multiple zoom fitness classes to keep up our fitness and endurance levels. And with the strict Covid-19 protocols, we have been able to train in the rink wearing masks and sanitising continuously.”

She not only takes part in figure skating outside of school, but was also involved in hockey, and backstage and set design for her school’s major productions.
Looking to the future, Zoe has high hopes for her skating career. “I am definitely looking to compete in more international competitions.”