Liverpool skater makes Nova Scotia team

“It’s the first time in I don’t know how many years that the sport has started a development team,” said her mother Cheryl Selig.

Coaches submitted names of skaters who they thought might be worthy of trying out this format, she explained.

Out of the nine skaters chosen by Skate Nova Scotia, Selig was one of them.

Skate Nova Scotia monitors each of the skaters throughout the year to make sure they are maintaining a certain level of accomplishment, said Bailey’s mother.

“The kids decided to call themselves, Nova Scotia Edge,” she added.

Bailey said Edge stands for enthusiasm, dedication or determination, goals and excellence.

Bailey has been skating since the age of four and was entering competitions by the age of five.

Now 11 years old, she said she is happy to be on the development team.

As the 2011 Canada Games approach, Skate Nova Scotia’s hope is to take this development team to the games, which take place in Halifax.

Selig said they hope that at the end of the process, Bailey will still be on the team but “this is only 2008... skating is such a subjective sport, even if she took a growth spurt it could throw off her abilities.”

As skaters grow it changes their centre of gravity.

Being part of the development team has Bailey taking part in off and on-ice sessions and training throughout the year.

One of Bailey’s future goals is to try out for the Junior Nationals.

Her coach is Lee-Anne Cross.