Osoyoos figure skater Wendy Morris is heading to Oberstdorf, Germany later this month to compete in the International Adult Figure Skating Competition 2019. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Wendy Morris started figure skating in her sixties to connect with her granddaughter; now the Osoyoos resident is heading all the way to Germany to represent Canada on the international stage.

Morris may have been the first skater in her sixties to take up beginner lessons with the local club, but in a short time she has won competitions and connected with her 12-year-old granddaughter, Summer Cannell.

Cannell lives in Vancouver, so Morris was hoping to invest in a common interest after retiring in Osoyoos a few years ago. This led to the two skating in the same tournament last year in Kelowna. Morris brought home gold in the 58 to 68 age category, but she humbly calls it “beginner’s luck, in a sense.”

However, her real goal was to spend time with Cannell.

“I don’t think there’s any other grandmothers and granddaughters in the same (tournament),” Morris laughed. “We had rooms next to each other it was just perfect.”

The generational connection has endured some tough circumstances as well.

On a family holiday in Mexico, Cannell had a persistent headache. Morris said she acted like the “Grandma Terminator,” to get her granddaughter to the hospital.

“She had a brain aneurysm,” Morris said.

• Read more: Osoyoos Golf Club to host major national championship

After two lengthy emergency brain surgeries, Cannell survived.

“She has kind of had to learn to walk again and talk, but she’s back at skating. She’s 10th (in the rankings) or something now. She had a setback, but she’s an amazing skater,” Morris said.

The connection they built through the sport was crucial in that situation, Morris recalled.

“It was all about skating that whole time in the hospital. I had to follow her, I was with her, with the family, never leaving her side. All she kept thinking about was skating. It’s really what pulled her through and gave her the ambition to fight,” Morris said. “She’s a skater to be contended with.”

Morris initially started skating with seven-year-olds, and gave a ton of credit to skating club coach Andrea Umstaetter who was open to the idea of Morris joining the lessons.

“I really enjoyed the girls so much, they’re club was so welcoming to me, but now I’m with the older group. I’ve moved up,” Morris laughed.

Morris’ sights are now set on Germany, representing Canada at the International Adult Figure Skating Competition 2019 in Oberstdorf, Germany from May 19 to 25.

“It’s like I get to represent Canada as an athlete which is almost overwhelming for me because I’m so happy about it,” Morris said.

Joining skaters from France, Italy, Germany, Russia and more, Morris is looking to find her balance, literally, before heading to Germany.

“As we are older, balance is harder. With our spins we can get dizzy. It’s all about staying on the ice, but also believing in myself that I can do it.”

She has seen a lot of positives come out of her interest in skating later in life, including a recent seniors and tots skate at Sunbowl Arena which has more adults showing up than anticipated.

“Setting goals for yourself and following through … it’s rewarding,” Morris said.