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PAGE 16 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, MARCH 21,2001 &LEISURE CANADIAN STATESMAN MARCH 21, 2001 FISH **ol I** *HSi SUBnUJU ENDS SAT. MARCH 31st PRÉG01F WHITBY • OSHAWA Oindn/Thldaon WHITBY 723-8507 Synchro skater wins back-to-back gold medals BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor It's often been said that the toughest toughest thing to do in sports is repeat as champions. That wasn't the case for Rhonda Beausoleil and her synchronized figure figure skating team. The Bowmanville resident and her teammates from the Scarborough Figure Skating Club won their second second consecutive gold medal at the National Championships held in Hull, Quebec earlier this month. Team Xtreme, as it is called, finished first among 14 entries from across the country. "At our first competition this year we finished third, and that came as quite a shock to us. It scared us," says the 23-year-old about the team's quest for back-to-back national titles. titles. "It was fairly easy (to win gold) last year, but the teams were stronger this year. At nationals, it was a much closer competition." Team Xtreme qualified for the na tionals after placing first at the Central Central Ontario Sectionals held in North York in February. The team, comprised comprised of 24 members and two alternates, alternates, had been skating together twice a week since the end of August in preparation for nationals. Skating to a much more "technically "technically difficult program" this year, it took the team a little longer into the season to peak, says Beausoleil. She was introduced to synchronized synchronized skating by friends in Peterbor ough, and eventually joined a national national senior competitive team in Whitby, Whitby, travelling all over the world to compete. In fact, many of the members members of the Scarborough team have also skated outside of Canada's borders. borders. "Our team is unique because we only have two members who didn't skate competitively as a senior. The rest have all competed internationally." internationally." Ranging in age from 22 to 35, and with members from Bowmanville to Brampton, Beausoleil says that most of the skaters on the Scarborough team "still want to be competitive but just don't have the time to put in," because of work and family commitments. Synchronized skating offers an alternative that suits most of the busy lifestyles. When asked about returning again next season for a chance at a three- peat, Beausoleil says she "hopes to" but hasn't committed yet. ' PROVINCIAL WALLCOVERINGS CORNER ^^■OSHAWA All li i \l< h k All In Sic h k WALLPAPER BORDERS S,iv<■ An AiMiln nul I s.ivi'An Aihliliiin.il s 4nn* i.ivc An Ailililhiiul ? aoo* io *tbff / Double Roll S| xt liulvs, huy I. y'fl ! Ilxll x I ! ),i/v S.ilc 'I v lutlr*. buy I yyt I E i do >ur alls T PARA ■l il In './m A i .<;//■ '/I'. PAINT S.ivv An Ac h lilnin.il t >00 ►off" gallon uui whole ■s.ilv pile vs Come viril our4000sa ft SVflER STORE • 1000's of imstock wallpaper & borders to choose from • Safe iindwfes Aundne* A hundreds of NEW ktaeable, unique, patterns * borders arriving weekly from Franc* England, Germany, Holy, USA, Canada SUPER STORE-5 POINTS MALL s  L p nn° s (905)728-6866 Outside ol Mall beside Rogers Video facing Ritson Rd. ,,i/„/, r ,„,,,./„ -, /„.n Mon Fri 9:30 9, Sat 9:10 - 5:30, Sun 11 -4 A.J. GROEN/ Statesman photo Rhonda Beausoleil won her second gold medal at the Canadian Championships Championships for synchronized skating with her Xtreme team from Scarborough. Scarborough. Host the World Tickets: Arena Seating $45.00 Tickets on Sale at Venue Box Office or call ticketmaster (416) 870-8000 Tickets Now on Sale! Guardian tickotnues tor.ca aii Him. . ii.'i il me ykntxf PIZZO _. fc&iioci,, pizza Bingo ,/ telus r