RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Dozens of skaters were in Rapid City this weekend for the 18th annual Black Hills Gold Rush competition and Sunday clinic. They were joined by this year’s Miss South Dakota, Joelle Simpson. Simpson is the only U.S. Figure Skating Quadruple Gold Medalist born in the Mount Rushmore State.

Club coach Debbie Minter led the clinic and helped teach a variety of skills and techniques, including the importance of building confidence.

”Some people are naturally confident and fearless and that’s awesome if they are, most of us are not and we have to learn it,” Minter said. “It 100% can be learned so we do work on that. One thing I think builds confidence is being prepared. Working hard enough that all the elements you are required to do are correct, good technique, many many repetitions, so that comes out when you perform.”

As Miss South Dakota, Simpson has taken a gap year from college at the University of Minnesota and has found herself wanting to give back to the Black Hills Figure Skating Club.

”I always knew that when I became a high level skater that I wanted to make sure that I could inspire others,” Simpson said. “And that’s one of the most important things that I try to instill every time that I skate but also as a coach now.”

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