A new year offers new opportunities.
For Burnaby's Sara Tamura, it also offers new experiences.
The Champs International Skating Centre skater has done her work and remains focused on next week's Canadian Tire national figure skating championships in Vancouver, which kick off Monday at UBC.
For Tamura and fellow Champs clubmate Kelsey Wong, the opportunity to compete against the likes of world championship medalists Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman is truly exciting.
"I think just being able to compete with the top skaters it definitely gives you a bunch of motivation and desire to want to be like them," said Tamura. "Just seeing them makes you want to be a better skater."
That's been the focus for Tamura ever since she laced on the white boots. Having won both novice and junior national titles along the way, she heads into next week's nationals looking to build on her senior women's debut a year ago. At that competition, the teenager made a major impression going up against the likes of Osmond and Daleman, finishing fifth overall.
"From last year it was pretty much a learning experience. Taking from that, I feel I'm more confident going into this, my second national championship as a senior," she said. "I'm just taking last year's experience and looking to build from it and improve on it."
That fifth-place result secured her spot on the national team, and opened doors for more international competitions.
Last March, Tamura finished 17th at the ISU World Junior figure skating championships in Taipei, and admits the year had its share of peaks and valleys.
"There were a lot of ups and downs; some really good moments and some not-so-good moments," she said. "I feel overall 2017 was a big learning year for me. I wouldn't be able to say it was my best year, but I wouldn't say it was my worst year. I just feel it was a really good learning year. I learned a lot from it and from that I feel I can build on to make 2018 a really good year for me."
It all starts with a rare opportunity at home -- a rarity since becoming one of the up-and-coming young national stars. Drawing the fourth spot among the 18 senior women's skaters means her first program will come early in the proceedings and allow her to conquer the competitive nerves quickly.
It also means Tamura will have her score up on the board early; getting a good start would do wonders for those tense few moments that come with being in the limelight.
"You know, around the rink we like to say every spot is a good spot. I think fourth is a really good spot.
"Definitely, every time I go out on the international stage you obviously get more experience. Just going to those competitions I feel like, leading up to the nationals, it gives me so much motivation, momentum and confidence."
As a junior, Tamura competed internationally at a handful of major competitions the past three years, including placing 13th at the ISU Junior World championships in Hungary, and capturing her division title at the Bavarian Open 11 months ago.
Adjusting to the senior circuit has meant altering her preparation and program a bit, but mostly pushing her mental game to the next level.
"I'm changing and trying to improve on being a better, stronger skater like how a senior skater skates," said the soon-to-be 17 year old. "That was kind of a challenge but I feel I'm getting into the groove and I finally found out and learned how to be more of a senior skater.
"The elements are pretty much the same, but just the way you execute everything has to be way more perfect and poised as at juniors. The speed across the ice and everything has to be much more mature."
It puts next week's competition as a perfect place to delver her best performance yet.
"I want to skate two of my best programs and I don't want to have any regrets after it. I just want to be really proud of myself. My ultimate goal is to be top-three in Canada and make it to the Olympics."
