KZN Figure Skating Gets Set for a Bigger and Brighter New Season

Photo Credit: Tianelle Pieterse Photographer

With 61 athletes expected to compete, KZN’s opening Inter-Provincial is set to showcase just how far the province’s skating community has come.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (25 August 2026) – KwaZulu-Natal’s figure skating community is heading into the new season with plenty of momentum, as a much larger field prepares to take to the ice at the SAFSA KZN Inter-Provincial Championships in Amanzimtoti.

The competition, taking place at the Galleria Ice Rink from 5 to 6 September, has attracted 63 entries from around South Africa, although two skaters have since withdrawn due to injury. That leaves 61 athletes expected to compete, including 26 from KwaZulu-Natal.

It is a significant jump from last year’s championship, which featured just 19 skaters.

For Jo Cossavella, Chairperson of SAFSA KwaZulu-Natal, the numbers are a reflection of a skating community that is steadily finding its feet and growing from strength to strength.

“What I am most looking forward to is welcoming everyone to Durban and celebrating the incredible growth of our skating community.”

The province has spent the past year focusing on development, particularly helping newer skaters and their parents understand the sport and find their way into competitive skating. Programmes such as the Skating Enterprises development initiative are also helping club skaters make that transition.

With the skating season having started on 1 July, organisers have had to prepare around rule changes while keeping athlete safety and ice quality at the forefront.

“Safety of our athletes and providing the best possible ice are our top priorities.”

For KZN, though, the numbers are only part of the story.

The province is leaning into the spirit of Ubuntu (“Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, or “a person is a person through other people”) with the focus firmly on creating a supportive environment where skaters, coaches, families and officials can grow together.