05/08/2026
When Charnell tragically lost his sister in 2008, tiny 2.5 month old Kiara transitioned from being his niece to his daughter. Charnell says simply, "Sometimes the most beautiful gifts come in the ugliest of wrappings." Charnell has been on ice for 35 years and skates at the Masters Junior/Senior level. "As a skater, I like to work towards a goal, and achieving success feels good. I enjoy providing an enjoyable moment with my skating. I like to skate smarter, have fun, and not feel like I'm skating harder. In the next year, I hope to get into better shape to create a Gold Free Skate program for me to test and to pick up with a few more Adult Championships appearances. Initially, it was never the plan for Kiara to follow in my skating footsteps. I was coaching, so being at the rink was always where we were. She tried it, enjoyed it, and progressed. I never expected to coach her, but watching her on the ice is always a joy for me as her father and coach."
Kiara has been skating for 15 years and is at the Senior Ladies Excel level. "As a skater, I am determined and always willing to put in the work to improve my skills and reach my goals. I am also expressive on the ice, using my performance to show emotion and connect with the program. I stay resilient and don't give up, even when skills or tests become challenging. I like the sense of freedom I feel on the ice and the rewarding feeling of finally landing something I've been working hard on, along with the supportive community around me. In the next year, I hope to pass my Gold Free Skate test and continue building my confidence in my overall performance as a skater."
Charnell adds, "Both of us passing the Gold Skills almost simultaneously is truly a monumental achievement that was never planned. The original idea was to take the test the same day just to say we did. But to have passed in the same year with the idea of 'Let's see what happens' feels good. The hard work and dedication has paid off, and I have several members of the skating community to thank for their support and positive influence on Kiara's and my skating achievements."
