High Peaks Skating Academy’s Elli Dukett skates in Lake Placid. (Provided photo — ZR Photo Enterprises LLC)

TUPPER LAKE — Each year, the High Peaks Skating Academy of Tupper Lake, coached by Amy Payton, prepares and trains many local figure skaters to compete at the Empire State Winter Games in Lake Placid.

It is not unusual for many ice skaters of all ages to prepare for this state competition at the Tupper Lake Civic Center. However, this year looked different than in years past because of the challenges faced by the civic center not being open until the end of December. Preparation and training time for the competition made for an abbreviated training season.

However, for one skater, Elli Dukett, giving the games her best effort was a fun and easy choice. Dukett has been skating with the High Peaks Skating Academy since she was 4 years old and is a senior at Tupper Lake high school. She enjoys skating and growing in the sport. Dukett has been competing at the ESWG since she was young, and this year, she took fourth place in her Excel Juvenile Group.

The High Peaks Skating Academy is proud of Elli, her accomplishments as a student and her continued dedication to figure skating.

She is the daughter of Juli and Jed Dukett of Tupper Lake and heads into college next year at Siena College to study business and continue her skating journey.