MOOSE JAW — A local figure skater is preparing to take the international stage this fall as she joins the cast of Disney on Ice, bringing pride to her hometown and excitement to her family and coaches.
Mitike Cridland, 18, will depart in early October to begin rehearsals in Florida before launching a seven-month tour across the United States and Canada. Her first performance is scheduled for Nov. 1 in Macon, Georgia, with shows running through April 2026.
“I’m so excited. I leave in two weeks and I can’t even believe it,” Cridland said. “Today I got my videos of the whole show and what I have to learn, and I’m just super excited for this new challenge. I’m a little scared, but I think it will be very good for me to go out in the world and get to do something I’m passionate about.”
Cridland has been skating since the age of three, and for her, the rink has always felt like home. After years of competitive skating at the provincial and western Canadian level, she described her next step into the world of professional show skating as both daunting and thrilling.
“I’ve been skating for 15 years,” she said. “It’s definitely my passion and always has been.”
Her role on tour will see her perform in multiple numbers as part of the ensemble cast.
“I’m going to be a backup figure skater to a lot of different numbers,” she explained, listing Disney’s Frozen, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, and Toy Story.
Training has already shifted from focusing on jumps and spins to learning choreography.
“I get to the rink around 1:45 p.m., and then I train until about 3:30 p.m. every day,” Cridland said. “Now that I’ve received the videos, for the next two weeks my training will be watching the videos and learning the show on ice so when I go I can be as prepared as possible.”
Though still nervous, she said practicing with the routines is helping her gain confidence.
“I’m definitely nervous, because learning it in a video and then going with a bunch of people who already know the show is going to be a lot different.”
Tessa Hill-Borgeaud, who skated with Disney on Ice herself before her coaching role, said she’s thrilled to see Cridland take this step.
“She is a natural born performer, and she has a true love of skating,” her former coach said.
Hill-Borgeaud was ecstatic when she learned Cridland had signed her professional contract.
“I cheered out loud … I was just ecstatic and so incredibly proud that it really happened. Honestly, I never had a doubt that she would be doing that,” she said. “I’m just glad that it came to fruition and that it’s happening for her.”
She added that Cridland’s accomplishment is a testament to her dedication.
“It takes so much commitment to stay with your sport through high school, through the challenges of your jumps, changing your body, and changing your centre … she had this goal in mind, stuck with it, and made it happen.”
For Cridland, the adventure ahead offers not only the chance to perform but also the opportunity to travel and learn from seasoned professionals.
“I’m really excited to be able to work with a bunch of experienced show skaters, because I have no actual professional experience,” she said. “I’m also very excited to travel … and share my love for skating with a bunch of people who are coming to watch it.”
Representing her hometown will make the experience even more meaningful.
“That’s the first thing that comes to mind — it’s just crazy that this gets to be my life. Tessa was a professional skater … and a lot of my coaches in Regina are professionals and a lot of my friends have gone professional. I just always looked up to them, so it’s crazy that now it’s my turn,” Cridland said. “I just feel so blessed and honoured that I get to do my dream job.”
To follow her tour and learn more about the show, visit DisneyOnIce.com.
