Her skating

      At the age of nine, Barbara was encouraged to become involved in the sport of ice skating, initially to help correct a common knee condition.  Her commitment to the sport became exclusive over the next several years, practicing figure 8's with a goal for perfection while accomplishing double-axels, double-flips, double-toe loops, double salchows, double spins, and flying camels.  To help improve her rank in local and regional competitions, Barbara got permission to leave school one hour early for several hours of practice each day, often returning on Saturdays.  She developed her skills in both dance and ladies singles, while competing against her new friend and aspiring skater, Peggy Fleming, who would go on to win three world titles and a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics. 

https://olympics.com/en/video/peggy-fleming-interview-jumping-skating-artistry

   Barbara also had dreams of becoming a world class skater but realized an even greater commitment was required.  She chose instead to become a professional ice skating instructor and taught numerous children and adults, primarily at the outdoor rink located in Blue Jay near Lake Arrowhead, but also at Glacier Falls Ice Rink in Anaheim and Mission Valley Plaza Rink in San Diego. 

     She also auditioned for Ice Capades and Ice Follies and presented an innovative act where she would both sing and skate.  Her performance of the song "A Time for Us" from the 1968 film, 'Romeo and Juliet', convinced Ice Follies to offer her a one-year contract to perform her act in their European show before bringing her back to America.  Sadly, she  broke her arm during a skating practice which ended her hopes at that time of working with a theatrical skating show.

 But she didn't stop there.  In 1980, after moving back to Canada, Barbara choreographed and performed in her own ice skating production she entitled, "Ministry on Ice," in which she was able to both sing and skate while interpreting biblical themes.  Her performance was presented to an audience at Memorial Arena in Victoria, BC and also featured on the Christian television program "100 Huntley Street" in Toronto.