The Portage Skating Club's hosting the Manitoba Star 1-4 Regionals today at the PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie.

Portage Skating Club's Technical Director Gisele Sutherland explains the order of the event.

"It starts off with the Star 1, that's the introductory level into the Star 1-5 program. They don't do solo's to music, and we progress from that one into Star 2 where they do start to do a solo, and they have specific elements they have to put into the solo as well. We have Star 3 and 4 as well."

Sutherland says it's going to be a packed house at the PCU Centre today with all the skaters.

"We're ranging all the way from 6 to 16, it's a full event. It encompasses skaters from right across Central Plains, and we've combined with another region. So we have skaters coming from Altona, Morden, Carman, Winkler, and such areas. We've got 89 skaters coming."

She adds the event isn't hosted here annually, and would be a great experience for young skaters.

"It'll be a great way to spend the day, and give them an idea of what happens. It's a good way for people to see how these kids get to that next level, where they've had to come through to get to that level. We don't host this every year, so this is a good chance as it's right here in our own backyard."

The first skaters hit the ice at 9:30 this morning, and the day is set to wrap up at 5:30 p.m.