McKenzie Pedersen is skating on cloud nine.

The Arvada native was recently selected to perform with Disney On Ice during its “100 Years of Magic” show, something she’s always dreamed of doing.

The 19-year-old started skating when she was 7, after a new recreation center opened in Arvada.

“I wanted nothing to do with skating, but my mom insisted,” she said. “I moved through the levels quickly, and I was hooked.”

After middle school, Pedersen wanted to take her skating more seriously, so she began skating at the Ice Centre at the Promenade in Westminster. There, she focused on competitive skating in the arena she considers the second-best training facility in Colorado.

Over the years Pedersen has achieved success, including becoming a U.S. Figure Skating double gold medalist, winning a National Showcase gold medal in 2004 and earning fifth place at the 2011 U.S. Collegiate Nationals.

“Although I love competing, what I really love is the performance side of skating,” she said. “Performing is what I love about the sport and making people smile when I skate. So with Disney On Ice, I will be able to focus on the performance.”

Pedersen doesn’t know what character she will play as part of the “100 Years of Magic” cast, but if she could choose, she said, her top pick would be Tinkerbelle. She said she thinks her personality really fits that of Tinkerbelle. She’ll find out when she arrives in Florida for rehearsals on Tuesday, Sept. 18. No matter who or what she plays, she said, she can’t wait to start the experience.

“I’m so excited to meet new people, especially the different people in the industry who have so much experience,” she said. “Traveling will be fun, and learning from people will really help me grow as a person and as skater.”