February 8th 2010- Short Track Speed Skating News

February 8, 2010

Happy Monday!

I wish I could have updated SSW during the weekend.

I was at a short track speed skating competition in Milton all day on Saturday. Then on Saturday evening, I ate some bad barley and became quite ill. I spent most of Sunday in bed with a garbage pail by my side.

I’m still quite sick right now, but I’m well enough to update SSW with the most recent short track speed skating news that I could find;

RICHMOND, B.C. – Canada’s short-track speedskating team might be favoured to claim a handful of medals at the Vancouver Olympics but it’s leaving nothing to chance.

On Sunday, members of the squad, including medal favourites Charles Hamelin and Kalyna Roberge, marched outside the Speed Skating Canada House in Richmond, B.C., and entrusted their Olympic dreams to a towering Inukshuk planted nearby.

By SSW | Posted in Article, Blog, Facilities, Injury, International, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, RIP, Results, Short Track, Skaters, Television, Training, Upcoming, Video | Comments (0)

February 4th 2010- Tons Of Long Track Speed Skating News, Videos, Articles, & More

February 4, 2010

With the 2010 Winter Olympics fast-approaching, I’ll do my best to keep SSW updated with fresh speed skating news.

On that note, please understand that I’m balancing training and work with maintaining SSW.

If you need a short cut to the juice stuff, here are ‘Peter’s Picks’:

With that being said, let’s dive straight into all that is good and recent from the wide world of long track speed skating.

VIDEOS

BLOG ENTRIES

At the end of the farce, and after a five day delay, despite being at the top of three very short lists, none of the guys made the final cut. Devastating doesn’t even begin to describe it, especially for Josh, who was our highest-ranked skater in a world cup in ANY event, who had actually qualified, only to be bumped out by an out-of-form skater (who wouldn’t have even made the reserve list this year) on a strange technicality.

RESULTS & REPORTS

Outdoor ovals are a different story, especially those with natural ice. Hard natural ice exposes all technical flaws in a skater. Any inefficiencies are accentuated, especially when you get tired. It is a whole different ball game, because I not only need to focus on racing the race, but I also need to change my tactics. This could include getting lower going into the wind and sitting slightly higher with the wind. If its going to be windy, then I’ll use it to my advantage.

‘RZ on the slideboard, imitating what she sees her daddy doing. She is not facing the right direction, but she is smiling, and that is more important than technique for a little kid! (and for most adults too…)‘- photo from Andrew Love

Photo from Andrew Love

PICTURES

Photo from here

Photo from Tims ProSkateShots

Sjoerd wins- photo from Tims ProSkateShots

Sjoerd crashhhh!!- photo from Tims ProSkateShots

MISC/ STUFF I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT’S ABOUT, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT’S NOT IN ENGLISH

And while it’s expected this should be a great Games for Canada in the medal standings, the real rewards are likely to come in 2014 in Sochi and beyond – if we maintain a strong sports system.

I can only tell what went through my mind:

Hope I won’t have a false start,
Hope I wont’t fall during the start,
Hope my opening is decent enough for a fast endtime,
Hope I won’t have a messy crossing,
Hope he doesn’t cross over me at the first crossing in case I had a first
innerlane,
Hope I can make use of my opponent somewhere (drafting behind him during a
crossing),
Hope I have some over at the last straight.
Hope I have a new personal record, or at least a seson best.

OLYMPICS

Its important we remember what a great season these guys have had and are having. When you try to make an Olympic team after only one year in a sport it was never going to be easy. Even Olympic champion Derek Para did not pull that off in his first season. March 2009 we celebrated as these two boys and their team mate Sophie Muir broke into the times needed just to compete at a world cup. It went on from there with constant improvement and even with this non- selection the improvement is not stopping, as we speak the everyone is getting faster and faster.

Photo from Stuart Davis, Vancouver Sun files

By my count, the AP predicts 30 total medals for Canada and 27 each for the United States and Germany. A whopping 15 of Canada’s medals are expected to be gold, with nine going to the U.S. and eight going to Germany.

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Article, Blog, Championships, Facilities, Forum, Funny, Inspiration, Interesting, International, Interview, Junior, Long Track, Marathon, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, Race Series, Records, Reports, Results, Skaters, Sport Development, Training, Travel, Upcoming, Video, World Cup | Comments (0)

February 1st 2010- Long Track Speed Skating News

February 1, 2010

Ok, let’s start the weekend re-cap with long track speed skating news;

The family of nations is equally strange & wonderful during the Olympic games. You can feel intense national pride one moment, chant USA! USA! USA! at the top of your lungs, and the next find yourself granting deep respect and admiration for athletes from all over the world.

You find yourself celebrating with them, after a moment earlier, cheering against them.

Clara Hughes- photo from here

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) wishes to congratulate Clara Hughes (Glen Sutton, QC) on being named Canada’s flag bearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony. The announcement was made by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) moments ago in Richmond, BC, home of next month’s speed skating competitions.

Andrew Love & a masked friend- photo from Andrew Love

Italian team during World Junior Cup in Baselga di Pine- photo from Passion-For-Skating

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Blog, Championships, International, Junior, Long Track, Marathon, Olympics, Photos, Race Series, Results, Skaters, World Cup | Comments (0)

January 26th 2010- Roller Speed Skating Links & More

January 26, 2010

As the middle of the work-week approaches, it’s time for me to share some links to what’s going on in the roller speed skating world. And so, as it goes on, some news is sad, some is good;

Sorry to be the bearer of horribly bad news. Mary Scott King of Huntington Beach, CA was killed in a tragic snowboarding accident on Saturday the 16th in Telluride, Colorado, while heli-boarding with her boyfriend, Carlo Nafarrette. She skated for me at Team Paradise in the early 90’s, competing both indoors and outdoors. While she hadn’t gotten new skates in years (she was still on her 5 x 84’s), she still skated every now and then. One thing about Mary Scott, she was always better than what she gave herself credit for, both in skating and snowboarding.


Photo from MundoPatin.com


Photo by Mark Virtue


Photo from ASTA

I remember watching the first one in November on live feed and thinking a LOT of the same thoughts that are being posted on here about this event. Everyone that was actually at the Initiation kept telling me what a success it was and how many people showed up to watch. I found that VERY hard to believe.. until I attended this event (tribulation 1) they had this weekend. I promise you- people came in BUNCHESSS to watch this event. The rink was absolutely packed with non-skaters and there was a lot of energy in there. Obviously, that energy is not making its way entirely across the internet and onto your computers. Joey and Miguel are their own biggest critics and are completely aware of that. One big reason that the live feed hasn’t been that fulfilling is because the audio being fed to the online viewers is coming exclusively from the emcee’s mic. It doesn’t sound natural.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Make sure you consult SSW’s events calendar for upcoming events. Please let me know if there are events that need to be added to the calendar.

Planet Adventure now offers Inline Speed Skating events in Indianapolis. With the help of experienced area speed skaters (Indy Speed, Asphalt Beach and Global Inline) and the National Roller Cup (NROC), Planet Adventure will host five events in 2010.

I am please to announce that Marathon Roller of Montreal 2010 will be back this year. Same great fun, same great venue. Confirmed date is for May 9th. More details to come soon.

By SSW | Posted in Advice, Championships, Events, Indoor, Junior, Marathon, National Selection, Off Season, Photos, RIP, Race Series, Reports, Results, Roller, Senior, Skaters, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)

January 25th 2010- Short Track Speed Skating News & Links

January 25, 2010

It’s time that I focus SSW on the world of short track speed skating. Here’s a bit of what’s been happening of late;


Germany’s Tysen Heung- photo from DESGphoto


Photo from DESGphoto


Bulgaria’s Evgenia Radanova- photo from BGNES


Photo from DESGphoto

By SSW | Posted in Championships, International, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, Reports, Results, Short Track, Skaters, Video | Comment (1)

2010-01-24 Long Track Speed Skating News & Links

January 24, 2010

As the weekend draws to a close, here are some links to catch you up on what’s been going on in the long track speed skating world.


Photo by Kirsti Biseth


Photo by Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

The Olympic suits were also introduced a week early. The whole team got onto the ice and skated around, greeting the crowd and shaking hands with the crowd. At one point the crowd started chanting “Go Canada”. It was truly an amazing day. And to see how many kids were not at school that day- wow!

By SSW | Posted in Blog, International, Interview, Junior, Links, Long Track, Marathon, Masters, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, Race Series, Reports, Results, Skaters, Team, Video, World Cup | Comments (0)

January 22nd 2010- Long Track Speed Skating News

January 22, 2010

Here’s a bit of long track speed skating news from the last few days.

As we head into the weekend, I recommend that you begin your browsing with these links; Clara Hughes’ entry WITH GLOWING HEARTS, Tim’s ProSkateShots’ pictures Weissensee-TalentTrofee2010, and Daniel Yeow-’s most recent entry Introducing….

I’ve got a very busy weekend ahead of me, which will include;

  • …see my friend later tonight & play Wii- I will destroy Morgane & Gero
  • …train on Saturday morning
  • …meeting for a marathon on Saturday afternoon
  • …train on Saturday evening
  • …update SSW at some point on Saturday
  • …skate on Sunday morning
  • …supervise & direct a choir of 100 children who’ll sing the Canadian National Anthem at the O.H.L. game
  • …weights on Sunday afternoon
  • …work on term-2 report cards
  • …update SSW at some point on Sunday


Photo from Tims ProSkateShots

Stephen Colbert has been a huge advocate this year for the Winter Olympics. His show is the official sponsor of the U.S. Speedskating team and in a recurring bit over the last few months Colbert has tried to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in a variety of different events. From luge to curling, Colbert has been trying in every way possible to make the Olympic team, in hilarious fashion.

The reality of preparing for the Olympics means missing some of the best moments leading into the Games. In fact, I’ve only been to one opening ceremony in my Olympic life. That life spans four rounds, thus far. What I’ve always done, however, is live moments like these through the people experiencing them.


Photo from Schaatsenzo.nl

By SSW | Posted in Blog, Equipment, Inspiration, International, Interview, Long Track, News, Olympics, Photos, Results, Skaters, Video | Comment (1)

January 20th 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

January 20, 2010

Here are a few roller speed skating related links- enjoy.

I suggest you kick off your speed skating surfing with this video: 2009 Engadin World Inline Cup.


Photo from here

I am a big outdoor fan and I would love to skate this meet but in January it just doesn’t make that much since for me to go to Florida to race a lot of people that are not in outdoor shape which from watching.. a lot of people are not in outdoor shape. In January I just don’t believe that there is anything to gain from that meet. If you do good then you get a false since of security considering you weren’t racing many people that were in shape, and if you do bad you shrug it off and say you haven’t been skating outdoor much.

Club de patins à roues alignées, TAZ Vitesse from 24hroller on Vimeo.

By SSW | Posted in Blog, Championships, Equipment, Events, Indoor, International, Marathon, Masters, Photos, Reports, Results, Roller, Skaters, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, Volunteer, World Cup, Youth | Comments (0)

January 18th 2010- Skate Vermont, Championnat VRL #1, Supporting CAN Fund

January 18, 2010

SKATE VERMONT- JANUARY 29-31

Skate Vermont is set to take place on the weekend of January 29th to the 31st. The weekend will include speed skating marathon races on Saturday & Sunday. The races, which will be held on Lake Morey, are part of the Marathon Skating International’s events.

Skate Vermont is a celebration of the lake, ice and all things winter. This weekend will be filled with fun for the whole family with snow sculptures, ice skating, speed skating marathons and recreational racing for all ages and abilities, sledding, sleigh rides, torch light skating parade, food, live entertainment and the first annual Taste of the Lake, a culinary tour of Lake Morey’s Skate Trail, the longest maintained trail in the US.

CHAMPIONNAT VRL- REPORT & RESULTS

Here’s a report from this past December’s Championnat VRL;

À la veille du temps des fêtes, le 19 décembre, des patineurs de 5 à 59 ans ont chaussé leurs plus beaux patins pour prendre part au Championnat VRL à la Récréathèque de Laval au nord de Montréal.

Nous avons eu droit à de magnifiques duels sur cette piste de bois entre les clubs VRL, Taz et de Toronto. La compétition était composée d’une courte et d’une longue distance ainsi qu’une course à élimination. De plus, pour terminer le programme, la course à relai a permit aux patineurs de fraterniser. Les organisateurs du club VRL se disent très fiers de l’événement et espèrent en faire un rendez-vous annuel.

VRL le club, souhaite à toute la communauté du « roller » une bonne année 2010. Roulez prudemment!

SUPPORTING CAN FUND

Canadian Athletes Now Fund (CAN Fund) is in the final stretch to fund winter sport athletes who are currently on their waiting list. See how you can help with the Final Push.

You can view video testimonials from Canadian athletes.

The “Final Push” is the Canadians Athletes Now Fund’s call to action. This campaign encourages all Canadians to have a direct impact on the success of our athletes.

What is The Final Push?
It’s a minimum donation of $10 that will be given directly to our athletes so they have what they need over the final months leading up to the Winter Games. For example, this much-needed money will help ensure our top athletes have proper nutrition, upgraded equipment, funds for extra physiotherapy, coaching fees and basic living expenses. With these needs taken care of, our athletes can focus on being their best!

By SSW | Posted in Events, Fundraising, Indoor, International, Long Track, Marathon, Race Series, Reports, Results, Roller, Short Track | Comments (0)

January 17th 2010- Long Track News- World Sprint Championships & More

January 17, 2010

Here are some of the latest long track speed skating relate links to surface over the last few days;

On the topic of who should be the final torchbearer during Feb. 12 opening ceremonies, speed skater Clara Hughes didn’t hesistate for a second when asked her pick.

“Gaetan Boucher,” she said, naming the speed skating great who inspired her to take up the sport.

“Because I think outside of Quebec, he’s under appreciated. I know for me and so many of my teammates we saw him skate in ’88 and we saw him not win but we saw him fight to the death and go out there with courage.

i never felt an earthquake, except when i met sara ^^ , but when i was in plane i was thinking would be strange to feel one….and bingo..1st night in obihiro…earthquake 5.0…..juhuuuu.anyway, i was lucky that japan had technology in the building for this. i send good luck to people from haiti that got one too but with much more dramatic consequence. i wish them to get full help from the world.


Photo from Tims ProSkateShots


Photo from tasmantorenfilm


Photo from EIS Blog

By SSW | Posted in Blog, Championships, Coaching, Events, International, Legends, Long Track, Marathon, News, Olympics, Photos, Race Series, Reports, Results, Skaters, Sprint, Television, Upcoming, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)