If you hesitated past the former December 8, 2007 deadline to register for this first-ever international Canadian masters event, you still have a chance to sign up. Gregg Planert, meet coordinator for this February 9-10, 2008 competition at Calgary's Olympic Oval, has advised that the registration deadline has been extended until the end of January 31, 2008.
So far, about 50 skaters have entered, including a few Norwegians and one Russian, ensuring this will truly be an international event. Although not officially reported, it's also very likely some American masters have also registered. It would be great to see as many of our friends as possible from south of the border in the 2nd of 3 major masters speed skating events in North America this season - the first being the Ist Masters International American Open Sprint in Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Centre on January 5-6, 2008. This series of events has been suggested by Brett Arnason (CAN) and Andrew Love (USA) as the "unofficial" North American masters championship.
For those uncertain about entering, don't be concerned with all this talk about competition and championships. This is also about achieving your own best times and these are the ovals on which to do it. In the 16th Masters International Speed Skating Games last February in Calgary, 93 international masters records were broken, in addition to hundreds of untold personal bests.
There is also a huge amount of camaraderie among participants in these events both on, and off, the ice as evident in Andrew Love's video, "We Are Family". If you love speed skating and want to meet (or re-unite with) other masters who are just as passionate as you about this great sport, Calgary is the place to be during February 9-10.
Friends in Calgary - February 2007 : Photo by Tim Reilly
Additional information and an entry form are available here. I hope to see you there.
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