This season's edition of this penultimate masters speed skating competition will be held in Baselga de Pine, Italy during February 26 to 28, 2010. The meet will be limited to 213 skaters of which 16 are reserved for Canadian and US skaters up to December 10, 2009. After that, remaining open spaces will be allocated to skaters from other countries, who's quota's have been exceeded, on a first-come-first-served basis. At this point, only 5 of those spaces have been taken by entries from 2 Canadians and 3 US competitors.
We were fortunate to participate in this same competition in 2005 and recorded our experience, part of which is repeated below. Baslega de Pine was a magical place for us, an experience we hope others will enjoy as well.
Baselga de Piné 2005 - the Canadian Perspective
July 1, 2005
The hot hazy days of the Canadian summer have arrived. Speed skating has gone into a kind of alter-hibernation while masters skaters continue to prepare for the next season to begin – running, cycling, in-line skating, weights and dryland training. What keeps these aging athletes going with continued determination, despite the aches and pains – and knowing they mustn’t quit their day jobs just yet? It’s for the love of the sport and the continued pursuit to improve. It’s for those few days each year where all other concerns are forgotten and one is completely immersed in skating – like those wonderful days we spent in Baselga de Piné last February.
Canadian masters skaters travelled to Italy from a wide variety of geographic origins in our vast country.
Brett Arnason, his wife Marnie and friend Eugene Kirmey arrived first from Manitoba – a province that has produced many of Canada’s best skaters – Susan Auch and Cindy Klassen. Soon after, came Bob Laurence followed closely by Ann and Ross Hanham – all from Ontario, home to such speed skating stars as Kristina Groves, the Overlands (Kevin, Cindy and Amanda) and Derrick Campbell. Next to appear was Anika Bédard and her husband René, with friend Lyse Fournier not far behind – all from Québec which brought us the great Gaétan Boucher and so many outstanding short-trackers such as Marc Gagnon and Nathalie Lambert. And then, from western Canada, came Doug Brown, and friend Tim – who trains at the famous Olympic Oval in Calgary Alberta from which, came Jeremy Wotherspoon, - perhaps the greatest Canadian speed skater of all time.
Then last, but certainly not least, after much rumour and speculation, Patrick Kelly and his wife Karen made a surprise last minute entrance. Patrick, originally from Ontario and now living in Lake Placid New York, ranks amongst all those great Canadian speed skaters mentioned above - having represented our country at the 1992 and 1994 Olympics. For Patrick, this trip to Baselga de Piné was a trip down memory lane, having competed and trained there many years before.
For the rest of the Canadians, this was a new and wonderful place so different from their various home regions.
Each morning, we awoke to church bells and roosters who didn’t seem to care what time it was. With peanut butter nowhere to be found, we soon developed a taste for Nutella – especially the milky creamy variety. Where Canada has become a land of 24-hour convenience stores and Sunday shopping, we soon found out that all of Baselga de Piné shuts down for siesta every afternoon. And so we went hungry our first day - having looked for lunch too late. When shops finally began to re-open, we discovered the wonderful fruit market where Patrizia lured Bob to the back room to sample her special stock of high-powered grappa. 
Although residing in a number of places throughout the town such as the Olimpic, 2 Camini, and Serraia, the Canadians soon became a sort of family, dining together in the evenings with our Dutch, Norwegian, and Korean friends at the Hotel Olimpic, the Pink Panther, Albergo 2 Camini, Ristorante de Gigi and the Pizzeria Alpino. There we would fumble with Italian menus and translation books, often gesturing as if playing charades. At our largest gathering at the Gigi, our good friend Sjoerd van Tiel of the Netherlands negotiated the entire meal with the owner calling out menu items and asking for a show of hands.
We were fortunate to participate in this same competition in 2005 and recorded our experience, part of which is repeated below. Baslega de Pine was a magical place for us, an experience we hope others will enjoy as well.
Baselga de Piné 2005 - the Canadian PerspectiveJuly 1, 2005
The hot hazy days of the Canadian summer have arrived. Speed skating has gone into a kind of alter-hibernation while masters skaters continue to prepare for the next season to begin – running, cycling, in-line skating, weights and dryland training. What keeps these aging athletes going with continued determination, despite the aches and pains – and knowing they mustn’t quit their day jobs just yet? It’s for the love of the sport and the continued pursuit to improve. It’s for those few days each year where all other concerns are forgotten and one is completely immersed in skating – like those wonderful days we spent in Baselga de Piné last February.
Canadian masters skaters travelled to Italy from a wide variety of geographic origins in our vast country.
Brett Arnason, his wife Marnie and friend Eugene Kirmey arrived first from Manitoba – a province that has produced many of Canada’s best skaters – Susan Auch and Cindy Klassen. Soon after, came Bob Laurence followed closely by Ann and Ross Hanham – all from Ontario, home to such speed skating stars as Kristina Groves, the Overlands (Kevin, Cindy and Amanda) and Derrick Campbell. Next to appear was Anika Bédard and her husband René, with friend Lyse Fournier not far behind – all from Québec which brought us the great Gaétan Boucher and so many outstanding short-trackers such as Marc Gagnon and Nathalie Lambert. And then, from western Canada, came Doug Brown, and friend Tim – who trains at the famous Olympic Oval in Calgary Alberta from which, came Jeremy Wotherspoon, - perhaps the greatest Canadian speed skater of all time.Then last, but certainly not least, after much rumour and speculation, Patrick Kelly and his wife Karen made a surprise last minute entrance. Patrick, originally from Ontario and now living in Lake Placid New York, ranks amongst all those great Canadian speed skaters mentioned above - having represented our country at the 1992 and 1994 Olympics. For Patrick, this trip to Baselga de Piné was a trip down memory lane, having competed and trained there many years before.
For the rest of the Canadians, this was a new and wonderful place so different from their various home regions.
Each morning, we awoke to church bells and roosters who didn’t seem to care what time it was. With peanut butter nowhere to be found, we soon developed a taste for Nutella – especially the milky creamy variety. Where Canada has become a land of 24-hour convenience stores and Sunday shopping, we soon found out that all of Baselga de Piné shuts down for siesta every afternoon. And so we went hungry our first day - having looked for lunch too late. When shops finally began to re-open, we discovered the wonderful fruit market where Patrizia lured Bob to the back room to sample her special stock of high-powered grappa. 
Although residing in a number of places throughout the town such as the Olimpic, 2 Camini, and Serraia, the Canadians soon became a sort of family, dining together in the evenings with our Dutch, Norwegian, and Korean friends at the Hotel Olimpic, the Pink Panther, Albergo 2 Camini, Ristorante de Gigi and the Pizzeria Alpino. There we would fumble with Italian menus and translation books, often gesturing as if playing charades. At our largest gathering at the Gigi, our good friend Sjoerd van Tiel of the Netherlands negotiated the entire meal with the owner calling out menu items and asking for a show of hands.And then the real reason we travelled all this way became our daily routine - just as if we had all become independently wealthy and could do whatever we wished – skating 2 times a day at the Ice Rink Piné. 
We skated in the daylight and under the lights at night, skating until the ice re-surfacer forced us to leave, practicing our starts, working on our corners and gliding the straights. For Canada, despite its wintery reputation and our legacy of speed skating stars, has only 2 refrigerated ovals in the entire land. And so for those skaters who are not blessed to live in Calgary, Ste Foy or Lake Placid - Baselga de Piné presented a welcome opportunity to skate until one’s legs retained only enough strength for the walk back to the hotel and the climb up the stairs to bed – at the same time, attempting to conserve enough stamina for the racing that was yet to come.
Between these skating sessions, we walked about the town exploring the twisting winding streets of the old neighbourhoods and visiting the churches situated atop the various hilltops. From these vantage points, we gazed out to the Dolomite Mountains that surrounded this beautiful place. On one day, we all jammed into the Bédard’s rented Volkswagen like the proverbial college stunt and travelled down the mountain into Trento. While René gave a guest lecture at the university, the rest of us explored some remnants of the ancient Roman Empire on which this city was founded including the Castello del Buonconsiglio and the ruins preserved in tunnels below the streets.
And then the day arrived for which we had all trained so hard, travelled so far and awaited with so much anticipation. Go to the start …… with Ann, Lyse and Anika first, followed by the men - all skating the fastest 500m we could possibly muster. 
And fast we were – with Bob skating the 2nd fastest time of his age group and Patrick thrilling us all with the fastest 500m of all competitors. In the days that followed there was both satisfaction and disappointment – some personal records and victories mixed with falls, nagging injuries and missed races. And when it was all over, the times told the story - with Patrick 2nd overall in his classification, Eugene declared the fastest 75-79 year old man in the world and the rest of us with varying degrees of personal satisfaction – all with gratitude to the coaching assistance of René, Karen and Tim. 
With racing behind us, we finally broke our training regimen and began to party - knowing we had 12 months to rid ourselves of any lingering after-effects. And so we gathered with all competitors, friends, volunteers and officials for a great feast of local delicacies and wines interspersed with vodka-induced Russian dancing and songs. There was much hand-shaking, hugging, exchanging of addresses and congratulations all around.
But now, that feeling of independent wealth that we had enjoyed for so many days began to wane – those nagging thoughts of schedules and responsibilities began to appear in the backs of our minds. In one last effort to drive them away and to prolong the Baslega de Piné experience, many of us adjourned to the boathouse bar “floating” on frozen Lake Serraia where the beer, grappa and conversation continued to flow long into the evening and our Dutch friends treated us to a demonstration of belly gliding on the surrounding ice.
But then time ran out – and we parted after final hand-shakes, hugs, congratulations and promises to keep in touch. Luggage was packed, tickets were checked and all dispersed by planes, trains and automobiles to their respective homes throughout the world. Where now in the hot hazy days of summer - we run, cycle, in-line skate, lift weights, hop and jump –knowing we can’t quit our day jobs just yet. We wait for winter to return and for one more chance to forget about everything else except the sport we love – next time.
We skated in the daylight and under the lights at night, skating until the ice re-surfacer forced us to leave, practicing our starts, working on our corners and gliding the straights. For Canada, despite its wintery reputation and our legacy of speed skating stars, has only 2 refrigerated ovals in the entire land. And so for those skaters who are not blessed to live in Calgary, Ste Foy or Lake Placid - Baselga de Piné presented a welcome opportunity to skate until one’s legs retained only enough strength for the walk back to the hotel and the climb up the stairs to bed – at the same time, attempting to conserve enough stamina for the racing that was yet to come.Between these skating sessions, we walked about the town exploring the twisting winding streets of the old neighbourhoods and visiting the churches situated atop the various hilltops. From these vantage points, we gazed out to the Dolomite Mountains that surrounded this beautiful place. On one day, we all jammed into the Bédard’s rented Volkswagen like the proverbial college stunt and travelled down the mountain into Trento. While René gave a guest lecture at the university, the rest of us explored some remnants of the ancient Roman Empire on which this city was founded including the Castello del Buonconsiglio and the ruins preserved in tunnels below the streets.
And then the day arrived for which we had all trained so hard, travelled so far and awaited with so much anticipation. Go to the start …… with Ann, Lyse and Anika first, followed by the men - all skating the fastest 500m we could possibly muster. 
And fast we were – with Bob skating the 2nd fastest time of his age group and Patrick thrilling us all with the fastest 500m of all competitors. In the days that followed there was both satisfaction and disappointment – some personal records and victories mixed with falls, nagging injuries and missed races. And when it was all over, the times told the story - with Patrick 2nd overall in his classification, Eugene declared the fastest 75-79 year old man in the world and the rest of us with varying degrees of personal satisfaction – all with gratitude to the coaching assistance of René, Karen and Tim. 
With racing behind us, we finally broke our training regimen and began to party - knowing we had 12 months to rid ourselves of any lingering after-effects. And so we gathered with all competitors, friends, volunteers and officials for a great feast of local delicacies and wines interspersed with vodka-induced Russian dancing and songs. There was much hand-shaking, hugging, exchanging of addresses and congratulations all around.But now, that feeling of independent wealth that we had enjoyed for so many days began to wane – those nagging thoughts of schedules and responsibilities began to appear in the backs of our minds. In one last effort to drive them away and to prolong the Baslega de Piné experience, many of us adjourned to the boathouse bar “floating” on frozen Lake Serraia where the beer, grappa and conversation continued to flow long into the evening and our Dutch friends treated us to a demonstration of belly gliding on the surrounding ice.
But then time ran out – and we parted after final hand-shakes, hugs, congratulations and promises to keep in touch. Luggage was packed, tickets were checked and all dispersed by planes, trains and automobiles to their respective homes throughout the world. Where now in the hot hazy days of summer - we run, cycle, in-line skate, lift weights, hop and jump –knowing we can’t quit our day jobs just yet. We wait for winter to return and for one more chance to forget about everything else except the sport we love – next time.
1 comment:
Great article Ross! Really makes me want to go!
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