SPEED SKATING CANADA RULE CHANGES

According to the delegate package for last June's Annual General Meeting in Quebec City, there were several proposed rule changes affecting masters skaters. Although minutes of the meeting don't appear to be available so far, indirect information and a review of Speed Skating Canada's Red Book suggest the following outcomes -

Rule K3-100: changed masters age classes to 5 year groups, although the effective date is still June 30 prior to the competition. While this provides some increased consistency with international standards, the IMSSC rule is still the age reached during the competition year which means age classes will be one year out of synch when skaters move from age class to the next.

Rule K3-101: changed Canadian Masters Olympic Style Championship to be on its own, not combined with Canada Cup #3 or any other championship. (Proposed by the Federation de Patinage de Vitesse du Quebec to be consistent with what's taking place. The Canadian Masters Championship has not been combined with Canada Cup #3 for the past 2 years.)

Rule K6-101: changed to include masters in the Canadian Age Class Long Track Championships skating 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 3000m. (Proposed by the Manitoba Speed Skating Association for a variety of reasons including consistency with "sport for life" initiatives.) This appears to have passed, but the Red Book also makes mention of Masters Olympic Style events under the same rule heading.

Rule K22-100: proposed that the 4th distance for masters skating in long track mass start competitions be one of 500m, 1000m, 1500m or 3000m. (Proposed by the Manitoba Speed Skating Association for a variety of reasons including the opportunity to challenge the existing masters record for 3000m.) The updated Red Book indicates the 4th distance to still be one of 500m, 1000m or 1500m but has added an optional open 3000m event for masters which may be run at the completion of the competition.

CALGARY OLYMPIC OVAL MASTERS CAMP 2008

Many thanks, once again, to Anna Delaney of the Kingston Striders Speed Skating Club for this account of her experience at the camp last month.

In the wee morning hours of Monday July 21st, 20 masters speed skaters checked in for their summer speed skating camp at the Olympic Oval in Calgary....5 days of concentrated learning. We had come from Italy, Great Britain, the East Coast, British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta to benefit from the knowledge and skills of coaches Kevin Crockett, Tawnya Yard, Abby Ennis, and Debbie Fisher. Throughout the 5 days, we acquired improved techniques in straightaway striding, cornering with accelerations, starts, a solid foundation in structuring intervals, warm-ups and cool-downs, and the finer aspects of sharpening, rockering and setting our blades.

Photo courtesy of Paolo Scotti

Our seminars also dealt with some basics in the physiology of exercise, specifically speed skating, along with principles of rejuvenation. Those of us who stayed in the University of Calgary residences had the advantage of being able to walk to the oval in 5 minutes or less, making it easier to be on time for the 2 ice sessions a day.

We were also fortunate to watch visiting National teams from other countries and a professional team from the Netherlands.

Photo courtesy of Anna Delaney

Our gratitude goes out to our coaches and coordinator, Graeme Koelwyn. This camp was one of the most positive experiences in speed skating ever!!!

OSSA SUMMER CAMP 2008

Many thanks to Anna Delaney of the Kingston Striders Speed Skating Club for her following report:

Nine eager Masters skaters took part in the OSSA Summer Camp held at the Bob McQuarrie Recreation Complex in Orleans, ON. The masters’ segment was scheduled over three days, the 19th 20th and 21st. However, due to a lack of water in the building on Wednesday, that day had to be rescheduled for Friday the 22^nd.

Our coach, Todd Landon, put us through our paces stressing proper technique and drills in striding and cornering. Spinning sessions highlighted an awareness of structured cross-training and its benefits. We learned some very useful and different stretching regimens and experienced the benefits of doing yoga. A video session helped us to analyze our techniques. During another session, the concept of rockering , bending, and off-setting were explained. Todd also gauged all our blades, giving us feedback about our own skates.

Thanks and kudos to Kathy Elliot and everyone else involved with the planning and daily support. Well done!

What an amazing way to take a break from summer’s heat! A ‘must do’ event for 2009.

Back Row, from L to R: Tom Mulcahy, (Clarington Speed Skating Club), Pat Blacker-Thomson (Peterborough), Alicia Weiss (Ottawa Pacers), Charles Gower (Niagara), Dave Dryden (Oakville),

Front Row, from L to R: Todd Landon (Coach), Anna Delaney (Kingston Striders), Will Wallace (Toronto), Steve Arnold (Kingston Striders)

Missing from Photo: John Ambrose (St. Lawrence , Brockville)