US MASTER CAMPS - MILWAUKEE REGISTRATION OPEN

Information and registration form for the Milwaukee camp are now available on US Speed Skating's website.

Participants must have some prior experience. Registration is open to the first 30 skaters who apply before September 8, 2011.

US MASTERS CAMPS - UPDATE

With respect to these proposed camps, Glenn Corso has provided some additional information, as follows, and is looking for initial feedback.

CAMP 1 - MILWAUKEE

The dates look like they will be September 21 or 22 through the 25th. This will be run by Ryan Bedford, not the oval, so payments and registration will be directly to him (cheque or cash). I'm expecting this is going to run around $200-$300 each. Final numbers have not been nailed down yet. Each participant will be responsible for their own hotel and transport. Hotels can be chosen from the list on the Pettit website for discounts. Groupings may be facilitated once we have a better handle on registrants. $10/session payable to the oval since it is not their event. Insurance will be part of the purchase of the oval access so you don't have to be a member of USS, but you should be.

This will be the second weekend after they start getting the ice up at the Pettit and is the one that will guarantee the ice will be stable enough to have starts. That being the case, there will likely be time trials on Saturday morning, the 24th.

We're trying to structure this so that if someone cannot make the whole camp, they can come in mid-stream or leave early, or just come for one day. Pricing will be determined by Ryan if I can nail him down long enough.

Here is the general plan:

• Thursday afternoon ice, allowing for people to travel in on Thursday morning, if desired.
• Friday ice AM and PM, dryland/off-ice AM and PM
• Saturday ice AM and PM (possibly mid-day if there are races that weekend or implement them into the camp)
• Sunday off-ice AM, ice AM
• Video after 3 of the sessions, and 2-3 dryland sessions.

We will NOT have use of the upstairs Hall of Fame room on these dates due to some other events already planned there. We will have access to one of the other party rooms down by the concession stand and I'm expecting, weather permitting, we will be outside for the dryland activity.

I am trying to get a more detailed plan from Ryan. If anyone has specific things that they would like to go over, let me know.

CAMP 2 - SALT LAKE CITY

Expected dates are November 9 through 13. Cost between $175 to $250 depending on the amount of ice time. Hotels and travel the responsibility of participants. I'm working on seeing if we can get a good rate a some local hotels to the rink as opposed to staying in SLC and having to drive 40 minutes each way. This should allow for some carpooling and sharing of rooms and expenses.

The general plan is as follows:

• Wednesday-Travel - PM registration meeting
• Thursday - AM long track ice session - 2 hrs, 11:30-1:30 / Mid-day dryland training (turn cables) / PM dryland training (slide board)
• Friday - AM long track ice session - 2 hrs, 11:30 - 1:30 / Mid-day dryland (jump-imitations) / PM long track ice - 1.5 hrs, 5:30-7pm
• Saturday - AM time trials, 8 - noon) / BBQ ? or skate and dryland/sports psychology
• Sunday - AM long track ice - 2 hrs, 9-11 am / Travel

I asked Derek to include some nutrition, race planning and sports psychology as well... if no one wants to do that stuff, we can just do more skate and dryland.

If anyone wanted to come in early, they should check to make sure that ice is available since, some Wednesdays and Fridays, there is no afternoon ice.

I'm sure some flexibility will be afforded here, but the price will be fixed even if you have to leave early or arrive late.

Glenn needs to know if these dates (which he doesn't have a lot of flexibility on) will appeal to most of those interested. Please respond to Glenn at both Glenncorso@gmail.com and gcorso@optonline.net.

CANADIAN OPEN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012 - DATE CHANGE

The date of this event has been changed to February 4-5.

KEVIN FROST - GOLD IN RUSSIA

Congratulations to master skater, Kevin Frost, who won 5 gold medals at the 2nd open blind speed skating championship in Russia last month. The complete story in the Orleans Star can be seen here.

ELLIS EDGE MASTERS CAMP

Registration opens May 24, 2011 for the Ellis Edge Masters Short Track Camp being held August 4-7, 2011 at the Carleton University Ice House in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

As the camp is limited to 30 skaters, watch here for further details and register early.

US MASTERS CAMPS

US master skater, Glenn Corso, is seeking interest in 2 possible masters speed skating camps during the Fall of 2011 -

CAMP 1 -

• to be at Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Centre some time in September.

• to be run by Ryan Bedford and other coaches if there is a good turnout.

• considering Thursday to mid-day Sunday.

• focus on technical, weight training, nutrition, skate set-up and sharpening, etc.

• likely 2 ice sessions per day for 2 hours each.

• off-ice instruction and maybe some video review.

CAMP 2 -

• to be at the Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City.

• hosted by Derek Parra.

• will focus on technique, off-ice and weights.

• will be able to make use of much more video review, both on and off ice.

• Glenn's currently waiting for Derek to get back to him with an outline for the camp.

• not as much ice time, but still worth it.

• again, looking at arriving Wednesday and going from Thursday through to mid-day Sunday.

• could be end of November - early December.

Interested masters should let Glenn know if either, or both, of these camps would be of interest and if they will commit to attending. Pricing is still being worked out, but is partly dependent on numbers. Hotel and transport would be the responsibility of individual participants, but the organizers would try to get everyone at the same location to get a rate and be closer to the facility.

Glenn would appreciate feedback from as many skaters as possible, even if to advise you have no interest. Please reply as soon as possible to gcorso@optonline.net.

US WINTER NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES 2011

Jerry Roberts of the Rochester Speed Skating Club has passed along an invitation which is open to Canadians to participate in the short track speed skating events of the 2011 US Winter National Senior Games.

Jerry advises: "What we have planned so far is 500-1500 meter races open to all men and women over the age of 50 by December 31, 2011. The event is scheduled to be in the mornings of October 1 and 2. Planned are an arrival party Friday night, a fall tour (maybe to a winery Saturday) and a wrap-up by early Sunday afternoon to allow people to get home in a reasonable time."

Upstate (Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse) New York Masters
Photo courtesy of Jerry Roberts

The registration form can be found here.

For more information, contact Jerry at rsstpresjerry@frontier.com.

ONTARIO MASTERS SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sixteen men and twelve women participated in the 2011 version of this event which was held April 2-3 in Ottawa in combination with the Provincial Regional Ability Championships.

The men were sub-divided into 2 groups of 8 skaters of combined age classifications based on ability (500 m seed time) while the women competed as 1 group, also of combined age categories. Overall placement was determined and medals awarded for individual age groups based on time results.

Numerous provincial records were unofficially broken or established including -

Gail Bouchette (F30) - 500m (55.16), 777m (1:27.26), 1000m (1:54.90), 1500m (2:55.19)

Karen Wismer (F40) - 1500m (3:48.48)

Sandy Falco (F45) - 500m (1:02.16), 777m (1:25.56), 1000m (1:56.49), 1500m (3:03.15)

B Rootham (F50) - 777m (1:55.70), 1000m (2:26.32)

Kathy Hunt (F55) - 500m (1:02.21), 777m (1:38.19), 1000m (2:07.30), 1500m (3:15.22)

Shari Campbell (F65) - 500m (1:15.58), 777m (1:59.92), 1000m (2:34.72), 1500m (4:09.90)

Paul Pickard (M40) - 777m (1:18.19), 1500m (2:43.64)

Cameron Boyd (M50) - 500m (52.32), 777m (1:23.00), 1000m (1:47.37), 1500m (2:45.50)

Congratulations to all competitors and many thanks to all officials, volunteers and the Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club.

HALIFAX COUNCIL APPROVES PERMANENT SKATING OVAL

Halifax Regional Municipality councillors voted today to make the skating oval on the Halifax Common permanent. A funding plan for the oval will be decided in budget meetings next month. See the CBC news story here.

CANADIAN OPEN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

Speed Skating Canada has recently advised the 2012 Canadian Open Masters Championship will be held in Fort St. John, British Columbia on February 11-12.

Hosted by the Fort St. John Elks Speed Skating Club, the event will be held on the 400m indoor oval at the recently opened Pomeroy Sports Centre.

Photo by Wim Kok

Fort St. John is the home of Canadian Olympic Speed Skater, Denny Morrison and his brother Jay.

1212 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, 654 kilometers northwest of Edmonton and 930 kilometers northwest of Calgary; Fort St. John is located in the northeast section of British Columbia and is accessible year-round by air with daily flights to major Western Canadian markets or on the ground via the scenic Alaska Highway.

Mark your calendar to be sure not to miss this unique opportunity for masters speed skating in Canada.

CANADIAN RECORDS UPDATE

As the 2010-11 competition season winds down, masters are reminded to send times for consideration as Canadian records to Brett Arnason as soon as possible. Brett can be reached at brett@arnasons.ca.

MASTERS AT OVAL FINALE

Several masters took advantage of the legendary fast ice at Calgary's famous Olympic Oval to achieve the following personal records in the Intact Oval Finale/Canada Cup #4 held March 15-20, 2011.

500m

Vaughn Thibault (M40 CAN) - 40.98

Francois Calletta (M45 CAN) - 41.86

Helge Flesland (M45 NOR) - 42.93

Bianc Sampsonsen (M60 NOR) - 44.08

Ton van Klooster (M50 NED) - 44.20

Johannes Heltne (M55 NOR) - 44.58

Arne Kjolen (M50 NOR) - 45.31

John Pillar (M50 CAN) - 45.68

Johan Schut (M55 NED) - 46.70

1000m

Andre Kleinrensink (M40 NED) - 1:18.91

Bob Irvine (M55 CAN) - 1:20.27

Vaughn Thibault (M40 CAN) - 1:22.10

Helge Flesland (M45 NOR) - 1:23.72

Ton van Klooster (M50 NED) - 1:25.73

Bianc Sampsonsen (M60 NOR) - 1:26.60

Johannes Heltne (M55 NOR) - 1:29.50

John Pillar (M50 CAN) - 1:30.79

Arne Kjolen (M50 NOR) - 1:30.86

1500m

Helge Flesland (M45 NOR) - 2:08.75

Ton van Klooster (M50 NED) - 2:11.81

Johan Schut (M55 NED) - 2:12.80

Bianc Sampsonsen (M60 NOR) - 2:15.13

Magne Bratveit (M50 NOR) - 2:18.50

Arne Kjolen (M50 NOR) - 2:20.03

3000m

Bob Irvine (M55 CAN) - 4:25.90

Rejean Lavoie (M40 CAN) - 4:29.18

Helge Flesland (M45 NOR) - 4:31.99

Johan Schut (M55 NED) - 4:37.72

Magne Bratveit (M50 NOR) - 4:41.81

Bianc Sampsonsen (M60 NOR) - 4:45.86

Arne Kjolen (M50 NOR) - 4:57.89

5000m

Toon van Klooster (M50 NED) - 7:45.51

Rejean Lavoie (M40 CAN) - 7:54.90

Johan Schut (M55 NED) - 7:59.22

Jules Chabot (M40 CAN) - 7:59.37

Magne Bratveit (M50 NOR) - 8:02.16

Helge Flesland (M45 NOR) - 8:06.47

Arne Kjolen (M50 NOR) - 8:36.96

Johannes Heltne (M55 NOR) - 8:46.48

Congratulations to all skaters. Complete results can be seen here.

SALT LAKE CITY MASTERS MEETS

After the International Allround Games last month in Calgary, many masters headed south to Salt Lake City to compete in 5K and 10K races on March 2 and the Champion's Challenge during March 4-6. Three Canadians were amongst the 66 men and 5 women who took part from 10 other nations including Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia and the USA.Julie Houle (Saint John) achieved a new personal record in the 500m going under 50 seconds for the first time on Saturday and then lowering it again to 48.35 on Sunday. She also skated a PR in the 1000m clocking 1:41.07.

The fast ice was also good to the men with Brett Arnason (Winnipeg) skating PR's in the 500 (42.01), 1000 (1:24.11) and 1500 (2:11.22). After an injury in the first 500m in which he still achieved a season best time of 40.52, Randy Plett (Winnipeg) had to scratch from all other races except for the final 5000m where he placed 7th overall.

According to masters speedskating .org, 136 personal records as well as multiple masters record times were set during the 4 days of competition. Complete results can be seen here and here.

WORLD MASTERS DAY FOUR

Competition concluded on Sunday with 1000M, 1500M, 3000M, and 5000M races. Unofficial winners:

1000M

M65 Jan van der Meulen NED 1:22.82

W30 Renske Winters NED 1:23.17

W35 Nina Johanne Torset NOR 1:23.54

W40 Marga Preuter NED 1:25.70

W45 Gerdien Meijer NED 1:23.76

1500M

M60 Erik Vea NOR 2:06.05

3000M

M65 Jan van der Meulen NED 4:32.58

M70 Toon Kooijmans NED 4:49.05

M75 Arne Kjell Foldvik NOR 5:08.13

M80 Tony Zegers CAN 6:05.62

W30 Bianca van den Hoek NED 4:33.29

W35 Nina Johanne Torset NOR 4:27.40

W40 Nicole Slot CAN 4:34.64

W45 Jolanda Voskanp-Vollebregt NED 4:30.14

W50 Marianne de Neeling-Lans NED 4:56.02

W55 Ute Zillman GER 4:51.03

W60 Ria Slikker NED 5:09.77

5000M

M60 Dries Zwart NED 7:41.46

Complete results are available here.

Sunday evening the awards ceremony took place at the Red and White Club at McMahon Stadium. Following the buffet dinner, the first, second, and third place overall winners in each category received an image on canvas of the Olympic Flame at the oval. The Olympic flame had been lit and continued to burn for the duration of the competition, so this was a fitting memento for the gold, silver and bronze winners.

Special recognition was given to the three competitors in the 80-84 age group – Tony Zegers, Roy Witney, and Agatha van der Starre.

More than 20 new world records, as well as a number of Canadian records, were set at the event. More information concerning records set will be available later.

The overall winners in each age group were:

W30

1 Bianca van den Hoek NED

2 Renske Winters NED

3 Ashley Shumate CAN

W35

1 Nina Tørset NOR

2 Renate Jeppsson NOR

3 Sarah Leslie CAN

W40

1 Marga Preuter NED

2 Nicole Slot CAN

3 Irma Woud NED

W45

1 Gerdien Meijer NED

2 Jolanda Voskamp-Vollebregt NED

3 Lijnie Boele NED

W50

1 Lettie Zwanenburg NED

2 Marianne de Neeling NED

3 Elke Sengewald GER

W55

Ute Zillmann GER

2 Silvia Tassara ITA

3 Joke Wittenberg NED

W60

1 Ria Slikker NED

2 Joanna Walters USA

3 Sheila McGinn CAN

M35

1 Thor Olav Tveter NOR

2 Danny Frederick USA

3 Martin Heerma NED

M40

1 Roberto Sighel ITA

2 Ard Neven NED

3 Frans Verhoeve NED

M45

1 Brian Boudreau USA

2 Martin Haire USA

3 Atle Vårvik NOR

M50

1 Herman Vermeer NED

2 Frode Eidsmo NOR

3 John van der Vlugt NED

M55

1 Victor van den Hoff NED

2 Ragnvald Næss NOR

3 Rolf Amundsen NOR

M60

1 Erik Vea NOR

2 Wibe Veenbaas NED

3 Egil Bokn NOR

M65

1 Alf Gjølga NOR

2 Jan van der Meulen NED

3 Kees Verdouw NED

M70

1 Ronald Johnston CAN

2 Toon Kooijmans NED

3 Giorgio Torgler ITA

M75

1 Arne Kjell Foldvik NOR

2 Peter Blokker CAN

M80

1 Antony Zegers CAN

2 Roy Whitney CAN

Complete samalog results are available here.

Following dinner and the awards ceremony, the evening concluded with dancing at the Red and White Club.