SUMMER DRYLAND TRAINING ON WEDNESDAYS

The Toronto Speed Skating Club is thrilled to announce the beginning of the club’s summer dryland training. Our sessions will run weekly on Wednesdays (6:30 – 8:00 p.m.) through the months of June & July, and then resume in late August for the beginning of the skating season.

All club members (and their families) are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to stay fit in a fun, friendly environment. There is no cost for dryland (how many things in life are free!!).

Club coaches will lead you through a series of exercises and drills that will focus on overall fitness, including cardiovascular, flexibility, and balance. This should position you well for a jump start into next season, or at the very least stay engaged with the friendships you have developed through the winter!

Our dryland sessions are centrally located at Sir Winston Churchill Park (map), in the St. Clair Avenue West and Spadina Road area. Meet at the north edge of the park, just off St. Clair, before 6:30 p.m. as we expect to start on time! Heavy rain cancellations will be posted on our web site by 5 p.m. the day of the session. Sessions will go ahead in light showers.

The schedule is as follows (Wednesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.):

• May 27
• June 3
• June 10
• June 17
• June 24
• Canada Day – no practice
• July 8
• July 15
• July 22
• July 29

Dryland training will resume in late August. We look forward to seeing you all there!

WILL WALLACE: FROM PRESIDENT TO HEAD COACH

(By Tama Soble)

A huge thank you to our outgoing president, Will Wallace, for his tremendous leadership, unflagging energy and dedication to building a speed skating club that offers a lively and healthy atmosphere for skaters at all levels and of all ages. During Will's tenure, the Club has taken great strides. We have succeeded at the challenges of supporting both recreational and competative skaters, running annual sanctioned regional meets, campaigning for increased ice time, and organizing print media and TV exposure for the Club. All of this while maintaining a welcoming and family friendly atmosphere.

Over the last few years, Will has set a fine example for all of our skaters by taking on coaching responsibilities and competing as a Masters skater. Now that he has stepped down as president, he has taken on the role of head coach. This is a boon for the Club as Will is highly skilled at motivating both the other coaches and our skaters. The Club will certainly continue to benefit greatly from Will's expertise and boundless enthusiasm.

Club president (2003)

Club head coach (2009)

END-OF-SEASON BANQUET

The end-of-season banquet was held on April 5, 2009. The following awards were given out:

• Spirit Award: Kerri N.
• Female "Up and Comer": Annika E.
• Male "Up and Comer": Jordan O.
• Female Most Improved Skater: Claire B.
• Male Most Improved Skater: Nils E.
• Female Skater of the Year: Stephanie B.
• Male Skater of the Year: Misha S.

Congratulations to all the award winners and a big thank you to all the coaches for their hard work throughout the season!

Click here for more pictures from that evening.

WHAT A FANTASTIC SEASON!

The last practice of the season was held on March 29, 2009. Check out the pictures from that evening.

Thanks to everyone for making the 2008-2009 season a truly fantastic one! Thanks to all the skaters who gave us a season full of excitement, laughter, PBs, and personal achievements. Thanks to all the coaches for helping our skaters develop their skills and work towards their goals. Thanks to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the season. Special thanks to everyone who helped out with the mats!

Here are the highlights of this past season:

• a record number of participants (39) in the Learn to Speed Skate program
• a successful Western Regional Meet
• numerous PBs by many skaters at various distances
• 8 skaters entered the sub-60-second club, 1 for the sub-55-second club, and 1 for the sub-50-second club
• 7 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze medals at six Western Regional Meets
• 1 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze medals at four Ontario Cups
• 2 representatives at the North American Championships
• 1 representative at the Canadian Junior Championships
• 1 gold medal at the Quebec Elite Circuit
• 2 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Provincial Regional and Masters Championships
• 2 gold and 3 silver medals at the Canadian Age Class Championships

Even though the season has just ended, the board members and coaches are already looking ahead to the next season. We are currently working on a dryland training program for this summer. Details will be available within the next few weeks. Please check this web site for the latest information.

See you at the end-of-season banquet!

SSC COMPETITION AND EVENTS SYSTEM REVIEW PRINCIPLES

The Competition and Events System Review Team has released a series of guiding principles for speed skating competition and events in Canada. All participants of speed skating (skaters, coaches, officials, parents, and volunteers) are encouraged to read this paper.

IDEAS FOR DRYLAND TRAINING

Want to do dryland (off-ice) training but don't know where to begin? Check out the following:

• Midland Speed Skating Club's 1-hour Dryland Workout
• Workout with Sidney Crosby
• Alexander Bont's Land (off-skate) Training

For more information, please don't hesitate to talk to one of our coaches.

THE CYCLONES JACKETS ARE HERE!

These stylish jackets are perfect for speed skating practices. They can also be used for cycling and running. The cost is $65 each. Different sizes are available.

(Click the thumbnail image to see a larger image.)