INTRO TO SPEED SKATING PROGRAM SOLD OUT!

Thank you for your interest in our 4-week Introduction to Speed Skating program in March/April. Due to an overwhelming response, all spots have been filled and we are not taking any more registrations.

We will be offering multiple Learn To Speed Skate sessions in the Fall. So, get on our mailing list today and we will send you advance notice of our Fall sessions. Please e-mail Tama Soble at tamasoble@gmail.com.

SPEED SKATING DEMO AT MASTERCARD CENTRE

The Toronto Speed Skating Club held a speed skating demo on Family Day at the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence. Thank you to all the skaters who participated (including our friends from Brampton, Clarington, and Durham) in the event and all the volunteers who helped out.

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FEROCIOUS BUT SWEET?

Find out who that is in this Toronto Star article!

OLYMPIC CELEBRATION AT NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE

Throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, five cities across Canada will be hosting a spectacular festival-style event with FREE food and entertainment. Watch CTV's Olympic Games coverage LIVE on a big screen and cheer on Team Canada with thousands of other proud Canadians in your community! Click here to find out more about the party right here in Toronto.

ON THE EDGE

With the games coming soon, the world is about to see the results of years of atheletic training. Some say there's a price to pay for trying to fly higher than everyone else. This documentary from CBC Radio's The Current features a brief interview with a TSSC skater.

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

The Toronto Speed Skating Club took part in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay event at the Scarborough Civic Centre on December 17th, 2009. Despite the cold weather, the event was a great success thanks to all the skaters who participated in the on-ice demonstration and the volunteers who helped to ensure the smooth execution of the program. Click here to see pictures from that day (provided by Desmond Preudhomme and Trish and Mark Elendt).

SHARPENING TIPS AND TRICKS

Check out this recent article by Susan Ellis on skate sharpening. It contains plenty of excellent tips and valuable information.

RESULTS FROM ONTARIO CUP #3

Six Toronto skaters attended the 3rd Ontario Cup of the season hosted by the Clarington Speed Skating Club.

Toronto skaters had a really good meet as they demonstrated huge improvements in both skating techniques and strategies. Highlights of the meet included Jesse LW (in from Montreal and guest skating for Toronto!) placing 5th in Men’s Open A, and Henry T placing 6th in Men’s Open A.

PBs were skated by Eden S in every distance she skated (500, 666, 777, 1000), Annika E (333, 666, 777), Sarah K (500, 1500) and William P (1000, 1500). Eden also joined our sub-2-minute-club for 1000 m!

RESULTS FROM THE MARKHAM OLYMPIC CELEBRATION MEET

Five Toronto skaters competed at the Markham Olympic Celebration meet on December 5th.

Great results from our skaters yet again including a gold and silver medal haul. Results included Alex H – 1st in Golf, Sarah K – 2nd in Bravo, Maxwell E – 5th in Echo and Alex S – 5th in Golf (in his 1st ever meet!)

Every skater skated multiple PBs – Sarah K (777 & 1000), Jordan O (777 & 1000), Maxwell E (500, 777 & 1000), Alex H (222, 333 & 500) and Alex S (222 & 333).

RESULTS FROM WESTERN REGIONAL #3

Nine Toronto skaters competed at the 3rd Western Regional meet hosted by the Brampton Club on November 28th.

Fantastic results at this meet with a medal haul of four including Yunus D – 1st in Echo, Conor W – 2nd in Bravo, Benn M – 3rd in Kilo and Dave F – 3rd in Charlie (in Dave’s 1st ever meet!). Other placed skaters included Kate K – 4th in Foxtrot, John W – 5th in Kilo and Rachel LW – 5th in Echo.

PBs were skated by Benn M (222, 333 & 500), John W (222, 333 & 500), Dave F (500, 777 & 1000), Kate K (500, 777 & 1000), Yunus D (500, 777 & 1000), Nils E (500 & 777), Conor W (500, 777 & 1000) and Aidan P (777 & 1000).

Conor W joined our sub-55-second 500 club!

RESULTS FROM THE KINGSTON LADDER MEET

Eight Toronto skaters competed at the Kingston ladder meet on November 14th. At this meet there are no medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd but instead skaters move up and down a “ladder” based on their performance the prior race. Skaters continually skate only one distance. Toronto skaters had a very strong meet with PBs posted by: John W (333), Aidan P (500), Alex H (500), Annika E (500), Jordan O (500), Nils E (500) and Sarah K (500).

Three Toronto skaters – Annika E, Alex H and Jordan O joined our sub-club by breaking a minute in the 500 at this meet!

Sarah K was recognized at the meet and awarded a special “spirit” award for her approach and attitude despite falling in her first 3 of 4 races. Sarah skated a PB 500 in her last race!

RESULTS FROM ONTARIO CUP #2

Four Toronto skaters attended the 2nd Ontario Cup of the season hosted by the Cambridge Speed Skating Club. All our skaters had a strong meet with multiple personal bests, even though the ice was very slow! One of our highlights was Henry T placing 5th in Open A Men’s. PBs were skated by Annika E (500, 666 & 777), Eden S (1000) and William P (500 & 1000). William P also joined the sub-100-second club for the 1000! Click here for the complete results.

RESULTS FROM WESTERN REGIONAL #2

Four Toronto skaters competed in the 2nd Western Regional meet hosted by the Clarington Club. PBs were skated by Aidan P (500, 777), Nils E (500, 777) and William P (500, 1000). Click here for the complete results.

RESULTS FROM ONTARIO CUP #1

Six Toronto skaters attended the 1st Ontario Cup of the season hosted by the Gloucester Club in Ottawa. William P placed 1st in Junior Men’s, Steph B placed 2nd in Open A Women’s and Henry T placed 5th in Open A Men’s. Skaters who had PBs included: Eden S (500 & 1000) and William P (500). Annika E missed racing the 1st day due to a fall in her 1st race where she slightly injured herself. Annika was able to skate on the 2nd day and raced with tons of heart. Click here for the complete results.

RESULTS FROM THE 1ST WESTERN REGIONAL MEET

Four Toronto skaters competed in the 1st Western Regional meet hosted by the London club and held in Strathroy. Highlights included Aidan P placing 3rd in the Echo grouping and Annika E finishing 6th in Hotel. Both Aidan and Annika skated PBs in every distance that they skated (Aidan – 500, 666, 777, 1000, Annika – 222, 333, 500, 777). William P came close to PBs in multiple distances – setting himself up for success through the season. Nils E skated well but had an unfortunate fall on the 2nd day where he sprained his ankle. Click here for the complete results.

RESULTS FROM THE 1ST EASTERN REGIONAL MEET

Toronto was represented by one skater at the 1st Eastern Regional meet in Belleville. Sarah K skated aggressively and posted a PB in the 500 m distance, setting herself up to go even faster through the season. Click here for the complete results.

SPEED SKATING TAKES OFF AT NEW HOCKEY CENTRE

Check out this excellent InsideToronto.com article.

SKATE GUARDS

Just a friendly reminder that when you have your speed skates on and you are not on the ice, please remember to put on your skate guards to prevent damages to the blades. If you do not have a pair of skate guards, please see Desmond.

After you have taken off your skates, dry them with a towel or rag. Then cover the blades with a pair of soft cloth skate covers or old hockey socks.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING AT THE CNE!

A message from Prez Desmond:

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who participated in the speed skating exhibit at the CNE. We undertook a mammoth task of running an 18-day event that was appealing and interactive to the general public, yet profiled our sport as accessible and fun. With your help I think we overachieved our objectives.

As a group we engaged thousands of people, whether it was on the slideboards, the Techni-Cords or through the "show and tell" of equipment. We were also able to engage the public in skating demonstrations (albeit using in-line skates on a very slippery, uneven surface) and we got quite a few brave souls to join us in dryland training sessions!

I personally took many, many nuggets away from this experience, and thought I would highlight some for you:

• Speed skating is an awesome community – we had 9 clubs participate and share the experience
• Interacting with the public is fun – I saw many "shy" individuals thrive when given the opportunity and the responsibility
• We do not always need ice to demo the sport – a slideboard or two, some Techni-Cords and a table with speed skating equipment will allow you to engage the public in common areas like malls, schools or community centres
• The general public is unaware that speed skating exists in our communities, yet they love watching the sport (mainly on TV). We have an opportunity and a responsibility to make the public more aware!
• We have an awesome community (oh yes, I already said that!)

But all of this would not be possible without you!

Our sport is destined for a fantastic year as it is an Olympic year and I really appreciate your help in getting it started!

For those high school students who earned community hours, please either send me an e-mail (Desmond_Preudhomme@dell.com) or catch me at the arena and I will sign off.

Thanks again!

CITY OF TORONTO OFFERS SPEED SKATING CLASSES

The Toronto Speed Skating Club has teamed up with the City of Toronto to offer introductory speed skating classes in Fall 2009 and Winter 2010. Please refer to the Toronto Fun Guide for more information.

CYCLONES T-SHIRTS FOR SALE

The cost is $10 each. Various sizes are available. Please see Desmond if you wish to purchase one.

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CYCLONES JACKETS FOR SALE

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. Please see Desmond if you wish to purchase one.

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