With the Sochi 2014 Olympics just around the corner, speed skating fans can look forward to some high velocity excitement when short-track skaters from Canada and the U.S. hit the ice at the Richmond Olympic Oval this weekend for the Western Canadian Single Distance Short Track Championship.
About 80 speed skaters from Western Canada, two territories and the western United States will be participating. Bringing high speed and agility to the rink, the skaters will compete in five individual races over three distances - 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m.
Th championships, which are a Speed Skating Canada sanctioned event, joins the circuit for high performance skaters preparing for national speed skating programs. "I'm excited about this event. It marks the first of many high performance short track competitions for the B.C. Speed Skating Association and Richmond Olympic Oval Short Track Legacy Program," said David Morrison, Head Coach, Short Track Legacy Program at the Richmond Olympic Oval. Morrison is one of Canada's top speed skating coaches. He's the former head coach of the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club in Ontario.
"We're embarking on a new chapter for speed skating in B.C. and Western Canada. This competition is an important milestone," he added.
This annual event supports the development of speed skaters in B.C. and the City of Richmond. It will also be used to train officials for future national and international events.
