Upcoming Key dates
July 1 – August 15:
Registration for Fall programs:
https://icereg.ca/#!/events/calgary-speed-skating-association-20232024
Please register by August 15 as we have increased demand for our programs this year and in order to give us time to re-align groups (if needed) and prepare skater lists for the Oval. Thank you for your understanding.
Thursday August 24:
100 pairs of new skates to be organized in inventory:
Friday August 25:
Last day of Spring/Summer program
Tuesday August 29:
Skate rental/parking pass pick-up/marketplace for Fall program:
https://icereg.ca/#!/events/parking-passes-skate-rental-other-2023-24
Tuesday September 5:
Start of all Fall programs at the Oval
Saturday September 9:
Moving mats from U of C to Seton YMCA
Sunday September 10:
7:00-7:45 PM Zoom presentation to families with skaters in 11-13 Youth age group and 13-14 Neo-Junior age group.
7:45 – 8:45 PM: Zoom presentation to all new families, intro to the sport, safety equipment, competitions, etc.
More info to come.
Tuesday September 12:
Start of the Seton YMCA program (delayed due to rink maintenance)
Skin Suits Ordering:
Please send an e-mail to info@calgaryspeedskating.ca by August 31 if you require a skin suit for the upcoming season. Please indicate the skaters name, age, gender (M or F), height & weight. We have about a dozen in inventory which can also be purchased. Note that all skaters aged 11 and older require a skinsuit with Kevlar in order to compete. There is also the opportunity to purchase a used suit on skate rental night (August 29) from other families.
UR Store – CSSA Gear now available:
Looking for jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, headwear, jackets, etc.? The new CSSA branded items are now available for purchase for kids, women and men on:
https://urstore.ca/calgary-speed-skating-association_527601
Order and pay by credit card and your items will be delivered directly to your home.
Parking Passes:
Parking passes are available for sale at a cost of $275 as the University has increased prices. Passes are valid for lots 10 or 11 before 8 AM and after 4 PM weekdays as well as anytime on the weekends:
https://icereg.ca/#!/events/parking-passes-skate-rental-other-2023-2)
Parking passes are worthwhile for skaters coming 2x weekly or more. For a less expensive option, street parking in University District is free for three hours.
Skate Rentals:
Skate rentals are INCLUDED in all Youth Group prices. Skate rentals only need to be purchased for skaters in Groups A & B and adults, who wish to rent CSSA short-track skates:
https://icereg.ca/#!/events/parking-passes-skate-rental-other-2023-24
Grant from the Government of Canada:
We are very pleased to have received a grant to purchase almost 100 pairs of skates for the 2023-24 season. It was funded by the Government of Canada under the Community Services Recovery Fund. On Thursday, August 24th from 5-8 pm, we will need 4 volunteers to ‘Enter our New Skates Into Inventory’. This will require putting stickers on the new skates, adding them to the Excel inventory spreadsheet, and organizing them in the cabinets.
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet: volunteersignup.org/BBFKA
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering!
From VC of Volunteering, Christa Burry
vc.volunteers@calgaryspeedskating.ca
Skate rental, parking pass pick-up & marketplace:
Skate rental and parking pass pick-up will be on Tuesday August 29 between 6:00 & 8:00 PM at the Oval North Storage area. All CSSA members – past & present – are also welcome to sell outgrown equipment to other members at the marketplace located on the track outside North Storage (tables & chairs will be provided). To reduce crowding, time slots have been organized based on the skater’s last name. Try as much as possible to come during time allotted.
o 6:00 – 6:30: Last names starting with A to D
o 6:30 – 7:00: Last names starting with E to L
o 7:00 – 7:30: Last names starting with M to R
o 7:30 – 8:00: Last names starting with S to Z
In order to make this happen, we need 6 volunteers. Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering! From VC of Volunteering, Christa Burry
vc.volunteers@calgaryspeedskating.ca
On Saturday, September 9th from 8am – 1pm, we require several volunteers to help move safety mats from U of C to the Seton YMCA.
A driver is required (no special licencse) to pick up the truck at 8am and drive to the C-Can just west of Oval at the University of Calgary. Helpers will load mats onto the truck (about 15 minutes). Once mats are loaded, the driver will head to SETON YMCA to unload mats. Helpers will move mats into SETON YMCA with the help of carts. Two trips are required as not all mats fit into one load. After the second load is dropped off, the driver will return the truck to the same location as it was picked up.
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering! From VC of Volunteering, Christa Burry
vc.volunteers@calgaryspeedskating.ca
Welcome to Dan Carruthers:
We are pleased to have Dan Carruthers join us as Vice-President on the CSSA Board of Directors. Dan is a former National Team member and skated both short-track and long-track. He moved to Calgary from Ontario in 2011 to pursue speed skating. He graduated as an Engineer from U of C and currently volunteers at Oval competitions. He just got married a few months ago to National Team athlete Heather McLean.
Welcome to Brandt Proctor:
Brandt will be starting with CSSA as Office Manager on August 15. He is an accounting student at SAIT and played football and wrestled in high school. He also enjoys playing hockey. Brandt is very tall at 6’5. Come and say hello on August 29th.
CSSA Officials Upgraded:
Congratulations to the following officials who recently were upgraded: Andrew Cross, Starter short-track international; Blair Toblan, Starter long track ISU; Marc McGee, Referee both short track & long track, 3B; Paul Chateau, Starter long track, 3A.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available through KidsSport and through Canadian Tire Jumpstart