February update from the Board
· Upcoming Key dates
Friday February 23: Walk-through with parents for organization of RU Fast (where is marshalling, where to watch, where are coaches, etc.). Meet in infield by stairs at 7 PM
March 7: Seton YMCA short track mini-meet (registration will open late February)
March 15: Last day of CSSA programming
March 18: Ice is removed at Oval until mid-July
April 9: skate rental return, including CSSA soft guards (skates can also be left with Oval shop for sharpening)
April 16: Annual General Meeting to elect 2024-25 Board of Directors
April 26: Annual awards gala at Calgary Winter Club
May 13: Start of CSSA Spring/Summer program for Teens
June 1: Start of CSSA Spring/Summer program for Youth
· Congratulations to coach Annabelle Green who is competing for Great Britain (she is a dual citizen) in the last few Short Track World Cups in Europe.
· World Record for Ron Johnston for 85+ years! Fantastic accomplishment, skating 10:17.12 for the 5000m – parents….it’s never too late to start!
· Oval Classic Series Winners (Best overall from Summer, Fall, Oktoberfest & Winter Classics – long track series for 14+):
Senior female: Heidi Beck: 2nd in 500m
Neo Junior Female: Sophia Major, 1st in 500m; 2nd in 1000m and 1500m; Isabelle Champagne: 1st in 1500m and 3000m; 2nd in 500m; 3rd in 1000m; Julianne Lazzari: 1st in 1000m, 2nd in 500m and 3000m; Maggie Breedlove: 2nd in 3000m and 3rd in 1500m
Neo Junior Male: Erik Angelozzi, 1st in 500m, 1000m and 3000m, 2nd in 1500m; Marek Chomin: 1st in 1500m and 2nd in 500m; Madden Thomson, 2nd in 1000m
· RU Fast Short Track Competition Feb 24-25. We are still looking for volunteers!
please sign-up at: volunteersignup.org/RDXXY
And this link for hospitality (food): volunteersignup.org/HEF4L
· Competition Results:
Neo-Junior Long Track Championships Feb. 3-4 in Fort St-John: had 3 skaters from CSSA supported by coach Ryan Hickman: Erik Angelozzi, Marek Chomin and Angus Hicks had some fantastic performances, with Alberta dominating the podium on the male side:
Erik Angelozzi had three 1st place performances: the 500m, the 100m and the team pursuit. Marek Chomin had a 1st in the 1500m, the team pursuit and the 3000m, where he set a Neo Junior and Junior track record, as well as a 2nd in the 500m, 1000m and the 10-lap mass start. Angus Hicks had a 2ndplace in the team pursuit.
Rocky Mountain House – Feb. 3:
Neo Juniors Female: Katie Noseworthy, 1st
Division 3: Wynn Kondracki, 2nd
Division 7: Claire Hou, 2nd
Junior World Championships Feb. 9-11 in Hachinohe, Japan: CSSA members Daniel Hall and Jalen Doan as well as coach Darby Beeson were representing Canada. Daniel was part of Team Canada that won gold in team pursuit, he also won a silver in the individual mass start. Jalen won a silver with Team Canada in the sprint event.
Youth Championships (11 – 13 years): Long-Track in Quebec City Feb. 9 – 11. Congratulations to the skaters selected who were supported by Head Coach Marika Nadal:
Youth 11 Male: Nicholas Wang, Yien Feng, Mauricio Villamizar
Youth 12 Female: Félicia Robert
Youth 12 Male: Ricky Lin, Matthew Wilson
Youth 13 Female: Charlotte Perkins
Youth 13 Male: Connor Craig
Some great accomplishments from our medal winners:
Youth 12 Female: Félicia Robert, 3rd in 500m
Youth 12 Male: Ricky Lin, 1st in the 300m, 500m, 1500m, 7 lap and 2nd in the 1000m open
Male Team Pursuit: Nicholas Wang & Yien Feng, 2nd
Alberta Winter Games – Grande Prairie Feb. 16-19:
Youth Female: Relay 2nd place: Félicia Robert, Charlotte Perkins, Sadie Neil
Youth Male: Ricky Lin, 1st, Relay 1st place: Henry Zhang; Relay 2nd place: Dean Lavoie
Junior Female: Maxine Volstad, 1st; Osa Chomiak, 2nd; Relay 1st place: Maxine Volstad, Osa Chomiak, Ana Monroy; 2nd place: Julianne Lazzari, Kate Folmer, Katie Noseworthy
Junior Male: Caleb van der Merwe, 1st; Marek Chomin, 3rd; Relay 1st place: Ricky Lin, Marek Chomin, Angus Hicks, Caleb van der Merwe; Relay 3rd place: Nash Loster, Connor Craig, Owen Kay
Long Track World Championships – Calgary Feb. 15-18
Congratulation to CSSA members that participated in the World Championships: World Champion Anders Johnson, a gold medal as part of Team Canada in the Team Sprint that set a world record time, what an accomplishment for someone who only started speed skating in Grade 12 (after quitting hockey). Heather Carruthers and Yankun Zhao also skated great performances in the 500m.
· Upcoming Competitions:
| SSA Competition Schedule: https://www.albertaspeedskating.ca/announcements-results-years/2023-2024 | |
| Oval Competition Schedule: https://oval.ucalgary.ca/speed-skating/competitioncalendar20232024 |
February 24-25: RU Fast (CSSA) – Oval – CYST Qualifier – Short Track
March 2-3: Western Elite #3 (14+ years) – Short Track – Oval
March 7-10: Grand Prix/Canada Cup Final (14+ years) – Oval – Long Track
March 14-17: Oval Finale (14+ years) – Long Track
March 22-24: Canadian Youth Short Track (CYST) Championships – Medicine Hat
March 23-24: Short Track Canada Cup Junior Final – Richmond, BC