Upcoming Key Dates
February 1-2: Debby Fisher’s RU Fast (all ages): Volunteer Roles sign up: volunteersignup.org/9QKX7 and hospitality: volunteersignup.org/PLPYR
February 7-9: Winter Classic – Calgary Oval (14+) – Long Track
February 7-9: Canadian Youth Long Track Championships, Fort-St-John, BC (11-13 years) – Alberta Team selected based on best 500m results
February 15-16: Western Elite #3 – Calgary Oval (13+ with time standards) – Short Track
February 17: Calgary Sport Winter Festival at Oval with Try Speed Skating from 3-5 PM
February 19: Time Trials Long Track – Calgary Oval (14+ with time standards)
February 22: Rocky Mountain House (all ages) – Short Track – Registration: https://icereg.ca/#!/events/rmhssc-fast-is-fun-short-track-meet-2025
February 23: Learn to Race Long Track – Calgary Oval (13 & under) – registration coming soon
February 28-March 2: ISU World Junior Short Track Championships
March 6: Seton mini-meet (All Youth Groups) – Short Track
March 7-9: Alberta Short Track Provincials (6 – 18 years) – Calgary Oval
March 14-16: Short Track Canada Cup Final (14+ by qualification) – Calgary Oval
March 20-23: Calgary Oval Finale (14+) – Long Track
March 28-30: Canadian Youth Short Track Championships (11-13 years) – Kamloops, BC
March 28-30: Canada Cup Junior Final (14-18 years) – Short Track – Newmarket, ON
Competition Results
Alberta Long Track (ABLT) – Jan. 11-12
Ability 1 Female: Wynn Kondracki, 1st
Ability 1 Male: Lucas Brown, 1st
Ability 2 Female: Grace Schmidt, 1st
Ability 2 Male: Aiden Samborski, 1st
Ability 3 Female: Fiona Han, 2nd; Sienna May, 3rd
Ability 3 Male: Lucas Kim, 1st; Austin Zuo, 3rd
Ability 4 Female: Nina Akehurst, 1st ; Heather Kalmar, 3rd
Ability 4 Male: Aidan Nikou, 2nd
Ability 5 Female: Addison Toth, 1st
Ability 5 Male: Sidney Toth, 1st; Kai Nikou, 3rd
Youth 1- Male: Jiaqi (Ricky) Lin, 1st; Luke Lu, 2nd
Neo-Junior 14 Female: Sadie Neil, 3rd
Neo-Junior 14 Male: David Dang, 2nd
Neo-Junior 15 Female: Ana Monroy, 1st; Cara Byrne, 2nd
Neo-Junior 15 Male: Angus Hicks, 2nd
Junior Female: Zimu Wang, 2nd; Alexa Afaganis, 3rd
Junior Male: Shah Khan, 3rd
Senior Female: Tanessa Morris, 1st; Heidi Beck, 2nd
Senior Male: Zachary Grant, 3rd
Junior Open Prince George, BC – Jan. 11-12
Congratulations to athletes selected for that event: Prabhnoor Grewal, Rebecca Messier, Julianne Lazzari, Caleb van der Merwe and Marek Chomin. All five athletes also qualified for the Junior Canada Cup final in Newmarket Ontario at the end of March. Julianne Lazzari & Rebecca Messieralso won gold and bronze respectively with their relay teams.
Red Deer Jeremy Wotherspoon Long Track Open – Jan. 18
Youth – Female: Hope Allen, 2nd
Youth – Male: Jiaqi (Ricky) Lin, 1st; Grayson Beagan, 2nd; Nicholas Wang, 3rd
Ability 1 – Female: Olivia Cho, 1st; Grace Wang, 2nd
Ability 1 – Male: Aiden Samborski, 1st
Ability 2 – Female: Candeleria Pino, 1st
Ability 2 – Male: Ellis Jackson, 3rd
29 CSSA Skaters have been named to the Youth Development Team. Congratulations team!
Speed Skating Alberta (SSA) is looking to create a sense of pride belonging to the Youth Development Team and to have the skaters support and encourage one another. This initiative is focused on acknowledging our Youth skaters (11-13 years old) and to keep them excited and engaged with our sport.
There are minimum time standards that need to be met, and this is how each skater gets named to the team. Times are submitted by the Skater Development Committee representative (Marika) to SSA. The time standards and more information on the Youth Development Team can be found on the SSA website: Board Approved 2024-25 AB Provincial Team Criteria_APPROVED.docx (page 9-11). Skaters can make the Youth Development Team based on ST and/or LT times.
Youth Development Team Time Standard – Short Track (400m)
Youth 11 | Youth 12 | Youth 13 | |
Male | 53.00 | 51.00 | 49.00 |
Female | 54.00 | 52.00 | 50.00 |
Youth Development Team Time Standard – Long Track (500m – Olympic Style)
Youth 11 | Youth 12 | Youth 13 | |
Male | 56.00 | 54.00 | 52.00 |
Female | 57.00 | 55.00 | 53.00 |
SSA is starting off small with the jackets, and then adding the camps and team events as we progress through the season. The next step for SSA will be to host Youth Development Team camp(s) and team building events in the summer and season.
Any questions, please reach out to our Skater Development Committee (SDC) representative, Marika (marika.nadal@calgaryspeedskating.ca)
Hope | Allen |
Grayson | Beagan |
Santiago | Khan |
Luke | Lu |
Felicia | Robert |
Deah | Samborski |
NICHOLAS | WANG |
Matthew | Wilson |
Quinn | Jacobsen |
jiaqi | lin |
Jake | Buitelaar |
Ian | Anderson |
Parker | Budyk |
Cate | Jackson |
Alexa | Jessee |
Joel | Lough |
Vitalii | Melnyk |
Lautaro | Pino |
ADAM | RUDAKEWICH |
Yael | Van Der Merwe |
Mauricio | Villamizar |
Joshua | Yung |
Delia | Zaluski |
Aiden | Cho |
Jayden | Cho |
James | Moran |
Seren | Roberts |
Jun | Xu |
Provincial Championships – March 7-8
CSSA has received only 75 entries for Round 1 of entries for Provincial Championships, which is below the usual number of over 100 at Calgary competitions. In order to ensure fairness and avoid conflicts of interest (as all current Board members have children in the sport), the club has established an independent committee of non-parent coaches. This committee, which reports to Vice-President Kunio, will oversee the selection process.
After careful discussion, the committee has decided to wait until after Debby Fisher’s RU Fast meet (part of the Provincial Circuit) before finalizing the entries, as many athletes will be competing there. CSSA has already requested and received an extension from SSA for the entry deadline.
Given the complexity of this process, the selection will be completed by early February, and our office manager will share the results with families once it’s finalized.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
Debby Fisher’s RU Fast – More Volunteers Still Desperately Needed
It takes a lot of volunteers to run two ice surfaces. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered already for our fast approaching meet next weekend (Feb 1-2). We have now filled 139 out of the 155 volunteer roles. However, we are still short volunteers in a few critical areas.
We still need many Place Judges and Timers in order for the meet to be successful. Here are also some answers to a few key questions:
Question 1: Which Ice will my child be racing on?
South Ice (Hockey Ice) will be used for the 10 and under skaters.
North Ice (Speed Skating Ice)will be used for the Youth and Older Skater categories.
Reminder: There are no restrictions on volunteering on the ice your child is racing…in fact you will get the best view possible…unrestricted by the glass and mesh on the hockey ice.
Question 2: Can I do this role successfully without experience?
I assure you there will be a review of the roles from the Chief of your group in the morning prior to the start of racing. That being said, you can also review the Level 1 Officials Video to learn the in’s and outs of both short track and long track racing. Watching this video will solidify your comfort level and help you become familiar with speed skating race terminology and rules.
Also, note…this is our last big event of the season so ideal to complete your volunteer hours. There are many full weekend and one day roles still left to fill. Please reach out if you are unsure how many hours you have left to complete.
Race Volunteer Roles Please sign up here: volunteersignup.org/9QKX7
Hospitality Volunteer Roles Please sign up here: volunteersignup.org/PLPYR
Officials Corner
Congratulations to Joanna d’Abadie for being promoted to a Level 2 Starter!
Should you have questions or be interested in becoming an Official, please email Marc McGee vc.officials@speedskating.ca
Skinsuits
We have received a new order of skinsuits in the most popular sizes. If you are outgrowing yours, please see John (to try one on at the office. Thank you for your patience.
Club Training Times will be affected during international competitions
Note that during the following events, club training times will be affected: the week of February 24th to March 2nd (ISU Short Track Junior Championships). The coaching staff will communicate changes in their weekly emails as we get closer to those dates.