Speed skaters head outdoors

With the season well underway, Prince Albert Speed Skating Club members are looking forward to a change in focus.

Since October, the club has competed solely in short-track events on the indoor circuit. However, with many long-track meets just around the corner, members of the club are getting excited.

"I've always been told that I would be good at long track," said 15-year-old Jessica Flasch, "so yeah, I'm really looking forward to it."

In preparation for the long-track schedule, many Prince Albert skaters will attend a Dec. 28-29 clinic put on by Debbie Fisher at Saskatoon's Clarence Downey Oval.

"It'll be a really good experience," said Magda Hlasny, 15. "Debbie Fisher is a really good coach."

Hlasny's father, Prince Albert speed skating coach Ron Hlasny, knows clinics like this will only make his skaters better.

"They go over things involved in skating long track," he said. "It should help them with their technique around corners."

At the moment, the long-track oval at the Prince Albert Exhibition grounds is in the final stages of preparation for the season.

"It should be ready some time next week," said Ron. "We'll still do short track, but then one night a week there will be long-track practices, too."

The Prince Albert club competes in its first long-track event of the season on Jan. 5 in Regina.

In the meantime, the skaters will continue to enjoy the close-knit camaraderie of their club and try to better their personal times.

"I love it here," said Flasch, who has been involved with speed skating for six years. "It's small and personal and you get to know everybody well.

"I just hope (this year) I break 55 seconds in the 500 (metres)."

Magda is also looking to improve her skills in an enjoyable environment.

"It's really fun here," she said. "I'm trying to get faster. I'm really smooth at the speed I'm at so, like Jessica, I want to get (my time) down to around 50 seconds for my 500."

ahawboldt@paherald.sk.ca