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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 15, 2008 19:38:16 GMT -5
"Search" was giving me a headache, so I've just decided to make another thread for this (if there is already one then can one of the Mods merge them together? Thank you ;D). SSC (Speedskating Canada) NEWS- - - - - - Short Track Speed Skating Season to Start Next WeekDate posted: 09/09/2008 Canadian Short Track speed skaters are ready to jump into the 2008-09 season, starting on Tuesday, September 16, with the Fall World Cup Selection event at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. This competition will give the top 16 male and female short track speed skaters the opportunity to compete for the first time ever in the facility that will be used for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The team is traveling to Vancouver today and will have a week of training before the 3-day event starts on September 16. The Fall World Cup Selection will be used to select the 12 athlete team – six male and six female – that will represent Canada at the first four World Cups of the season, including World Cup #2 scheduled for Vancouver on October 24-26, which will serve as the Olympic Test Event. “It’s wonderful to be able to compete on this ice a year and a half before the Olympic Games, and to give our athletes a taste of the facility,” announced Yves Hamelin, Short Track Program Director with Speed Skating Canada. “We have a great partnership with the Pacific National Exhibition and we really appreciate the interest they are taking in our team and in helping us get access to the Olympic venue as much as possible leading up to 2010.” The top-2 athletes in each of the 500m, 1000m and 1500m will be selected to the World Cup team, for a maximum of 6 athletes of each gender. If 6 different athletes are not selected through the process, the remaining positions will be filled at the discretion of the High Performance committee. “This will give a chance to our skaters to experience the Olympic venue in a competition setting,” explained Hamelin. “We spent two weeks here this summer, which allowed us to train on this ice, but being here for a competition at this time of year is critical in our preparation for the 2010 Olympics and our Olympic team selections that will be held here in August of 2009." On the men’s side, positions on World Cup teams are always highly contested, with many athletes able to perform – and win medals – on the international stage. Top contenders are 500m World Silver medalist Charles Hamelin (Ste-Julie, QC) and brother François (Ste-Julie, QC), former world record holder also in the 500m, François-Louis Tremblay (Montreal, QC), multiple World Cup and World Championship medalist, and Marc-André Monette ( Pointe-aux-Trembles, QC ). Also to watch are Olivier Jean (Lachenaie, QC), who had a breakthrough season in 2006-07 before being sidelined due to an injury last season and Mathieu Giroux, kept out of racing for most of the year also due to injury. Surprises have happened in the past however, and it would not be surprising to see a younger skater coming through the selection process, having seen Guillaume Bastille (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) and Alex Boisvert-Lacroix ( Sherbrooke, QC ) with their best performances ever last year. “Our men’s team is very deep, and on a good day, any of our athletes could win a race, so it’s very hard to say who will be skating here during the World Cup in October,” explained Yves Hamelin. “All athletes trained hard this summer, and the race for positions on our World Cup teams is on!” The women’s competition is also wide-open this season. Two of ’s top female skaters, Kalyna Roberge (St-Étienne-de-Lauzon, QC) and Amanda Overland ( Montreal, QC ) will not be skating due to injuries. Roberge will be able to come back to competition this fall, while Overland will have to wait until the new year to do so. Both athletes will take this time to put emphasis on specific training components to return to their best level. Roberge has won every distance at both this team selection event and the National Championships in the last two years, so her absence leaves room for new winners. Tania Vicent ( Laval, QC ) is a strong contender, with years of experience on the international stage. Anne Maltais (Québec, QC) and Jessica Gregg (Edmonton, AB) have also been quite consistent in the last few years and are ready to do well in Vancouver . Younger athletes or new comers on the team, such as Marianne St-Gelais (St-Félicien, QC), and Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau ( Montreal, QC ) were really strong at the World Junior Championships in making finals and have a chance to show what they are made of. Also keep an eye on the young Laurie Marceau from Dolbeau, QC , a rising Junior Star. The event starts at 1pm on September 16 and 17, and 9am on September 18 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The first two World Cup Events of the season will be held in Salt Lake City on October 17-19, then Vancouver , at the Pacific Coliseum, October 24-26. The Vancouver World Cup will give a taste of what is coming to Vancouver in 2010, and the organizing committee will be making an announcement regarding ticket sales this Thursday. World Cups 3 and 4 are scheduled for Beijing, , November 28-30, and Nagano, , December 5-7. “This is our last full season before the Olympic season, so it’s a crucial time in our preparation,” finished Hamelin. “It’s time to give as much experience as possible to those athletes who are likely to represent in 2010.” - - - - - -  GOOD LUCK TEAM CANADA! Get better soon, Kalyna and Amanda! - - - - - - Local flavor at Short Track Fall World Cup SelectionDate posted: 09/12/2008 The Fall World Cup Selection event is set to launch the short track speed skating season next week, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The 3-day event will kick off Tuesday, with races starting at 1pm local. Two talented local skaters will be on the ice for the competition. Jessica Hewitt (Kamloops, CB), member of the development team, and Cory Rasmussen (Prince George, CB), non official World record holder in the 500m, are both ready to try and get a spot on the team. This should help get the Vancouver public excited about short track speed skating, as the city is preparing to host the second stop of the Short Track World Cup, October 24-26, as well as the Olympic Winter Games in 2010. Entry is free for the Fall World Cup Selection event. For World Cup tickets, please click here. - - - - - - Anyone in CA able to check it out? Sounds like it'll be lots of fun! I wonder how the women will fare this season. ;D |
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 17, 2008 2:54:46 GMT -5
Coliseum site of short track speed skating camp
Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Canada's World Cup team for the upcoming short track speed skating season is being decided on Pacific Coliseum ice.
The 12 skaters -- six men and six women -- who will represent Canada on the 2008-09 World Cup circuit will be picked from a three-day selection camp, which began Tuesday and continues through Thursday and which is open to the public.
According to Yves Hamelin, Speed Skating Canada's short track program director, the World Cup team will be chosen at the conclusion of the camp and will be composed of skaters who finish either first or second in the trial races.
If six men and six women are not selected through this process, the remaining positions will be filled at the discretion of the high performance committee.
The Coliseum, which has undergone a $20.4-million upgrade for the Olympics, will be the site of both the short track speed skating as well as figure skating.
"It's wonderful to be able to compete on this ice a year and a half before the Olympic Games and to give our athletes a taste of the facility," says Hamelin. "We have a great partnership with the Pacific National Exhibition and we really appreciate the interest they are taking in our team."
The first event on the short track World Cup calendar will be held Oct. 17-19 in Salt Lake City. The circuit comes back to Vancouver for the second event at the Coliseum Oct. 24-26.
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 18, 2008 21:25:11 GMT -5
Article: www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=805310Speedskater Jean fully healed from 2007 accidentLyndon Little, Canwest News Service Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008VANCOUVER -- Olivier Jean admits to a few moments of doubt and despair. However, they didn't last for long. The doubts came when Jean, a 24-year-old member of Canada's short track speedskating team, was lying in a Montreal hospital following surgery on his ankle - the result of a severe skate cut in an August, 2007 training accident that sliced through his Kevlar guard and severed a tendon. The injury caused Jean to miss all of last year's World Cup circuit as well as the world championships. Thursday, Jean proved he's all the way back as he completed three days of World Cup team trials at the Pacific Coliseum with a total of two victories and three second-places finishes. That was good enough to see him named by Speed Skating Canada to its team for this season's World Cup circuit, which begins with an event in Salt Lake City Oct. 17-19. The second event on the circuit, Oct. 24-26, will be back at the Coliseum, the venue for the 2010 Olympics. Joining Jean on the men's roster of the World Cup team will be Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., who was the dominant athlete at the trials with five victories and one second-place finish. The women who have earned World Cup spots are Jessica Gregg of Calgary, Anne Maltais of Quebec City, Valerie Maltais of Montreal, Marie-Andree Mendes-Campeau of Montreal, and Jessica Hewitt of Kamloops, B.C. Speed Skating Canada will name four more men and one additional woman after meetings of the high performance committee over the next few days. "The only time I had any doubts about coming back was during the four days I spent in the hospital following the surgery," explained Jean, a student in physical education at the University of Quebec-Montreal. "After I got out and started my rehab I knew I could come back. "I didn't just want to come back to compete. I wanted to come back to win. This was my first competition since the injury. I got the job done and I feel great." Speed Skating Canada's high performance director Yves Hamelin was delighted with Jean's performance. "We're really happy for Olivier," he said. "We knew the rehab went well, but you don't know for sure until he competes. We were very pleased with the commitment he showed and the effort he put in. It took a lot of work on his part." Jean's talent was never in question. Two years ago, he won six individual medals on the World Cup circuit. "We're happy to see him back, but we're not surprised," added Hamelin. Jean says he decided to put the time when he wasn't able to be on skates to good use. "I knew I couldn't do the physical part of training so I did the other parts," he said. "I worked on the things I could do, like improving my nutrition. I also did mental training, going over in my mind what I needed to do when I came back. As a result, I think I'm a more complete skater today that I was before I got hurt." Jean wants to do well on this year's World Cup circuit, but maintains he's more concerned about being at his peak when the 2010 Games begin. "There's so much on the World Cup circuit you can't control," he said. "All I'm focused on right now is the process, not the results." Hewitt, 21, who had a first and a second in the two 1,000 metre races, will be making her World Cup debut after three seasons on the national development squad. "I knew I was getting closer and closer to making it," she said. "It was time for me to do it. I was really well prepared. I've never been on the World Cup circuit before, so we'll just see how it goes." "Jessica has incredible fitness and great mental resolve," praised her coach Jonathan Cavar of Calgary. "She may have surprised others here, but not me." Vancouver Sun- - - - - - Great comeback, Olivier!!
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Post by mtnme on Sept 18, 2008 21:28:33 GMT -5
...such a dilemma! Stay at the Hampton Inn and hopefully run into Charles on the elevator.....or stay at the Sandman, and hopefully run into Apolo on the elevator.... .....decisions, decisions....  you and lori should double team! but that depends how far away they are, i guess. lol. i'd love to see the candids on that one. :] Believe me, that is one of our missions! LOL. Last time Lori almost got a 'covert' shot of Charles just as he was walking out of the arena. Wouldn't ya know, just as she was about to push the shutter button on one hell of a megawatt smile, he looked RIGHT AT HER - and she lost her nerve. Mumbling a 'sorry' and only getting one incredibly blurry quickie shot for the effort.  This year - we are dedicated to getting AT LEAST one, clear shot. (.... Lori WON'T be holding the camera if we want a snowballs chance in hell of success! LOL)  ....sorry Lori, I love ya, but you know it's true! |
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 18, 2008 21:32:27 GMT -5
you and lori should double team! but that depends how far away they are, i guess. lol. i'd love to see the candids on that one. :] Believe me, that is one of our missions! LOL. Last time Lori almost got a 'covert' shot of Charles just as he was walking out of the arena. Wouldn't ya know, just as she was about to push the shutter button on one hell of a megawatt smile, he looked RIGHT AT HER - and she lost her nerve. Mumbling a 'sorry' and only getting one incredibly blurry quickie shot for the effort. This year - we are dedicated to getting AT LEAST one, clear shot. (.... Lori WON'T be holding the camera if we want a snowballs chance in hell of success! LOL) ....sorry Lori, I love ya, but you know it's true!LOL!! That makes me nervous! I don't think I would have been able to follow through either. I feel for you, Lori! Dedication is KEY! I hope you get it cause I wanna see it! ;] |
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 19, 2008 0:34:08 GMT -5
Lots of Action on Day 1 of the Fall World Cup Selection in Short Track Speed Skating
Date posted: 09/16/2008
Vancouver witnessed a lot of action, today, as the top short track speed skaters in the country stepped on the ice for their first ever competition at the Pacific Coliseum. At stake are six spots for men and six for women on the Fall World Cup circuit. Skaters are giving it their all, hoping to represent Canada on the international stage, including at the 2nd stop of the circuit, here in Vancouver on October 24-26.
With that on the line, there’s a lot of pressure for skaters to perform well, and that led to many falls and disqualifications throughout the day, causing some surprises in the results. No race is easy, but everyone is prepared for that.
The first victory of the day was credited to local skater Jessica Hewitt (Langley, BC), who crossed the finish line with a big smile in the women’s 1500m final. Hewitt finished second of her semi-final race before winning the A final. She was in the lead heading into the last lap, and was able to avoid a 4-skater fall in the second to last corner, to fly to the finish line alone. Valérie Maltais (La Baie, QC) was last before the collision, but was able to cross the finish line in second place, followed Annik Plamondon (Longueuil, QC), Nita Avrith (Montreal, QC) and Jessica Gregg (Edmonton, AB). The other finalist, Laurie Marceau (Dolbeau, QC), was disqualified for impeding, which caused the fall.
It was Hewitt’s first career victory in a national competition with all the top skaters in the country. She had won races in the last team selection event, but the top 5 skaters don’t skate in that competition. “It feels awesome, it’s wonderful,” said a smiling Hewitt after her day. “I knew I could do it. A few days before I left for the selections, I actually had a dream that I won the 1500m. I feel like it’s all coming together now, good results are finally coming after a lot of hard work.”
On the men side, it was a closely disputed contest, all races being skated at a fast pace with athletes fighting for the first two spots. In the A final, the top five skaters kept switching positions, trying to lead the race. Charles Hamelin (Ste-Julie, QC) and Olivier Jean (Lachenaie, QC) took a very small lead going into the last lap, to secure the first and second place respectively at the finish line. They were closely followed by Michael Gilday (Yellowknife, NT), Marc-André Monette (Pointe-aux-Trembles, QC), Mathieu Giroux (Montréal, QC) and finally François-Louis Tremblay (Montreal, QC).
In the 500m, it was not surprising to see Jessica Gregg cross the finish line in first place, as she has been very consistent in that distance over the last few years. Her powerful start helps her get out from the pack right away, and cruise to the finish line in first. Valérie Lambert (Sherbrooke, QC) finished second, due to a great pass on Anne Maltais (Québec, QC) with just about two laps to go. Maltais was third, and Jessica Hewitt fourth.
The men’s 500m is always a great show, with most of the fastest skaters in the world being from Canada. Today was no exception, but the final result was similar to that of the 1500m, with Charles Hamelin leading all four and a half laps to cross the finish line first, followed by Olivier Jean in second. BC native Cory Rasmussen was third and Marc-André Monette finished fourth.
“I was confident coming into the competition,” explained Hamelin after his second victory of the day. “I was doing great in training all summer, I normally experience some fatigue during the off season, but it was not the case this year, I managed to stay in great shape. I knew what to expect from the other guys, we had a mini competition three weeks ago so that helped give a good idea of what was coming. I felt no external pressure, so it was just a great day for me!”
These distances will be skated again in the next two days, along with the 1000m that will also be skated twice. The top two skaters in total points for each distance will be automatically selected to the World Cup Team, so every race is important.
Competition starts at 1pm again tomorrow at the Pacific Coliseum, with the 1000m being disputed first, followed by the 2nd 1500m. Four athletes, two male and two female, will be officially named to the World Cup Team at that time. The event ends on Thursday, with the last 500m and 1000m races, starting at 9am.
“It’s great to skate here, where the Olympics will be,” finished Hewitt. “It’s a great motivation. For me, I want to make the World Cup team, that’s been a goal for some time now, so I just need to focus on one race at a time, not think too much, enjoy the process… and results will come!”
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Hamelin Keeps Dominating in Day 2 of Short Track Fall World Cup Selection
Date posted: 09/17/2008
Charles Hamelin (Ste-Julie, QC) continued his domination of the Fall World Cup Selection today at the Pacific Coliseum today, winning two more races, making it four in four so far in the competition. At the end of the day, four athletes were named to the Fall World Cup team based on their results in the 1500m races today and yesterday: Valérie Maltais (La Baie, QC), Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau (Montréal, QC), Hamelin and Olivier Jean (Lachenaie, QC).
Hamelin started first in the 1000m final and led a very fast paced race, and while many skaters tried to challenge his position, he never gave anyone the space to do it, cruising to the finish line shortly ahead of the pack. François-Louis Tremblay (Montreal, QC) followed closely for the whole race, and was able to finish second. Third place went to Rémi Beaulieu, fourth to Michael Gilday (Yellowknife, NT). Olivier Jean was also of the final, but he was disqualified for impeding when he tried to pass Tremblay.
“The 1000m is my favourite race, I always try to stand out in it,” said Hamelin. “In the first rounds, I just wanted to keep some energy for the final. My strategy there was just to lead the whole race, it was the safest way to win it.”
Hamelin then repeated in the 1500m final, with Jean finishing just behind him, followed by Beaulieu. François Hamelin, Charles’ younger brother, was fourth. Hamelin and Jean, who were also 1 and 2 yesterday in that distance, have now secured their spots on the Fall World Cup Team. “Having won the 1500m yesterday, I wanted to be first again in order to make the World Cup Team for sure,” continued Hamelin. “Now that I’m qualified, I will definitely try new things in my races. My objective, ultimately, is to win it all!”
Olivier Jean came out strong in these selections, and he now sits second overall with three second places and a fifth. This is an amazing come back after a year off the ice, after he was severely injured in training last fall. “I trained really hard all summer, I knew I could do this,” said a confident Jean after day 2 of competition. “When I couldn’t skate last year, it allowed me to work on other aspects of my career as an athlete, such as mental preparation, nutrition, etc. Overall, this makes me a better athlete now than I was last year. I wanted to make the team after day 2, and I did so I’m really happy right now.”
Jessica Hewitt (Langley, BC) came close to winning her second event in as many days, as she lead for the last four laps of the final 1000m race, but Anne Maltais (Québec, QC) had her say and she managed to go from third to first in the last two laps, securing the win. Hewitt was second to cross the line, young skater Laurie Marceau (Dolbeau, QC) finished third and Edmonton’s Jessica Gregg, also dominant so far in the competition, fourth.
In the 1500m, Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau took the first position, after taking the lead with less than 5 laps to go. She then accelerated, and forced the other skaters to try and keep up with her. Anne Maltais crossed the line just behind her, followed by Valérie Maltais, Annik Plamondon (Longueuil, QC) and Marianne St-Gelais (St-Félicien, QC). Jessica Gregg, generally a sprinter, but who also impressed in the other distances in this competition, couldn’t keep up in the last lap and finished sixth.
Valérie Maltais and Mendes-Campeau, who finished 2nd and 7th respectively in the 1500m yesterday, took the first two overall positions, and they will be skating in World Cups for the first time in their careers this fall. “I knew I could do it, I just had to stay focus, avoid mistakes,” said Mendes-Campeau with a smile after her victory. “The fact that three of the top girls are not skating (Kalyna Roberge, Tania Vicent, and Amanda Overland, injured) changed a lot of things. Now everyone has an even chance to win.”
In the overall rankings, Anne Maltais is now first, closely followed by Jessica Hewitt and Jessica Gregg. Valérie Maltais and Mendes-Campeau follow in fourth and fifth place. On the men side, Hamelin and Jean are first and second, with Rémi Beaulieu third and Michael Gilday fourth.
Tomorrow is the last day of competition at the Pacific Coliseum, and athletes will battle hard in the 500m and 1000m, hoping to gain one of the four spots left on the World Cup Team for each men and women. Competition starts at 9am.
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Jean Breaks Hamelin’s Plans while Local Skater Hewitt Makes World Cup Team
Date posted: 09/19/2008
Charles Hamelin (Ste-Julie, QC) was hoping for six victories in as many races at the Fall World Cup Team Selection in short track speed skating, but Olivier Jean (Lachenaie, QC) made sure it didn’t happen when he won the men’s 500m race today, at the Pacific Coliseum. Meanwhile, BC born skater Jessica Hewitt (Kamloops, BC) won the 1000m to earn herself a spot on the first World Cups of the season, including the one here in Vancouver on October 24-26.
Olivier Jean broke Charles Hamelin’s streak of victories when he took the honours of the men’s 500m race. Hamelin started off strong, leading the pack from the start line, but Jean passed him on the inside with just about two laps to go. Hamelin finished second and Richard Shoebridge (Cambridge, ON) was third. Hamelin and Jean would get the two spots to race the 500m in World Cups, but as they already qualified yesterday, the high performance committee will name two other skaters to the team.
On the women side, Jessica Gregg (Edmonton, AB) was the favourite from the start line. After winning the first 500m race yesterday, she repeated in the same fashion today, with her signature start: very fast. Marianne St-Gelais (St-Félicien, QC) followed her closely for the entire race, to finish second. Anne Maltais (Québec, QC) was third to cross the finish line, and Andréa Do-Duc (Montréal, QC) was fourth. With these results, combined with those of yesterday, Gregg and Maltais earned spots on the Fall World Cup Team, joining their team-mates Valérie Maltais (La Baie, QC) and Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau (Montréal, QC) who qualified yesterday in the 1500m.
The next set of races was the 1000m, with two more places available for both men and women for the Fall World Cup Team. The women were up first, and Jessica Hewitt knew a first or second place would automatically give her the chance to race here in her home province again for the World Cup in October. “Yesterday, I was really disappointed, but I just put it behind me and came back focusing on today, knowing I still could make the team in the 1000m,” explained Hewitt. “I wanted it bad!”
And the victory wouldn’t be easy, with yesterday’s winner in the 1000m Anne Maltais also in the final, as well as Jessica Gregg and Valérie Maltais, who were all already qualified for the World Cup Team. Hewitt started third and stayed there for a bit, but after a few laps, she managed to make her way to second place with an outside pass on Gregg, and then passed Anne Maltais on the inside to take the lead, which she kept until the line. Anne Maltais was second, Gregg third and Valérie Maltais fourth.
“It’s really exciting, I came here knowing I could do it and now I have,” continued Hewitt. “It was cool enough being here in BC for a training camp this summer, and now for the team selection, but it’s an awesome feeling to know I’ll also be here for a World Cup… this is where the Olympics will be!”
The men’s 1000m final followed, and Charles Hamelin took the honours back, for his fifth victory of the week. His young brother François (Ste-Julie, QC) was second and Steve Robillard (Montréal, QC), third. The second place finish of the young Hamelin, combined with his 7th place from yesterday, allowed him to get his own spot on the Fall World Cup Team, as he finished tied in points with François-Louis Tremblay, seventh today and second yesterday, but as Hamelin is 3rd overall and Tremblay 6th, Hamelin is the one who qualifies.
“I had a tough first day, and after that, I wasn’t thinking about the World Cups anymore,” said François Hamelin. “Today, I wasn’t focusing on what had happened to me in the past, but on what was coming. It helped me focus on the rest, on the right things. It’s amazing to make the World Cup Team again, it’ll allow me to get more international experience.”
So overall, five women were able to qualify for the first World Cup stops of the season: Valérie Maltais and Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau in the 1500m, Anne Maltais and Jessica Gregg in the 500m and Jessica Hewitt in the 1000m. On the men side, only three men are pre-qualified: Charles Hamelin and Olivier Jean in the 1500m and 500m and François Hamelin in the 1000m. The last spot for women and other three spots for men will be awarded to other athletes by the High Performance Committee. The decision should be made final next week.
The first two World Cups of the season will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 17-19, and then here in Vancouver, at the Pacific Coliseum, October 24-26. The teams might change slightly for the World Cups 3 and 4 scheduled for early December in Asia as some athletes might decide not to race them, and injured athletes might come back to competition.
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 19, 2008 17:51:00 GMT -5
Article: vancouver.24hrs.ca/Sports/2008/09/19/6813296-sun.htmlLangley native to lead Canada in short-trackBy BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURSLangley short-track speedskater Jessica Hewitt will represent Canada in 1,000 metre races when the world cup season begins in Salt Lake City on Oct. 17. Hewitt, who trains at the Calgary Olympic Oval, qualified Thursday during the final day of national team trials at the Pacific Coliseum, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics' short-track meet. Also qualifying were: Jessica Gregg and Quebec's Anne Maltais (500 m), Valerie Maltais and Marie-Andree Mendes (1,500 m), Charles Hamelin (500 m and 1,500 m), Olivier Jean (500 m and 1,500 m) and Francois Hamelin (1,000 m). The national high performance committee will announce the complete roster next week. The team's second world cup stop is Oct. 24-26 at the Coliseum. It will also serve as VANOC's first indoor test event. "This week we've done a lot of testing with the ice," said national team program director Yves Hamelin. "I think yesterday and today we have the type of ice required to be good for the world cup."
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 30, 2008 19:11:30 GMT -5
Short-track speedskating team to get full use of arena to prepare for 2010
5 hours ago
MONTREAL — Canada's short-track speedskaters will not have to share their home arena with hockey players as they prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
An agreement with the Quebec government and local and provincial hockey authorities will see the Maurice Richard Arena, the team's training base since the early 1990s, turned into a replica of the rink to be used for short-track at the 2010 Games.
Hockey boards - a hazard for skaters who crash on turns - will be taken out and replaced by a cushioned barrier around the international-size ice surface. The surface will also be built to the same specifications as the rink in Vancouver.
"One of the main changes will be the installation of a self-standing mat system, ensuring greater security of our athletes in training and competition," Jean R. Dupre, director general of Speed Skating Canada, said in a statement.
Work is to begin on the east end arena in March and is to be completed in June.
Plans to modify the rink were met with protests last winter from hockey leagues and parents who say the facility was needed for their games. Speed Skating Canada said the dispute was resolved by moving local hockey programs to other rinks in the city. Local figure skaters will continue to use the arena.
"With limited opportunities for our team to train and compete at the Olympic venue in Vancouver, enabling them to skate on similar ice is key to their preparation for the Games," Dupre said.
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How awesome for Team Canada! Congrats!
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...LOL
