FREE SPEEDSKATING PROGRAM

[gasp]

This is information from Oz--and no I did not ask--because I can never get through over at that sight. But in light of the Rocker Fund I knew the peeps at GA would be interested in this information:

This information is from Steve Burton, the go-to-guy at Virginia Speedskating: www.virginiaspeedskating.org

Great questions.

The "free program" really is free. We are well funded.

Jordan Malone and Kimberley Derrick have agreed to be the Team Captains and wear the Team logo on their National skinsuit this season. They will not train in Virginia, but rather serve to promote the Team and serve as ambassadors for the Team around the world. The National Team has agreed to support the program with mini-clinics thoughout the year. We anticipate that Jordan and Kimberley will join the team periodically through these clinics.

The available housing is home-based with adult supervision.

Our mission is to provide a level of programming that is today available to only the national team skaters. One day it will be our Team skaters that make National Teams!

Please support the program. Send applications with skaters who have high level aspirations.

[gasp]

This is the original info from Oz

April 17, 2008
Announcing the Virginia Speeskating Elite Team
The Virginia Speedskating Elite Team is a new, free, year-round training program for skaters aspiring to elite-level performance. It's hoped that this team will be a combination of National Team as well as Development skaters of a wide range of ages. This program is based in Richmond, VA and is being announced at this weekend's US Speedskating spring board meeting in Bethlehem, PA.

Download the announcement here

In addition, the new program is seeking a Program Director. Download the position announcement here

Anyone who is interested or has questions should contact Steve Burton, Executive Director of Virginia Speedskating.

[breidy]

Wow, gasp. Thanks for that information. I went to OZ and read more information from Steve Burton. Looks like Steve has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this program. Two years ago two Korean coaches were brought over to coach the program. Wow, I hope this information will be made available to The RockerFund athletes.

Here's additional info posted by Steve Burton at OZ:

Regarding other questions:

The new team program is 100% funded by Virginia Speedskating. You are correct, one of our largest fund raising is in fact bingo.

USS is not contributing any funding to the program. However, I have six-year relationship with Kevin Chun, brother of Jae Su Chun, head coach for USS Short Track, and was introduced to speed skating by Jimmy Jang, now assistant USS coach.

When we started VA Speedskating, for the first few years my son and i would travel to Maryland and spend the weekend with Jimmy and Kevin's club each Saturday and Sunday. We would then return to Richmond and teach the same lessons each Monday night at our practice.

Subsequently, i hope that we will be able to have non-financial program support when needed.

Now we have our own coaches, Sun-tae and Ji-Young Chea, who moved their family to Richmond from Korea at my request two years ago on a serious leap of faith.

we have about 9 applications for the new program so far - very good skaters ranging from 11 - 19 years old so far.

We prefer skaters age 10 - 25, but are willing to consider exceptional cases of any age.

No firm time limits - most important is willingness to make serious commitment to the program. When you spend this much time together, it can get like family here. Want to make sure that skaters who apply are willing to be a contributing member of a team effort to excel.

We will consider all skaters who apply - can be from any country.

Posted by Steve Burton at April 21, 2008 9:40 PM

How awesome for the future of ST.

[gasp]

and to further this discussion go to the other thread regarding the Virginia Elite Speedskating information

thanks aaosmts19