Not since the 2015 Canada Winter Games have there been as many teenaged speed demons on blades gathered under one Prince George roof as there will be at this weekend’s Canadian Junior Open short track speed skating meet.
Twenty-two female and 40 male skaters aged 16-18 are entered in the two-day competition Saturday and Sunday on the Olympic-sized rink at Kin 1.
“It’s about a year now we’ve been planning this and now it’s coming to a head,” said Blizzard club president James McIntosh.
McIntosh says hosting the event will be an eye-opening experience, especially for the club’s 84 younger skaters. He’s hoping it will inspire Blizzard skaters to stick with the sport and pursue provincial and national team opportunities, as did Blizzard alumnus Carolina Hiller, a two-time world champion in long track speed skating.
“I think that’s the sole purpose of (hosting) is just to give them an experience as to what the next level looks like, to re-inspire them to have some new goals to skate in a competition like this” said McIntosh. “It will expose them to the national-level skating.”
The host Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club has one skater – 18-year-old UNBC education student Pareesa Jones – who met the qualifying criteria for the Junior Open.
Ten of the 22 women and 27 of the 40 men on the entry list are from Quebec. Seven female and four male skaters are from BC.
Calla Haaheim of Kelowna is the top qualifier in the women’s field.
Results from the three individual race events – 1,500 metres, 1,000m and the 3,000m – relays will determine the skaters who will qualify for the Canada Cup Final and Canada Cup Junior Final.
Volunteers are needed to serve as lap counters, places judges and timers. Go to the volunteer sign-up page online to offer your services.
Speed Skating Canada has posted the weekend race schedule and list of participants.
