2. SSC News
In order to optimize its preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Speed Skating Canada (SSC) announced today a small restructuration within its Sport Department.
Effective today, Sport Director Brian Rahill will assume the position of High Performance and Olympic Program Director, and will work solely with the high performance programs, for both short and long track speed skating. One of his main responsibilities will be to provide the necessary direction for organization and delivery of all parts of the Olympic preparation plan.
This will relieve the Short Track and Long Track Program Directors, Yves Hamelin and Finn Halvorsen, of some of their planning workload, allowing them to focus more on program management and evaluation of the technical aspects of their respective disciplines. Rahill will take direct responsibility for the planning, management and implementation of the Olympic plans, while the two Program Directors will, among other things, keep their role as leaders of the national training centres as well as the national coaches and integrated support teams and monitoring and evaluating the entire programs performances and needs analysis.
“This new structure comes into play today, 15 months before the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, in order to ensure the best possible support is given to our speed skating athletes and coaches to optimize their success at the 2010 Olympics and beyond,” explained SSC’s Director General Jean R. Dupré. “We have a strong program and have achieved great success over the past few years, but constant change is necessary in order for us to keep improving and stay a leader within Canada’s National Sport Organizations.”
Rahill will also be responsible for strategic planning of both high performance programs including succession planning. He will become the lead liaison with both High Performance Committees. He will continue to be the lead liaison with Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Own the Podium 2010 and the Canadian Sport Centres.
Additionally, he will retain his overarching responsibilities regarding the implementation of SSC’s Long Term Athlete and Participant Development plan.
“I’m very excited at the opportunity to work even closer than before with our two Program Directors in order to prepare as optimally as possible for the 2010 Games. I hope to share and build on the experience acquired in various capacities at 7 Olympic Games and allow them to focus on the preparation of our teams, coaches and performance enhancement teams. Our program has grown exponentially since the creation of the Own the Podium 2010 program and they need to be able to focus on factors that will directly affect performance “ said Rahill.
3. LTAD Bulletin
The Long Term Participant and Athlete Development Implementation Working Group is happy to introduce you to its new LTPAD Bulletin. The Bulletin has been created in order to help keep Speed Skating Canada’s members informed about the latest development with regards to the LTP/AD and it will be published every four to six week. The Bulletin will be a means to celebrate the successes of SSC and its members as we move forward with the implementation of the LTPAD and for you, the passionate participants and supporters of speed skating help create a more positive sporting experience for all participants (skaters, officials, coaches, parents and administrators).
LTP/AD Implementation Working Group and Competition and Events System Review Team makes significant progress to kick off the 2008-2009 season
Speed Skating Canada Board endorses the guiding principles for events and competition
- The Board of directors endorsed the series of guiding principles put forward by the LTP/AD Implementation Working from the Competition and Events System Review Team. The principles will be used to guide the development of specific recommendations by the Review Team.
- The guiding principles are now available in the LTP/AD section of SSC’s website (www.speedskating.ca). Questions should be directed my email to Douglas Duncan, Project Manager at dduncan@speedskating.ca.
Productive Implementation Working Group Planning Session
- The session focused on the communication and consultation process surrounding the Competition and Events System Review and the broader implementation of the model.
- The Working Group confirmed the belief that the LTP/AD model should help sport be a more meaningful and exciting experience which enriches the lives of all involved.
- The Working Group will be adjusting the nomenclature of LTAD to reflect all participants utilizing the name Long Term Participant and Athlete Development model (LTP/AD). This is in-line with a similar adjustment being considered by the Canadian Sport for Life Expert Group and the nomenclature used by the Quebec Speed Skating Federation since adopting the LTP/AD model in 2004.
- The Working Group confirmed through implementation it will focus not only on support structures for competitive athletes but on the broader development of a positive sport experience for all participants by seeking to further define what speed skating can offer volunteers, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and recreational skaters.
Exciting LTP/AD initiatives within speed skating
- The Club and Membership Development Committee will be launching a program to support the development of Speed Skating Festivals and a Club Festival Toolkit for FUNdamentals and Learning to Train skaters. Look for the details in the sport development newsletter.
- Atlantic Region Coaches got together in late September to develop strategies to develop an Atlantic Region Learn to Skate Program; the recruitment and retention of female skaters and the development of skills competitions. For a full summary of the weekend consult: http://www.fastandfit.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/atlanticprovincescoachingretreatoverview.ppt
- The LTP/AD working group launched this bulletin as a means to provide periodic updates on the implementation process.
The Long Term Participant and Athlete Development model is a framework for making decisions centered around the needs of individuals at each stage of development based on the best scientific data available pertaining to physical, social and psychological development.
For more information regarding LTP/AD or the Competition and Events System Review consult the LTP/AD section of SSC’s website www.speedskating.ca or contact Douglas Duncan, Project Manager at dduncan@speedskating.ca
4. How Did Canada Do?
Berlin – Kristina Groves (Ottawa, ON) was once again the top Canadian on the second day of competitions at the World Cup in Berlin with a fourth place finish in the ladies 3000m. For the men, the best performance belongs to Denny Morrison (Fort St. John, CB) who raced to an 8th place finish in the 1500m.
In the ladies 3000m, Kristina Groves finished 4th, only two hundredths of a second behind her Japanese rival, Masako Hozumi, who took third place. Brittany Schussler (Winnipeg, MB), who won her first medal in a World Cup yesterday, Clara Hughes (Winnipeg, MB) and Christine Nesbitt (London, ON) took 8th, 10th and 16th place respectively. Nicole Garrido was disqualified in Division B.
In the Men 1500m, Denny Morrison, World Champion in the distance, took 8th place. His teammate Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK) finished 12th while Francois-Olivier Roberge (St-Nicolas, QC) and Steven Elm (Red Deer, AB) ended in 16th and 21st place. In Division B, Jeff Kitura (Langley, CB) completed his race with an 11th place finish.
« Our approach is to build on each race and competition as the season progresses to improve. Ice conditions in Berlin make the task that much more though. But, without any doubts, the best is yet to come, » mentioned a thoughtful Denny Morrison after his race.
In the 500m, the Canadians men had again a stroke of bad luck. Unfortunately, World Champian Jeremy Wotherspoon (Red Deer, AB) fell as he was entering the last corner and fractured his upper left arm, which will keep him away from competition for some time.
“What happened to Jeremy is regrettable. This injury will keep him away from competitions for weeks to come. At the very least there should be no need for surgery.” said Michael Crowe, Sprint National Team Coach. Crowe is confident that Wotherspoon didn’t commit any technical mistake at the turn. Ice conditions and the age of the facilities certainly had a role in the gravity of the injury. This is echoing comments made by other athletes regarding skating conditions.
Still in the 500m, Vincent Labrie (St-Romuald, QC) finished 10th in 35.41 seconds, improving his performance from yesterday. On the same distance, Jamie Gregg (Edmonton, AB) took the 18th place while Denny Morrison (Fort St. John, BC) ended 23rd. Speed skater Muncef Ouardi (Montréal, QC) ranged 4th in Division B, getting closer to Division A.
On the women’ side, Shannon Rempel (Winnipeg, MB) crossed the finish line 11th in the 500m. She was the lone Canadian skater in the A Group. In Division B, Christine Nesbitt (London, ON) was 2nd while teammates Tamara Oudenaarden (St-Albert, AB), Kerry Dankers (Melville, SK) and Nicole Garrido (Edmonton, AB) took 7th, 14th and 19th place respectively.
