2. Coaching Seminar
Just a reminder about the AASSA Coaching Seminar! The seminar will be held on April 18-19, 2009 in Calgary at the Olympic Oval. The seminar is free for Alberta coaches and Jack Walters is instructing.
Target coaches for this seminar are coaches working with Development Team skaters (8-15 year olds), or those coaches who have completed at least FUNdamentals or NCC Level 1 equivalent or have experience coaching at the club level for a few years.
The seminar will be divided into two parts; first will be general biomechanical principles, Long Track (LT) technique, and menu of training programs for summer and LT. A second portion of the seminar package will be held later (August/September) to cover equipment, application of biomechanical principles to ST and a menu of ST training programs. Attendance at the 1st portion is a prerequisite for the 2nd since the general info on mechanical principles and the introduction to the menu of programs will not be repeated.
Topics
• General biomechanical principles and application to speed skating
• Systematic approach to analyzing tech – applies to LT and ST
• Specific analysis of LT technique
• Detecting – correcting errors in technique – some ST application
• Reviewing video of typical age class skaters
• Menu/progression of summer dry training programs for age class skaters
• Menu/progression of LT ice training programs for age class skaters –
some ST application
Schedule
Saturday, April 18th, 2009 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Olympic Oval
Sunday, April 19th, 2009 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Olympic Oval
Notes
Full attendance is mandatory. A proper seminar cannot be facilitated if participants are not committed to the weekend. AASSA’s CSDC is putting forth the financial and instructional commitment; therefore AASSA strongly encourages commitment from club coaches. A minimum of 8-10 participants need to be confirmed prior to March 15th, 2009 in order for this seminar to go ahead. Coaches will need dry training clothes. Please confirm your spot with Wendy Walker at aassa@ucalgary.ca. Accommodations will be announced at a later date.
3. ING Speed Skating Challenge
After five weeks and over 35,000 online votes from across the country, the title of Canada’s Best Speed Skating Story was awarded to Scott MacHattie for his story entitled, “Speed Skating – The Inclusive Sport,” at a gala evening hosted by Catriona Le May Doan.
Overwhelmed by the appreciation of the audience, Scott made his way up to the stage with his coach Kelly Brennan close behind to accept his award from Catriona.
With over 50 members of Canada’s national speed skating team in attendance, including Guest Judges Jeremy Wotherspoon and Jessica Gregg along with last year’s winner Alastair Starke, the second annual ING Video Awards Party was an opportunity to bring Canada’s best speed skaters together with Canada’s best speed skating stories.
“When we began the search for Canada’s best speed skating story, the goal was to provide young skaters from across the country with a voice – a way of building a speed skating community by sharing their love for the sport. I can see why Scott’s story resonated with Canadians – he’s an inspiring young athlete with Down Syndrome who has become a real trail blazer in the sport of speed skating,” said Catriona.
Following the announcement, World Champion speed skater Jeremy Wotherspoon, who sat beside Scott during the awards party, commented on Scott’s winning story.
“I really enjoyed Scott’s video. His message that speed skating is an inclusive sport proves anyone of any age or ability can enjoy speed skating, even at the competitive level, like he has. He’s a great kid and I’m proud of him.”
Scott took home prizes from Timex, General Mills, Bell and Canon along with a brand new pair of speed skates, while his coach Kelly Brennan accepted a $5,000 cheque from ING for Scott’s home club, the Oakville Speed Skating Association.
Tori Spence and her story, “Owen’s Oval,” about her late father’s work to create a speed skating legacy in Kamloops was also a deserving finalist and garnered Runner-Up recognition.
“Tori was deserving of the title as well. The simplicity of her story about her father’s vision – seeing inukshuks and long track ovals in BC’s future long before the Olympics – was deeply moving,” said Catriona. “It represents the best of what the sport of speed skating can do for a community.”
Catriona Le May Doan also announced the recipient of her Most Inspirational Story.
“Brigitte Patenaude’s story, ‘Age is Just a Number,’ really shows that you’re never too old to skate fast and turn left,” added Catriona.
The award winners are now online at www.INGSpeedSkatingChallenge.com.
4. Speed Skating at the Junos?
From the Olympic podium to the JUNO red carpet and stage, seven Canadian Olympians and two Paralympians will be in Vancouver this weekend to attend the hottest Canadian music event of the year – THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS, airing Sunday, March 29 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV (check local listings).
Jeremy Wotherspoon, 1998 Olympic silver medallist in long track speed skating, and Mellisa Hollingsworth, 2006 Olympic bronze medallist in skeleton, will appear live on stage during the JUNO telecast.
This marks the second time a Canadian Olympian has appeared live during the JUNOS. In 2006, Olympic curling gold medallist Brad Gushue presented Album of the Year during CTV’s broadcast.
With Vancouver 2010 less than one year away, Canadian Olympians are enjoying their rock-star status. Wotherspoon and Hollingsworth will be walking the ETALK Red Carpet with fellow Olympians and Vancouver 2010 contenders Emily Brydon (alpine skiing), Steve Omischl (freestyle skiing – aerials), Ashleigh McIvor (freestyle skiing – ski cross), Charles Hamelin (short track speed skating) and Denny Morrison (long track speed skating). The sporty seven will be joined by Paralympians Lauren Woolstencroft and Karolina Wisniewska (alpine skiing).
“We want to turn our Canadian Olympic athletes into celebrities. We want Canadians to know – and fall in love with – our Olympic hopefuls well before Vancouver 2010. This means taking the Olympians out of sport and putting them in the spotlight in other walks of life,” said Keith Pelley, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. “CTV has a unique and proven ability to elevate properties to new heights and extend them beyond a traditional television show, as evidenced by the JUNOS.”
Canadian music is playing a vital role in Canadian Olympic athletes’ preparations for Vancouver 2010. Hollingsworth stays focused and relaxed before a race by listening to eight-time JUNO Award-winner and 2009 JUNO performer Sarah McLachlan. Omischl’s iPod features JUNO Award-winners Sam Roberts and Simple Plan, whom Omischl listens to while training. McIvor gets fired up before a race listening to five-time JUNO Award-winner Nelly Furtado. Morrison dials down after a big race with two-time JUNO Award-winner Hawksley Workman, while Brydon gets energized during her workouts by tuning in to 14-time JUNO Award-winning rock group, The Tragically Hip.
Hosted by comic superstar Russell Peters, THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS boasts a star-studded lineup of performers, including Great Big Sea, Nickelback, City and Colour, Divine Brown, Simple Plan, The Trews, Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, and The Stills.
5. Speed Skating Canada Update
Speed Skating Canada (SSC) announced today the departure of Finn Halvorsen as Long Track Speed Skating Program Director, effective immediately.
Halvorsen had been employed by SSC since the summer of 2006, following a reorganization of SSC’s High Performance program structure. During his work with Speed Skating Canada, he was leading the long track speed skating program and some of his major accomplishments include the hiring of prominent coaches such as sprint coach Michael Crowe as well as all around coach Ingrid Paul, two great additions to SSC’s coaching team.
Following differences in management and leadership between himself and Speed Skating Canada, Halvorsen decided to resign from his position, as it became impossible for him to carry his objectives. SSC accepted Halvorsen’s decision, judging it was the best thing to do in order to ensure stability in the long track speed skating program in the months leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
“We thank Finn for his dedication to the sport of Speed Skating and our National Team program over the last three seasons”, says Jean R. Dupré, Director General of Speed Skating Canada. “His hard work was appreciated and has not gone unnoticed. We wish him the best for the future in his new projects.”
With less than one year to go before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Speed Skating Canada will not be replacing Halvorsen as Long Track Program Director. Brian Rahill, High Performance and Olympic Program Director, will fullfil his duties leading up to and at the Olympics.
