1. Podium Alberta
Attention high performance athletes, please note the deadline for Podium Alberta applications is October 1st (postmarked by). Athletes living in Alberta and receiving funding through Sport Canada's AAP program between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 may be eligible for up to 33% of their AAP amount. The link to the application is http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/asrpwf/programs/funding/podium_alberta/application/index.asp.
2. Alberta/Hokkaido Sport Exchange Update
From Blair Carbert…
Alberta Sports, Parks, Recreation and Wildlife Foundation has shared with me a copy of the letter (in translation) from their Hokkaido counterparts. That letter reflects the difficulty which the Hokkaido officials faced when deciding whether to postpone this fall's exchange. The letter reads, in part:
"We would like to express our heartfelt regret to your province as well as to all people who have been involved in the selection of athletes and representatives and the preparation for sending the delegation in coming November, for facing this kind of decision. We, Hokkaido Amateur Sports Association, and Hokkaido Skating Federation also truly regret having to make this decision."
Alberta Sports, Parks, Recreation and Wildlife Foundation has informed AASSA that the Hokkaido Exchange is still set to proceed, but with a new timetable. It is now intended that the Hokkaido contingent of skaters, coaches and managers will travel to Alberta in the fall of 2010. The Alberta representatives will travel to Hokkaido, Japan in the fall of 2011.
For 2010, AASSA members will play a large role in hosting our Hokkaido visitors in skating and non-skating activities. There will be competitions in long track and perhaps short track speed skating, at which Alberta and Japanese skaters will compete. As that time approaches, we will also be asking skaters and their families to step forward and show Alberta hospitality to visiting skaters, coaches and managers. Stayed tuned.
For 2011, AASSA will carry out a new selection process, to identify skaters, coaches and managers who will represent Alberta in this Hokkaido exchange. Some of the skaters selected for 2009 will not be eligible in 2011. I am sorry for that, but it cannot be avoided.
AASSA wants to thank all of those who applied this summer for skater, coach and manager positions. A lot of hard work was put into these applications. AASSA also recognizes the Selection Committee (Phyllis Loewen, Shirley Hons, Sean Maw and Bill Wotherspoon) and the Appeal Panel (Gregg Planert and Derrick Auch) for the time and effort they gave to the difficult process of selecting skaters, coaches and managers from among the many qualified applicants. I want to publicly thank each one of them for volunteering to do this.
Thank you.
Blair Carbert
President
Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association
3. DT/AWG Camp
Here are the details for the upcoming Development Team Camp/Alberta Winter Games Camp in Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer. Beth Whitmee and Tim Cooney will be the Alberta coaches at the Canadian Short Track Championships in New Brunswick in March so they will be the Head Coaches at these camps. The plan is to divide the camps by zone as well as divide the skaters at each camp into 2 groups based on 500m time. Zone 1, 5, 6 & 8 will be in Rocky with Tim Cooney as well as all the Zone 4 Rocky skaters and Zone 2, 3, 4 & 7 will be in Red Deer with Beth Whitmee.
The Coach and Skater Development Committee is in the final stages of finalizing the schedule for the 2 days with all skaters having 3 ice sessions and 3 off-ice sessions. Saturday will start at 9:00am - 4pm and Sunday will start at 9:00am - 2:00pm. The focus of the on ice sessions will include relays, track patterns and corner entries. Off ice sessions will be basic equipment & skate sharpening, imitations, running and some work with cables. Please confirm with Shawna Pearman by email at; spearman@telusplanet.net the athletes and coaches that will be attending the camps as well as their 500m ST times by the latest Wednesday, September 30th.
The following are a list of hotels/motels in Red Deer :
Western Budget Motel #1 (south west side of Hwy 2) 403-358-5755 very reasonable rates and nice rooms
Western Budget Motel #2 (south east side of Hwy 2) 403-347-2171
Travelodge - 403-346-2011 (5-10 minutes from the Kinex arena)
Red Deer Lodge 403-346-8841 (very close to the Kinex arena)
Ramada Inn 403-358-7722 (very close to the Kinex Arena)
The following are a list of hotels/motels in Rocky:
Super 8 403-846-0088
Best Western 403-844-3100
Walking Eagle 403-845-2804
