The Sunshine Coast Arena was full of speed demons last weekend.
The Pacific Blades kicked off its inaugural speed skating season on the Sunshine Coast with a summer skills camp. In all, 38 skaters from age six to 56 took part in the two-day camp.
Participants were from Sechelt, the Lower Mainland and as far away as Kamloops.
The skaters were divided into two groups. The first group was for younger skaters and those who had never tried speed skating before, while group two consisted of provincial B.C. Cup level skaters.
Some of the top coaches from the Lower Mainland assisted the local club during the weekend. Ariana Van Der Starre from the Burnaby Haida Speed skating club, George Donatelli from Langley and Ashley Huggan, who coaches in Maple Ridge and Langley, worked with the group one participants.
Mike Marshall, the new provincial high-performance coach and Jari Sokkanen from the Haida club worked with group two.
Local coaches Denise North and Marina McNab were also on the ice as well trying out the new long blades.
Besides on-ice training, all the participants learned about dry land training as well. And even though the weather outside didn't cooperate at some points during the weekend, none of the participants seemed to mind. Everyone there showed a willingness to learn.
Organizers were thrilled with the turnout and called the first camp a huge success. The Pacific Blades are offering tryouts for $20.
For more information about the tryouts or the club or to register for the up-coming season, call Diaya or Peter at 604-885-9077.
