Pacific Blades speed skating club is off to a great start. Currently, the club boasts a roster of nine skaters and the word is getting out around the Coast about this exciting sport.
When the season started in September, most of the club members participated in several competitions all over the Lower Mainland. Most recently, the four members of the club participated in an outdoor long track competition in Logan Lake.
Ondra Maseja won the gold in the midget boys age group, while Nicole Maseja won silver in the junior girls age group. Willie Daigneault finished fifth in bantam boys, while Reid McNevin, competing in his first competition of the season, finished eighth in midget boys.
Next competition for the club is in Burnaby, followed by an event in Vernon. On March 3, the club is off to the southern regional championships in Sardis, and on March 10, several skaters are off to the B.C. short track provincial championships in Matsqui.
In other club news, the club recently organized the On the Edge learn to skate program for École du Pacifique, a program designed and sponsored by Speed Skating Canada.
"The program is designed to create awareness of the sport of speed skating and to assist teachers of physical education with the teaching of skating through a speed skating approach," said Pacific Blades past president and coach Diaya Maseja. "The program is funded by Sport Canada and runs for nine weeks. About 40 students from Grades 6/7 are participating. There is no cost to school or to students. Bus transportation is provided from school and back to school, also paid by Sports Canada."
The program started Jan. 9 and runs until March 13 every Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:25 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Arena.
"This is an excellent opportunity for children to explore and learn speed skating," Maseja said. "Any sport or phys ed program directors from potentially interested schools are welcomed to come and see us in action with École du Pacifique."
Anybody interested in trying speed skating can call Diaya or Peter at 604-885-9077 for skate fitting. For $20 they can try to skate with the club three times during any of the practice times, Tuesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. or Thursdays from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
