Yay! I’m off to the Pettit Center USA National Training Center, next week. Unfortunately Canada is seriously LACKING in support and facilities. I was told last year that the government DOES provide much support for speed skating in Canada, but I don’t see it. I’ve been involved with the sport for 15 years and other than a few grants here and there I really don’t see the kind of support that this sport needs.
“Now the only question that remains is… will my boots be done in time?”
I’ve pretty much paid my own way. I’m no elite skater, but as a coach I expected to see some of our more elite skaters get some support. Besides various campaigns during the Olympic years, I don’t know about many elite skaters that receive adequate support for their efforts.
Why for instance, does Canada have a surplus in their budget of billions of dollars and the biggest province in the country doesn’t even have a 400m oval yet? We’re the only province in the country to have a 200m banked track and ONLY because of the efforts put in by one man. It was built entirely with private money.
Well, as it stands today – Ontario IS getting a 400m covered oval, but as to when is uncertain. We’ve been hearing about it for the past five or six years, but nothing has come to fruition. So for the meantime, our little group of hardcore skaters is making the trip out to Milwaukee to skate at their ice oval.
I always enjoy making the trip out there. It’s a long drive, but being a skater, this sport is vast and we always have things to talk about. The drive to Quebec’s St Foy track can take almost as long and it’s outdoors. The drive to Lake Placid is a bit better, but the difference is only a few hours. For those few extra hours, it’s better to skate at an indoor facility. Our best and only choice is Milwaukee.
Now the only question that remains is… will my boots be done in time?
