Cambridge club that's produced 7 Olympic speed skaters puts out a call for new racers
Blake Morrison has been coaching speed skating in Cambridge for 25 years, and says the sport deserves more attention.
“It’s a great organization, a great sport and it’s unfortunate that we just don’t get the exposure for people to really know that we are here,” Morrison told CTV News.
The Cambridge Speed Skating Club (CSSC) has produced seven Olympians over its 50 years.
“Number eight, I am hoping is in Calgary right now,” Morrison said referencing Aaralyn Mcgill who spent many years at the Cambridge Speed Skating Club before moving to Alberta to advance her training and attend post-secondary school.
“We are hopeful she might be in the next winter Olympics.”
Each Olympian who previously trained at the CSSC gets their banner hung inside Hespeler Memorial Arena.
Included among them is Amanda Overland, who won silver for short track at the 2006 Turin Games.
When asked why speed skating sees lower participation numbers, Overland couldn’t exactly say.
“It’s not as popular say as hockey or figure skating, even though it has amazing ratings at the Olympics and we do so well at the Olympics.”
She added: “I guess maybe because there’s no professional speeding skating?”
Overland still lives in Waterloo region and her young children have since picked up the sport.
A group of Cambridge Speed Skating Club athletes pose for a picture on ice at the Hespeler Memorial Arena. (Krista Sharpe/CTV Kitchener)
Despite their Olympic success, Morrison says the club still has a relatively low turnout.
He argues speed skating, at the fundamental level, is less expensive compared to other organized sports.
“In Cambridge we offer a four session, try-before-you-join package and the cost is $40, but it includes the speed skates. We have speed skates we provide for the younger skaters,” he said.
“Speed skates can be really expensive so this really helps.”
Morrison says the more competitive an athlete gets, the more the cost will rise as with any sport, “but at the outset of learning to skate, it’s quiet reasonable for the finances on the family.”
While training, current Cambridge speed skating athletes see those Olympic banners on the wall as motivation.
“I think that's awesome and I hopefully want to be on the wall,” 13-year-old Owen Donkers said.
“That's my goal, to be on that wall,” 14-year-old Allie Hubert added.
Hubert says she enjoys the sport because, “I love the community, I love travelling and making friends.”
Twelve-year-old Felix Paiement says he started his skating career in hockey skates but decided it wasn’t for him.
“What I like about speed skating the most, I like the going fast part,” Paiement said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.