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With just a few days left before the end of the Winter Olympics, athletes and coaches with the Regina Speed Skating Club are feeling a rush of inspiration.
The club’s young members train at the Jack Staples Arena, preparing for their next competitions.
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Jedidiah Adediji, 15, has big dreams of one day representing Canada on the international stage as he watches Canadian skaters reach the podium in Italy.
“I love seeing Canada race,” he said.
“William Dandjinou, that’s who I’m cheering for. I love seeing him race. It just really inspires me to keep skating, keep doing this, because I know I (will) hopefully get there if I keep putting in effort.”
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Jedidiah Adediji (left) and Andrew Hubick, members of the Regina Speed Skating Club, are excited to watching Team Canada’s skaters win medals at the Olympics. . (Abby Zieverink/ 980 CJME)
Adediji has been on speed skates since he was 10 years old.
“It hurts your quads a lot, and you’ll feel dizzy at times, but like you’ll feel yourself getting better for sure,” he said.
The club holds seminars for beginners during its season. Adediji said it’s not the easiest sport to pick up, but encouraged those trying speed skating for the first time to stick with it.
“It’s gonna hurt, it’s gonna take time, but you’ll definitely get there,” he said.
Coach Michelle Daeninck-Rempel said interest in speed skating always grows during the Olympics.
“Even as a kid growing up, the Olympics was always something to strive for,” she said.
“Then seeing everyone from Cindy Klassen, Clara Hughes, Susan Auch, Catriona Le May Doan, Will Dutton … those were always stars to strive for. I do the sport that these really cool Olympians do.”
Michelle Daeninck-Rempel is a long-track speed skater who trained in the Olympic Oval Program in Calgary. Now, she’s coach with the Regina Speed Skating Club. (Abby Zieverink/ 980 CJME)
In early February, the club hosted a learn-to-speed-skate program that attracted 26 young athletes. Daeninck-Rempel said it was a challenge for kids who have only ever worn hockey or figure skates to adjust to the much longer blades.
“The lower you are, the more stable you’ll feel, and the faster you’ll be able to get,” she said. “You want the biggest stride that your leg can offer for the most power around the ice.”
Coach Keegan Christ said an adjustment for many speed skaters is the difficulty with stopping.
“When I’m skating, I prefer not to,” he said. “You just glide around until you lose your speed. (You) don’t want to lose that edge.”
Keegan Christ is a short-track speed skater who skated on Canada’s national team, and is now a coach at the Regina Speed Skating Club (Abby Zieverink/ 980 CJME)
Christ said there’s a spot for everyone in the club, whether they want to compete or just learn to skate.
“It’s really just great to get out and get some exercise, get your kids involved in something,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adediji said he’s going to keep chasing after his personal best time.
“It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s chaotic at times,” he said. “It’s just fun to race other people.”
