Long Track World Cup #8 Results, CAN Fund, Quebec Calendar Filling Up

Long Track World Cup #8 Results: Click here for the results from the 8th race of the long track world cup. Speed Skating Canada has a couple of reports (report 1 and report 2) on the weekend's races.

CAN Fund: I thought I would take a few minutes to write about an organization called Canadian Athletes Now Fund. They're a great organization that support athletes. I spoke with one of the persons employed by CAN Fund and she told me that one of their philosophies is to unite athleteswith the goal of raising support and awareness; when this happens, things are more likely to get accomplished.


There's power in numbers, it's true. I'm sure that in order to attend this year's world championships, I'll be helping to fundraise, but the power in numbers where I live is pretty small. It is small but appreciated. That's the tough part about being an athlete in roller sports- here in Canada and I am sure elsewhere in the world; we have to train for so many hours during the year and we have very few support systems in place. The supports that do we have in place are so stressed and stretched that what we receive in help is very little.


Training on the ice in Ste Foy (Quebec)
Some might say that I am whining and trying to get money for top and elite skaters. I guess I am. Some of the top skaters are training 5-6-7 hours in a day plus working, volunteering, and trying to live a life. The costs of maintaining training and competition are enormous- more so than what I think a lot of people imagine. Athletes might get to live the 'high' life in terms of getting to travel all over the world, but what is easy to miss is the 8 months of preparation that goes into having a successful season. Some of the sacrifices that athletes have to make are easily missed; postponing having a house and family, not seeing friends for prolonged periods of time, sacrificing relationships with partners and family in order to train, holding off on getting an education.

Elite athletes need support for things like physio therapy, massage, nutrition, equipment, travel, hotel, coaching, club, federation fees, race entries, clothing, gym memberships- the list goes on and on.

Andrew Hegarty recently posted an article called Enough is enough. In the article, he shares his views on how skating is developing in Canada- when I read it, I could sense a lot of frustration and there are some things in his post that I have clearly seen in the past. This has to do with what I am talking about here because Andrew highlights some of the difficulties that can be encountered when an athlete navigates the rough waters of policits and sport development. (also see Andrew Hegarty's account of the 2006 World Championships, which he is currently posting- he says it is about 32 pages long!!)


2006 world championships- the senior men's pack on their way to the finish
The reason I mention CAN Fund is because I think it's important to highlight the groups and organizations that understand that an elite athlete requires support. I am one of those athletes who needs support, and I have always worked hard at earning what I get- I don't think I have ever gotten anything for 'free', however I am always looking for help.

That being said, if you do want to help, click on the paypal button above on the right, help fundraise for skaters and teams, get out there and do something for someone.

Quebec Calendar Filling Up: There are 8 inline races slated for Quebec this season. The races include Quebec Cup #1 on June 10th, the 24 Hours Inline Montreal on July 15-16, Quebec Cup #2 on August 5th, The 10km of the University Of Laval, Quebec Cup #3 on September 1st, the Montreal Marathon (Festi-Fami-Roule) on September 8th, Quebec Cup #4 on September 23rd, and finally the Defi De l'Ile De Montréal in October.


The Quebec flag flies at the 2006 Canadian (RSC) Championships