Hi Skaters,

We’ve already had a couple fo drop-in sessions on Sundays so far this summer. Just got confirmation from Ken:

“I have confirmed that we do have another drop-in speed skating session from 12 noon to 1 PM this Sunday, July 25th. The cost is $15 payable direct to the rink. Sunday is going to be a scorcher with temperatures in the ’90s, so do drop in and cool off :-)”

PROVIDENCE BRIDGE PEDAL – August 8th

If you are on my list of volunteers for helping with the Hawthorne Bridge during this event, I’ll be sending you an email soon with the schedule. Please plan to be available 6-9pm on Saturday, Aug. 7th as well as approx. 11am-2pm on Sunday, August 8th. Expect to receive my email within the next couple of days. In the meantime, enjoy the summer!

~Linda

This Sunday, July 11th, there is a “drop-in” session at Mountain View Ice Arena from 12 noon – 1pm. Bring your long sleeved fleece, tights, etc. (it’s too hot to wear this outside) and change at the rink. We’ll have a coached session – pay the rink at the front desk.

Updates on more drop-in sessions to come. Hope you’re enjoying the summer weather!

Interested in checking out long track speedskating? How about a road trip? Check out “Stride & Glide with an Olympian” on August 14 at the Olympic Oval in Utah!

I’m currently collecting names from people interested in helping out at this year’s Providence Bridge Pedal August 8. This is one of the primary fundraising activities we do during the summer to raise money for ice time. Email me to get on the list as I need to get a commitment to the event organizers asap – deadline is June 15!

Keep checking for updates as I hope to get our outdoor dryland session scheduled soon. In the meantime, check out skating on the track at PIR on Mondays!

Practice sessions for May are scheduled for May 9th and May 23rd from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon.

We’re in the process of working with the rink management and determining when we will have sessions throughout the summer.

Keep checking this site or send me an email to make sure we have you on the list.

Also let me know if you are interested in the following:

* summer off-ice dryland sessions (these will be great workouts!)
* helping out at fundraisers to earn funds to pay for ice time – which include
the Bridge Pedal on Aug. 9, and the Portland Marathon on Oct. 10th

Thanks!
Linda
email: linda[at]mountainviewspeedskating[dot]org

UPDATE: Mountain View Ice Arena is offering us one hour drop-in sessions on May 16th (Sunday) and May 30th (Memorial Day Weekend) from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM for $15 per person. If we have a good turnout for these sessions, it may lead to more drop-in sessions throughout the summer!

Mark your calendars – the April practice sessions will be as follows:

April 11th and April 18th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon
April 25th from 10:30 to 11:30 AM

Cost is $15 per person and includes skates (if we have your size). Otherwise you can rent figure or hockey skates from the rink.

Hope to see you there!

Skaters,
Thank you all for coming out to our March 14 and March 21 “Learn to Speedskate” clinics. We introduced the sport to approximately 60 people! We hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the sport we love.

Note: Click here to see photos taken at the March 14 clinic.

If you are interested in attending our regular practice sessions, we will have our April schedule confirmed soon. Join us on the ice for more drills, endurance laps, relays and races! It’s different every week, but always fun.

Special thanks to Patty, for managing all the equipment, Ken, for planning the clinics, Colm for managing the finances, and to Lisa, Becky, Nick, Tama, Shana, Dave, Chris and Sterling for excellent coaching!

~Linda

We have had such great response to our March 14 and March 21 “Learn to Speedskate” clinics and the March 14 clinic is now completely full. In order to provide sufficient coaching and have skates for everyone to try, we must limit the number of skaters.

As a reminder, here is the basic information about the March 14 clinic (if you have sent us an email and are confirmed on the list):

The clinic will take place on Sunday, March 14 from, 9:30-11:30am at the Mountain View Ice Arena at 14313 SE Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MARCH 14 IS THE FIRST DAY OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME – SO MOVE YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 13TH.

Cost for each clinic is $10 per person including speedskate rental (we have a lmiited inventory).
Rental skates are available from the rink (hockey and figure skates) for an additional small fee.

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE RINK’S PARKING LOT – WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY THE RINK TO PARK IN THE STRIP MALL PARKING LOT on the east side of the rink in the center rows of parking in front of the
Rib City Grill. (The parking in front of the rink is reserved for Church parking on Sundays and
they occasionally tow cars.)

Plan to wear long pants or tights, long sleeves (fleece is good) and gloves, and a helmet (bike
helmets are fine) and kneepads if you have them. We do have a few extra helmets if you need to borrow one.

The dates have been changed to March 14th and March 21st. Clinic times will be from 9:30-11:30am on March 14 and 12:30-2:30 PM on March 21st. If you’ve already sent an email to get your name on the list, please confirm which date (or both) you plan to attend.

Cost of the clinic is $10 – please arrive early to try on skates. PARKING NOTE: Mountain View Ice Arena has requested that we park in the strip mall parking lot on the east side of the rink in the center rows of parking in front of the Rib City Grill. (The parking in front of the rink is reserved for Church parking on Sundays and they occasionally tow cars.)

What an amazing 1500meter race! Congrats to Apolo & JR for their silver & bronze medals!

Here is an article in the Seattle Times that sums up what appeals to people new to Short Track Speedskating:

“Don’t we already have enough poker and MMA, bull riding, bowling and talking heads on the cable sports networks? Couldn’t we use something new? Imagine a tour stop in Key Arena. You don’t think they would sell that out? The Rose Garden? The Comcast Center? The crowd at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the Vancouver Canucks, was loud and involved on Saturday night. Are you telling me they wouldn’t support a yearly event?”

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games begin with the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, February 12! I can’t believe it’s already here.

To celebrate, treat yourself to this great video on how the U.S. short track speedskaters train. It will give you a huge amount of appreciation for all the hard work that they do. Check out the stair workouts – ouch!

Go Team USA!