THE FAST LANE - End of Season & Save the dates |
Welcome back to The Fast Lane,
Hello Speed Skating Alberta Community,
As our Long Track season wraps up, we saw an exciting finish at the Olympic Oval, where athletes delivered some incredibly fast times at Finale. It was a great way to close out the season and a testament to the work put in by skaters, coaches, and support teams throughout the winter.
While we still have a few weeks of Short Track ahead, we are beginning to shift our focus toward the off-season. Planning is already underway, and we’re looking forward to building on this season’s momentum with a strong spring and summer program.
To help everyone stay connected and plan ahead, we’re excited to share several upcoming Save the Dates (Make sure to check the calendar!).
More details will be shared in the coming weeks, but we encourage you to mark your calendars and stay tuned.
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The Pathway Squad
A new Olympic Oval (ST) program, in collaboration with SSA
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The Pathway Squad is 4-month program running from May 12th to August 29th, where skaters are integrated into the Olympic Oval Short Track Program (group B).
They will train alongside current Short Track Olympic Oval athletes, have access to the knowledge and expertise of the support staff, and experience what it means to be part of the Oval family.
Designed for athletes who are on the cusp of the Olympic Oval Short Track time standards, the program aims to bridge the gap between the Club/ST Academy programming and the Olympic Oval by introducing selected skaters to a structured, supportive and age-appropriate training environment.
The goal of the Pathway Squad is to create a strong and positive training group of athletes aged 14-18 (as of July 1st 2026), where they are exposed to high-quality coaching and a motivating team atmosphere. The emphasis is on learning to train properly by building good habits in the weight room, on the ice, and in their recovery, while still enjoying the process and having fun.
We understand that school, family, and other sports are important. Commitment levels can vary, and we remain flexible with schedules. That said, while flexibility exists, we do expect athletes to demonstrate a consistent level of commitment and effort when they are part of the program.
Regular attendance, punctuality, and full engagement in training sessions are important. Ultimately, the focus of the Pathway Squad is exposure, development, and helping athletes determine whether this pathway aligns with their long-term goals. We want our Pathway Squad to return to their home clubs in the fall armed with new knowledge and skills to help level-up their training groups. There will be continued collaboration between Speed Skating Alberta’s ST Academy programming and the Olympic Oval Short Track Program come September.
That said, if an athlete does achieve the Oval Short Track standards by the end of the summer, there may be opportunities to explore full-time integration into the program for the remainder of the season.
If this program is of interest to you, the deadline to submit the INTENT FORM is March 30th.
If you have further questions, please reach out directly to the Olympic Oval Short Track coaches:
Patrick Duffy (patrick.duffy@ucalgary.ca)
Elizabeth Ward (Elizabeth.ward@ucalgary.ca).
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LT Academy - Summer Training Update
The LT Academy has wrapped up a fun and successful season, and skaters and coaches are now enjoying a short break.
The LT Academy will resume mid May with dryland sessions (3x per week), building a strong foundation ahead of returning to the ice later in the summer.
Registration will be opening soon. In the meantime, if you are newly interested in joining the program, please complete our Application form:
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A busy finish across Alberta! |
🔥 Wrapping Up the Season
Since our last update, the momentum hasn’t slowed down, with a strong and exciting finish to the season across all levels of the sport.
⛸️ Debby Fisher's RU FAST – Calgary
The final regional competition of the season welcomed close to 300 skaters for a full weekend of racing. From the youngest athletes on the South Ice to our fastest skaters on the North, this event continues to be a true staple on the Provincial calendar and a celebration of our full pathway in action.
🏅 Alberta Winter Games
The Zone Teams were proudly represented by clubs from across the province, with athletes gaining valuable experience and creating lasting memories. A big thank you to the coaches and chaperones who supported the teams and helped navigate a fun and fast-paced Games environment (or sometimes slow when waiting for bussing).
🌍 Junior World Championships – Inzell, Germany
Alberta had a strong presence on this big international stage, with our athletes delivering personal bests and competitive performances. We can be incredibly proud of how our skaters represented both their clubs, their home towns and the province.
🏔️ Arctic Winter Games
The Arctic Winter Games were a highlight of the season, bringing together athletes from across the North in a unique multi-sport environment.
Team Alberta North represented the province with pride, coming home with Gold, Silver and Bronze Ulus, multiple top 3 overall finishes, and several Fair Play pins, showcasing not only performance, but also the spirit of the Games. For many, it was an unforgettable experience both on and off the ice!
🇨🇦 Olympic Games Spirit
And while it already feels like a little while ago, the Olympic Games brought our community together once again. Whether cheering on Alberta athletes, celebrating Canadian performances, spotting the iconic Medal Mounties, or hearing Anastasia Bucsis on CBC, it was a powerful reminder of how sport connects us all.
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Save the Date – SSA Casino Fundraiser 🎲
SSA has been allocated casino dates on September 28–29, please mark your calendars if you’re interested in supporting by volunteering.
For our Provincial Team skaters, this is a great opportunity to complete volunteer hours early in the season.
We'll share a call for volunteers, along with additional details, closer to the date!
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🔭 Looking Ahead – Finishing Strong & What’s Next
As we head into the final stretch of the (Short Track) season, there are still a number of exciting opportunities ahead for our Alberta skaters to compete, perform, and create lasting memories.
⛸️ Provincial Championships – Lloydminster
We’re looking forward to closing out the provincial season at the brand new Cenovus Energy Hub. Alongside great racing, we’ll be celebrating the season with a banquet featuring games, photo booth opportunities, and a few fun surprises.
🏟️ Canada Cup Junior Final – Edmonton
The following week, SSA and ESSA will be taking over the Clareview Arena to host the Canada Cup Junior Final, an exciting national event to close out the domestic season and showcase some of the country’s top up-and-coming athletes.
🇨🇦 Canadian Youth Short Track Championships – Manitoba
At the same time, our youth skaters will be heading to Manitoba to compete for national titles at the Canadian Youth Short Track Championships. We wish all athletes the very best as they represent Alberta on the national stage.
🌱 Looking Ahead to the Off-Season
As the competition season winds down, we’re also beginning to look ahead to off-season opportunities, including the Summit Camp, AGM & Awards, and a range of spring and summer programming. Whether you’re staying active locally with your club, exploring other sports, or continuing in one of our Academy programs, we’re excited to keep building momentum together.
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Follow along on our Sportity Channels with the following codes:
STSSA2526
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💙 Our Community!
As we approach the end of another season, we want to take a moment to recognize what truly makes speed skating in Alberta so special—our community. From skaters and coaches to officials, volunteers, clubs, and families, it’s your energy, commitment, and passion that bring this sport to life.
This time of year is always a special one. It’s a chance to reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and recognize the many moments, big and small, that made this season meaningful.
We’d love to hear from you! Have a story to share from your club, a skater achievement to celebrate, or a question about what’s next? Email us at info@speedskatingalberta.ca or tag us on social media.
Your stories help inspire and connect our speed skating community across Alberta.
With gratitude,
Maggie
Executive Director
P.S. You’re receiving this newsletter because you’re part of the Speed Skating Alberta community, whether as a member, supporter, or subscriber. You can unsubscribe anytime below.
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