Canadians looking to build on success
Speedskaters riding wave of confidence into season’s third ISU World Cup event
A dozen medals in the first couple of World Cups has the Canadian long-track speedskating team oozing confidence, which should make proceedings at the Olympic Oval this weekend most worthy of attention.
The third ISU World Cup of the 2017-18 season takes place in Calgary on arguably the fastest ice on the circuit.
Fast times? That’s what they’re hoping for.
“Calgary being one of the fastest rinks, it’s important to get your times here,” said head coach Michael Crowe. “It’s one of the two most important World Cups we have before we go to the Olympics. It’s pressure, but I think the athletes feel that they’re ready to do what they need to do. They’ve worked hard to be here.”
A total of 283 long-track athletes from 34 countries will take part in events beginning at 12:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and noon on Saturday. There are two ways for athletes to qualify for the Winter Games in South Korea in February. One is through World Cup points; the other is with a time standard, so some fast races are being projected.
Among the 25-member Canadian team is Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa, a specialist in the middle distance and mass start. She is one of those 12 World Cup medallists — winning silver in both the mass start and in the 5,000 metres.
“Extremely happy,” Blondin smiled. “It’s more than I expected at this point. I’ve had three really great seasons since Sochi; our trials, not that they didn’t go as planned, but we were training through them given that I was already pre-qualified. I didn’t perform to my top level.
“Then, going into the first World Cup, you’re just never sure how you’re going to perform on the international stage, right? It was more than I expected and our entire team actually, more than I thought we could accomplish. It’s really looking great for us going into the Olympics.”
This is Blondin’s second season training with coach Bart Schouten, whose group includes, among others, double silver-medallist TedJan Bloemen and 1,500m silver winner Vincent DeHaitre.
“I think it gives me an extra edge on my competitors, to be able to push myself a little further,” the 27-year-old explained. “I think that’s where I get my strength also; training with the boys.”
It has helped Blondin, as well, that she has a special friend on the circuit, Hungarian team member Konrad Nagy, whom she’s been dating since December.
“It lowers my stress level a little bit, having him there,” she said. “Having that escape, being able to go for coffee and just hang out on the circuit.”
Anything that can aid in getting ready for the ultimate test in Pyeongchang.
“For me, I think every time I skate in World Cups is a preparation for the Games,” said Blondin. “Every race is different. The morning of the 3K, after the first World Cup, I was exhausted. I kept telling myself, I’m tired, I’m tired, I’m tired. And I was still able to perform well. That comes into play for the Olympics; I may wake up one morning and I might not feel great, but I can rely on the fact that I’m ready.”
One Canadian team member who is hoping to build on her season is Marsha Hudey, originally from White City, Sask., who won her first World Cup medal in the 500m in Norway.
“It was very special,” Hudey admitted, “and it was one of those things … I had a lot of opportunities last year, I was very close, in fourth, so it was nice to finally do it.
“My coach has a plan, a yearly training plan. Last year was building for this year. It’s exciting first of all to have a World Cup at home. For me, it’s about putting together another consistent race and performance as much as I can.”
On Sunday, a banner commemorating the terrific career of Winnipeg’s Cindy Klassen — a six-time Olympic medallist — will be unveiled at the Oval. The ceremony is expected to begin at 1:43 p.m.