Speed skating hits the ice this weekend at Setters Place
The Red Deer Central Lions Speed Skating Club is hosting its inaugural long track race at the new Setters Place in Great Chief Park this weekend.
Dubbed the ‘Jeremy Wotherspoon Open’ in honour of the former Red Deerian and Olympic speed skate medalist, the January 19 & 20 event has 110 racers mostly from Alberta registered and will also act as an unofficial test event for the upcoming Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.
Central Lions head coach Nick Schultz says it’s exciting because the Club hasn’t been able to host a long track event in the past two seasons due to complications with producing ice.
“We’re very excited that ‘A’, we can host our long track event,” says Schultz. “Probably more importantly is that we will be hosting it at Setters Place which is a brand new venue. It’s quite a nice venue and if the conditions are right, I predict that it will be very fast ice. We’ve been on the ice for almost a month now and it’s progressively getting better, so I anticipate the ice conditions this weekend will be race-ready.”