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Coach Debby Fisher spent much of the weekend telling young speedskaters to slow down.

It may seem ironic, but the former speedskating development coordinator has her reasons, and explained them during a break in the action at the Canada Games Centre Saturday.

"In the beginning of the season, we're really emphasizing the technical elements of speedskating, so that they learn to skate really well,鈥� Fisher told the Star.

"And when they're skating really well, then the speed will come automatic. It's just a matter of going through the motions a little quicker each time.鈥�

Fisher has been running fall speedskating clinics in Whitehorse since 1998.

The Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club invites her up to help reestablish the foundation of good skating after a summer off the ice.

Fisher is a member of Speed Skating Canada's Hall of Fame and helped create a developmental program at the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary.

Because of her focus on technical skating, the longtime coach said she slows skaters down on purpose.

"At these practices, we're not skating really fast a lot of the time,鈥� she said.

"Because if we do the drills and then I ask them to skate a little faster, what they do is they revert back to their old habits and they really aren't skating any better.

"So they have to really think about it a little bit and go through it repetitiously at the proper position so that the muscle memory and the neurological memory kind of kicks in.鈥�

Fisher said the low position speedskaters race in is unnatural, but allows for a longer stride and better leg recovery.

"We're trying to get them to skate really well at a young age,鈥� she said of her instruction. "As they grow up, they'll be able to build on that base that they've learned, and then they can modify it, refine it. If they have really bad habits to start with and nobody helps correct them, then when they get older, it's really hard to correct and they just won't be as efficient.鈥�

With the focus on short track skating here in Whitehorse, Fisher said she also focuses on agility, balance and coordination. Local skaters even practise keeping their skates close to the ice when falling down in order to prevent injuring other skaters.

Shea Hoffman, 18, said the annual camp helps get skaters get accustomed to the ice again.

"Debby brings a different perspective,鈥� Hoffman said. "It's kind of nice to have a different person doing some of the teaching.鈥�

The three-time Arctic Winter Games skater has high hopes for another good year on the short track. Next year's tournament will mark his last year of eligibility.

With the 2014 Arctic Winter Games taking place in Fairbanks in March, it is hoped that the Yukon Speed Skating Camp will put skaters on the right track.

"It's really good for those younger skaters who haven't gone to the Arctic Winter Games before,鈥� Hoffman said. "Even for the older skaters, it helps to break some habits you may have acquired.鈥�