麻豆社区

Speedskaters shook off the rust last weekend during the Whitehorse club鈥檚 annual fall camp.

And this time, the Yukoners welcomed their neighbours from Inuvik, N.W.T.

In what has become standard operating procedure, the Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club welcomed international coach Debby Fisher to the Yukon capital for a three-day on-ice session.

Fisher is a former development co-ordinator at the Olympic Oval in Calgary and has helped Yukon skaters get back to the basics since 1998.

The 61-year-old put returning skaters and newcomers through the paces, attempting to build a foundation centred on flexibility, strength, balance and edge control.

Fisher is a member of Speed Skating Canada鈥檚 Hall of Fame.

In total, 34 skaters attended the three-day camp, including eight from Inuvik.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time we鈥檝e come to Whitehorse for a camp,鈥� Inuvik coach Paul MacDonald told the Star Sunday. 鈥淲e normally go to Yellowknife for different camps and competitions.

鈥淒ebby Fisher is a well-respected instructor and coach. ... We hope to make this trip an annual one. It鈥檚 a great way to get on the ice. In Inuvik, we usually don鈥檛 have ice in until October.鈥�

MacDonald said Fisher stressed concentration, form and technique over speed.

Among the Inuvik skaters in Whitehorse over the weekend was 16-year-old Jackson鈥圕hristie, who represented the Northwest Territories at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C.

Fifteen-year-old Michael Ritchie of Haines Junction, the territory鈥檚 lone skater at the national multi-sport tournament, did not attend the camp.

While speedskaters are not part of the athletic contingent headed to Greenland for the 2016 Arctic Winter Games in March, Yukon skaters are seeking a similar competition in which to participate.

A possible Yellowknife meet set for mid-January was recently cancelled.