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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Fifteen speedskaters from Fort Simpson recently tested the skills they've been working on all season at a competition in Yellowknife.

Sage Fabre-Dimsdale of Fort Simpson competes in the NWT Speed Skating Championships which were held in Yellowknife on March 9 and 10. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

The athletes were among 101 skaters from six communities that participated in the NWT Speed Skating Championships from March 9 to 10. Each of the Fort Simpson skaters returned with a medal in one of the three age groups, which were further divided into divisions.

"We're all impressed with them. They've improved so much," said Val Gendron, the lead coach for the Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club.

Gendron said the athletes' performances were particularly impressive considering that artificial ice in Hay River and Yellowknife gives competitors from those communities an extra eight to 10 weeks of practising time.

The club's goal this year was to have all of the athletes who have been speedskating for more than a year doing crossovers.

The majority attempted the task even if their crossovers were a bit clunky, she said. Next season, the club will work on making the crossovers smoother.

Twin brothers Lucas and Patrick Tate, 9, said they both have to practise doing crossovers more.

"I'm more than halfway there," said Patrick.

Patrick won a silver medal in the Fundamentals 2 E division while Lucas won a bronze medal in the Fundamentals 1 B division. Both said they were pleased with their performances.

The brothers raced in the 100-, 200-, 300- and 500-metre races. The 500 was Patrick's favourite.

"For the 500-metre, I actually did better in the final than in the heat," he said.

At the beginning of each practice, members of the club do five laps of the arena. If you can do five laps, which is 500 metres, it means the other distances will be easier since the athletes are conditioned Patrick explained.

Skating and racing against different competitors were Lucas' favourite parts of the championship.

Gendron said she was particularly proud of Cassidy Barry and Allaunnah Dadaos who both started speedskating this year. If they fell down, they got back up and tried to catch their competitors, she said.

"They had determination on their faces," Gendron said.

Ocean Stubbert showed the most improvement in her technique, transitioning from clunky to smooth crossovers. She was also the most determined.

"She never quits," Gendron said.

Elohdie Fabre-Dimsdale was the club's most competitive skater and also the most successful, finishing with a silver medal in the A division of Fundamentals 1. Her siblings, Lia and Sage, showed great technique they were able to maintain in their longer races, Gendron said.

In addition to the youths, the parents and guardians who accompanied them to the championships also did a great job, she said. The parents were very supportive of all the children and made sure they got on the ice prepared for their races.

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