LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club's season has gotten off to a technical start.

Lia Fabre-Dimsdale practices crossovers during a drill on Dec. 7 that was part of the three-day development camp that instructor Debby Fisher led for the Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Debby Fisher, a speed skating instructor from Calgary, led a three-day development camp for the club from Dec. 6 to 8. Fisher focused on technical skills with the skaters, including position, direction of push and how to glide properly.

Many of the club's approximately 22 members are young, so the skills were taught at a beginner's level, said Fisher. She spent Sunday teaching the athletes how to race on a track and patterns they can use in competitions.

Although speed skating is a very technical sport, Fisher said she tries to keep things fun so the youth can stay on task.

"You want to make it up- beat," she said.

Fisher used games and activities to teach the club members the basic elements of speed skating that they will need.

How to do crossovers is one of the things Etanda Hardisty-Beaverho, 11, was learning from Fisher.

"It seems like she knows everything about speed skating," Hardisty-Beaverho said.

Lia Fabre-Dimsdale, 13, the club's oldest and most advanced skater, said she looks forward to Fisher's camps.

"She gives you more and more interesting tricks and techniques to get you better," Fabre-Dimsdale said.

"She really keeps you going all the time."

The club tries to have Fisher do a camp at the beginning of every season so the youth can start working on having good technique right away, said Val Gendron, the club's primary coach.

"Technique is the most important part. Speed comes once they have the proper mechanics down," she said.

Fisher has led approximately six camps for the club in the last eight years. This camp was sponsored by NWT Speed Skating, with funding from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Gendron said she also benefits from Fisher's camps. She provides different ideas and different ways to show the skaters how to do certain skills, Gendron said.

The club has regular practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays with speed skate one, the less advanced group, skating from 4 to 5 p.m. and speed skate two practicing from 5 to 6 p.m. Both groups practice on Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m.

Gendron said she's pleased to have a lot of young skaters this year because they are helping to build up the club's base again.

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