There will be a flurry of emails that come through your inbox; please take the time to read them before you hit delete. We try to put "Speed Skating" at the front of each subject line.

All emails will come from [email protected] with the exception of targetted emails sent by Nick as Head Coach.

Sometimes a message goes to all members, sometimes to select groups (e.g., a training group). If an email comes to you, please read it through!

Emails will likely come out once per week (we try to keep it to that) with some exceptions for urgent information and race announcements.

If you need another person in your family as an email recipient, please let us know. We base our email list on the email addresses in the registration system and on the paper form you filled out at Registration.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be checking that families are receiving emails by simply asking in the changerooms.

In the Winter, when we move outside, we will also introduce a messaging system for urgent communications related to same-day practice cancellations (watch for more information later in the season).

If an email comes to your mailbox, please read the entire message each time: interesting and important info will be contained. If you need clarification, there is often an email contact listed in the message; if no contact is listed, reply to the email address that sent the message and they will forward it to the appropriate person.

Race Announcements

We try to limit our Club emails to once a week (usually sent on the weekend). The exception is race announcements -- as these have more specific information and attachments, we send these out as soon as we receive them. For messages that are a Race Announcement (or competition, or meet):

These are distributed to all club members.

Families can choose to attend a meet or not - there is no requirement to attend just because we sent the information out (the exception is Group 2 skaters who may be trying to qualify for higher-level meets -- you should talk to Nick early on about which meets your skater need to attend).

If it is a recommended meet for an age group, or ability we will mention it in the email (but each family still chooses whether to attend or not).

Online Meet Registration - Some registrations are online so go ahead and follow the instructions if your family is interested. If online registration:

Please email Nick to let him know you are planning to attend. We try to send a Coach to most meets at which we have skaters but, if coaches can't attend, we can make arrangements for onsite coaching.

The coaches will get a list of who is attending, and an email with more info will be sent to registrants as the Meet Organizers get their schedules complete (usually the Thursday or Friday before the meet starts on Saturday).

Paper Registration - If registration is paper and cheque, a deadline will be noted in the email. This will be a hard deadline as we have to meet the deadline for submission set by the host club. All Meet Registrations must be handed in to Nick by the deadline together with a cheque made out to RDCLSSC. Registration Forms will not be accepted without payment.

If in doubt of whether your skater should attend a meet, chat with the coaches. 

If you have any questions about communications (or anything), please let me know.

Heat Molding Speed Skates

If your new skates aren't fitting quite right, you can heat mold them! Heat molding speed skates can help them fit your individual foot and reduce blisters. If you have a blister, follow regular care such as blister pads to protect and cushion while skating.

What follows are instructions for how to heat mold your speed skates at home. If you need any help, please email us: [email protected]

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees F (make sure it is Fahrenheit -- this is likely the lowest setting on most ovens).
2. Put on thin/normal socks.
3. Loosen laces and undo Velcro or buckles, but tuck them into the boots or out of the way, so they do not dangle!
4. Do one skate in the oven at a time.
5. Place a tea towel on the rack (or on a cookie sheet) and place the boot on the tea towel. Wrap the skate blade in a towel to protect them. Make sure the skates are centered in the oven and will not be damaged from flame or burner (including those laces and Velcro straps).
6. Heat the skates for 10 – 12 minutes.
7. When the time is up, remove one skate and put the other skate in the oven.
8. Sit in a chair when putting on skate, and do NOT walk on the warm skates. The chair should have room to tuck the blades underneath and be high enough to allow the ankles to be bent. A low couch is generally not suitable.
9. While inserting your foot into the boot, ensure that you hold the top of the boot around the Achilles/ankle area to prevent compressing the back of the skate. Lace up to a normal tightness, do not overtighten, eyelets may be weakened. There should be no need to tighten the buckle or Velcro.
10. Sitting in a chair you will push your knee over your toes and align the centre of your knee over your 2nd toe. Keeping the boot square is very important during the molding process (do not let ankle fall inward). This achieves molding in the skating position. .
11. Along with the critical knee over skate angle, it is important for the skater to go through the full range of motion. Remaining seated in the chair you will slide your foot forward putting you in an extension position. The motion should not be held and should be repeated every 5 minutes. Getting the extended position in the mold will greatly improve comfort when standing up, as well as improve performance for stretching at the line. After the extended position is achieved quickly return the foot to the pervious knee over skate position.
12. Skates should take 5-10 min to cool
13. Repeat with 2nd skate.

Practice Protocols and Mat Set-up Info for a successful practice!

Skaters can't hit the ice until the mats hit the walls! Our skate time starts at 5:45pm but the mats have to go up first. All Group 1 Parents are needed to help set-up the mats before Group 1 can skate. Group 2 parents help take the mats down at the end of the night. As soon as the ice resurfacer is off, we go on with the mats! Get ready and check out the Diagram so you are ready to go for October 3rd (and plan your footwear for walking on ice!).

Link to Map Set-up Diagram: https://goo.gl/l9tKJi" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/l9tKJi

Practice Protocols help each practice go smoothly, make the most of the time we have on the ice, and keep our skaters safe on the ice! Please review the Practice Protocols with your skaters before the first practice on October 3rd.

Protocols: http://www.reddeerspeedskating.com/practice-protocols

Tips for Practice:

• Arrive early: Skating starts at 5:45pm as soon as the mats go up so plan to be there by about 5:30pm so your skater is ready to go and you are ready to help with mats.
• Water and Snacks: Skating is hard work so your skater may need water and a snack right after.
• Washroom Breaks: it is hard to walk off the ice during practice so a washroom trip before practice is a good idea.
• Make a checklist: do you have everything in your bag? Ankle and neck guards? Skates? Helmet? A soft cloth for drying skates? Your hard skate guards? Protective glasses? Cut-proof and lined gloves or mitts? Check out the Clothing and Equipment page of the website: http://www.reddeerspeedskating.com/clothing-and-equipment

We invite all Master Skaters in Red Deer to join us for Skating with Group 2. Email [email protected] for more information. 

Congratulations to Maddison Pearman, Long Track National Development Team Member for 2016-2017!

Club member, Maddison Pearman (of Ponoka), has been named to the Long Track National Development Team for 2016-2017! We are so proud of Maddison and her hard work to reach this level. 

For more, see Speed Skating Canada's news release: 

http://www.speedskating.ca/news-and-info/news/speed-skating-canada-introduces-members-of-its-long-track-national-teams-for-2016-2017

Red Deer Speed Skaters at the Alberta Winter Games

February 6-9, 2014

The Red Deer Central Lions Speed Skating Club sent nine skaters and two alternates as part of the zone 4 Alberta Winter Games Team. It was chilly on the Pond in Canmore but Red Deer skaters are used to the cold and it didn’t stop them from doing their best!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ce83vGYCVDRWTzZ359356VwW2AVSL7yZIXNP0lCE_Tg/edit?usp=sharing