CLUB NEWS
US SPEEDSKATING CLUB NEWS her AmCup B time
Adam Kucharik – 2nd in the Masters division Nathan LeBauer – 3rd in the Intermedi- ate Men’s division
Potomac Club Growing Steadily The Virginia-based Potomac Speeds- kating Club has seen steady growth over the last year and great performances from its skaters on the ice. Now 65 mem- bers strong, this summer, several mem- bers of the club traveled to Salt Lake City to train with the Oval-based F.A.S.T. program, and compete in the Short Track Desert Classic. While in Utah, the skat- ers had the opportunity to skate with the Japanese junior team and make some wonderful new friendships. At the Desert Classic Desert, three of Potomac’s skaters qualified for Ameri- can Cup A - Jared Wood, Jae Jae Yoo, and Shaner LeBauer, while three more skaters qualified for American Cup B - Benjamin Oh, Katie Bladon, Aaron Heo.
Sophie Mittelstadt – set a new person- al best time in the 500m event and at 13, was the young- est competitor in the Open A Ladies divi-
sion (already an AmCup A time qualifier) Also Valeria Demshin of Sun- shine State joined the Potomac skat- ers for the week and won the Open B Ladies division.
The club also hosted two, week-long summer camps and had participation from skaters from East Penn, Saratoga as well as some skaters from Canada.
Summer Recruitment of New Speedskaters with USS help: Taste of Park Ridge
The following skaters also trained with
the F.A.S.T. program and then competed in the Short Track Desert Classic:
Katie Bladon – US National Champion, Masters Women 30+) – also won the ST Desert Classic Masters category and made
26 RACING BLADE Fall 2011
www.usspeedskating.org
Thanks to an energetic Park Ridge speed skating club and a grant from US Speedskating, the club was able to have a booth at the local “Taste of Park Ridge.” The multiday event drew thou- sands of visitors, patterned after many large city events. The club (thanks to Tom Vowell) put together a “spin the wheel” game that attracted visi- tors. President Bill Scholz initiated the overall promotion concept, assembled a continuous vid- eo demonstrating speedskaters of all ages and abilities and secured the funding. Many fami- lies helped with ideas and staffing,
including members of the Kann family. Hundreds of people visited the booth and many signed up for free “try it” ice sessions for this fall. We welcome questions from other clubs that want to try a similar event.
Danbury Club Spans Generations, Welcomes New Coach In Danbury CT, speedskating is a pas- sion that spans generations.
Danbury
Speedskating Club hosts father-son, mother-daughter and even a few father- mother-kids participants.
Ed Segen started speedskating about
2 ½ years ago and shares the ice with his family. “Instead of sitting in the bleach- ers, speedskating has given my family opportunity to use the ice together and get some exercise” says Segen who serves as the club’s secretary. Currently, the Danbury club hosts about a dozen active members and is looking to expand their membership and gain prime time ice with their newest ad- dition, former Ukranian Junior national champion, Elena Sklutovsky. A Certified level 1 speedskating coach and graduate from National University of Sport and Physical Culture of Ukraine, Sklutovsky’s passion is in helping others achieve their goals “I want to help others to under- stand the sport. Any sport can be recre- ational or a serious occupation. I want to make that everybody reaches their goal to just have fun or perhaps become competitive skaters.”
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