If you’re on ice skates, you’re either pleasure skating, playing hockey or figure skating.
If Saugeen Shores councillor John Rich has his way, there will soon be another option.
Rich is forming a Bruce County Speed Skating Club.
He says he was trying to think of ways to make more use of the ice time that is available in the municipality and give kids another option when it comes to sports on ice.
Rich says a four-week program of short-track speed skating is planned for this April, made up of 8 sessions and everyone is welcome.
Cost will be about $100 per participant.
Rich says the goal is to come up with a program that, among other things, will create a competitive team next season.
He says there are competitions taking place in communities throughout the province and he believes a Port Elgin team could be part of that.
Rich says he’s already going after instructors.
He says an ex-coach of the provincial short-track speed skating team in Ontario, lives and works in the area and could be a valuable resource.
In addition, there are three successful speed skaters that live in the municipality that will be used as elementary level coaches.
For others that are interested in coaching in the sport, a day-long clinic is being held Sunday, February 21st.
Rich says he’s getting good feedback on the idea and looks forward to its start-up in April.
He says such a club could have economic benefits for the community because they would like to host competitions as well, which brings in visitors from other areas of the province for a weekend.
Rich says they’ve already purchased the rink mats at a nominal cost, that are needed in the sport, from a club in Sault Ste Marie that has disbanded.
Rich says they’re still looking for people to work behind-the-scenes for the club.
For more information contact John Rich by email: johnrich68@gmail.com or give him a call at 519-386-9935.
