Speedskating is a lot harder than the athletes make it look on TV.
I’ve tuned into a few speedskating programs at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. All the skaters, men and women, are gliding on the ice smoothly and gracefully, apparently barely breaking a sweat.
Team Canada’s speedskaters have had a few wins in these Games. Laurent Dubreuil captured a bronze medal Saturday in the 500-metre event. Courtney Sarault won a bronze in the 500-metre women’s event on Thursday.
Naturally, I decided I wanted to try it out.
The Ottawa Pacers and Gloucester Concordes speedskating clubs were hosting a “Try Speedskating” event on Saturday to take advantage of the sport’s growing attention on the world stage, and I thought it’d be fun.
Admittedly, that was probably not the smartest idea I’ve had in recent days. I don’t really skate, and, if I do, I’m really just stumbling along the Rideau Canal or trying not to bump into small children at an outdoor rink.
But I’ve already arrived at Brewer’s Park and handed in my ID to borrow a pair of skates, so I was committed. After struggling to put on my skates for what felt like forever, I waddled towards the ice.
The skates felt weird.
Speedskate blades are long and practically flat, which reduces friction significantly, unlike hockey or figure skates, which have a hollow ground. Speedskating blades are also one-fourth of the width of figure skating blades (one millimetre versus four millimetres).
I was also, unfortunately, painfully slow. There’s something humbling watching kids as young as 12 years old (maybe younger) zoom past on the ice. At least Marcus Lockyer, a lovely fellow who was teaching people how to get started on speedskates, was a good sport and chatted with me while I struggled to complete a lap at a snail’s pace.
But I did it, and I didn’t fall. I even learned how to do a crossover, the dramatic technique speedskaters (and hockey players) use to maintain speed while going through corners.
And, despite being humbled by the small children, it was nice seeing how many families showed up for the event.
“I’m tickled. It’s great. When we started at 10 a.m., people were lined up,” said Jason Bettez, technical director for the Ottawa Pacers.
“I think that’s the great thing about speedskating: Kids as young as six and seven years old can try it. We have a strong adult program at our club as well. We have skaters in their 20s and 70s that are still speedskating with the club. It’s a lifelong sport.”
Dominique Lalonde, coach with the Gloucester Concordes, said it was nice to introduce the sport to more people, especially since it regularly gains so much attention at the Olympics.
Speedskating is still a niche sport, and not everyone knows how to get into it, Lalonde added. The Concordes have short-track and long-track speedskating programs, so there’s something for everyone.
“This is an opportunity for families to come out and try it, and it’s a beautiful day, too,” Lalonde said.
“We’re lucky to have an outdoor oval, so it’s nice to be outside and enjoy skating outside.”
Skaters at both clubs also compete all across Ontario. Some of them are even chasing Olympic dreams, knowing that Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin first found their love for the sport with the Concordes.
Longtime Pacers volunteer Jean “Rocky” Lamontagne flew to Milan to be chief starter for the men’s short-track speedskating races.
“It’s so nice to see (Weidemann and Blondin) there. They’ve been competing for quite some time. It’s not their first Olympics,” Lalonde said, smiling from ear to ear.
“I think all of our Ottawa skaters are so excited to be able to see somebody that comes from their own club. They skated here, at this oval, on this ice.
“A few years ago they came back to visit our club, and the kids were able to meet them and touch their medals. It was wonderful. It gave (the kids) somebody to look up to. We were happy to see them.”
When I asked if they had any tips for people wanting to get started, Lalonde and Bettez had the same advice: Don’t wait.
“There’s no time like the present. I only wish I had known about speedskating when I was a kid. I think it’s something I would have probably gravitated towards,” said Bettez, whose kids have been speedskating for around 10 years.
“I’m glad my kids had the experience … It’s had a big impact, I think, on their lives. And I think just us as a family, it’s a really family-oriented sport. I think all of my best adult friends are speedskating parents.”
Lalonde noted that speed skating was also a community-oriented sport. Her kids, who are also speedskaters, have friends from all over the province, from Kingston to Sudbury.
“They would be on the ice and they’d be competing, but, as soon as they’re off the ice, or even before they get on the ice, they’re friends … They race together and they skate together,” she said.
“It’s helped us as a family. We end up travelling for competitions together. My kids, who are 15 and 13, they still want to have dinner with us. The environment is wonderful for parents and kids growing up.
“I really love this for our family: the friendships and the inclusivity and the fun that it brings and how the kids get together … We’ve had a lot of kids that have tried hockey, that have tried figure skating, and it’s not for them, and they’ll come to speedskating and they love it.”
And that’s exactly what I liked the most out of my speedskating experience. Despite my stumbling and slow skating, everyone was encouraging and friendly.
That’s the type of encouragement you want as a beginner.
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