The Salmon Arm Ice Breakers Speed Skating Club hosted the sixth annual Ice Jam Speed Skating meet Nov. 24 at the Shaw Centre. It was a great day of racing for all, with speed skating clubs attending from Kamloops, Vernon, and Kelowna.
It was a thrilling first competition for Sophie Klapstein, age five, and Joshua Roberts, age six, who raced to personal best times in the 100-metre and 200m distances alongside teammate Dylan Bastiaansen, age five. Dylan sped to the gold medal and Sophie brought home the bronze medal.
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The Ice Jam was also an exciting debut for 10-year-old Rachel Martin, who raced 200m, 400m, 500m, and 1,200m distances along with teammates Adriana Bastiaansen, Mackenzie Keating, and Peter Ely, all age nine. Rachel and Peter achieved four personal bests, Mackenzie earned three personal bests and Adriana attained one as well. Lincoln Thurgood, age 10, raced the same distances and achieved fifth place in his division.
Train to Train skaters, Nathan Bastiaansen, age 12, alongside teammates Devyn Hughes and Aila Norlin, age 13, raced the 200m, 400m, 500m, and 1,500m distances. Nathan achieved three personal bests and Aila raced to one personal best and the silver medal in this division.
Kim Klapstein’s excellent racing in the 500m, 777m, 1,000m, 1,500m led him to the gold medal in the Masters division.
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Congratulations to Lincoln Thurgood, Aila Norlin, and Kim Klapstein who have earned qualifying times to attend the BC Short Track Championships in March 2019.
The Salmon Arm Ice Breakers will be back racing in Kelowna Dec. 15. To learn more about speed skating, please contact Crystal Belway at 250-833-7995 or info@salmonarmspeedskating.com
Submitted by Kelsey Norlin
