ATHLETES
Whether it’s to stay fit or to reach the highest level, we’re committed to providing a fun and positive sport experience for skaters of all ages and abilities. Learn more about our initiatives to help athletes develop solid technical skills, physical fitness, and a lifelong love of skating.
BECOME A SKATER
Skating is a truly Canadian pastime and a lifelong skill that helps develop and improve one’s fitness, balance, coordination, endurance, strength, and agility. Whether you become a recreational or competitive skater, and participate in speed skating, in-line, hockey, figure skating or ringette, nothing beats the thrill of gliding across the ice on your own power.
ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
We provide our partners at the provincial, territorial and local levels with tools that help athletes progress within our sport. To achieve excellence on and off the ice, our athletes need access to programs, workshops, opportunities and recognition that propel them ever forward.
Long Term Participant and Athlete Development (LTPAD)
We are committed to the holistic development of skaters and to helping each individual participant achieve his or her own level of excellence. Science, research and decades of experience all tell us that kids and adults will get active, stay active, and even reach the greatest heights of their sport if they are exposed to the right thing, in the right way, at the right time in their development.
Speed Skating Canada describes this development through its Long Term Participant and Athlete Development (LTPAD) model, entitled Racing on Skates. The model compiles physical, mental, cognitive and emotional factors to define the best learning environment for each stage of development. Its goal is to help athletes, parents, coaches, officials and sport administrators make informed decisions about athlete development.
The Racing on Skates LTPAD model adapts the principles of Long Term Athlete Development, a multi-sport framework developed by Canadian Sport for Life.
Learn more about the Racing on Skates LTPAD model
Courses and Workshops
Athletes are encouraged to complete online e-learning modules and courses to help them become better equipped off the ice and to ensure that they can contribute to a safe and inclusive environment within our sport.
Recognition
We have various programs in place to recognize the incredible accomplishments of Canadian speed skaters, who demonstrate an unmatched passion for our sport, work hard both on and off the ice to achieve their goals, and strive to inspire those around them.
ATHLETE RESOURCES
Documents
Canadian speed skaters can access relevant and up-to-date documents and tools through our Resource Library, which includes:
- LTPAD Model
- Skater Development Resources
- Athlete Development Research
- Red Book
Videos
Athletes can also access a variety of speed skating videos on our YouTube channel, including competition footage, National Team profiles and the Up to Speed series, which provides tips on how to master technical skills. You’ll also find educational videos listed on our channel from partners such as the International Skating Union.
Safe Sport
Speed Skating Canada is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment — one free of abuse, harassment, neglect and discrimination, both on and off the ice — for athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers at all levels of our sport. These resources and materials are a great place to start to learn about our culture of safe sport.
Questions
If you are looking for a resource that is not available in the Resource Library, or if you have questions about speed skating or athlete development, please reach out to us.