Quebec skaters have waited a long time for the construction of the Ice Center in Quebec City, and only a few months after its opening, they are already feeling the benefits.
A few days before the first stop of the Long Track Speed Skating World Cup, in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland, the reigning 500-meter world champion, Laurent Dubreuil, underlined the advantage conferred by the new skating ring. ice cream, open since August.
“It’s a big plus for us. We skated a lot before leaving for the Canadian Championships and afterwards, Dubreuil said on Wednesday. It has contributed to the fact that I feel particularly ready this season for international races. Usually we come and we don’t have a lot of skate in the body, but here we have a good baggage and we are ready. “
Dubreuil, of Lévis, showed his great form during the Canadian Championships. He won in 34.12 seconds in the 500m, a hundredth of a second more than his personal best. The Canadian record belongs to Jeremy Wotherspoon, who skated the distance in 34.03 seconds.
“I had my best races ever at this time of year, even though I wasn’t looking to be good at that competition,” noted Dubreuil, recalling that he was already qualified for the Cups. world over 500 and 1000 m. It surprised me how well I arrived with good legs. “
“There I feel even more ready than when I arrived for the Canadian Championships in Calgary. “
Sherbrookois Alex Boisvert-Lacroix, who also trains in Quebec, is also happy to benefit from high quality facilities in the region. He also noted that the athletes training in Quebec City have not been to Europe for a camp in recent weeks, preferring to take full advantage of the new facilities.
They crossed the Atlantic only on Sunday, to have enough time to acclimatize to their competitive environment.
“It bought us a lot of time to work on technical stuff, on blades,” said Boisvert-Lacroix. Just to be able to touch the ice more than usual, we’re very grateful for that, that’s for sure. “
A target in the back
Dubreuil sparked many eyes when he won the 500m world title last winter in the Netherlands. The 29-year-old skater admits he’s been in the spotlight a bit more since that performance.
This weekend, he will meet all of the world’s elite for the first time since the pre-pandemic era. Asian countries did not integrate the bubble in the Netherlands last winter.
” I’m really looking forward. I want to skate against the best in the world and beat the best in the world, said Dubreuil. That’s what turns me on, that’s my goal. “
“Last season, among others, Japan was missing and many of my good competitors are Japanese. These are guys who can also win World Cup events. Knowing them all on the starting line motivates me. I can’t wait to see if I have the level to beat them. I think so, but it depends if I can do a good race [vendredi]. “
Less stressful conditions
After the World Cup in Poland, the skaters will travel to Stavanger, Norway for a second round of competitions next weekend. The next two stops on the circuit will take place in Salt Lake City, December 3-5, followed by Calgary, December 10-12.
Even with measures in place to prevent any outbreak of COVID-19, athletes are happy to return to a more normal competition schedule after being limited to activity in a bubble for a few weeks last season.
“Especially before the Olympic Games, it is to our advantage to have more competitions,” said Ivanie Blondin.
“Now that we have a fairly normal season, as long as everyone stays healthy, we hope to do well,” added the Ottawa skater. We all realize how lucky we are to be able to do what we love despite the pandemic. “
The experience is all the more refreshing for Valérie Maltais, who is in her fourth Olympic cycle, but her first in long track, after a successful career in short track.
“Being an Olympian in two disciplines is something I want to accomplish,” said the skater from La Baie. This is something that will make the experience even more unique. “
Maltais won the 1000m at the Canadian Championships and was also very happy with her third place in the 3000m. She believes the adaptation of the short track to the long track finished.
“This year, at the Canadian Championships, it’s the first time that I consider that I have succeeded in a race where I gave everything on the ice,” explained Maltais of his performance in the 3000m. Technically, physically and mentally, everything was well aligned to make maximum performance. “
“It takes quite a different preparation from the short track, where I had a few keywords in mind and where I could visualize, but my opponents had a direct effect on my performance. On the long track, when I’m on the starting line for my 1,000, 1,500 or 3,000 meters, it’s only me who has my performance, my destiny in my hands. And this is something that I really like. “
In addition to the next stages of the World Cup, Maltais and Canadian skaters will have their sights set on the Canadian Olympic selections, which will take place from December 27 to 31 in Quebec City.