CALGARY | Cédrick Brunet and Christopher Fiola will have a golden opportunity to gain experience as they take part in the Four Continents Long Track Speed Skating Championship starting Wednesday in Calgary.
The best Canadian skaters have decided to skip the event to focus on the Olympic trials which will take place from December 27 to 31 at the Ice Center, which opened the door to the two Quebeckers.
Brunet and Fiola have the same goal. They want to pass the Speed Skating Canada (SSC) standard of 34: 90.
“It’s a great opportunity to gain more international experience and I’m going to take it,” said Brunet, who had his baptism in the World Cup on Friday in Calgary. It was an option that I participate in the Four Continents Championship, but we didn’t know which skaters were going to show up. I received my invitation, Saturday evening, the day before my second 500m. “
At 16e rank in the canadian standings when he showed up in calgary in mid-october for the nationals, Brunet surprised everyone by setting a time of 34s97 to finish third. In the World Cup last weekend, he clocked times of 35:21 and 35:10.
“I’m happy with my two races considering it was my first international experience,” he said. I also proved that my time of 34s97 was not a mishap. I did two races in the low 35 seconds even if the execution was less there than at the nationals. “
“If I pass my standard, it’ll be a bonus,” continues the 21-year-old skater. At the start of the season, the Olympics were not in my sights. I want to have fun instead of pressuring myself. “
Inflated motivation
For his part, Fiola will compete in his first international race since the world sprints of February 2019 in Heerenveen in the Netherlands.
“I found out on Sunday that I was going to compete in the Four Continents Championship and I’m happy to be here,” he said on Monday after stepping on the ice at the Olympic Oval upon arriving in Calgary. I’m lucky enough to complete the stage I’m missing so that I don’t have this objective in my head at the Trials. There is no stake other than the standard. I could have passed the standard in Practice, but it’s smarter to be here and not get confused. “
Additional motivation
Removed from the stages of the World Cup due to a decision of the Sports Court, Fiola says he drew additional motivation from this decision.
“I was angry because I would have liked to participate in the World Cup, but I used this energy to motivate myself even more, said the one whose best career time is 34 s 91 achieved in 2019. J I had a good race at the Canada Cup in Quebec City with a time of 35s15 and that gives me confidence. I am in the game. “
The 500m round of the Four Continents Championship will take place on Wednesday.
The Ice Center makes itself known
Disembarking in Calgary on Friday, just before the first World Cup event, Robert Dubreuil had put on his three hats for this short trip to the West.
Father of the world champion over 500 m, Laurent Dubreuil, general manager of the Quebec Federation of speed skating and member of the Corporation of the Ice Center, the Olympian of the Games of 1998 and 1992 had a very diverse mandate.
Present to cheer on his son who became the second fastest skater in history by setting a time of 33.77 on Friday during the first 500m of the World Cup, Dubreuil also took notes in preparation for the Trials Olympics which will take place at the Ice Center from December 27 to 31, and signaled Quebec’s interest in hosting international events in the future.
“The number one objective is to stick to Speed Skating Canada (SSC) to show them that we are ambitious,” he stressed, “but not too much. We must not scare the world. We also have to be well balanced between the long and short track events we want to host. At the political level, although this was not the main objective of my presence, the meetings with the people of the International Skating Union (ISU) were not conducive because of the bubbles they wanted to keep intact the most. possible. I will be part of the Canadian delegation to Thailand in June for the ISU Congress. There will be no decision that will be taken on this occasion, but it will be an opportunity to make oneself known. “
Baptism to be expected
For its baptism of international competitions, the Ice Center will host the Four Continents Championship from January 13 to 15, 2023, a competition that will be more intense than this year’s edition, which suffers from its proximity to the Olympic Trials in different countries.
The World Masters Championship will follow a few weeks later. The final dates have not yet been determined, however. It will take place between mid-February and early March.
“The next step will be to host a World Cup,” said Dubreuil, who returned to Quebec City on Monday. With the requirements of the specifications, we have not come to think of a world championship. This year we will be hosting three national events. We want to make ourselves known and gain the trust of PVC. “
Dubreuil was treated to a guided tour from the owner. The purpose of this technical visit was to validate certain information, particularly in terms of timing.