(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By rdnewsNOW staff

speed skating

Wotherspoon Long Track Meet returns to Setters Place Jan. 20-21

Jan 6, 2024 | 12:33 PM

The annual Wotherspoon Long Track Meet is approaching quickly.

The annual fixture on the Red Deer Lions Speed Skating Club’s calendar goes Jan. 20-21, with Olympics style and mass start race, at Great Chief Park (4707 Fountain Drive).

More than 100 skaters are expected to compete, with those aged 11-13 trying to qualify for the Canadian Youth Long Track Championships which take place next month.

“We invite everyone to come to the Wotherspoon Long Track Open Meet to watch some amazing young athletes and learn more about this exciting sport. Races will take place between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday (due to this unseasonal winter – weather permitting.) This is a free event for spectators,” the club says.

“An elegant sport, long track speed skaters glide along the surface of the ice on blades up to 45 cm long with seemingly little effort. Younger skaters gain experience in mass start races and work hard to develop a good skating form. Many national and Olympic skaters have learned to speed skate with RDLSSC.”

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The meet itself is named after Jeremy Wotherspoon, an Olympic silver medalist and multi-time world champion who grew up in Red Deer.

For more information on the meet or the club, visit reddeerspeedskating.com.