With just over a year of experience under his belt, some might say 12-year-old Patrick Heida is a little late to the speed skating game.
However judging by his performance at the 2014 Alberta Open Long Track Outdoor Meet in Red Deer Jan. 25-26, others could argue he’s a natural.
There were eight divisions at the meet overall, with a total of 98 participants from Red Deer, Calgary, Canmore, Banff, and Lethbridge to name a few.
In a division of seven other youth, Patrick participated twice in the 200 and 300 metre races, and once in the 100 and 1,000 metre races.
Despite this being his first competition, Patrick excelled in every one of them.
“He won every single distance,” said Patrick’s father Jan Heida.
After the main competitions were over, Patrick said everyone took part in a relay race.
In teams of four, the young speed skater recalled having to skate really close to the person in front. Every 100 metres, the head of the line would switch to the back.
The race was a challenge for everyone involved, but was more for fun than anything else.
“Every group fell,” laughed Patrick. “In our group two people fell, but quickly got up and we came in first place again. Then we won the relay.”
The Grade 7 student said he didn’t expect to come home a winner in every competition, but it felt great to know how well he had done.
Not only does he have a shiny new medal, but the youngster said he gained valuable experience in Red Deer.
“It was really fun. I learned a lot,” he said. “I really learned how to keep my speed.”
This competition was the first time Jan had the chance to see his youngest son speed skate.
“I never went with Patrick for practice because I’m a farmer. It’s always milking time,” said Jan. “It’s amazing to see your kid skating.”
Both Patrick’s parents said they were quite surprised with the high level of participation.
“I did not expect that there would be so many kids,” said Jan. ‘
We were amazied. I think it was really well attended,” added mother Agnes Heida.
Patrick currently heads to the Linaria Speed Skating Club every Thursday with Agnes and one of his three older brothers.
Jan added it’s too bad there isn’t some kind of oval in Barrhead, as the closest one is at Victoria Park in Edmonton.
“That’s where we go practice on the side. I try to go once a week with them,” said Agnes. “You train once with your club, and one time on a bigger oval outside.”
In Linaria Patrick works a lot on his technique, which can range from staying low, to obtaining longer strides, to taking corners.
“I would say getting down and staying low is the hardest technique for me,” said Patrick.
Next on the agenda for the young speed skating is the Sylvan Lake Ice Marathon Feb. 22.
Sylvan Lake is currently not safe enough to create a speed skating track, so the event has been moved to the Red Deer outdoor speed skating oval.
The Linaria Speed Skating Club season runs from Nov. until March.
