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麻豆传媒 student Evan Taras has taken the fast lane to speed skating competition.
Last February, watching the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with his dad, he was struck with the idea that he鈥檇 like to give speed skating a try. On skates since the age of four, a hockey player and a rugby player, he figured he had the strength, power and endurance the sport requires.
And so he gave short track鈥攖he only option in Nova Scotia until very recently鈥攁 try. The closest speed skating club is based at Dartmouth鈥檚 Grey Arena.
Rugby
And then the Canada Games Oval opened in December. The first time Mr. Taras stepped on the smooth surface of the oval, he knew long track speed skating was for him.
鈥淲ith short track, you鈥檙e crowded in and you鈥檙e close to the boards, so it鈥檚 intimidating,鈥� says Mr. Taras, who made the cut for Nova Scotia鈥檚 long track speed skating team for Canada Games exactly a month after his first skate on the oval. At the age of 18, it will be his second appearance at a Canada Games; he was a member of Nova Scotia鈥檚 rugby team for the 2009 games in Prince Edward Island. At Dal, he plays on the Tigers鈥� rugby team, the Nova Scotia University Rugby champs four years in a row.
In long track, skaters compete in pairs, each to their own lane, and changing lanes every lap to equalize the distance. In terms of technique, skaters are bent at the waist to reduce air resistance, with one arm on the back, the other arm pumping. The lower the crouch, the more the leg can extend to the side during the push, lengthening the time spent applying force to the ice.
'Two stones'
鈥淔or me, (long track) is so much more calming. You鈥檙e by yourself and it鈥檚 not as stressful.鈥�
He prefers the shorter distances of long track鈥�100 and 500 metres鈥攁nd is looking to medal. 鈥淭he distances are short enough that you want to give 100 per cent from the first stride to the last,鈥� he says, adding he finds the longer distances (3,000 and 5,000 metres) exhausting and painful 鈥渁s if two stones have suddenly grown in your thighs.鈥�
During the Canada Games, long track competition will take place during week one on the oval, a facility Mr. Taras hopes the city can keep. 鈥淚t would mean so much to this sport and give us the chance to put members on the national team. Plus, everyone likes it so much. It鈥檚 a wonderful thing for Halifax.鈥�
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