Local speed skater achieves personal best at Canadian Long Track Championships

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local speed skater and Fort St. John Elks Speed Skating Club member achieved a personal best while competing in the Canadian Long Track Championships in Calgary earlier this month. 

Representing Team Canada, Fort St. John’s Joshua Telizyn finished the men’s 500m race with a time of 34.83, finishing closely behind Quebec’s Laurent Dubreuil, who finished in first place at 34.54. 

Telizyn says he has competed against Dubreuil in the past, but the results yielded at the championships were his best so far. 

“It feels pretty surreal, I didn’t really believe it,” said Telizyn. 

“As the races wound down, and based on my performance, one thing led to another, and I realized I was guaranteed a top three finish, which meant I would qualify for the World Cup circuit to represent Canada.”

The World Cup circuit begins next month in Japan. 

“Our first stop is Obihiro, Japan,” said Telizyn. 

“Then, we head to Beijing, China, and after that, we have a week-long training camp in Haarlem, the Netherlands. From there, we continue to World Cup three and four, which will be in Stavanger, Norway. It should be roughly six-and-a-half weeks on the road.”

Telizyn skated for the Fort St. John Elks from when he was a child up until he graduated from North Peace Secondary School in 2020 before moving to Calgary to skate in the Olympic Oval Pathway Program. 

Although this year marks Telizyn’s first as a member of Team Canada, the speed skater says he will always be an Elk.  

“The way speed skating works — you have to be affiliated with your local club,” said Telizyn.

“So technically, by the book, I’m still a member, but I’m just not a present member, if that makes sense.”

Telizyn’s advice for aspiring speed skaters from small communities is to set goals and put in the work.

“You’ve got to be deliberate with your practices and show up to practice to execute the goal of the day,” said Telizyn.

More information about Team Canada speed skating, including upcoming events and races, can be found on Speed Skating Canada’s website.