Spanish teenagers embark on ice-skating adventure in Canada

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  A pair of entrants in this weekend’s BC Provincial Long Track Speedskating Championships (BCLT) have brought new meaning to the words “exchange student.”

That’s because teenagers Mar Ayzagar and Lucas Orzanco came halfway around the world to learn the intricacies of the long-track speed skating.

Both hail from Spain. They first learned long-track skating on wheels, and they have experience in Europe in inline racing.

“Skating on the ground is harder for me,” said 16-year-old Ayzagar. “Here, you’re sliding on the ice.  It’s easier. [With] inline, you have to be really strong to move the wheels and everything.”

“You need to be more careful with corners,” adds Orzanco, aged 15. “In Spain, [inline skating] there are different types of corners. Some higher or shorter. You need to be careful with that.”

Having never hit the ice before September, their performances were good enough to place in the Canadian Neo-Junior/Junior Championships last month.

While being unable to race against competitors due to their nationality, the pair nonetheless participated as forerunners, racing around each distance against one another.

Continued progress has allowed them to compete against others in this weekend’s championships. 

However, their status will not allow them to medal, according to FSJ speedskating club president Shadi Salehi.

“Wherever they finish will be unofficial,” said Salehi. “If they finish third in an event, then the person fourth would be bumped up to third place.”

Coach Richard Stickle says their commitment to the sport can see them go to further heights.

“Mar is a really powerful skater,” said Stickle. “Her 500 and 1000 metre times were exceptional for someone just starting. She’s had good races.”

“Lucas, he’s more of a distance racer. He’s really intense and wants to do well. He’s really technical in his approach.”

The Spanish duo’s time in Fort St. John has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which Ayzagar says has been “crazy.”

“Both of us. We miss our family and our friends, but it’s really cool because everybody here has been nice to us,” said Ayzagar. “I have Canadian friends. But it’s colder than in Spain.”

The 2025 BCLT championships will begin on Saturday, January 18th, at the Pomeroy Centre, located at 9324 96th Street in Fort St. John.

Further information can be found at the championship event’s website.