Registration set to close for 2026’s first long-track speed skating time trial

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Speed skaters from around the region will be able to get their 2026 off to a flying start on Saturday.

The Fort St. John Speed Skating Club will be holding its first long-track time trials of 2026 on Saturday, January 3rd at the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

With participation in several distances, these trials are being done in anticipation of the BC Long Track Championships happening later in the month, says head speed skating coach Richard Stickel.

Stickel says the team has had “real progress,” so far during the year, with competitions in Peace River, Grande Prairie and Calgary under their belt.

“We try to do one [time trial] a month,” Stickel told Energeticcity.ca. “It is just race prep, but this is not as much pressure [as a real race].

“We just let them go through the distances, and work on things they are doing well or things they need to work on.”

Younger skaters, starting from ages four to six, will concentrate on distances from either 300 or 500 metres. 

Older skaters, from six to 13, will concentrate on 500-metre races. Older skaters, from 14 and above, will race in either 500- or 1,000-metre sprints.

With the BC Long Track Championships starting on Friday, January 16th at the Pomeroy Sport Centre, “this is just a chance to rehearse and get ready,” said Stickel.

Registration for the time trial is open until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30th through the IceReg website.

It is also open to non-club speed skaters for $10 per entry. For more on the Fort St. John Speed Skating Club, visit its Facebook page.

The time trials will start on Saturday, January 3rd at 9 a.m. until noon at the Pomeroy Sport Centre at 9324 96th Street in Fort St. John is open to all speedskaters up to masters (over 30) level.