Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re interested in skating and not sure whether you’d like to sign up, please reach out to bbyspeedskating@gmail.com to learn more about our Try-It sessions.

What to bring:

• Layers of clothing to adapt to your temperature as practice goes on.

• Some snacks for after and before practice.

• Hydration for during practice.

• Safety equipment: Helmet, glasses, neckguard, cut-proof gloves, knee pads, shin guards. Note: If you are skating for the first time and are registered for Try-It sessions,  the club will provide them for your first practices.

• A positive attitude and an open mind!

How speed skating works:

• Skate in a counter clock wise direction.

All practices are at the Kensington Complex (6159 Curtis Street, Burnaby).

Skaters with our club skate up to three times per week.

·      Skaters who are new to the sport usually start with Try-It sessions for three Saturday afternoons.

·      For new, very young and part-time skaters, there is the option to skate once a week.

·      Full-time skaters skate twice or three times a week: one weekday evening and Saturday afternoon. They are also welcome to skate one morning a week.

Our coaches assess and place skaters into the appropriate groups during the first weeks of the season. Group membership is determined in part by experience, age and ability.

The season runs from September through late March.

A competition generally lasts for an entire day.

Before competing (day before):

• Prepare many small and healthy snacks to have throughout the competition.

• Hydrate  and eat well to maximize your energy for competition day.

• Sharpen your skates.

• Organize everything you need to bring with you for the next day including  protective equipment, food and hydration, skates.

• Double check you know where the competiton is happening, how to get there and when registration and warm-up start.

• If the schedule is available, check to see when your races will happen and what distances they are.

During the competition:

• Arrive before warm-up starts to get familiar with the facility and to warm up your muscles (e.g., by jogging and stretching).

• Warm-up is scheduled by group. Skaters must warm up with their assigned group.

• Typically skaterswill have four to five races for every competition, the distances you will compete in are based on your age catagory and what size of track you will skate on ( 100 or 111 meters).  

• For the 111 meter track you might race any of the folowing distances: 1500m, 1000m, 777, 500m and occasionally a 3000m relay.

• For the 100 meter track you might race any of the following distances: 1500m, 1000m, 800m, 400m.

• Make sure you stay up to date about when your races will be happening to warmup and get ready on time. The race times will usually change throughout the day so be prepared to adapt.

• The races are usually posted on sheets of paper throughout the arena or sometimes on the app Sportity for larger competitons.

• After every race make sure to check in with the coach to review what went well during that race and what could be better for the next one.  Even if it wasn't your best race try and stay positive and focus on the next one.

After the competiton:

• Make sure to thank at least one of the officals, volunteers and referees.

• Thank your coach.

• Thank the people who brought you to the competition and those who cheered you on.

• Stretch and role out your muscles so you won't be too sore the next day.

• Check that you have all your equipment with you still before you leave.

No. There is no need to buy speed skates, especially for young or beginner skaters. The club has skates available to rent in a wide range of sizes. If shoe sizes change throughout the season, boots can be switched out for larger sizes.

The equipment that skaters need to have depends on age and ability. New skaters are not required to purchase a skin suit. Please reach out to the club at bbyspeedskating@gmail.com if you’re interested in purchasing a skin suit.

The safety of skaters is of utmost importance important. The following equipment is required for all skaters. A number of Canadian companies including ilovespeedskating.com and Nagano Skate offer these products for purchase.

·      A helmet. While a snowboard or hockey helmet can be used early on, it is recommended that skaters use speed skating helmets as they progress.

·      Goggles with a lanyard.

·      Cut-proof gloves. These can be made of leather or cut-proof materials.

·      Cut-proof ankle guards. These are made of dyneema or Kevlar. The club has these available for purchase.

·      Shin and knee protection. Although many speedskating suits have these built in, it is possible to use soccer shin guards and volleyball knee pads.

·      Neck guard with a bib.

As skaters advance in age and ability, additional safety equipment, like cut proof suits, will be required.

Our club is open to skaters of all ages, including masters-level skaters.

While we do not officially have a lower age limit, we expect that skaters have some prior skating experience and that they feel at ease on the ice. Speed skating experience is not required.

A mini meet is a competition that is primarily for our own club so that skaters can get used to competition in a familiar environment. All races are timed, and the times are used to ensure that skaters compete with skaters at about the same level in future meets.  Mini meets offer a great opportunity to get involved in volunteering for the club.

An interclub meet is a competition with other skating clubs in the Fraser Valley. Skaters are encouraged to participate in mini meets throughout the season. A schedule of mini meets is available here https://speedskatingbc.ca/events/.

Participating in interclub meets allows skaters to practice their competition skills and track improvement throughout the season.

Our club does not require skaters to attend competitions, but participation provides an opportunity to track progress.

The club is completely volunteer run, and there is an expectation that all members of the club or their families will commit to volunteering throughout the season.