This past weekend, Canadian skaters took part in events including Germany’s Gross Gerau International Criterium and Ottawa’s Minto Run For Reach.

Harriston’s Paisley Perrie took on a very fast and talented international field at the Gross Gerau International Criterium in Germany. The race, which attracts over 700 top competitors from all over the world, serves as an early season test for athletes of all levels.

Alex Perrie brough his refereeing experience and knowledge to the event, acting as an official referee in the event. He has been head-referee for the Canadian and Ontario championships on a number of occasions. [Click here for results]

On the North American side of the word, almost 100-skaters took to the start at the annual Minto Run For Reach in Ottawa. This 21km race was a great opportunity for skaters from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto clubs to get together and test their racing skills. [Click here for results]

You can find links to all results and pictures here.

Photo from Nathalie Larouche

Aaron Arndt will be condicting a two-day weekend clinic in Toronto this weekend- May 2nd and 3rd. [Visit TISC site for more]

The clinic will run both days from 10am to 4pm.

• Saturday May 2nd will be at the 400-meter track at Father Redmond Catholic Secondary School in Etobicoke
  400-meter smooth track
  28 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive
  Toronto, Ontario, M8V4B7
• Sunday May 3rd will be at the 200-meter track at Christ the King Catholic Elementary School in Etobicoke
  200-meter smooth track
  3674 Lakeshore Boulevard West
  Toronto, Ontario, M8W-1N6
  The Cost is 1 day = $40 or 2 days = $50.

For more info contact Aaron Arndt at aaronarndt@gmail.com

Host hotel
Comfort Inn
220 Holiday Inn Drive
Cambridge, Ontario
Phone: 519-658-1100 or 1-800-4choice & indicate Canada Day Marathon

Holiday Inn
200 Holiday Inn Drive
Cambridge, Ontario
Phone: 519-658-4601 or 1-800-465-4329

Best Western
730 Hespeler Road
Cambridge, Ontario
Phone: 519-623-4600

Future Inns
700 Hespeler Road
Cambridge, Ontario
Phone: 519-622-1505

As of early April, Quebec’s skaters have been training at the Taz, Montreal’s new 200-meter indoor track.

The facility’s schedule features two weekly speed sessions on Saturday & Sunday mornings from 9am to 11am. Different groups, including the Ottawa Inline Skating Club & VRL, are running coaches sessions. Alliance Roller Vitesse is coordinating use of the track by the different groups.

You can view some photos from this past Sunday’s session which organized by VRL and coached by Robert Mitchell.

The Taz and Harriston’s CITC are Canada’s only 200-meter purpose built roller speed skating facilities.

Photo from Nathalie

Pictures from the 2008-2009 Ottawa Indoor Invitationals can be found here.

Alliance Roller Vitesse–

Née d’une volonté de rallier tous les patineurs, l’Alliance Roller Vitesse se définie comme le regroupement des forces de chaque club de l’est du pays.

Nous proposons que tous les clubs intéressés se relaient afin de tenir un séance hebdomadaire d’entraînement de vitesse au Taz.

L’arrivée d’une toute nouvelle piste de 200m dans ce site où logeait naguère un dépotoir est un signe de renouveau!

Le Taz, Montreal’s newest indoor inline skating facility, will have a dedicated slot for roller speed skating on the 200-meter track.

For $10 (cash for the time being), skaters can skate on Sundays between 9am and 11am. The session will be coached.

The track features an integrated AMB chip timing system. Chips can be purchased for $120. The use of timing chips is NOT mandatory.