The last time Calgary hosted the national competition was in 1997. Tyler Congdon, head coach of Calgary’s inline club and vice-president of speedskating for Roller Sports Canada, says finalists from July’s event will head to the world championships in Colombia in October.

Speed competitions were first held in Canada in the 1970s on roller skates. Even with the switch to inline skates enabling sprinters to reach speeds upwards of 50 kilometres per hour, Canadians are small players on the global racing scene.

Read more here: Calgary hosting inline championships

Photo from Grant Black, Calgary Herald, Calgary Herald