This isn't his first time finishing the winner, but it's the best time he's made yet. Rick Dijkstra of Innisfail placed first in the 50-km and 25-km races at the North American Speed Skating Championship hosted by the Foothills Speed Skating Marathon Association in Sylvan Lake Feb. 23 to 25.
“It was awesome,” said Dijkstra of gunning past the finish line on the outdoor track.
“I have a nice group of friends I train with and they were with me at the end, which was really great,” he said of Henrik Helmig and Berend Ridder of Olds who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the 25 km and 50 km.
Last year Dijkstra placed first in the 100 and 50. This year he placed second in the 100 but shaved a half hour off his time.
“I think last year I realized it was possible,” he said of winning. “I gained a half hour. I was 3.32; last year I was over four hours.” He also shaved time off his 50 km coming in at one hour and 38 minutes up from one hour and 52 last year.
Dijkstra has been skating off and on most of his life but it's been since 2004 he's been involved in the competition.
“Last year we got into some training and it really paid off,” he said of skating with a group of other speed skaters at the Golden Circle twice a week.
“It's a lot of fun and it's something other people should try out,” he encouraged. He said while he's devoted to the sport and will compete again next year, he's not promising the same results.
“I'm not sure I can beat that time,” he said laughing.
Also from Innisfail were competitors Bronwijn Kure in women's 25 km and Kurt Kure, who competed in the men's 25 km.
