Despite blizzard like conditions local speed skater Rick Dijkstra braved the elements to place first in a 50 and a 100 kilometre speed skating marathon on Sylvan Lake last month.
Dijkstra grew up speed skating in the Netherlands where the sport is as popular to the Dutch as hockey is to Canadians, said Dijkstra, who has now helped bring the sport to Central Alberta.
Dijkstra now skates with a team based out of Red Deer that trains twice a week through the winter and participates in a number of outdoor marathon races each year.
Racers faced a few extra challenges during the Sylvan Lake race with temperatures reaching -25 degrees Celsius on the Thursday and snow blowing across the track on the Saturday.
"The 50 kilometre was very cold but if you keep skating hard you will keep yourself fairly warm," said Dijkstra.
"There were lots of cracks in the ice that you had to watch out for so you don't fall but I guess not falling is one of the things that makes you a good racer."
However, despite the conditions Dijkstra felt he raced well with what conditions they were working with.
Dijkstra completed the 50 kilometre race in around 1 hour and 52 minutes, and the 100 kilometre in about 4 hours and 3 minutes.
The season is short but Dijkstra said he likes the sport because it is always a challenge.
"I like skating out on the lakes better then doing boring circles around the oval, it is a lot more challenging."
Anyone with a passion for speed skating is welcome to join the club and Dijkstra encourages people to come out and get a taste for the sport.
"All kinds of people skate with us, there are farmers, a truck driver, an artist, and anyone who likes to skate can come out."
"We are really just a big groups of friends."
