P.E.I. hosts youth Canada East Short Track Championships

This weekend Charlottetown hosted the Canada East Short Track Championships, the biggest competition of the year for Canadian speedskaters ages 11 to 15.

Itis the first time in 19 years P.E.I. has hosted a speed skating event of this significance.

"It's a big deal for our home club of course. Our skaters are very excited to be doing this level of event on home ice," said RobBinns, thehost committee chairman and president of Speed Skate PEI.

"From a development point of view for the sport, it's huge. Creates excitement, gets some buzz in the community and we're hoping to see more people come out and see some short track skating and perhaps join."

The young skaters were looking for personal bests and winning times as theyskated around the oval.

Sometimes there was a bit of jostling for space and some spills on the ice as 122 speed skaters took part in the weekend event.

Simon Hale, 13, was one of the skaters who beat his personal time, even with a challenging start.

"We all got ready, when that noise went, we went and I fell cause I got tripped, sort of, and during that I hurt my hip and elbow," said Hale.

Hale was able to get upand keep going.

"You try to get into the same mindset as you were before ...If you weren't in a good mindset then try and get into a different one that's better," said Hale.

Olympicdreams possible

Binns says since the peak age for most speed skaters is in their mid-20s, many of the participants may be dreaming of the 2022 Olympics.

"This competition, in the previous few years there's already been alumni who have gone on to senior level world cups and world championships representing Canada," he said.

One of those speed skaters, William Preudhomme, a World Cup medal winner and ranked 7th in Canada, attended the event.

"Maybe one of the youngsters that is skating here looking up to me might end up training with me later, so I think it can give them a little bit of inspiration," said Preudhomme who is a Short Track Speed Skating Canadian National Development team member.

While there were no medals for Island speed skaters, many achieved personal bests in the competition.

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