Skaters set to race for Canadian long track gold

Moose Jaw - Last weekend Moose Jaw's Stephanie Kendall and Josh Gallipeau got to skate under near-perfect racing conditions.
This weekend at the Canadian Age Class Long Track Speed Skating Championships in Regina, five local racers will get to deal with all Mother Nature has to offer - cold, wind and likely snow.
That wasn't the case when Kendall and Gallipeau competed indoors at the North American Speed Skating Championships at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.
"It was a change that's for sure," said Kendall with a laugh as she took shelter inside the locker room at the Wakamov Oval during a recent training session.
"It's going to be a big change going from indoor to outdoor again."
Kendall and Gallipeau will compete as Juniors Saturday and Sunday at nationals while Lindsay Fish and Halle Forbes will compete in the Juvenile girls class and Graeme Fish will skate as a Midget competitor.
Those ideal conditions at the Olympic Oval helped Gallipeau set a personal best time in all four races and saw Kendall set three personal bests.
"The ice is absolutely perfect," said Kendall. "Because the ice is indoors there's no wind, no snow. The ice is like a mirror. You can see your reflection in it. It's way faster than here."
Training and competing in Saskatchewan the elements are always in play and Kendall enjoyed the sensation of going fast on world class ice.
"It was really cool. We had a practice night and you're out there and after you finish skating a lap . . . you're still going so fast and then you glide around for two laps," said Kendall. "You don't even have to move your skates and you're still going. Out here you get around the corner and you stop."
Kendall went to North Americans in Winnipeg two years ago, but the competition this time around was a little stiffer with the Oval drawing more competitors.
"It was pretty intense, but it was a lot of fun," said Kendall, 16. "There were a lot of pretty high-end skaters there, so I was pretty nervous.
"There were a lot more American skaters there."
The competition will be very tough in Regina as well. She would like skate some outdoor personal bests.
"I didn't have a very fast seed time, not as fast as last year anyway, so that might put me back a bit," said Kendall.
Gallipeau is battling illness leading up to the weekend and Forbes is battling an injury.
Lindsay Fish is 13, but is already heading to her fourth national championships and would be pleased with a top-five finish.
Her brother Graeme Fish, 11, is making his debut and said he looking to set some personal best times.

Matthew Gourlie can be reached at 691-1261