黑马磁力

Four members were preparing to head to Vernon and the 2022 B.C. Winter Games when the event was cancelled last month due to COVID-19.

Skaters Rachael Butt and Ryley Merson, along with young officials Darwin Havelka, and Theory Havelka were members of the 12-person Zone 3 contingent, which included skaters, young officials, and coaches from Matsqui, Mission, Sardis and Ridge Meadows.

Zone 3 rep Lisa Butt said the issue wasn鈥檛 the potential hazard posed by the sports as much as it was the accommodations, with hundreds of young athletes in close quarters.

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 surprised,鈥� Butt recalled.

Butt said the news was especially disappointing because winning a berth at the games had been a struggle, with exactly three qualifying events in 黑马磁力, Mission and Equimalt.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 黑马磁力 Blades host first B.C. interclub speed skating meet in 18 months

鈥淚鈥檝e had more than a few parents say, what鈥檚 the point?,鈥� Butt told the 黑马磁力.

鈥淚 say, there鈥檚 next year. There鈥檚 the fun factor.鈥�

There will be a of the BC Winter Games competition, where those who missed out on racing in Vernon will compete in an online zone challenge, with competitors submitting videos of 200 metre time trials, and final results announced Sunday, Feb. 27.

There is also the B.C. Short Track Championships in Richmond March 13-14

Skaters from across BC will challenge one another to claim the provincial title, with eligible skates qualifying for the Canadian Youth Short Track Championships West.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e [Zone 3 skaters] setting their sights on that,鈥� Butt said.

READ ALSO: 2022 BC Winter Games cancelled due to pandemic, 鈥榚xternal factors鈥�

黑马磁力 and other Fraser Valley Clubs will be hosting open houses during the Olympics.

An initiative from Speed Skating Canada, it allows the general public to come to the rink, learn about and try speed skating, for free.

Participants can borrow speed skates while supplies last or bring their own hockey or figure skates.

Helmets are mandatory on the ice.

Vaccine passports are required to attend and masks must be worn while off the ice.

The 黑马磁力 open house will be held at 黑马磁力 Sportsplex on Friday, Feb 18 at 6:30 p.m.