By Dan Plouffe
She’s not part of the oil rush, but Isabelle Weidemann is part of the speed skating rush to Calgary – the Canadian sport’s wintertime mecca. It’s the latest step for the 18-year-old to follow in the footsteps of many Concordes Speed Skating Club athletes before her to the city that’s home to the Olympic Oval, where Canada’s top speed skaters train. The Ottawa native moves to Calgary in January. She’ll be going to school there, and most importantly, skating on the national development team.
Weidemann is off to Calgary because she’s fast, very fast. She can skate the 3,000 metres in 4:15.56 and the 1,500 in 2:04.93, good enough to land the #4 position on the senior national long-track rankings in both events. “It’s going to be my first year living on my own, so I’m excited about it,” signals Weidemann, who trains regularly at the Brewer Park outdoor oval. “I’ve had a lot of support from the club and the people there who’ve been through it before. They’ve been great mentors.”
Weidemann credits the work of Concordes coaches Erik Chang and Malcolm Carstairs for her recent rise to the national development team. “They’re fantastic,” notes the Grade 12 student at Elmwood School. “They really helped me develop. They both push you to your best, but at the same time they’re there to support you in any way they can.”
Although Weidemann won’t be competing in this winter’s Olympics, the 6’ 2” skater will gain valuable experience this season by training with, and competing against, Team Canada’s finest. A big-time fan of Canada’s Clara Hughes, Weidemann hopes to one day represent her country at the Games, just like the 1996 Olympic cycling bronze medalist, who’s also won gold, silver, and bronze medals in speed skating.