The Winter Racing Season

On Podium at 2011 World Allround Championship - Photo by Todd Korol

For the most recent results read the “2010-2011 Racing Results“. For personal comments on the races, read my blog.

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Check the ISU Official Results for all speed skating results

News and Newspaper Articles:

1) Female Athlete of the Season, 2010-2011 I have been awarded Female Athlete of the winter sports season by Tellement SPORT (Radio-Canada). Thank you very much — it feels wonderful to have one’s efforts and successes recognized. I appreciate the guidance and support provided by my coaches, therapists and certainly by my teammates during a long racing season.

2) I am honoured to be named the 2010 Female Athlete of  the Year by the Postmedia Network Inc. writers, columnists and editors from across the country, and also by the Canadian Sport Awards (The True Sport Foundation), thus receiving the The Velma Springstead Award. The recognition is greatly appreciated and is surprising considering that there were so many great performances by Canadian women at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

3) Two Articles summarize my 2010-2011 racing season, and especially how I felt toward the end of the season.

– Queen of the 1000m – Christine Nesbitt World Champion – by Speed Skating Canada

– Christine Nesbitt strikes gold with ‘best season ever’ by Gary Kingston

Canadian Single Distance Speedskating Championships

The championship races were exciting for a number of reasons. One was my performance (see column to the right) which included two personal best times. The fast 500 m was especially exciting because I had been working hard on my starts. First time in the 37 seconds range! I would have liked to break into the 1:13’s in the 1000 m but that must wait. Another exciting aspect of the championships was the performance of some of our young skaters. The future looks bright!

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World Sprint Championships

Well what can be said! I skated better than I dared to think. Most surprising was my second 500 m, placing third and winning my first medal in the 500 m distance. It was also special to skate 1:15.01 in the first 1000 m race, breaking the track record held by one of the greatest skaters, Anni Friesinger. After returning from the Autumn World Cup in Changchun (Dec. 4-5), I worked hard on my starts in preparation for these World Sprints. The work obviously paid off. Also, it was inspiring to have  won the Sprint Championship at Thialf Oval. The Dutch, with their knowledge and enthusiasm for speedskating, made it a very special weekend – one to cherish. To all Dutch fans, thank you for making it a weekend that normally occurs only in one’s dreams.

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World All-Round Championships

A special competition, the World All-round Championships, was held at the Calgary Oval, my home turf. I won a silver and am very, very happy with the result. The gold was beyond my reach considering that I had not skated a 5000 m race for two years. I started well with a personal best time of 37.72 sec. in the 500 m. I also posted a personal best in the 3000 m but the time was just marginally better than the time I posted on slower ice at the Canadian Championships in January – a little disappointing. I finished the first day in second place. The next day I skated a reasonable time in the 1500 m, 1:53.22, finishing second, but I had wanted to skate a personal best time (under 152.75). The 5000 m was the last race and I had not skated it for two years. I was paired with my teammate Brit Schussler who skates a good 5000 m. Because I was uncertain how to pace myself (due to lack of experience at this distance) I decided to try to remain within striking distance of Brit during the race. I did well until the last couple of laps where she got away from me (as expected because she is a better 5000 m skater). Let’s see if I can improve on my standing next year.

I thank those of CE Franklin, a sponsor,  who attended the Championship. Seeing you there, and receiving your support buoyed my spirits – always appreciated during a competition. I wish I could have spent more time with you. For Mark and his wife I am sorry to have missed you at the oval, and to Cheryl — thanks for the continued support and communications.

Also, I thank those of Energy Navigator who came to see the races and to provide support. A special thanks is extended to Shannon Panko who volunteered her time to comment on my website. Some suggestions already have been implemented and others will be implemented during the summer when I have more time to consider changes.

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World Single Distance Championships

The last races of the season were the Single Distance Championships at Inzell, Germany where the top-ranked 24 skaters at each distance competed to become the World Champion of that distance. I had hoped to medal in the 1500 m race but did not, finishing a disappointing 5th. Clearly I was not at the top of my game and it worried me because I had to race the 1000 m the following day. I managed to regroup and focus with the help of my coaches, and won the 1000 m race by a good margin. This was followed by a gold in the Women’s Team Pursuit where we set a fast time in the first heat but had to hold our collective breath until the final heat in which the Dutch women skated. I has been a great season — thank you for your support throughout the season.

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Winter World Cup Meets

Moscow World Cup – Jan. 28-30: The first winter World Cup is over. I am tired (after last week’s World Sprint Championships) and my groin is sore. Nevertheless the 1000 m race was a good skate, and breaking the track record was a bonus. The 1500 m was reasonable. There is no doubt, however, that I am happy to head home to recuperate, to tend my leg (our physio’s work wonders!) and to prepare for the World All-round Championships in Calgary.

Salt Lake City World Cup – Feb. 18-19: The Salt Lake City meet included only the longer distances, the 1500 m, 5000 m and 10,000 m. I raced only the 1500 m and was thankful that I did not have to race the other distances. The racing season has taken its toll in that I feel tired, and this was reflected in my 1500 m result, a third place finish. I must recuperate for the World Cup final at Heerenveen.

Heerenveen World Cup Finale – Mar. 4-6: The final World Cup of the season is an important event in that the points awarded are 1.5 times greater than any other World Cup event. The winner receives 150 points rather than the usual 100 points, and the other positions are similarly 1.5 times greater. I left for Heerenveen on Friday Feb. 25th, and must acclimatize, get over any jet-lag and prepare for these races. I had a good week at home after the Salt Lake City meet and I hope that the fatigue felt then does not return and that I will be in top form.

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