Speedskating camp kicks off in Iqaluit with Olympic medalist as coach

With about a year left until the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Nunavut’s speedskating team is getting ready to win with daily training at an Olympian-led camp.

“We are here to bring the spark and keep the love for the sport going,” said six-time Olympic medalist Charles Hamelin.

Hamelin, with former long-track Canadian national team member Jonah Hurtubise, coaches with Nagano Skate, a Quebec-based company that provides speedskating equipment and coaching.

The two travelled to Iqaluit to train a new generation of Nunavut speedskaters at an extensive nine-day training camp with the Nunavut Speed Skating Association at Arctic Winter Games arena. Sponsored by Northwestel, the camp runs from Feb. 6 to 14.

Eleven young skaters made dozens of laps around the AWG arena Feb. 8, sharpening their skills before the big competition.

At the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta., Team Nunavut’s short-track speedskaters won big with 11 medals including five golds.

Six-time Olympic medalist Charles Hamelin, left, and Jonah Hurtubise pose for a photo at AWG Arena in Iqaluit before a speedskating practice last Saturday. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)

“It was such a great feeling to cheer on Nunavut, with Nunavut being in the driver’s seat for medals,” said Spencer Dewar, president of the Nunavut Speed Skating Association.

With training, the current group of skaters should be able to walk away with a few medals in 2026 as well, said Hurtubise, who took part in a similar camp last year.

The association accepts skaters from the ages of four to 18. But it’s only those between 12 and 18 who can take part in the Arctic Winter Games.

“You are the older skaters, so you should support the younger ones,” Hurtubise said before another round of laps around the rink.

He was talking to the more experienced skaters like Meliya Allain, who in 2023 won a gold medal in the 500-metre individual female 2007-2011 age category and is determined to repeat the success next year.

“Speedskating has been a good chunk of my life,” 16-year-old Allain, who has been in the sport for 10 years, said. “Meeting those Olympic champions, it’s something I will remember.”

Both Hamelin and Hurtubise said they are enjoying their time in the North.

“I love coming here and it’s definitely not my last time,” Hurtubise said.

Along with nine days of training, the guest coaches spoke at a meet-and-greet on Feb. 9 with about 50 people at the Aqsarniit hotel, answering questions about their careers and the sport.

The meetup concluded with attendees asking for autographs and selfies.

“We all learned so much from them just because they’re so experienced. It’s really awesome,” Allain said.