New Zealand has a strong history in inline skating, and with the backing of the SPARC, and our own club CAISSC, we are now looking to now make our mark in speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics and beyond. This follows from a number of American skaters who have won international gold medals on the ice after being successful inline skaters.

 Shane Dobbin, four-time world champion on inline skates, has joined CAISSC and the New Zealand Olympic initiative breaking the Oceania record by 14 seconds in the 5,000 meter, a result that puts him within the top 20 in the world. Recently qualifying to skate at the World Single Distance Championships, Shane placed 14th in the 10km race.

19-year-old D.J. Nation has also made the transfer on to ice, skating a 6:53.54 in the 5,000m placing him ninth in the world for his age group. At the recent world junior champs Nation indicated his Olympic potential when he placed 9th  in the 3,000m in a field of over 70 world-class athletes. Nation also placed 8th in the 5,000m, and notably was one of the least experienced skaters on the ice.

The third key hope for New Zealand speed skating is Wayne Beggs. This season Wayne has set two New Zealand records in the shorter distances of 500m and 1000m.  Begg, with Dobbin, currently is based in Northern Holland training with a semi-professional team. Begg’s results indicate he is a likely qualifier in the 1000m and is one to watch.

CAISSC is both excited and proud of the achievements of these skaters.