Marathon Skating International

The North American Marathon Speed Skating Championships were held in Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park on February 16th and 17th, during the Silver Skate Festival. This was an opportunity for Edmontonians and visitors to the city to see some of the best North American marathon skaters in action around a 1-kilometer loop on the lake.

The North American Marathon Speed Skating Champions are determined by a skater’s total 25 and 50 K race times. These races are skated on two consecutive days. Top skaters require approximately 1650 kilocalories, the energy equivalent of 3 peanut butter and jam sandwiches, 3 glasses of juice and 3 bananas to skate 75 kilometers. These fuel efficient skaters get in the order of 1000 miles per gallon of gasoline as they travel down the ice at speeds ranging from 25 to 40 km/h.

Jackson Hill (a 17 year old speed skater from Sherwood Park and the youngest overall North American Marathon Speed Skating Champion in history) was the 2008 Male Champion. He completed the 25 K in 49 minutes, 7.1 seconds. Jackson’s father, Blaine was second and Aaron Clarke, an 18 year old Ontario skater who is a University of Calgary engineering student, was third.

Jackson didn’t show any signs of weariness on the second day of racing. He met the challenge of skating against Steven Elm, 2006 Olympic Silver Medal winner. It took Steven only 1 hour, 33 minutes to skate 50 K. Jackson wasn’t far behind him, crossing the finish line 4 minutes later. Aaron Clarke was third while Blaine was fourth.

Edmonton skater Susan Cameron, a Master skater (over 40) who only started speed skating three years ago, was the 2008 Female Champion. Her deliberate determination and steady pace enabled her to finish the 25 K race in 57 minutes 9.3 seconds. Tobey Berriault from Edmonton (training in Calgary) came in second followed by Emily, Jackson’s sister. Eleven year old Ontario skater Paisley Perry surprised everyone by winning the Women’s 50 K race. Her fastest lap speed was 31 km/h! Susan placed second and Mia Atienza from Edmonton placed third.

The strong showing of junior skaters (under the age of 18 as of July 31, 2007) was a highlight of this championship and bodes well for the future of marathon speed skating in Canada. Jackson Hill was first in Junior Men, Aaron Clarke second, and 13 year old Ronald Angenent was a strong third. Paisley was the first in Junior Women.