The Lethbridge Speed Skating Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. (Photo: LSSA on Facebook)

By Christian Oldale

Lethbridge Speed Skating Association celebrating 50th anniversary

Oct 26, 2023 | 4:23 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Speed Skating Association (LSSA) is celebrating a major milestone.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the LSSA, and the club is hosting a celebration on Saturday, October 28. The celebration is being held from 8:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. at the Brickstone Kitchen and Bar.

The event will have current and former members of the club in attendance and will feature games, food, drinks, and speeches from the former members.

The club began operations in 1973 in response to Lethbridge being granted the Canada Winter Games in 1975, so they could have athletes potentially competing in the games.

Athletes originally competed at a 400-metre outdoor oval near the ENMAX Centre, and the Canadian National Speed Skating team trained at the oval from 1975 to 1976.

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However, as LSSA Media Coordinator Greg Ogilvie explained, the weather presented its own problems with the outdoor facility.

He said, “One of the issues with the oval was that it is very windy here, and a lot of dust and sand was blown onto the ice, which caused the blades of their speed skates to become quite dull.”

The oval was disbanded, and after a decade of inactivity, the LSSA was brought back in the 1990s. The association now calls the Lethbridge Labor Club Ice Centre home.

At its peak, the LSSA had 55 members, and currently sits with nine members who continue to practice and compete.

Ogilvie said, “Currently, the nine members are aged six-to-15, and so eight of the members are considered youth or children skaters.”

He added, “Typically, we have older skaters as well who now skate in Calgary, so they’re considered associate members, so they’re not participating members, more members who used to be part of the club in the past.”

Along with the celebration of the club’s anniversary, the LSSA’s annual speed skating meet, known as the Bridge Bolt, will be taking place over the weekend.

The Bridge Bolt features speed skaters from around western Canada coming to compete. The event is primarily for children aged five to 13, with a few competitions for speed skater of older ages. The Bridge Bolt in the past has been a qualifier for youths to make Team Alberta.

Ogilvie is encouraging those interested in speed skating to come watch, “If people are interested in seeing some of the best young skaters in the province, they are welcome to come out and see the fastest sport on ice!”

The Bridge Bolt takes place from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 at the Cavendish Farms Centre Arena.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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