Skip to main content

Speed Skating

February 8, 2020

Information to Parents
101st Annual WSD/MSSA
Elementary Skating Races
Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

École Robert H. Smith School Time:
4:30 to 6:30 PM

Information for Parents/Guardians and Students

  1. This year's races will be held at the Bell MTS Place.  Skaters, supervisors, and fans must enter the doors at the corner of Portage & Donald.
  1. Parents are asked to purchase their tickets in advance from the school.  All tickets are $5.00.  Children twelve and under will be allowed in free if accompanied by an adult.
  1. If tickets must be purchased at the door, please bring the exact change.
  1. École Robert H. Smith skates from 4:30 to 6:30. The facility will open its doors at 4:00, so please do not to arrive prior to that time.  Skaters will be directed to the marshalling area immediately.  The marshalling area will be at the end of the rink where the seats have been removed.  Spectators should go to section which will been assigned to our school (will be posted by ticket area).
  1. Parents must ensure that their children are dressed appropriately for skating.  This includes a properly fitting CSA approved hockey or skating helmet (our school can provide one if necessary), long sleeves and leather gloves or mitts (eg. Garbage mitts or hockey gloves). For safety reasons, children will not be allowed to skate with bare arms, cloth/nylon/wool gloves or mitts, or without a skating or hockey helmet.

  2. The marshalling area may be crowded and we need the cooperation of parents to stay out of this area.  If you feel the need to accompany your child to the area you may do so, but once a connection has been made with the coach or teacher, you are asked to immediately go to your assigned section.  There isn't enough room for parents in the marshalling area.  Coaches and skaters will be responsible for lacing skates.

  3. If parents are simply dropping off or picking up their child, they will be allowed to enter without a ticket.

  4. There are several parking lots near the facility but there is a cost involved. 

  5. A single concession will be open, but bringing a water bottle or other beverage as well as a snack might be a good idea.  Once a child has put on their skates, they will not come off, so the concession area will be off limits to them.

  6. Every article of clothing as well as skates, gloves, and equipment bags should be labeled with your child's name and school.   This will help the school division in returning any found articles to their owner.

101st  Elementary Speed Skating Race Details

Join us for the 101st Elementary Speed Skating Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at Bell MTS Place.

  1. South schools skate times will mostly be during the 4:30pm to 6:30pm time slot.  North and Central school skate times will mostly be during the 7:00pm to 9:00pm time slot.

  2. All heats will be scheduled in advance. The intent is to have each student skate three times. However, the third heats will start only if time permits. 
  1. We want all skaters to have the most positive experience possible, so accurately rating the speed of teams is very important. Teams will be rated as either A, B, C, or D.  "A" speed will be considered to be the fastest skaters and likely means all four skaters are experienced skaters. "D" speed will be considered the slowest skaters and will be for students where the majority of the team are beginner skaters. Schools need not enter teams at all the levels.

    The goal of this difficult process is to ensure equitable competition and safe participation. Although this event encourages mass participation, skaters must demonstrate minimum skating criteria for safe participation. Skaters must skate a lap of a standard sized rink with control IN UNDER 40 SECONDS. Only students who can skate independently with balance, using the push and glide method, and without shuffling or falling each lap are able to participate. 
  1. Teams are made up of 4 skaters and can be any combination of boys / girls. There has to be a minimum of three (3) skaters to make a team. Skaters can only skate with ONE TEAM. 
  1. ALL TYPES OF ICE SKATES ARE ALLOWED. Skaters MUST wear properly fitted CSA approved hockey or skating helmets, LEATHER mitts or gloves (e.g., garbage mitts, or hockey gloves), and long sleeves. Sharing equipment delays the races. Each student should have their own skates for the evening. 
  1. Schools may enter as many teams as it wishes. Registration costs the school $90 for up to 5 teams and $5.00 for each additional teams. 
  1. Volunteers
    RHS needs one volunteer representative to help run the event. Contact Colin Donato if you are interested in helping out. Volunteers are adult supervisors in addition to the school coach. Parents / guardians / other adults must have completed the paperwork to become a WSD volunteer. Volunteer job descriptions are below.  

Volunteer Job Descriptions:

Ticket Table – *Please note the different shift times* Take tickets at the door and sell tickets to walk ups (parents were notified they need to have exact change at door).  Be responsible for cash box.

Announcers – Commentator style announcing of students/schools as they are racing, calling next heats onto the ice.

Marshalls - Get heats ready in right order and bib colors, fill in spots for no-show teams, CSA approved and properly fitted helmet, long sleeves, leather mitts or gloves.

Heat Announcer – Announces heats in the marshalling area; which schools, in which order, fill in gaps for schools that are missing/no shows.

Gatekeeper - Keeping students in right heats/order (black, green, red, blue order of bibs, 3 person team = 1st person wears black on front and blue on back) and letting them on the ice when it's their turn, double checking helmets and skates done up, wearing leather mitts or hockey gloves.

Exit - Hold exit sign at the corner of the rink and make sure students exit ice safely once heat is done; "slow down please and walk off the ice."

Volunteer Shift Times:

🔂 1st shift                   4:00 – 6:30

3:45-6:00 Ticket Table Volunteers Only

🔂 2nd shift                   6:30 – 9:00

6:00-8:00 Ticket Table Volunteers Only

🔂 Both shifts            4:00 – 9:00 (Dinner is provided only for people who work from 4 to 9pm)

Call Aaron Nussbaum, WSD Sports Convenor, at 204 789 0448 or email at anussbaum@wsd1.org if you have any questions.

Aaron Nussbaum
Sports Convener
Winnipeg School Division
204-789-0448

Back to top