PG Blizzard Eric Orlowsky leads 12-year-old boys 3000m at a national Long Track Speed Skating Championships in Quebec this past weekend     photo courtesy PG Blizzard Speed Skating Club

Prince George, BC – Chalking it up to a learning experience, Prince George Blizzard speed skater, Eric Orlowsky, says he didn't have any gas left in the tank for final push at the end of the 3000m race at the Canadian Age Class Long Track Speed Skating Championship in Ste. Foy, Quebec this past weekend.

The 12-year-old had to settle for 4th place in the event.  "I led for too many laps and the three Quebec skaters drafted off me," says the local skater, who was competing in just his third long track meet.  "When they decided to go, I couldn't keep up because I had been breaking the wind for them and they had fresh legs.  It was a good learning experience for me."

Orlowsky did come home with a silver medal in the 500m, a bronze in the 300m, and another 4th place finish in the 100m event, setting personal bests in all of his races and finishing Third Overall in his age group.

Wind was a factor at the outdoor Gaétan Boucher Oval.  Samara Thew was one of four other members of the Blizzard Club to compete at the championship.  She took a bronze medal in the Open Women's 1500m and says, "It was really difficult skating with the crosswind.  When I came around one corner in my 1500m, a gust of strong wind almost stood me up and it was all I could do to keep my momentum going forward."

Both Sylvia Masich and Samuel Dalla Lana had outdoor personal bests in their respective races and finished 10th overall.  Unfortunately, for Landon Young, the 14-year-old arrived in Quebec with flu symptons and competed on Saturday, but had to withdraw from the competition by Sunday.

Prior to the official opening of the Kin 1 Arena this Saturday at noon, the PG Blizzard will host the Central Interior Challenge, with racing starting at 6:30am and winding up in time for the noon ceremony.