The Club Coach

By Kelly Sharp

His passion for the sport of speed skating is obvious when hearing him talk about what is needed to help develop the potential of the young athlete. Meet Keith Gordon, long-time coach of the Fort St James Falcons Speed Skating Club and coach of the Prince George-based regional training centre. Gordon says the Fort St James and the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Clubs complement each other.

“It’s important to work together,” Gordon said.

Brenda, Michael and Steven Friesen all progressed through the Fort St James Falcons to now train at the Calgary Olympic oval. Seventeen year-old Jordan Luck of Fort St. James is expected to train in Calgary next year. Luck, a former hockey player, praises Keith Gordon for helping him develop on the ice. The Fort St James speed skater won the overall title in his division at the Canadian Short Track Junior Championship in Prince George.

Debby Fisher of the Olympic oval program is well aware of the importance of the club coach at the grass-roots level of speed skating.

“The club coach can bring the speed skater up to their potential, and then the athlete can decide where they want to go.” Debby Fisher said.

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