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| Author: Emily Rendell-Watson Speed Skater & University of King's College Student |
Six-year-old
Korie Gannon says the best part about speed skating is falling down.
“It’s
important that you fall down because then you learn to get back up on your
own,” says seven-year-old Tolulope Kowole with an infectious smile as she
quickly agrees with her friend.
This
lesson can be credited to Speedy Kids, a non-profit organization that provides
underserved groups in the Halifax Regional Municipality a chance to speed
skate. Without Speedy Kids, Gannon and Kowole likely would have never laced up
speed skates.
“The
first session was really hard, I kept falling. I practiced a lot every time we
went to the oval, and someday I hope I can race really fast. I might even go to
the Olympics when I’m 18 or 20,” says Kowole. She is one of approximately 50 regular
participants in the program.
It’s
all the brainchild of Lisa Gannett, an associate professor of philosophy at
Saint Mary’s University. Gannett saw the potential for the Emera Oval to be a
community rink for children living in the North End.
“It
is important that the oval is a place where the kids, African-Nova Scotian
kids, feel it is a place for them, and that our sport is for them,” says
Gannett.
Since
the first session of Speedy Kids in January 2012 , Gannett has put all her
energy and enthusiasm into finding volunteer coaches, as well as grants to fund
the cost of speed skates and safety equipment. As Speedy Kids wraps up its
second season and looks at what is to come, Gannett makes it clear that it is
all about the kids.
“It’s
kid driven. We want to feed their love of skating, their friendships and their
love of going fast,” says Gannett, adding that the kids that come out to skate
are a tight knit group.
“There
are older kids who really look after the younger ones. They are in these groups
five days a week so they are all very supportive of each other,” says Sheila
McGinn, who provides support at the sessions and sits on the Speedy Kids board
of directors.
“One
day, I was helping one of the kids skate a little by himself, without the frame,
and although he was shaky, when another boy who was a stronger skater fell, he
nonetheless reached out his hand, even though that placed him in a precarious
balancing position,” says Gannett in an email, noting that the kids are
supportive and generous with each other.
Eleven-year-old
Tiffany Calvin, who takes part in St. George’s YouthNet after-school programs,
just completed her second season with Speedy Kids and Natasha Condé-Jahnel,
YouthNet Program co-ordinator, says she has come a long way since her first
session.
“Tiffany
had a difficult time last year, I think she had a hard time with blisters and
it was painful for her to take off her skates,” says Condé-Jahnel, who mentions
that this year, Calvin competed in a competition.
Condé-Johnel
says she is really proud of Calvin for taking ownership over an activity.
Calvin isn’t the only one who has improved since the beginning of the season.
“Many
of the kids fall, and just get right back up again. They could have gotten
embarrassed but they have no fear of feeling silly. They really put their
hearts into it,” says Condé-Jahnel, who says that for many of the kids, taking
away their support chair was a big step.
Each
of the coaches is amazed by how dedicated these kids are to improving.
“It’s
fun to watch that within the span of a lap, they can go from hardly being
balanced to taking strides just by coaching them through,” says Todd Landon,
coach of the Atlantic Long Track High Performance program.
Many
of the kids have gotten over their fear of skating. The ones who at the
beginning of the season had to be persuaded to get on the ice are now grabbing
their skates enthusiastically in anticipation of the hour of speed skating that
is to come.
“In
speed skating, you begin a non-skater. You are scared of falling, it’s
slippery, but within a short period of time, you learn to push, to skate
without support and to skate fast,” says Gannett, whose lessons in technique
and speed are quickly translating into life lessons.
“Engaging
in sport when you’re young is vital,” says Condé-Jahnel, adding sport teaches
better focus at school, teamwork, fair play, confidence and above all, gives
the kids the knowledge that they are truly good at something.
“I
learned how to be a good skater. Every practice I skated 10 laps. My legs ached
but I still finished the laps,” says Kowole after the last Speedy Kids session
of the season.
“We
have a rewards system at YouthNet and for the most recent reward, the kids
chose to go skating at the oval,” says Condé-Jahnel, adding many of the kids
wished that they had been able to skate in their speed skates.
One
boy told a volunteer that he was getting very good at telling time at school.
When asked why, he replied because he knew to watch the clock because on
Tuesdays he’d be skating at 4 p.m..
Gannett
hopes to start an inline program this spring to give the kids the opportunity
to work on their technique during the off-season. She hopes some of the
children will join Calvin in signing up for races, but is clear that Speedy
Kids doesn’t just want to nurture champions.
“We
want to nurture all the kids so that they can benefit from the sport. They
don’t all have to continue in speed skating, it’s about meeting them where they
are and seeing what sport will work for them,” says Gannett. She knows that at
this age, the sport is about having fun with their friends.
“Speed
skating can’t change the world, but it was a way to take a responsibility for
my sport,” says Gannett.
Speed
skating may not change the world, but it has certainly changed the lives of
kids like Gannon, Kowole and Calvin, who, without the program, may never have
had the opportunity to try speed skating.
“That’s
what sport is about, it prepares you for many paths in life,” says
Condé-Jahnel. The kids who participate in Speedy Kids will always have the
memories, life lessons and friendships that grew through speed skating. While
each child has his or her favourite experiences from the program, Towole is
clear about the best thing she learned this season.
“Speedy
Kids taught me to get back up again.”
