CUTTING IT CLOSE SPEED SKATING TAKES OFF.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer VALENCIA - When you think of Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, , speed skaters The following is a list of notable ice speed skaters. The list is sorted by speed skating discipline (long track or short track), gender and competing nationality. Long track Male American
adj. 1. Above or beyond the human; preternatural or supernatural. 2. Beyond ordinary or normal human ability, power, or experience: "soldiers driven mad by superhuman misery" speeds may not be the first thing to come to mind. But area residents skated their way to first-place finishes in several age divisions Sunday in state championships at the Ice Station in Valencia, giving them a chance to compete for national titles in Ohio next week. Among the winners was 6-year-old Gorden Maffett of Santa Clarita, who won in the youngest age category. The Ice Station hosted the 2004 Short Track State Championships, drawing dozens of skaters from throughout Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . The event was sponsored by the Southern California Speed Skating speed skating Sport of racing on ice skates. The blade of the speed skate is longer and thinner than that of the hockey or figure skate. Two types of track are used in international competition. Association and the California State Games The California State Games is an Olympic-style competition for California's amateur athletes of all ages and abilities. The Games is a member of the National Congress of State Games and of the United States Olympic Committee. . Don Meramble, 75, of Newhall took first place in the over-70 division, but he won't be going to the national competition because there is no similar class offered. ``I'm used to being around people my age who are better runners, but there are few people my age who do skating,'' Meramble said. Ron Halcrow, president of the newly formed Santa Clarita Speed Skating Club, said Meramble inspired him to organize skating events in Santa Clarita. Halcrow formed the club about 10 months ago ``to give back to the community and to let children experience how much fun it is.'' Regular training sessions are held each week at the Ice Station from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Thursdays. Halcrow, who has lived in Santa Clarita since 1999, said it was Olympic champion Bonnie bon·ny also bon·nie adj. bon·ni·er, bon·ni·est Scots 1. Physically attractive or appealing; pretty. 2. Excellent. Blair's sister who taught him the sport while growing up in Illinois. ``We're going to start a 'Learn to Skate' class in two months, and have several levels,'' he said. ``We're going to develop a nice program. Right now, we're trying to gain sponsorship.'' The Santa Clarita club is part of the larger Southern California Speed Skating Association, the second oldest in the nation. About 30 skaters have gone on to win national awards since the association formed in the 1950s, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. members. Though still somewhat obscure, the sport seems to gain popularity after the Olympics. In 2002, speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno Apolo Anton Ohno (born on May 22, 1982) is an American short track speed skating competitor and a two-time gold medalist in the Winter Olympics. He also competed in and won the reality TV show, Dancing with the Stars in 2007. seemed to own the ice, and young people took notice, said Wilma Boomstra, the association's director of coaching. ``After the Olympics, it picked up big time,'' Boomstra said. ``Now it seems like it's slowing down again, but we get a lot of students who were once in-line skaters or figure skaters.'' Marin Austin, a 15-year-old national champion from Laguna Niguel, said she became a speed skater for the sheer thrill of being able to go fast. ``I like it because it gets my adrenaline going,'' Austin said. ``I love racing by and winning.'' Valencia resident Marie Valentine, 14, said she took up the sport less than a year ago at the urging of Halcrow. ``He's the one who got me started,'' said Valentine, who began as a figure skater, but said speed skating may be her new love. She practices every morning. ``I really like it.'' For more information about the Santa Clarita Speed Skating Club, contact Ron Halcrow at (661) 286-1114. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5257 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Marin Austin, 15, center, of Laguna Niguel slides into the corner with competitors during a heat Sunday. (2 -- 3 -- color) At left, Lindsey Powers, 15, of Riverside tries to widen her lead on Nikki Berrios of Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, city (1990 pop. 181,519), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast, across from Santa Catalina Island, in an oil-producing area; inc. 1909. It manufactures aerospace vehicles, aircraft parts, optical instruments, and heat transfer equipment. . Young racers, above, wait for their turn while watching other races. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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