The Season is here!

After what has seemed like a super long off-season, the new skating season is now upon us.

The Australian Long Trackers hit the ice in Heerenveen last weekend for their first official recorded times of the season.

Daniel Greig, Josh Lose and Brooke Lochland skated in various distances at the Trainingswedstrijd KNSB - en Merkenteams in Heereveen.

Daniel skated a 37.98 500m, which is less than .2 of a second off his personal best (and national record) over the sprint distance.
Josh skated a 4:04.24 3000m, to be only .15 off his personal record for that distance.
In her second season on the ice, Brooke Lochland skated a 1:27.71 1000m, to be just over 3 seconds off her best in that distance.

Sophie Muir, recently retired after her Australian history making Olympic Games, was honoured by Australian Ice Racing on the 2nd of October by winning the Outstanding Achievement award at the presentation dinner of the Australian Short Track Titles held in Melbourne. Congratulations go out to Sophie, who is back working full time in Australia (and so rumour has it) saving to go backpacking once again!

I know many in Australia (and overseas) are really looking forward to seeing the Australians climb to the top divisions in LT this season.

SHORT TRACK

The Australian domestic season wrapped up on the 2nd of October in Melbourne with the Australian Short Track Championships held for the first time at the world class Docklands Ice House.

Senior champions were Olympian Lachlan Hay in the Men and Julie Jung in the Ladies. The talent in the senior mens and ladies fields was promising for the sport in this country, an example being 15 year-old Deanna Lockett lowering the Senior Ladies 3000m record which had stood for 18 years.

Many Australian records were broken over two weekends of racing at the new facility, with Masters, Senior and Sub-junior records falling in many distances, including the club relays.

Images of the event can be found here at MTB Images.

HAS TATIANA BORODULINA GONE?

Rumours circulating in the short track scene indicate that the Russian born Australian Olympian has been persuaded back to her motherland to compete for Russia in the lead up to the Sochi 2014 games.

An Italian winter sport site has reported the news (in Italian). Read Article >>>

Whether she decides to skate for Russia or Australia, we wish her all the best. Whilst training and competing for Australia, she has become a positive role model for the younger girls in this country to succeed in the sport of short track. Although some may have questioned her past, there is no denying that she has done good things for the sport here in Australia - good luck Tania.

THE BIG MOVE SOUTH

Many of Australia's short trackers have recently relocated southeast to Melbourne where the Olympic Winter Institute and Elite Development squads are now based under the watchful eye of national coach Ann Zhang.

Just this morning, Aussie favourite, Ronnie Caldecutt, posted his OWI time for the 1000m, paying back his commitment to relocate to Melbourne.

With most of Australia's top skaters residing together in Melbourne, hopefully Australia can lift its ST profile to become, once again, one of the dominant countries in the sport.

All the best of luck to both the ST and LT skaters for the coming season. I will be updating readers on both disciplines from now on, and will be supporting the rise of all Australian skaters through this blog. :-)