Good evening PG Blizzard families. The ice is ready, and our Advanced group has been testing it out for the past week.


Here is a friendly reminder regarding skate times:
MASTERS
Saturday                   6:00-7:30am

FUNDAMENTALS
Tuesday                    5:45-6:30pm
Saturday                   7:45-8:30am

NOVICE
Tuesday                   6:30-7:30pm
Thursday                  5:45-6:45pm

ADVANCED
Monday                     6:45-8:15pm
Tuesday                    7:45-9:00pm
Thursday                   7:00-8:30pm


Regular sessions for Masters, FUNdamental and Novice skaters begin this week. Advanced group sessions started last week. Reminder for Novice Group skaters that off ice warm-up begins 45 minutes prior to scheduled ice sessions.

*** Youth and Masters Learn to Skate sessions begin next week - October 3rd, 5th or 7th. ***

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1. MATS

Reminder from FUNdamentals coach, Wendy Hudyma, that this Tuesday parents are needed to put out mats. Please be at Kin1 by 5:15 to help put out mats.

2.  SKINSUIT ORDER

The club will be ordering skinsuits again this season. Kari will have the fit kit at the arena Tuesday evening for all interested. This will be the only fitting session.

3. CALENDAR & EVENTS


The PGBSSC website calendar has been updated with each groups' practice times. Keep watch for more important dates on the calendar.

http://www.pgblizzard.ca/calendar-and-events.html


The BCSSA Event Calendar is also a great place to find out more information about Interclubs and other speed skating events around the province.


https://www.bcspeedskating.ca/events-and-results/

4. UP TO SPEED WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM


Check out the second installment of Up To Speed with the National Team and their demonstrations of a deep track pattern.


http://www.speedskating.ca/resources/technical-videos

5. 2017-18 COMPETITIONS BULLETIN

The BCSSA Competitions Development Committee has released to 2017-18 Competitions Bulletin. This covers BCST and BCLT eligibility and format.

Please, talk to your coach if you have any questions.

6. USED EQUIPMENT

For several years the Club`s families have been exchanging used equipment, including skin suits. If you have used gear that you want to sell or pass on, please contact me or Equipment Manager Dave Konwicki (dkonwick@telus.net). I can forward an advertisement out to our club members for you. Donations are also welcome. Some of our club skin suits have been circulating for up to 20 years!

7. OFFICIALS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Hello level 1 timers,

This is the official announcement for the Level 2 Timers Clinic to be held in Kamloops on Sept 24th. 

If anyone is interested please let Official`s Coordinator Emily Akerley know ASAP so we can get you in. (theakerley6@gmail.com). There is financial assistance available from the club if there is interest. 


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Thank you and see you on Tuesday!

Kessie Konwicki, Registrar
on behalf of the PG Blizzard Board of Directors

Good evening Prince George Blizzard Families!

This weekend's KickStart Camp was a great success, and I am sure all our skaters are looking forward to getting back on the ice for regular practices. I would also like to welcome our new families to the club, we look forward to getting to know you over the next seven months.

Here is this weeks update:

1. Speed Skating Canada Resources

"Up to Speed with the National Team” is a project of five videos led by Short Track National Development Team member Samuel Bélanger-Marceau presenting technical exercises demonstrated by members of the Senior National Team.

The first video of the season focuses on The Start: http://www.speedskating.ca/resources/technical-videos

2. Resources for Skate Moulding

Attached is a document to help to guide you to heat mould your speed skates.

As well the following are the 3 Youtube videos from Equipment Manager, Dave Konwicki:

Oven instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_HQ2nU4v5Q
Boot Setup:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGQ3D9u7fWA
Ankles:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWkomzmy9wA

If you have additional questions please contact Dave at dkonwick@telus.net.

3. Fundraising Information

The following note is from Fundraising Coordinator, Amber Browne:

Hello new and returning members,

As the new season is around the corning I wanted to send out information in regard to fundraising opportunities.

As it stands now we have 2 standing accounts, Bottle returns and the Save-On-Food Gift Card program. These accounts conveniently will stay active year-round. This will allow members who know they will be returning the opportunity to fundraising over the summer months but it also will allow people (family/friends) to donate on your behalf.
Please Note - Anyone purchasing Save-On-Food gift cards or donating bottle on your behalf must keep and pass the receipt on to you so that they can be given to the fundraising coordinator in order to be credited towards your fundraising levy.

1. Bottle Returns
The Prince George Blizzards have an account at both the bottle depots listed below

• Nechako Bottle Depot 1922 1 Ave · (250) 562-3871
• PG Recycling & Return-It Centre 2614 Petersen Rd · (250) 561-7475
• When taking in your bottles you must mention that the bottles being returned are for the Prince George Blizzards Speed Skating Club. A receipt will be submitted 
• You must please keep and submit this receipt to the fundraising coordinator 

2. Save-On-Foods Gift Receipts
The Prince George Blizzards have an account at all the Save-On-food locations in town.

•           4% of your gift card purchase totals will be credited towards your fundraising levy. Gift cards can be purchased in any amount.
•           You must go to customer service at any of the Save-On-Food locations to purchase and activate your gift card.
•           You must mention that the you are purchasing the card or cards for the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club so they can document the total in their system   
•           you must keep and submit your receipts for Gift Card purchases to the fundraising coordinator so that the totals can be credited towards your fundraising levy

*IMPORTANT* - it is your responsibility to keep and submit your receipts for Save-On-Food gift cards and bottle returns. Please label the top of the receipt with your skaters last name
Please be sure to tuck them away in a safe place until you are able to hand them into the Fundraising coordinator. 

Please watch for more information regarding fundraising opportunities coming soon.
 
If you have any questions about this information or fundraising in general you can email myself or Elaina Hudyma at pgblizzard.fundraising@gmail.com
 
Kind Regards, Amber Browne 

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Registration will remain open for the next several weeks. If you know anyone who would like more information about speed skating with the PG Blizzard, please have them contact me or Kari Rae.

If you have questions please contact Kari Rae at pgblizzard.president@gmail.com or me (Kessie) at pgblizzard.registrar@gmail.com.

Thank you,

The PG Blizzard Board of Directors

Kari Rae, President
Keri McLeod, Vice President
Meredith Earl, Secretary
Natalie Wehner, Treasurer
Kessie Konwicki, Registrar
Elaina Hudyma, Director at Large
Auton St.Rose, Director at Large

Welcome to the 2017/18 speed skating season. This year, to make communications out to club members more efficient the Board will be sending communications out to the club once weekly on Sunday evenings. Watch for these emails for information about upcoming events, meet entry deadlines and changes to regular scheduled ice sessions. 

Coaches may communicate directly with their skaters via separate emails.

1. Registration - Round 2

Round 2 for Registration for new and/or returning skaters is this Thursday, September 14th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. If you are not yet registered and are unable to attend Thursday night, please contact PG Blizzard Registrar at pgblizzard.registrar@gmail.com.

2. Kick Start Camp

Kick Start Camp is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday September 16th and 17th. Sunday's sessions are for Academy skaters only.

Kick Start Camp starts at 10am on Saturday morning. Skaters are to meet in Kin1. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Coach Kari Rae at pgblizzard.president@gmail.com.

3. Ice Marking

Ice Marking (lines and dots for speed skating) will be done by group of volunteers this Wednesday, September 13th from 6pm to 10pm. Ice Coordinator Lorelei St. Rose is still looking for extra sets of hands, no experience required. If you are available please contact Lorelei at lorelei@teamkdz.com.

4. Fundraising

Wondering how you can pay off your fundraising levy??? Our club members are already contributing to their fundraising levies, by returning bottles and by buying gift cards at Save-On Foods.

Look for more information coming soon. If you have questions please contact Fundraising Coordinator Amber at abrowne234@gmail.com.

5. Start of Season

The regular skating season begins the week of September 25th, 2017.

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If you have information that needs to be distributed to the club, please forward it to pgblizzard.registrar@gmail.com before noon next Sunday.

This being our first yearly communication, I may have missed some important information, and I may need to send out an additional email this week. Thank you for your patience.

Thank you,

Kessie Konwicki, Registrar
PG Blizzard Speed Skating Club
pgblizzard.registrar@gmail.com