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Inuvik-born speedskater Braeden Picek back on the ice after a sabbatical

Braeden Picek cracked the top 20 for his first skate in several years, but said he knows he can do better.
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Braeden Picek turns a corner during a race at the Canada Cup Nov. 5. The Inuvik-born speed skater was back on the ice for his first competitive race in a few years. Photo courtesy Arno Hoogveld, Olympic Oval Calgary

Braeden Picek cracked the top 20 for his first skate in several years, but said he knows he can do better.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy with the results,SA国际影视传媒 he said, adding he had wanted to rank higher. SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to rank in the top-10. I know I can. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 my first weekend back after not racing for a couple of years and the racing was a little bit off.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut definitely feel I can be in the top ten of that group of skaters.SA国际影视传媒

Placing 20th overall in the first Canada Cup event at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Nov. 5 to 7, the Inuvik-born speed skater was effectively shaking the rust off after taking a break from his sport of 10 years. But that didnSA国际影视传媒檛 stop him from excelling or pushing through adversity when he fell during the 1,500 metre SA国际影视传媒楥SA国际影视传媒 final.

Initially falling behind, Picek said he was able to recover by focusing on his coaches yelling to sprint to catch up. It took him several laps and he admitted he was nearly exhausted by the time he caught up with the pack, but was able to reset his focus and hang on to finish first overall in the race.

SA国际影视传媒淚 fell at the start of the race, about a lap in,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hen I slowly worked to catch up. It took me a while to get to the front, but I got there on the last lap and won the race.

SA国际影视传媒淎t the time I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 think I had much of a chance, but my coaches were yelling at me. It only took two or three laps to catch.SA国际影视传媒

Now, having qualified for the next round, Picek is back at the rink, practising 10 times a week to work out the wrinkles in his technique and be ready for Canada Cup 2 in February at the Oval.

Competition will be way faster, so Picek is hoping to at least match his results from this time around.

This is the time to reflect and tweak his training regimen, he noted. With several months to go, he can figure out the gaps in his program before gunning down to prepare for the next big competition.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 recreational competitions before then, but theySA国际影视传媒檙e mostly for experience,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 have my eye on Canada Cup 2. It will be a harder competition and there will be more skaters there, so being top 20 in that would be very satisfying.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat will qualify me for Canada Cup finale.SA国际影视传媒

Working with the Elite Athlete Pathway Program at the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary, Picek said heSA国际影视传媒檚 benefiting from a wealth of experience and teamwork.

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 also got his eyes on starting a degree in kinesiology in the coming fall.

SA国际影视传媒淚t aligns with what ISA国际影视传媒檓 interested in learning,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 feel actually compelled to learn about it and as an athlete I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 something beneficial.SA国际影视传媒



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