NWT athletes break two AWG records on day 1 of Speed Skating

NWT athletes break two AWG records on day 1 of Speed Skating

Speed skaters took to the ice in Whitehorse today for the U15 and U19 1000-metre races. The excitement included two new Arctic Winter Games records. Team Northwest Territories had a particularly strong showing, taking home 4 gold ulus. 

Speed skating requires technique, strength and endurance. Skaters use flat blades that are just a quarter the thickness of hockey skate blades. Some of this year’s athletes have been skating for years, while others are newer to the sport. The strongest competitors glide silently down the ice, with no clacking of blades in the corners. But even the most experienced skater can take a corner too fast and wipe out. 

Speed skating has been a staple of the Arctic Winter Games since the 1984 Games in Yellowknife. Today’s competitors hailed from Alaska, Alberta North, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon. The racing had a bit of everything – fierce competition, sprints to the finish, and a few skaters tumbling to the ice and getting back up to finish strong.

Lindsey Stipdonk set a new Arctic Winter Games record today in the U15 Female 1000-metre with a time of 1:45.72. Yuma McEachern set a new Arctic Winter Games record in the U15 Male 1000-metre. McEachern’s time of 1:44.85 broke the record previously set by his brother Seiya at the Mat-Su games in 2024.

In the U15 Female 1000-metre, Lindsey Stipdonk of NWT won the gold ulu with a record-setting time, closely chased by June Lynch of Alberta North for silver. NWT’s Leah Wood won bronze. 

In the U15 Male 1000-metre, Yuma McEachern of NWT won the gold ulu, closely followed by teammate Russell MacKay for silver. Chase Krawetz of Alberta North won bronze.

In the U19 Female 1000-metre, Brigid Murphy of NWT took control of the race early to win the gold ulu, with Nunavut’s Méliya Allain taking silver and Ola Gawlak of Alberta North taking bronze in a very close race. 

In the U19 Male 1000-metre, Peter Mahon of NWT won the gold ulu in a sprint to the line, opening up a lead on teammate Seiya McEachern of NWT, who won silver. Derian Boechler of Alberta North won bronze.

Speed Skating continues on Tuesday March 10 with the 400-metre individual races (U15 and U19) and the 500-metre individual races (U19). On Thursday, catch the 500-metre individual races for U15, and the 777-metre individual races for U19. Friday is the last day of Speed Skating with the 1500-metre individual and the 3000-metre relay for both age categories.

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