Local skaters racing to the start line

Nelson speed skaters Emily Olthof and Mikaela Macdonald are training upwards of 10 times a week ahead of the World Skate Games.

The pair are part of New Zealand’s six-strong speed skating team who will fly to Italy in September to compete in their sport’s pinnacle event.

With over 100 countries in attendance, the duo will compete in several events across a nearly two-week-long competition.

Mikaela, who previously attended the World Skate Games when they were in Argentina, says her goal is to improve on her results from last time and make a final.

As a long-distance specialist, she says the training has been focused on endurance as she piles on the miles at training.

Every week, the pair do an hour-long skate training where they race behind a moped at speeds up to 40km/h, having completed 36km last week.

Emily says it’s her least favourite training day of the week as a speed specialist.

“Training is kinda different for both of us. I’m going there to do the really short sprints so for me it’s a lot of agility and speed,” she says.

“I’m planning to get a personal best in the time trial 200-metre sprint.”

With Blenheim’s Erin Green also part of the squad, there’s some healthy competition with only two skaters from a country allowed to compete in each event.

The only exception is the marathon, in which Emily, Mikaela, and Erin will race.

The local pair, who are coached by Alan Bartlett, have attended two training camps in Blenheim and Timaru ahead of the World Skate Games.

“It’s three days of training with four trainings a day,” says Emily.

She says it almost feels like they’re living in their skates in the build-up, ensuring they’re in the best place possible to leave it all out on the track.

“You should come out of every race feeling like you might pass out.”

As part of fundraising for their travel, the pair have been doing a number of different bingo and roller disco nights for the community.

With another two bingo nights on 24 July and 14 August at the Honest Lawyer and two more

Discos on 20 July and 14 August, there is still a chance to support the young skaters as they get ready to chase their dreams.

They have also been giving back to their community, having officiated a local race meeting over the weekend for up-and-coming skaters.