Calla Haaheim and Erik Haaheim, two skaters from the Kelowna Speed Skating Club, are among the athletes representing TeamBC at the upcoming 2023 Canada Winter Games in PEI, running from Feb. 18 to March 5.
Calla earned her spot after competing at the 2022 Canadian Championships in Quebec City, while Erik made it through following a strong performance at Canada Cup #1 in December. Knowing she had to be ready for the games, Calla decided to compete in another high-stakes race – the BC Cup Short Track race in Richmond – where she was triumphant, winning all three events and setting a new personal record in the 1000m race. She will join Barnett Liu, Kierana Laut, Charlotte Sernoski, Roanan Tien-Vidal, Ryan Bolton, Paul Astor-Phillips, Gabrielle Oetomo and Nora Wagner on TeamBC.
Erik meanwhile has been training since summer 2021 at the Olympic Oval Elite Pathway training centre alongside Calla ahead of this major multi-sport event. It promises to be one of their toughest challenges yet; they will have to take on some of Canada’s best skaters if they hope to be successful! Preparation is key for any competition and both skaters are certainly leaving no stone unturned as they hone their skills for what may well be their biggest opportunity yet.
This won’t be the first time that TeamBC has been represented by members of the Kelowna Speed Skating Club either; its athletes have consistently proven themselves capable of making an impact at national level events and these latest two could well be among its most impressive contenders yet! As much as they would love to deliver success on home soil though, deeper within lies a desire to inspire more speed skating fans across British Columbia and beyond – something which could very much come true with a podium finish in PEI next year!
