By Jeff D'Andrea

Two local speedsters off to Westerns

Mar 22, 2013 | 12:13 PM

Two members of the Prince Albert Speed Skating Club will be Alberta-bound for the 2013 Canadian Western Short Track Championships in Canmore Saturday and Sunday.

Tristen Franc and Jayden Bissky will represent the city at the event and both have had experience at the Western Canadian level before.

Franc, who will participate in the Boys train-to-train aged 14 division, finished 10th overall in at the Western Canadian long-track competition earlier this year.

Although the surfaces are much different, Franc believes he can build off his strong finish on the long track circuit on the tighter short-track course.

“I think for sure,” said Franc. “It’s the same basic stuff except for a different track and different widths.

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“Short track, I like all the short distances but I really excel at the long distances in long track. It really depends at the races I’m doing.”

For Bissky, who will be in the girls train-to-train aged 12 division, she made her Westerns debut last season.

“I went into it and I was kinda nervous. I came out of it with a good experience but I didn’t do so well,” said Bissky, who added she feels a lot more confident heading into this year. “It’s quite an honour because there’s only a certain amount of kids that can go from Saskatchewan, and speed skating’s something I’ve been doing for six or seven years.”

Both athletes are involved in a variety of different sports. Bissky is involved in basketball and other school related sports but prefers speed skating mostly for all the connections she’s made with other athletes across the country.

“You just get to meet so many people from everywhere,” said Bissky. “Last summer I went to camp in Calgary and I met kids from all over Canada. I have a really good friend who’s in the Yukon.

“That’s definitely my favourite (part).”

For Franc, his passion outside the ice surface is rugby union. He played for the Saskatchewan Rivers Dragons, the Saskatoon league champions last year. Although the league is designed for high school aged students, Franc played his rookie season while still in Grade 8.

His first practice with the Dragons is on Monday, one day after he’ll arrive back from Canmore from competing all weekend at Westerns.

“It’s always a long grind throughout the summer and that, coming from speed skating and going right into rugby,” said Franc. “But overall, I think I’ll be more fit going into rugby this year and it will help me in the long run this season.”

The two competitors will compete in 3,000m, 1,500m, 400m, and 200m pursuits, as well as relay races.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea