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FOCUS - MAY 2015 51 some social difficulties and requires that I take more time to learn. He copes well both with the de- mands of absorbing and applying physical skills at an elite level and to the rapid-fire inquiries of an unfamiliar face. One of four children older siblings Brandon and Patricia are 20 and 19 respectively while Lindsay is four years his junior at 13 Will began as so many young Canadians do as a hockey play- er. Wanting to play goal but finding that position locked down Will and his father Duncan went looking for a new team. Coincidentally one of the arenas they scouted had been configured that day for speed skating. The sport in- trigued him and after splitting another season between hockey and speed skating Will shifted his attention to the latter. Im competitive but not to an extreme. I learned in speed skating that everyone competes during the race but theyre friendly afterward. I liked that and I enjoyed the adrenalin rush I got during the race. His experience skating in hockey helped as well as hindered his early development. Id skated before but speed skates are entirely different he remembers. Your posture isnt the same and you need to know where your feet are at all times the right time to cross over and when to push for power. so a beginner might fall on his face No hed likely wind up on his Like runners speed skaters usually gravitate to short sprint events or longer distances. In Wills case he found short-track events better suited to his skills. Short-tracks done in a hockey arena while the longs are done in are- nas with larger dimensions. The shorts easier to adapt to for begin- ners and some people are natural sprinters. Long-track with its lengthier straightaways demands a differ- ent skill set as well as different skates. The blades are dramatically flatter for long-track because of the larger rink dimensions. Speed skating shares a number of tactical similarities with car racing Will explains. The fastest skaters given the inside position so he or she ar- rives ahead of the pack at the first turn. Everyone tucks in behind the leader believe they call that drafting in car races who takes the brunt of the wind resistance. But that advantage evens out over the course of the race. Speed skating had dominated Wills athletic life for several years before the extent of his talent was recognized. I didnt enter many competitions in those early years. But as I got older my Dad got me into more and more of them. Duncan also became involved as his sons coach and the pair set their sights on Olympic gold. Will was rewarded for his years of hard work this February with top Provincial hon- ours in the 500 777 1000 and 1500 metre events. So now its on to Corner Brook. My on-ice seasons over now until Left William carefully checks the blade of one of his speed skating boots. Opposite page William speeds around a corner during a competition last year. Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten Please turn to page 61 Im competitive but not to an extreme. I enjoy the adrenalin rush I get during the race ...William LeBlanc