The Coach: Tyler Congdon

I have the CANADIAN COACHES ASSOCIATION's highest credential, a LEVEL 3 DESIGNATION for the discipline of ROLLER SPEED SKATING. I am also an SC2 Certified Speed Coach with USA Roller Sports.

I've been involved in the skating community for over 14 years. I've raced Provincials and Nationals, and have found my new passion in passing on my knowledge of skating to my skaters. I took over coaching the speed team of 5 skaters in March of 2002. Since then our membership has varied from 5 to 40 members and we are currently at a count of about 25 skaters. I have taken as many as 8 at a time to different competitions including the Indoor and Outdoor Canadian Nationals and the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Auburn Winter Invitational, and the 2006 World Speed Skating Championships in Anyang, Korea and 2007 World Speed Skating Championships in Cali, Colombia.

I have attended the First and Second Annual USARS (United States of America Roller Sports) Congress and Expo. I also attended the 2005 USA Roller Sports Judges and Coaches Conference. I have found these seminars to be very useful as far as technical knowledge and inspiration. I have also attended the U.S. Olympic Training Center from April 27th - April 30th 2006 as part of the coaching staff. In 2007 I attended the U.S. Olympic Training Center from April 27th - May 6th as part of the coaching staff for the National team clinic and the Elite clinic. I hosted an intense three day Pre-National training clinic for my club with Linda Wood. I was in attendance at Anyang, Korea in September 2006 for the World Championships as Canada's Team Manager / Leader and Delegate. I also went to the 2007 World Championships in Cali, Colombia as Team Canada's, Coach / Manager / Leader / Delegate. I have also taken several other coaching theory or training seminars.

Some of my coaching accomplishments would include:

2008 Senior World Team Member (Alex)
2008 Senior World Team Member (Leah)
2008 Junior World Team Member (Brett)
2007 Senior Relay World Team Member (Leah)
2007 Junior World Team Member (Alex)
2007 Outdoor National Junior Womens Overall Champion (Cynthia)
2007 Outdoor National Junior Mens Sprint Champion (Alex)
2007 Outdoor National Juvenile Boys Distance Champion (Eric L.)
2007 Indoor Nationals (All 8 athletes I took won at least one Gold medal)
2006 Junior World Team Member (Alex)
2006 Indoor National Championships, Senior Ladies Champion (Leah)
2006 Outdoor National Championships, Junior Men Distance 2nd (Alex)
2006 Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, Sophomore Ladies Champion (Cynthia)
2005 Outdoor National Championships, Senior Men 4th overall (Austin)
2005 Indoor National Champions, Senior Two Lady Champions (Leah and Jessica)
2004 Indoor National Championships, Junior Men Champion (Austin)

I have many thanks to give to great coaches that I have learned from like John Gustafson, David Downing and Linda Wood for great advice and inspiration.

Our practice sessions include a group warm up of jogging, stretching, isometrics and dynamic stretching. We also skate, working on various drills and exercises to increase our speed, endurance, technical ability and racing intelligence.