Ottawa Pacers Book of Achievement
Peter van Musschenbroek

Pacer Member

Category

Elected

Peter van Musschenbroek became Vice President in 1978 and President in 1979 / 1980, remaining a member until 1985.  He was Chief Timer for the National Trials held in Ottawa in 1979 and was instrumental in reviving distance skating (> 10k) in Canada.

In 1981 Peter traveled to the Netherlands to contact skating marathon organizers.  With help from his wife, Aline, Toni Winterink, Phil Craig, J. M. Leduc, and Henrietta Pound, he brought the Alternative Elfstendentocht ( a race through 11 towns in Holland, 200 km in length, which he had raced and completed on wooden skates in 1956 ), to Canada.  The 200 km event took place in 1984 on the Ottawa river, bringing skaters from all over North America, Europe and Scandinavia.  The club received world wide accolades for this effort but it was never repeated in North America.  Peter competed in the World Masters Championships in Lake Placid, NY, gaining medals in many events.  

Other events to his credit include:
1982 / 1983    World Master Sprint Championships held on Dow's Lake. 
1982    40 km Lac St. Jean Open.
1983    40 km Winterlude Open.
1985    100 km World Long Distance Championship (Rideau Canal, Ottawa).

He was also a cyclist competing in the World Masters Cycling Championships, (Austria), successfully completing the race as the best Canadian in his age class.

Peter and his wife Aline have 2 children and 6 grandchildren.