45days since
Year End Awards Ceremony

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Biographies

Grant Edgar

  • Years of coaching16 years coaching Pacers programs including Masters, Development, Intermediate, and Advanced programs.
  • Years skating: 21 years speed skating; started with Kitchener Sertoma club in ’90 and joined the Pacers in ’94 when I moved to Ottawa. 
  • Certifications and education: FUNdamentals Coaching including Ethics, and seminars.
  • Accomplishments (personal): Tavis Huffman award (Pacers) for sportsmanship, sportsmanship award (Kingston meet a few years ago), attendance at the 1993 Canadian Short Track Championships (Thunder Bay), a drawer full of shiny round things in bronze, silver, and gold colours with strings that go around your neck relating to short track and long track competitions, I’ve finally learned how to go around an oval without falling down regularly, and most importantly I’ve have made friends with speed skaters, coaches, and officials from across the province and a few who are across the country. 
  • Accomplishments (coaching):  Biggest accomplishments has been via the accomplishments of the skaters I’ve had a chance to work with.  Most enjoyable when a skater accomplishes something and wants to report it to you with a smile.  i.e. a result like a PB or a cool pass, etc.  I also really enjoy the small victories like a first cross-over or seeing the light go on for a skater who figures out a new technique like a track pattern or how to do a pass.  Seeing kids and adults alike grow into their sport and hopefully never growing out of it.  I’ve also had fun showing a few people how to manufacture their own skates.
  • Personal motivation:  I really love going fast; a continuation of my cycle racing days.  I enjoy being part of a large friendly and motivated community of people who enjoy the sport and make it possible for others.  Most of all, I love seeing kids doing things that are good for them and make them smile a lot.



Rob Freitag

  • Years of coaching: 1st year
  • Years skating: 2nd year
  • Certifications and education: upcoming!
  • Accomplishments (personal):  I have 4 children currently skating with the Pacers
  • Motivation for coaching: Love to work with skaters and see them succeed "I am enjoying my experience as a new coach in 1st hour.  The kids are enthusiastic and are learning quickly.  I am looking forward to racing at some of the ability meets to see if I can keep on improving on my personal best times.  And maybe one of these days I’ll beat Iain!  Wish me luck…. 



Sarah Leslie

  • Years of coaching: 11 years (learn to skate, speed skating, and figure skating)
  • Years skating: 15 years speed skating and 15 years figure skating 
  • Certifications and education: NCCP Level 3 speed skating, 13 tasks completed towards Levels 4 & 5, NCCP Level 1 figure skating, Personal Trainer (CSEP), B.Sc. Biology honors, B.Sc. Exercise Health & Physiology
  • Accomplishments (personal): 3rd - Masters All-Round World Long Track Championships (2011), provincial medalist in short track and long track,4 years training at National Training Centre (Calgary).
  • Accomplishments (coaching): completion of High Performance Coaching Diploma (National Coaching Institute, 2011), provincial coach for numerous Canada Cup ranking events, skaters have earned 5 Canada Winter Games medals (2007, 2011).
  • Personal motivation: I truly enjoy skating and want everyone to enjoy the experience as well.