Conematic Heating gives developing athletes international competition opportunity with short track speed skating series

Conematic Heating Systems, Inc. President Doug Smith has donated over $25,000 to support a new international short track speed skating competition series, helping Canada’s developing athletes gain valuable experiences normally reserved only for the worlds Olympic and World Cup speed skaters. [...]
This is the inaugural Conematic International Short Track Challenge which includes more than 50 athletes from Canada, China and the U.S.A. Canadian competitors are from both Eastern provinces and the Olympic Oval Short Track program. The competition series takes place over the next two weekends at the Olympic Oval, Oct. 6 & 7 and Oct. 12, 13 & 14, 2007, with another two weekends of competition in Changchun, China in March 2008. [...]
Michael Gilday, 20 years old from the North West Territories, who competed in two World Cup competitions last year:

“The biggest difference in skating at that level is the different kind of racing tactics that are used. You have to develop a new race plan and deal with being in an unfamiliar situation; it really taught me how to adapt.”

“Traveling to China is going to give me some great experiences,” says Liam McFarlane, 21.