International speedskating coach Debby Fisher likened her weekend training to building a house.

“If you don’t have a solid foundation, you can’t build off that,” the 60-year-old international instructor said Sunday.

“That’s what I’m trying to do here – set a foundation.

“And the kids are skating really well already. I’m quite impressed.”

Since 1998, Fisher has led the Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club through their paces as a means to kick off the new season.

Each year, she focuses on the basic fundamentals.

“I do it different every time, but I always stress the fundamentals,” Fisher said. “You have to come back with the basics.

“I’m always working towards the same thing. It’s a real good kickstart.”

Alongside building a foundation centred on flexibility, strength, balance and edge control, Fisher said she’s also paid to be a “resource person.”

Based out of Calgary – the site of the Olympic Oval – she keeps her eyes on the track and her ears low to the ground to keep tabs on changes in the sport.

For instance, Fisher said she picked up technical changes from skaters competing in the recent world trials, where the speedsters would perform a double-push around corners.

While Fisher recently founded a martial arts business in Calgary, she said she isn’t giving up on her longtime clients, such as the Yukon speedskating club.

“I love Whitehorse and am more than willing to come up,” she said.

The young group showed plenty of promise throughout the camp, and should have a promising roster for the next Arctic Winter Games.

Currently, speedskaters will not be participating in the 2016 Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland, due to a lack of ice facilities.

However, the Yukon government is working on a solution, including the potential of hosting an X Games in Whitehorse.

Local coach Phil Hoffman said he isn’t sure what the Yukon’s Canada Winter Games roster will look like in February, as he only has one eligible athlete currently training – 14-year-old Michael Ritchie.

The national tournament will take place in Prince George, B.C.

Regardless, the skaters are looking good following their summer break.

“Debby’s really good at teaching the fundamentals,” Hoffman said. “It also works well for getting kids introduced to the sport of speedskating.”

The camp also served as an introductory session for newcomers, as the local club continues its attempt to grow its membership base.

Currently, the club consists of about 20 young skaters and a few more adults. This year’s speedskating contingent is expected to compete at meets in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba.

In a bid to boost numbers, Hoffman said he is attempting to start a learn-to-skate program for elementary students in Grades 3 to 5. The three-lesson program would be completed with co-ordination from local schools.