This past Sunday at the Canada Games centre saw 23 skaters ranging in age from five to 40 competing in the Yukon Amateur Speed Skating Association’s Yukon Championships as the 2018-19 season came to an end.

The blades of the skate contacting the ice echoed throughout the rink as the skaters got as low as possible to the ice while rounding the corners.

The skaters competed in 33 races for a total of 106 individual times. On Sunday the times posted resulted in 33 personal bests set.

Malcolm Taggart is one of the coaches at the Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club. He typically coaches the young athletes and in a competition like the Yukon Championships, he is looking for the skaters to post new best times.

“What we expect and want from them is first and foremost to have fun,” said Taggart. “Second is to look for personal bests. Skate faster than they have ever skated before and then no matter what else happens its been a huge success for them.”

Taggart had been out on the ice track stewarding so he did not see any times. However, based on the eye test he said he is pretty sure there will be some personal bests set.

“The eye test yes, I’ve seen some personal bests,” said Taggart. “They showed, good effort, good technique, they have just been doing their thing. They have a good positive attitude and that is 90 per cent of it right there.”

For the young athletes, Taggart said it is about gaining experience.

“Absolutely, of course,” said Taggart. “Most of them have competed before locally and some have gone outside once or twice of the younger crew.”

Gregory Freeman set personal bests in all four distances that he competed in. Peter Schneider also improved his times with three personal bests out of the four distances he skated on Sunday.

Fresh off their return from the Canada West Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Grande Prairie, Alta., identical twin brothers Simon and Joshua Lauer set three personal bests out of the four distances they raced.

Joshua was on his way to a fourth personal best time but took the corner a little too quickly when trying to keep his position in the 777-metre race.

Next up for the 10 skaters who are in the age categories able to compete in the Arctic Winter Games is outdoor dry land training until the speed skating season starts again in September.