The Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club is underway, and already Whitehorse's athletes have been getting out of town to show off their skills.

Club president Terice Reimer-Clarke says speed skating is a true family sport.

"One of the nice things about speed skating is you can start with your kids,” she said.

Families can start off as beginners and improve together.

"It's a life long sport too,” said Reimer-Clarke. Twenty three youth and seven adults take part in the club.

This weekend five Whitehorse skaters, Heather Clarke, Daryn Lovell, Hanna Wirth, Shea Hoffman and Emily Klassen, are heading to Edmonton for the Edmonton Fall Classic.

For those interested in seeing what speed skating is all about, the Rapids will be holding two more learn to skate sessions. The first one will be tonight at the Canada Games Centre and the second will be on the 28th. More sessions will be held on Jan. 13, 21 and 27.

"It's a great family activity,” said Reimer-Clarke.

Interested people will be those who like to go fast, Reimer-Clarke says.

"It's fun if you like a bit of speed,” she said.

Speed skating appeals to the younger crowd, because there is a great emphasis on competition against yourself. Reimer-Clarke says many times in speed skating, athletes are competing against their own personal best times rather than that of a fellow competitor.

Also coming up, the club is hosting Shawn Holman, a speed skater from the Calgary Olympic Oval, on Oct. 20-22. The clinics will be for budding speed skaters who want to get involved with the sport.

On Nov. 29 Whitehorse's speed skaters will be taking part in the Arctic Winter Games trials.

In early 2010, Shawn Holeman will return from Jan. 29th to 31st for another clinic that will feature races. The Anchorage speed skating club will be in town for that event as well.

Anyone who would like to come out and see what the club is up to, can stop by one off the practices on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Reimer-Clarke says the club is willing to do demo nights for any surrounding communities who may be interested in speed skating, to help promote the sport in the north.

"In the communities you really need a few core people who are going to be there for awhile,” she said.

"We're always looking to spread the sport,” said Reimer-Clarke.

More information on the club and upcoming events can be found at www.shorttrack06.com