Speedskating-online

Canadian speed skaters support upcoming MS Bike Tour

On June 13-14 several Canadian speed skaters will once again participate in the MS Bike Tour, a two-day 180-km trip from Airdrie to Olds and back, to help build more awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and to raise as much money as possible for MS research. They will do so as members of Team Tazza, consisting of speed skaters as well as other athletes. Captain of this team is 23-year-old speed skater Crystal Phillips, who was diagnosed with MS herself a few years ago and organized her first MS Bike Tour team in 2006.

By Jolanda Abbes

Canadian long track speed skater Crystal Phillips looks back on a good year, both in terms of her health and in terms of speed skating. After she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a couple of years ago, it took her some time to find a balance between speed skating, school, a job and her MS, but on all accounts this past year has been great for her. She graduated as a natural nutritionist in July 2008 and started studying herbology shortly after. Moreover, she improved herself more than once as a speed skater: “I was relapse free for my first whole season. All my hard work with nutrition, listening to my body and patience is starting to really pay off. This last season was my best season since my diagnosis. I broke many personal best times that I have not broken since before my diagnosis. I also qualified to race in the 2010 Olympic Trials in four distances. I’m feeling healthier than ever!”

Even though she looks back on some turbulent years, Phillips managed to maintain a positive outlook on life, and this helped her to overcome MS and to continue speed skating at an elite level. After she was officially diagnosed with MS in February 2006, Phillips made a decision to not let the disease get her down and she organized her first team for the MS Bike Tour just a couple of months later, in June 2006. That first team was a great success, raising $55,000, which was the most a rookie team ever raised. As a result, the team won the title of Top Fundraising Rookie Team of the year 2006.

Over the past years, Phillips’ team for the MS Bike Tour has seen many participants, most of whom return year after year, and only miss out on the annual event when there is absolutely no other way. Team Tazza consists of Phillips’ friends and family, including many Canadian speed skaters who are either on the National Team or on the National Development Team. Long track speed skater Denny Morrison (23), gold-medalist in both the 1000m and 1500m at several World Cups this past season and overall gold-medalist in the World Cup Team Pursuit, was among the participants in the first two Bike Tours. Morrison and Phillips have been friends for many years and even though he missed out on last year’s Bike Tour because of a training camp and won’t be able to participate this year for the same reason, Morrison thinks back fondly to the Bike Tours he participated in: “I've known Crystal through speed skating since we were about eight years old. She's always been a fast speed skater and we often shared podiums as the male and female winners of our age class at competitions growing up. I was out of town when I first heard Crystal was diagnosed with MS and called her to support her in any way that I could. Crystal's attitude right from the start was positive and hopeful, and when she started rallying the troops to form a team to raise money for MS by riding in the MS Bike Tour, I was the first in line. I participated in 2006 and 2007 raising over $1000 for each ride, and was very proud to be a part of Crystal's team which raised over $50,000 in its first year.” Even though he will not be able to participate in this year’s Tour, Morrison hopes to take part in the MS Bike Tour again in the future: “The MS Bike Tour is a lot of fun and for a great cause. I always look forward to doing the Tour each summer and am anxious to participate in future Tours which I don't have training conflicts with.”

Long track speed skater Sarah Gregg (19), who finished first at this season’s Canadian Junior Championships and was 14th at the World Junior Championships, also participated in the 2007 MS Bike Tour and will return to Team Tazza this year. Like Morrison, Gregg got involved in the MS Bike Tour through Phillips: “I had looked up to Crystal my whole life. She was like a second sister to me, and when I heard she was diagnosed with MS, I knew it was the least I could do to help support her.” Gregg has good memories of the first MS Bike Tour she participated in: “I have only had the opportunity to participate in one Bike Tour so far, but I loved it. It is such a great atmosphere, it’s a great ride, but most importantly it’s for a great cause!” Recalling one of her most memorable Bike Tour moments, she said: “On the Saturday, the night of the party, all the speed skaters were out and got together and we had an awesome time. Some people were feeling a little ill the next day however, but we all managed to make it back to Airdrie!”

Last year Phillips organized a team for the MS Bike Tour for the third time and this Tour proved to be a Tour for the strong at heart. Rain was pouring down for almost the entire ride on the first day, making it a great challenge for all its participants. Phillips looks back: “Last year was the year of true mental and physical strength. I don’t think the weather conditions could have been much worse but did it ever feel satisfying to finish! Team Tazza and all the participants in the Bike Tour were still so motivated and encouraged, despite the poor weather conditions. It was fun to see and be a part of.” In fact, these conditions were the basis for one of the best memories Phillips has of the MS Bike Tours thus far: “I have to say that Jay Morrison takes the cake when he rode part of last year’s Tour in a bright orange ING poncho. Riding with him was like riding with a helicopter, it was so loud!” Other favorite memories for her include last year’s party on the Saturday night: “It was, as usual, full of funny and embarrassing stories and dance moves. A few of us even got on stage and joined the band!”

Before-mentioned long track speed skater Jay Morrison (25), like his brother Denny overall gold-medalist in the World Cup Team Pursuit this past season, participated in two MS Bike Tours: in 2006 and last year, when he teamed up with Phillips during a particularly rough part of the ride: “Last year’s Tour was windy, cold and rainy on the Saturday – the usual spring weather for Calgary, I guess. The most important thing was to keep out of the wind and try to keep dry, so I made the most of the orange plastic ponchos and wore one for about 80km on the ride on the Saturday. After lunch time Crystal and I teamed up and rode each other to the finish line. This was the most difficult stretch. The wind blew so hard at some points that we were literally leaning into it just to be able to keep riding down a straight stretch of road. That, coupled with the five or six minutes of hail, was pretty difficult. But we made it; probably only 1/4 of the people who started on Saturday actually rode the entire way to the end. Sunday's weather was still pretty windy, but the rain held off the entire day so that was a bonus. I cannot exactly remember, but I am sure that the temperature was below 10 degrees still. The ride back was nice and I remember the whole Tour as a complete success that was a lot of fun!”

Short track speed skater Jessica Hewitt (22), bronze-medalist in the relay at the World Championships this season, also took part in last year’s MS Bike Tour, and looks back with mixed emotions: “Right before the Bike Tour I pulled my groin, and I was upset that I wouldn't get to do the full ride. I believe I managed to do around 30km and rode in an injury car the rest of the way. Around the halfway mark the weather was horrible... there was wind, heavy rain and hail! I was proud to see that people didn't give up though, and my reason for doing the Tour, Crystal, finished the Tour. I think at this point the Bike Tour became like the disease, MS, that a lot of these people are battling against.” Last year’s Bike Tour was Hewitt’s first Tour, and she will not be able to participate this year because of the Olympic Short Track Trials in August: “But I hope to participate in more Tours in the future. I think that it is a great way to raise money and I think as an athlete it is important to partake in such events to inspire others to do so.”

Where some familiar faces will be missing in June, Gregg is among the speed skaters that will be joining Phillips in this year’s Tour: “I am really excited for this year’s Tour! I know quite a few people coming out this year and it should be a lot of fun! My goal for this year’s Tour is to finish the ride with no flat tires! With my participation, I hope I can raise more awareness and support the cause. It is important for people to donate because so many people in our country are affected by this disease and we need to find a cure as soon as we can.”

Even though there won’t be as many speed skaters participating this year as in the previous Tours, Phillips finds herself supported by them in all other ways possible and is guaranteed they will be there again for future Tours when their schedules will allow for it. As Jay Morrison puts it: “Sadly I will be at a training camp for the weekend of this year's Tour, but of course I will support the Tour and its cause and be thinking about how much fun they are having doing it too. So little is known about the MS condition and we need to learn more about it.㻚% of the money for researching MS comes from pledges and donations in events such as the MS Bike Tour; thus, it is important for people to donate to this event!” Hewitt urges people to donate as well: “It is important for people to donate because people can live relatively normal lives with MS. It is a horrible disease but the money that can be put into research, can greatly help those affected.” And Denny Morrison said: “Every donation goes a long way to helping all of the people affected by MS.”