Our province is home to some incredible athletes. Hockey, rodeo, bobsledders, skiers, you name it. Add Canmore native Connor Howe to that list. He is one of Canada’s most promising long-track speed skaters.
The 23-year-old started short-track speed skating at seven years old and began competing two years later. Howe competed in short-track speed skating for eight years but became too tall for the sport after a growth spurt.
Short-track speed skating is a type of competitive ice speed skating where multiple skaters race around an oval ice track. In long-track speed skating, competitors race against the clock instead.
Moving Up
When it comes to speed skating, size does matter. Longer-distance skaters tend to be slightly taller than short-track competitors, where the jostling and tight spaces make it hard for taller athletes.
Due to his newfound height, Howe switched to long-track speed skating and never looked back. The teenager moved to Calgary in 2015 to start training full-time for long-track speed skating.
Howe made his Olympic debut in Beijing 2022. He was the top Canadian in the men’s 1500 metre, placing fifth in the event. He also competed in the men’s team pursuit, helping Canada clinch fifth place.
Winning Ways
Over the weekend, Howe found himself on the Olympic track once again. This time, Howe competed in the 2023 Canadian Long Track Championships at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.
He took home the first place in the men’s 1,500m, but it wasn’t smooth sailing. On the back stretch of the second lap, while racing down the ice at almost 60 kilometres an hour, Howe’s leg shot backwards.
“I was a bit worried there for a second I was going down, but managed to get back into it…But it takes you a bit out of the rhythm and a bit out of the legs to get the speed back up,” Howe told the Rocky Mountain Outlook.
This caused Howe to stumble, but he managed to catch himself in a split second. The slip-up cost him some time, but Howe still claimed victory in the men’s 1,500m for the third consecutive year with a time of 1:43.17. Howe also took home the win in the men’s 1,000m with a time of 1:07.79.
Howe’s accomplishments over the weekend are impressive, but he isn’t satisfied. Howe wants to set a national record in the 1,500m. Howe nearly accomplished this in Calgary a few weeks ago after setting a personal best time of 1:42.34. Currently, Denny Morrison, Howe’s idol, holds the record.
What’s Next
Morrison was Canada’s top skater in the men’s 1,500m for years and holds the record with a time of 1:42.01, which the four-time Olympic medalist set 15 years ago in 2008 at the Olympic Oval. For now, Howe is focused on the rest of the reason, specifically next month’s international competition.
“It’s a promising start to the season. I’m feeling fit and skating well. I hope to progress and perform even better. I’m still hoping for the record later this year at the World Cup in Salt Lake City or even the world championships in Calgary in 2024.” commented Howe.
Canada’s long-track team coach, Bart Schouten, expressed confidence in Howe’s talent on the track, especially after he outperformed expectations in the men’s 1,000m, besting 2022 Beijing silver medallist Laurent Dubreuil.
“To me, it’s impressive to win the 1,000m over the silver medallist,” said Schouten.
Howe also secured silver in the men’s 5,000m and finished fourth in the mass start. In the upcoming season, his primary focus will be on the men’s 1,500m and 1,000m and the three-person team pursuit. Preparations are underway for the ISU World Speed Skating Championships and the World Allround Speed Skating Championships in March 2024 in Germany.
For the world championships in Calgary, which is Howe’s prime focus, Schouten envisions a podium finish and sees potential in Howe breaking the national 1,500m record. The ISU World Cup Speed Skating will commence in Japan from Nov. 10-12.
Schouten is confident the Canmore skater can secure a top-three finish, and so are we.
