Great Britain short track performance director Stuart Horsepool is looking for his skaters to use this weekend’s 2014 Short Track Invitation Cup in Heerenveen to sharpen their form for the new season.
After a solid run of training, Great Britain’s skaters will take to the ice for the first international event of the season in the Netherlands this Saturday and Sunday.
The event serves as a preparation competition for the squad ahead of the start of the ISU World Cup Series, which begins next month in Salt Lake City.
And with the 11-strong squad facing strong competition from host nation Holland, as well as skaters from Hungary, Italy, Poland, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania, Horsepool knows it is a great chance to get back to business.
“The squad have had a good run of summer training and the competition this weekend is about getting back into routine for them and sharpening up their performances ahead of the ISU World Cup Series for the senior squad and the Star Class events for the junior skaters,” he said.
“After the competition, we will look back at how they did and evaluate how we can improve to be on top form before World Cup 1 in early November.
“The squad will face strong competition this weekend as they come up against the current world champions and some Olympic medallists from across Europe. Our focus is on getting back into the race mind set as we enter the four year cycle which culminates with Pyeonchang 2018.”
© Sportsbeat 2014