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about the club
The Virginia Speedskating Organization started its short track speed skating team following the 2002 Olympics. In just a few short years, the program has grown to include over 50 members, ranging in ages from 6 to 60. Several US National team members and one two-time Olympian have trained at our annual summer speed skating camp. In an effort to support its impressive beginning, our club has served as a target market for US Speedskating Development to model growth for the sport of short track speed skating in the South.
For a maps
and directions to locate Virginia Speedskating
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Dr. Steve Burton – Executive Director Steve co-founded Virginia Speedskating with Jim Mitchell following the 2002 Winter Olympics. Having never skated in the past served his largest hurdle; however, he envisioned a program that would welcome skaters of all ages and levels. He dedicated the next few years to learning everything he could about speed skating. In his quest he visited clubs from all over the country where he benefited from the experience of others and brought what he learned back to TeamVA. Steve has always been known for his out of the box thinking. His innovative marketing and development ideas served the club well as it grew from five members in 2002 to over 35 active members in 2007. His passion and creative approach to the sport was quickly rewarded at the national level as he was asked to serve as the Chairman of Club Development by US Speedskating after only two years in the sport. Steve’s vision remains that TeamVA should openly welcome skaters of all ages and abilities that want to skate for fun, fitness or to chase Olympic dreams.TM |
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Scott Koons – Program Director & Head Coach High Performance Team Scott was an outstanding skater and won accolades throughout his career, including: Intermediate Division US National Champion, Senior Division North American Champion, and US World Team member twice. He also was a member of the 1998 US Olympic Short Track Team. He also excelled as a coach and served as a coach on the US National Team for four years. He also served as the Managing Director for the US National Short Track and Long Track Teams for the 2007 & 2008 seasons. He now serves as the Program Director for Virginia Speedskating and is the head coach for the high performance program. |
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Sun-Tae Chea - Head Coach Development Team In the summer of 2006 Sun-Tae Chea accepted the offer to help build on the Virginia Speedskating Program. Jumping in with both feet, Sun-tae moved his wife and two children to Richmond and serves the role of our head coach. Sun-Tae’s resume is impressive, having served as the Junior World Team Head Coach for the South Korean National Team twice. Membership has doubled during his tenure and the number of skaters participating in regional and national competitions has tripled. His work ethic is unending and his warm, caring demeanor is infectious. Sun-tae has truly made himself a home in our organization. |
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Ji-Young Chea –Head Coach Novice Team Perhaps, the biggest surprise of the Chea’s move to Richmond was Ji-Young’s commitment to building an entry level speed skating program. Her dedication and hard work has resulted in an entry level skating program that rivals any in the country. Her patience and connection to entry level skaters of all ages has played a large part of the recent success in our program. Many programs around the country have quality, competitive-level coaching. Very few programs are fortunate to enjoy the same level of coaching commitment in their entry level program. |
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| Kimberly Derrick – Olympian Kimberly started competitive racing at the age of six on inlines. Her hard work and dedication enabled her to win numerous indoor and outdoor National medals and make her first World Team at the age of 16. She was a four time Junior World Champion, 3 time silver and one time bronze medalist. At the age of 18 she began ice training and in 2006 reached her goal of making the US Olympic Short Track Team. She continues to improve and was ranked in the top 10 at World Cup competitions in 2006 & 2007. Kimberly’s still on the road for her Olympic dream hoping to repeat on the 2010 US Olympic team and bring home a medal. |
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| Jordan Malone – World Champion Jordan is one of the best liked athletes in the sport. He connects with skaters of all ages and is always in the middle of what’s happening. Like so many other great skaters he began competing as an inliner, where he truly excelled. He won at the World Championships 14 times during his inline career. Since converting to ice, he has continued to excel. He was a medal winner on the 2007/08 US World Short Track Team, which was crowned number one in the World. His goal is to make the 2010 Olympic Short Track Team. |
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Sonia Milan – World Cup Medalist Sonia has been racing on ice for years. She was recognized as something special early by US Speedskating and participated in their National Team Program for four years wearing the USA Team uniform with Junior Category I status. As a senior she has continued to excel. She was a member of the 2007 World Team and won a Bronze medal on the woman’s World Cup relay team. A injury forced her to take last season off, but she is back this year with the determination to exceed her prior performance levels. And she has indeed found her track again by qualifying to attend the US Olympic trials in September. |
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Landon Hatfield – Junior National Champion Landon started speedskating April 2002, which is late in life relative to most skaters. However, he has demonstrated the commitment and talent to excel in the sport. He is the reigning Junior Mens National Champion and holds the current American Record for the 1,500 meter distance. Landon’s past success in the junior division has prepared him for the senior division competitions, which he will face this season. Landon has earned the US Speedskating Junior Category I status and worn the USA team uniform in 2007 and 2008. He is currently skating at American Cup Group A Level. Short track racing requires perfecting and knowing where and when to pass in order to succeed at the senior division. Landon is looking forward to the challenge. |
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EunJi Jeong – Team Captain EunJi’s arrival last year was a welcome event for TeamVA. She was an internationally successful competitor in long track, competing at many World Cup events within the South Korean national team organization. Following her near miss for a spot on the 2006 South Korean Olympic team, she decided to move to Virginia and switch to short track speed skating. Her passion, enthusiasm and dedication to training has set an outstanding example for her new teammates. |
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Josh Burton – Team Captain Josh began skating when the team was formed in the summer of 2002. He quickly showed promise and has excelled at national level competitions since his first season. Watching him fly around the track has been the inspiration for many of the younger, entry level skaters. Winning a Silver Medal for his participation on the Men’s Relay Team at the 2006 National Championships was a highlight of his career. His best performance was a Silver Medal in the 1,500 meters and Bronze in the 3,000 meters at the 2008 National Short Track Championships. |
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Jim Rodowsky – North American Champion Jim is another late starter in the sport, who shows great promise for the future. In only his third season he was both the US National and North American Short Track Champion. He repeated as the Juvenile US National Champion in 2008. His number one ranking propelled him to Junior Category I status within US Speedskating this season, where he proudly wears the USA team uniform. He has already made a strong statement at 15 years old being the youngest in the country to qualify and compete at the American Cup Senior Division this year. |
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Rachel Stewart - Category 1 Skatger Rachel started competing only three years ago and has quickly risen through the ranks. In her first year of competition, she was ranked number one Juvenile in the Chesapeake Cup Series and later secured first place at the Rochester Open. At the beginning of this season, at only 15 years old, she is demonstrating her drive for success by qualifying for the American Cup Senior Division where she is in direct competition for the US World Team. Later in the season she earned Category 1 status at the 2009 North American Competition. Before the season was complete she became the second member of the Virginian team to qualify for the US Olympic trails in September. |
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