Before every race St. Albert speed skater Dylan Deuchar gives himself a round of applause for that extra edge.
“I clap my hands three times to calm me down,” the Special Olympics athlete said this week. “It helps me do my best.”
The 17-year-old is focused on going the distance for a number of podium finishes at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, Feb. 28 to March 3 in St. Albert and Jasper.
“I want to win five medals,” he said. “Bronze, silver, gold; any of them.”
Last year at the Alberta Winter Games, Deuchar’s medal-winning performance included one gold, two silver and one bronze in the short distance events.
“It was easy,” he said. “I had a lot of energy drinks.”
The race distances at the Games are 111, 222, 333, 500 and 777 metres, one and three kilometres and the 4x888m relay.
“I like short distances. It’s easier for me,” Deuchar said.
In 2008 he competed for Alberta in four events at the Games in Quebec City and won two gold and one silver.
“I was very happy,” said the youngest athlete at the Games.
Speed is his strength.
“I’m really fast but I suck taking the corners. Sometimes I hit the boards hard,” said the former hockey player. “I like to go fast, but when I stop moving my whole body shuts down.”
The tough part for Deuchar is “getting down low” on the ice. Otherwise, he is flushed with excitement once the wheels start turning.
“I like to feel the cold breeze coming at me,” Deuchar said. “I dream of that cool breeze.”
Deuchar is also dreaming of fast times at the seventh annual national winter festival.
“I’m really happy it’s here,” he said. “I want to do really well.”
Servus Credit Union Place is the venue for 46 speed skaters, including six from Alberta.
Deuchar hopes the stands will be packed with cheering fans like his niece, Juliet, a big supporter of the perennial medal contender.
“That would be a 10 out of 10,” he said. “The cheers give me energy.”
The Grade 11 student has also received a big boost of encouragement from teachers at Bellerose Composite High School.
“The whole staff knows I’m going. They always talk to me about it.”
Deuchar grew up playing “all positions” in hockey while living in Delburne and Airdrie but switched to speed skating when told he was too small to play hockey. His mom, Karyn, checked to see if hockey was offered by Special Olympics Calgary. Floor hockey was available but speed skating was recommended since Deuchar likes skating. It didn’t take long for him to master crossovers despite his short legs and long blades while training at the Olympic Oval.
“It was really fun. I liked it.”
Deuchar’s first competition was the 2007 Alberta Winter Games in Calgary and he won three silver and one bronze.
“That was really good. I had fun.”
Deuchar continued to train after moving to St. Albert in Grade 8, and every Tuesday and Saturday he skates laps with other Special Olympics speed skaters at the Kinsmen rink.
“The hockey players like to watch us on the ice.”
Deuchar is a big fan of Canadian Olympic speed skater Jessica Gregg and Calgary Flames star, Jarome Iginla. He met Iginla two years ago when the City of St. Albert honoured the two-time Olympic gold medallist during a ceremony at the Mission ball diamond.
“That was huge,” Deuchar said. “One day I want Jarome’s family to watch me on TV.”
The sports fanatic follows the Flames and Buffalo Sabres religiously. He also likes the Calgary Roughnecks in lacrosse but is torn between the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders in football.
Deuchar is fascinated by drilling rigs and pump jacks because his dad, Tracy, works in the oilfield.
He also likes to crank out the tunes and is a proud owner of a ticket for the Nickelback concert in May at Rexall Place.
His good luck charm in life is a Harvey the Hound teddy bear.
“He is my watch out dog. I have him by my pillow looking out the door watching out for me.”
