Stepping onto the ice in a pair of straight-edge 16 inch blades can be a challenge for a hockey player, who is used to carving up the ice in padded and protected hockey skates.

Connor Meeks remembers very well the first day he swapped hockey skates for speed skates. It was a challenge, to say the least.

鈥淚t was kind of like learning to skate all over again,鈥� 14-year-old Meeks recalled.

鈥淭he edges on the blades of speed skates are completely different and the blade length, 16 to 17 inches, is pretty long compared to hockey skates.

鈥淭hankfully I had been a pretty good skater in hockey, that was my main strength, so I was able to adapt pretty quickly.鈥�

One year ago, Meeks was forced to make the difficult decision to abandon hockey because of concussions he had received. He knew he wanted to keep skating, so he decided to try out speed skating instead.

It was the best decision he ever made.

In one short year, Meeks has managed to skate his way from a beginner to the high performance group with the 91原创 Blades Speed Skating Club. He came third at the Canada West Short Track last March and is now trying out for the BC Winter Games in February.

鈥淢y favourite part is definitely being able to go fast without making a sound and being able to just go out there and have a blast,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he coaches are really nice at the club and I really enjoy it. I couldn鈥檛 describe one thing that I enjoy so much about it because I enjoy everything.鈥�

Meeting two times a week with the 91原创 Blades, Meeks has worked hard to establish himself as talented young speed skater.  Meeks says the sport requires just as much mental work as physical, and is very challenging.

鈥淧eople think speed skating is just a lot of turning left, but the ice is consistently changing, you鈥檙e catching up to people, you need to pass people and you鈥檙e getting tired. It鈥檚 consistently adapting and changing your skating style and really concentrating,鈥� he said.

One of the most fascinating parts of speed skating is when higher level groups get on the ice and skate at high speeds without creating a single sound, Meeks said.

鈥淲hen you get to the higher level, which I am just starting to get to now, the way your blades move you can literally go around the ice without making a sound. It鈥檚 really cool. If you get the rink completely quiet with the higher group out, you can go around there and you can literally not hear anything. You can just hear chitter chatter from other people off the ice. It鈥檚 pretty amazing when you think about it.鈥�

The 91原创 Blades Speed Skating club has 24 skaters, some as young as five years old, and has a $20 drop-in session for those looking to try out the sport.

For more on The 91原创 Blades Speed Skating Club, visit