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Club History

The Early Years

Although inline skating was introduced in the 1980's, there was no organized inline skating in Ottawa until 1996. Local skater and well-known speed skating coach Barry Publow organized weekly training sessions and local races. A group of about twenty skaters met regularly to train for races and focus on the competitive aspects of inline skating.

From then until 1999, the group grew to some seventy-five skaters. An informal club was formed, and took on the name Ottawa Inline Speed Skating Club (OISSC). Club clothing was designed, and new programs such as a youth program were tried. Throughout this period the club also organized races where skaters from other cities could participate. At the time these races were the biggest of their kind in Canada. In addition the club organized criterions, time trials, drag races (100-200 heats), and King of the Mountains style races in Gatineau park.

The burden of managing the club rested mainly with Barry, with bigger demands on his time as the club grew. Managing the club and training as a speed skater was proving to be more and more untenable for Barry. 

Urban Skating

During this pre-2000 period the focus of the group was on competition, training for and participating in races. As the club grew though, the membership became more diversified with many members who enjoyed inline skating, but were not intent on competitive racing.

In 2000 the club had reached a critical point. With the majority of its membership being non-competitive skaters, and size of the membership requiring much more infrastructure, the OISSC closed down. A newly-formed executive, lead by Terry Rickan, would start a completely new club, focused on the large base of urban fitness and recreational skaters.  Although many skaters from the old club joined the new club, the two clubs were distinct in their goals and culture.

In 2001, Terry Rickan led the creation of the executive and the first drafting of the club's constitution, modeled after that of the Ottawa Swim Club. The first formal executive of the club was Terry Rickan, along with Gavin Thulien, Ray Vermette, and Suzzane Dionne.

With the formation of a board of directors, the new club adopted the name Ottawa Urban Inline Skating (OUISC) at the suggestion of Gavin Thulien, one of the early board members and local provider of skating equipment. This new name reflected the fact that the majority of the club was now non-competitive inline skaters. The new board redesigned the club's logo and branding. It wasn't until 2006 that the branding would be revisited.

Club Development

In the following years and until 2005, club's members participated in various marathons and often did quite well, placing in the top 10 and in some cases placing in the top 5 by age. One of the early stars of the club was Stephane Tremblay. In 2001 he set - and still holds - the Long Beach marathon record for his division. He went on to win his division at the New York 100K in 2004, and in 2006 he took 1st place in the Winnipeg North of 49 marathon. In addition from 2001 to 2004 Stephane lead a smaller group of skaters within the club as a race team, and also organized the X-endurance weekend. The X-endurance weekend was an annual event that brought skaters to Ottawa for races of various formats, packed into a single weekend.

Along with Ray Vermette, Yves Durand and Inga Petri, Stephane also organized the Canada Inline Cup.  The team, lead by Stephane, linked various inline races and events together to form the CICup and help promote the sport.

In 2002, world class skater Sergio Almeralla came to Ottawa and joined the club. In that same year he finished 2nd in the NCM 42K marathon behind Eddy Matzger in an incredible time of 1:13, on 80mm wheels!

The club continued developing and in 2003 it officially incorporated itself as a not-for-profit organization under the leadership of club president Inga Petri. Around this time the club also started offering specific programming for fitness skaters. Future club president Steve MacDonald formed a partnership with the NCC to provide a skate safety clinic on Sunday Bike Days.  The SBD program is still a key component of club programming to this day.

Along the way the club added a newsletter, a web site, planned coaching and training for marathons and technique, clinics and special training, club trips for races, getting inline races to be part of various marathons (NCM, Mid Summers Night, Graham Beasley), regular participation in Sunday Bike Days, skaters volunteering for safety patrol, winter activities such as spinning, pilate's, and of course ice skating.

The Current Club

In 2005 club president Steve MacDonald reinvented the X-endurance weekend as a standard marathon (The Ottawa Inline Festival) that could attract a wider range of skaters. The format included races from 5k up to 42k and was very successful at drawing in families and youth skaters. The event was a great success for the club and was a welcome addition to the inline skating calendar as inline races had been dropping off in the last couple of years.

Also in 2005 the club started to formally make regular trips to P'tit Train (a linear park near Mt. Tremblant).  These trips have been lead by club skater Hugh Gale, and have been a key part of the recreational and fitness programming, as well as an excellent training venue for ultra marathon skaters.

P'tit Train Trip (September 2006)

In 2006 the club continued with its planned training, special trips and the Festival. During the season the club also renewed its image and redesigned club logos and clothing.  Club skater Michael Garvin revamped the club website with help from Allain Legacy and Ray Vermette.  Several new features were implemented: program registration, an online store, an advanced online discussion forum to replace the aging Yahoo Group, and an online Mileage Club were among the key features.

2007 was a big year for the club. Club programming continued in the winter with cross-country and downhill skiing, as well as canal skates and social get-togethers. The inline season started off with the Run for Reach half-marathon skate returning to Ottawa. A new early-season recreational path skate, the Tour Ottawa was introduced to raise money for the food bank. The summer really heated up as the club hosted a fantastic weekend of skating and seminars with world-famous inline coaches Eddy Matzger, Barry Publow and sports nutritionist Beth Mansfield. The OISC descended on Montreal in force with 51 blue-clad skaters in the Montreal 24-hour relay race. Not only did all the teams do well, but Ottawa's new line of skating clothing won considerable praise from the other teams. All the old favorites such as the training and social nights, P'tit Train trips and turkey roll returned again in 2007. The 2007 season officially ended with the club giving thanks at the AGM to its board of directors and retiring president Steve MacDonald, and voting in a new board with new club president Michael Garvin at the helm. Although the season was over, nobody was ready to let the fun end on account of winter. The club started an indoor program offering an hour of short track speed skating, an hour of fitness and technique training as well as an hour of plyometric exercises every Saturday all winter long.

A Club for Skaters

The club has had many achievements over the years, and more impressive is the fact that all of it has been accomplished by club skaters.  The club truely is a skate club run by skaters, for skaters.   The executive directors are all current or former skaters, and the leadership of the club is firmly rooted in an enjoyment of the sport.  Club members have done their part as well to create a posative atmosphere for learning about and enjoying the sport of skating; social skates ending with beers and laughs, skating in charity events such as the Turkey roll, and turning out in large numbers for events such as 24inline.  This is a club for skaters!

Turkey Roll 2006

Club Presidents

Since the formation of the club executive with constitution and a mandate to serve the club membership, several skaters have stepped forward to take on the responsibility of steering our club forward. Special thanks to our presidents past and present!

About the Author

Michael Garvin is skater with the club and also the current (2008) club president.