As the world tunes in to the Winter Olympics this February, Kitsilano residents will have a chance to experience the thrill of speed skating up close — right in their own neighbourhood.
On Monday, February 16, the Vancouver Velocity Speed Skating Club (VVSSC) will host the MiniVan Invitational, a half-day “mini-meet” at Kitsilano Rink, welcoming local and regional athletes to race on the same ice where Olympians-in-the-making train year-round.
Racing runs from 8:30am to 1pm at Kitsilano Rink, 2690 Larch Street, and spectators are invited to drop in and watch the action. The meet brings together VVSSC skaters and invited athletes from clubs across the region for a fast-paced morning of short-track speed skating.
“It’s a great chance for the community to see the sport live while the Olympics are still on,” said Jhenifer Pabillano, president of the Vancouver Velocity Speed Skating Club. “There’s nothing like watching skaters fly around the rink just metres away from you.”
Founded in 1980, the nonprofit, volunteer-run Vancouver Velocity Speed Skating Club is Vancouver’s only speed skating club and has called Kitsilano Rink home for more than four decades. The club supports more than 60 skaters ranging in age from five to over 60, including athletes who compete locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.
Several of the club’s youth skaters attend Kitsilano Secondary, and one recently captured a silver medal at the B.C. Long Track Championships. VVSSC is also known for its close-knit, community-driven culture, including a thriving Special Olympics program and plenty of potlucks celebrating milestones on and off the ice.
Speed skating is Canada’s most successful Olympic sport, combining explosive power, precision technique and tactical racing. At Kitsilano Rink, the club focuses on short-track speed skating, where athletes race on a 100-metre or 111-metre oval inside a hockey-sized rink, often inches apart as they battle for position.
While registration for the meet is limited to VVSSC members and invited skaters from other clubs, the stands are open to the public — making it an easy and inspiring way for Kitsilano residents to soak up some Olympic energy close to home.
Last modified: January 20, 2026
