New speed skating season kicks off with a team presentation in Rijssen
Reggeborgh speed skating team kicked off the new season with its annual team presentation at the Parkgebouw in Rijssen. During an enjoyable evening in the theatre, the skaters from the long-track and marathon teams were introduced to parents, the press, sponsors, friends and associates.
Parkgebouw was once again decked out in green for the occasion. Presenter Laurens-Jan Stam guided the audience through the programme. In short interviews, he spoke to the speed skaters about the past year and the new season. Together with Femke Kok, Jenning de Boo, Kjeld Nuis and Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong, they looked back on their successes at the Olympic Games in Milan. For newcomers Kayo Vos, Merijn Scheperkamp, Anna Boersma and Kai-Arne Ottenhoff, this was their first team presentation with Reggeborgh Speed Skating Team. The marathon skaters spoke about their love of natural ice and looked ahead to the coming season, which begins on Saturday 17 October with the first Marathon Cup in Amsterdam.
Former marathon team manager Teun Breedijk also took to the stage during the team presentation. Teun, who recently retired, received a trophy from Reggeborgh Foundation in recognition of his many years of dedication to marathon speed skating and skating on natural ice.
During the team presentation, attention was also drawn to speed skater Kjeld Nuis’s visit to the Princess Máxima Centre. There, he saw first-hand what research into neuroblastoma in children has now made possible. Research into this rare form of childhood cancer is supported by Reggeborgh Foundation through Villa Joep. Kjeld spoke with researcher Lieve Tytgat and met Glen, who has been cured of neuroblastoma.
During the team presentation, speed skater Stefan Westenbroek spoke about ‘Bewegen is Leuk!’, an initiative by Reggeborgh Foundation. This speed skating season, the skaters from Team Reggeborgh will be visiting primary schools to get active alongside children and teachers. The speed skaters know better than anyone just how much fun and energy exercise can bring, and they want to show children – and let them experience for themselves – just how much fun being active can be.