Local speed skaters Sam Moyse (left), Gabrielle Sanson (third from right), Olivia Moyse and their Saskatchewan team mates pose with 2010 Olympic Gold medalist Lucas Makowsky (centre) of Regina, who is off to Sochi next month.

Some local speed skaters will be getting a chance to measure themselves against the best in the country a couple of times over the next month.

Graeme Fish, Olivia Moyse and Gabrielle Sanson will be up in Saskatoon this weekend for the 2013-14 Canada Cup #3 event.  Those three skaters, as well as Alex Fish, Jane Morris and Marc Andre Doyon will be heading to Quebec City in February for the Canadian Age Class Long Track Championship.

This weekend's event will have Fish, 16, going against some of the best under-20 speed skaters in the country, while Moyse, 12, will be taking part in an exhibition race at the event.

“I'm pretty confident,” said Fish on his feeling going into the event.  “We've been practicing really hard on the oval, so I'm pretty confident.”

Fish has been setting personal records throughout the season, including three at the last Canada Cup event in Calgary on January 3-5.

“I still need to improve on some stuff, but I'm getting up there, so that's good,” said Fish, who pointed to his starts and sprints as the areas that he feels need the most work right now.

“In the distances I expect to be in the top-ten, but in the sprints I'll be done near the bottom of the list,” said Fish.  “I just want to improve my times and what not, so it would be good if I can improve those.”

Braving the cold weather on Wednesday night, Fish was back out on the oval in Wakamow Valley working on his stride in advance of the Canada Cup this weekend.

“My arms and my fall on my right side are what I really need to work, but they've been improving over the last week, so that's good,” he stated.

Off the ice, Fish has also been putting in plenty of work this season to try and improve on the strength side.

“We'll do some imitation of skating in a gym and maybe a little weights, but it's just so you don't push yourself too much,” Fish explained.  “We'll pull back a week before just to make sure we're all rested up and ready to go for the competition.”

Moyse has also been focused on improving her times in preparation for defending her title at the Canadian Age Class Long Track Championships coming up next month in Quebec City.

“I've just been working to improve my technical work and maybe my starts too,” said Moyse on Wednesday night.

She's coming off a strong showing in Calgary last weekend at the 2014 Alberta Open, where she posted personal records in the 500-metre and 3000-metre races, winning the 3000 and coming in third in the 500, which was won by Sanson – who also won the 100m and 300m.

This weekend will have a simple focus for Moyse however.

“Just to get some good times and race my best,” she said.

The Canada Cup event goes Friday through Sunday in Saskatoon at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval.  The Canadian Championships will be held in Quebec City on February 8th and 9th.

** The article originally stated that two speed skaters were heading to the Canada Cup event in Saskatoon this week.  It has been changed to reflect the fact that Gabrielle Sanson will be taking part as well.