Short Track Speed Skating

MONTREAL - Montreal is notorious for people shamelessly checking each other out, and it's no different on the ice at the Maurice Richard Arena this week.

Short-track speedskaters competing in the second-last World Cup before the 2010 Vancouver Games are focused on their rankings, but they're also taking notes on how their competitors are performing, what equipment they're wearing and any new strategies they're putting into the mix.

"I came here to see where everybody was at, and kind of judge where I have to be in three months,'' said American threat J.R. Celski, who is still recovering from a serious self-inflicted cut to his leg two months ago.

The Canadian team is conscious of all the intelligence gathering - they're doing the same - so keeping a little air of mystery around their skaters is part of the strategy.

National team program director Yves Hamelin says that includes technical information about their equipment.

"Everything is hidden in an appropriate environment, and at game-time we have the opportunity to get a dedicated changing room, so our athletes will have their own recipe in various areas,'' said Hamelin, father of Canadian team members Charles and Francois.

"It's nothing super big, but it's something that's giving them a little edge in every race.''

Medal-favourite Kalyna Roberge, 23, said she is trying out different techniques and strategies at this World Cup, so she can know what works and what doesn't before Vancouver.

Still, "there's a few cards we still have yet to play,'' Roberge said.

The same goes for 1,000 metre world record holder Charles Hamelin. He said he tried a few things out the ice Friday, such as working on his outside pass, but he still wants to keep the competition guessing in Vancouver.

"I'll say that we don't want to show everything right now because if they know everything we'll be easier to beat,'' said Hamelin. ``So if we have some secret things, then it will be harder to read us in the race.''

The finals this weekend of the International Skating Union short-track speedskating World Cup will help shape the roster of athletes who will compete in Vancouver. The rankings from Montreal will be combined with the rankings from another World Cup next weekend in Marquette, Michigan.

Canada had a major disappoinment Friday morning when Olivier Jean was disqualified for blocking another skater during a 1,000 metre preliminary race.

Canada automatically gets one spot in each distance, and in the relay races, but would like to score the maximum of three skaters in each Olympic race.