Indonesians glide in to learn

STU PIDDINGTON/Fairfax NZ

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS: Three members of the Indonesian speed skating team and their coach are set to spend three months in Timaru training on the new rink: (From left) Andre Sudradjat, Sheilla Dewi, Devina Pramudita and Aldy Rahardja.

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The South Canterbury Skating Club's new rink is set to get a workout over the next couple of months with the arrival of three Indonesian speed skaters and their coach.

They are here for the Oceania Championships in April so are also taking the opportunity to be coached by Bill Begg.

Begg, an internationally recognised coach, trained them for four months in the buildup to the Southeast Asian Games last year.

The youngest skater is 16-year-old Sheilla Dewi, who has skated at the World Junior Championships. Devina Pramudita, 19, won the 300m time trial at the Southeast Asia Games, and 20-year-old Aldy Rahardja is a longer-distance skater.

Coach Andre Sudradjat will also spend some time being tutored by Begg.

Begg said it was the first time in New Zealand for all the skaters and he expected up to four other Indonesian skaters to join them over the next few weeks.

"It's great to have them in Timaru, and they rate our new track. The only down side is they are finding it a bit cold."

Begg said the Indonesian skaters, who hail from west Java, were a similar standard to the top young Kiwis.

"It will interesting to see how they go at the Oceanias after some intensive training."

Their first competitive outing will be at the Waimate Caledonian Games this weekend.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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