Apeldoorn, June 30, 2005

Jan Caflisch – September 13, 1983 – Davos, Switzerland

He thinks it is a bit too much to say that speed skating makes you a better person. ‘But you do get more socially involved of it', says Jan Caflisch, a speed skater who keeps improving. ‘By getting in contact with athletes from different countries, you get a more realistic view on people. Je put yourself open for other cultures, you become more tolerant.'
Jan is the son of the ice maker of Davos, Balthasar Caflisch. He was the one who got Jan to put on some other skates then ice hockey skates. Together with his friend Rico Litscher he tried long track skates for the first time and it appeared to be real hard to stay upright. ‘The technique was really hard for us. We thougt we would learn it in a second, but it took us minutes to cover one lap and we kept on falling on the ice. Right away, we had a lot of respect for the foreing lont track skaters who came to Davos for training camp.'

Jan and Rico did not give up. To learn an acceptable technique became their challenge. The two friends started training like animals. And with results, because their reward came in qualification for the European Junior Championships in Göteborg. Caflisch and Litscher were really excited when they heard they could represent their country during the tournament in Sweden. ‘Cool!', they shouted to each other, ‘we are going to race like hell there. Let's go to Sweden!'

It became a big disappointment. Jan: ‘We were bad, incredibly bad. We really did not do anything like we expected. We were ashamed of ourselves. But right away we knew what we needed to do. If we would continue the way we did until then, it would not result. That is why we started to get serious and we started looking for a good trainer.'

That is how the adventurers meeted Ronald Bosker, the experienced skater from speed skating country The Netherlands. He gave them technical advise, training schedules en knowledge about power training. Caflisch and Litscher did not believe what happened. Their progress was huge. Where it will end? They don't know and they will not give a prediction. Caflisch: ‘At the moment, we are far behind the big guys and I am not sure if we will ever be able to catch up with them. My personal goal is to become as good as possible, to reach my own limits and to once skate the perfect lap. Four hundred meters speed skating with an optimal feeling. That the pressure on your skates is at the max, that you can not sit any deeper, that you can accelerate and that your technique is completely perfect. Until now I did not reach it even a bit . But I am heading for it, because it happens me more often that I think: “Wow, I have never raced such a good lap!” But then there is still a lot to improve.'

When his dad Balthasar is ready preparing the ice, Jan often has the whole ice rink for himself. On his own he slided over the famous track where many world records have been broken, until the indoor rinks were created. It is a big contrast when he visists Heerenveen. ‘The rink completely filled with skaters, I don't believe it. I have even seen people skating behind a chair. It almost moves me, as I started exactly like that.'

Jan Caflisch is living his speed skating life as professional as possible. He is studying economics at the Sankt Gallen University and he is really serious about it. ‘I got really crazy about speed skating, but not thát crazy that I am not interested in my studies anymore. I realise that it is really important for my future to finish this study and it will definitely happen. One more year to go.' All his spare time is used for training, advised by Ronald Bosker. ‘I see him every two months and besided that we have a lot of contact by phone and email. Ronald is really important for Rico and myself. It would be a big blow for us if he would quit this training job, because he can not get much result of it or because he does not get any money for it. At the moment, it only costs him money and I am not sure if he wants to keep on doing that.'

In The Netherlands it is possible to become rich of speed skating. Jealous? ‘No', says Caflisch, ‘as long as those guys don't get arrogant'. Every successful speed skater should act like Bart Veldkamp, he thinks. ‘What a great guy. He comes to train a lot in Davos and then he is always open to talk to. I remember that Rico and I just started speed skating, we went up to Veldkamp to ask him something and he was really friendly and patient. A year later we saw him in Thialf. He skated pas us, slowed down, raised his arm and shouted: “Hey, wie geht's?”. Really cool.'