Skating team Reggeborgh strengthens its ‘all-round train’ for next season by recruiting Remo Slotegraaf (21) from Peize.
The all-round team of Reggeborgh is thus colored even more northerly. In addition to the South Holland leader Patrick Roest, the Groningen Marcel Bosker and Lex Dijkstra from Vries are part of this. Slotegraaf comes over from the Jumbo-Visma training team. He has signed a contract for one year.
The Drenthe all-rounder decided to make the switch after positive talks with the Reggeborgh coaching staff. “That worked out very well. It immediately felt familiar. I think their approach suits me very well and I need that to develop myself further,” says Slotegraaf, who counts the 1500 and 5000 meters as his best distances.
Remo is someone who fits well in the team
Reggeborgh coach Robin Derks is happy with the latest addition. ,,Remo is someone who fits well in the team in terms of mentality, but who also fits well in our all-round train. He can do a lot of training work and has already shown great things this season. Remo is a talent with a lot of potential.”
Slotegraaf is regarded as a great talent and came out for the Jumbo-Visma training team for the second year. Through IJsvereniging Groningen and iSkate he ended up at TalentNED from his fellow town and skating crack Gerard Kemkers. At TalentNed he was prepared for the big job. Slotegraaf made an impression when he came in as a 17-year-old two seasons ago at the NK all-round, where the Drent set four personal bests and finished seventh in the final standings.
I learned a lot, especially mentally
Then large teams such as Jumbo-Visma, the Groningen IKO and the now defunct Worldstream of Koen Verweij wanted him. De Drent chose Jumbo-Visma from skating professor Jac Orie. After his successful year at TalentNED, the first season at Jumbo-Visma was a bit disappointing. ,,I did feel the pressure that I had to show it in my Jumbo suit. That sometimes paralyzed me a bit. At TalentNED it was still very playful. In my opinion, it needed less there.”
He has since become stronger as a skater. “I learned a lot mentally. That I should put less pressure on myself and that I should have confidence in the program. That I’m basically just good. I have to start riding good races from that and not from the idea: oh, maybe it’s not going well.”
De Peizenaar sees itself as an all-rounder for the time being. “It is always possible to specialize at a certain distance. If I already focus on the 1500 meters, the 5 and 10 will be less.” Slotegraaf wants to participate in the Olympic Games in Milan in 2026.