Hein Otterspeer stopped skating in March. Barely a month later, after a few days off the radar in the Veluwe, he was trainer and owner of a new team. That formation presented itself on Tuesday as Team Staan-CTS GROUP.
During a training camp in Winterberg, his sixteen seasons as a top athlete came to the fore again. The skaters of Team Staan-CTS GROUP had to sprint up the steps of the ski jumping ramp in the German winter sports resort three weeks ago. And their brand new coach Otterspeer couldn’t resist doing it once.
“We placed a plastic bag where Hein finished after a minute of sprinting,” says 25-year-old Rem de Hair in a skybox of the AZ stadium, during the presentation of the newest commercial skating team in the Netherlands. “And none of us were able to get past that bag.”
His pupils did not know that Otterspeer had prepared himself meticulously, as if the training were a World Cup sprint. “That’s the top athlete in me. He takes on such a challenge,” says the 36-year-old South Hollander.
“I’m not going to beat guys like Rem on a 500-meter ice rink anymore. But I’m still super fit and have taken this challenge very seriously.” Laughing: “It was great to teach those guys a lesson. Let this be a motivation for them.”
Otterspeer had wanted to become a coach for some time
Over the past fifteen years, Otterspeer has been one of the better skaters in the Netherlands. He became national sprint champion four times, stood on the podium at the World Championships sprint (silver and bronze) and European Championships sprint (twice silver) and participated in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2022 (tenth in the 1,000 meters).
A few weeks after the 2024/2025 season, Otterspeer ended that career. “Of course there were doubts, because the Olympic Games are coming,” he says. “But I know myself and always want to compete with the best. And if I was realistic, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that anymore.”
The former sprinter had long dreamed of becoming a coach and setting up his own skating team. It didn’t take long after his retirement before he could make that dream come true.
“Ian Steen (coach at the Friesland Region, ed.) said that he had ideas and that he wanted to implement them with me,” says Otterspeer, who did not know Steen well at the time. “But after my first cup of coffee with Ian it was clear to me that we should start a team together.”
Coincidentally, Otterspeer had planned a retreat shortly after that conversation. Together with five other men, he retreated to the Veluwe for a midweek, without a telephone and therefore without contact with the outside world.
“We all had to do assignments, answer questions and determine what vision we had in life,” says Otterspeer. “There I could really think about the grieving process I was going through because I had stopped skating. It was the perfect way to transition to the next phase in my life.”
That next chapter presented itself immediately after the retreat. When Otterspeer opened his phone again for the first time, he saw a message from Steen. “Green light, we have a sponsor,” he wrote.
And so Otterspeer will stand next to Steen on a stage in the AFAS Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, as owner and (assistant) coach of Team Staan-CTS GROUP. The native of Gouda is visibly enjoying his new role.
“Coaching suits me,” he says. “I enjoy going to work every day. I am busier than ever, but this job is a lot more relaxing than being a top skater. Because the pressure of having to perform yourself is no longer there. I only now realize how great that pressure always was.”
Otterspeer takes a bitterbal from a bowl of snacks. “As a top athlete, this was not possible,” he says, laughing. “So many nice things have come my way in recent months, including this team, where I can completely express myself.”
There are two toppers in that team, with Isabel Grevelt (sixth in 1,000 meters at the World Cup of 2024) and Michelle de Jong (13th in the 500 meters at the 2022 Games). Furthermore, they are mainly young talents. “But we think great,” says Otterspeer. “We work with skaters who go for the full 100 percent. As I did during my career.”
Hein Otterspeer Stopped Skating in March. Barely a months later, after a few days off the radar in the Veluwe, he was the trainer and owner of a new team. That formation presented itself on Tuesday as teams are CTS Group.
Duration A Training Camp in Winterberg, His Sixteen Seasons As A Top Athlete Resurfaced. The Skaters of Team Stand-CTS Group had to sprint up the steps of the ski jump in the German Winter Sports Resort Three Weeks ago. And Their Brand New Coach Otterspeer Couldn’t Resist Doing It Once himself.
“We put a plastic bag down at the spot where hein ended up after a minute of sprinting,” Says 25-year-old brake de Hair in a skybox of AZ Stadium, Dooring the Presentation of the Newest Commercial Skating Team in the Netherlands. “And none of us managed to get past that bag.”
His pupils did not know that otterspeer had prepared meticulously, as if the training was a world sprint championship. “That’s the top athlete in me. He Takes on Such a challenge,” Says the 36-year-old from South Holland.
“I won be able to Outskate guys like brake on a 500 meters on the ice rink anymore. But I’m still super fit and I tok this challenge very seriously.” Laughing: “It was great to teach those guys a lesson. Let this be a motivation for them.”
Otterspeer had Wanted to Become a Coach for Longer
Otterspeer Has Been One of the Better Skaters in the Netherlands for the Past Fifteen Years. HE Became National Sprint Champion Four Times, Stood on the Podium at World Sprint Championships (Silver and Bronze) and European Sprint Championships (Twice Silver) and Participated in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing (Tens in the 1,000 meters).
A FEW WEEKS After the 2024/2025 Season, Otterspeer Put An End To That Career. “Or Course There Were Doubs, because there are Olympic Games Coming Up,” He says. “But I know myself and always because to compete with the best. And if I was realistic, I Knew I would be able to do that anymore.”
The Former Sprinter had Long had The Dream of Becoming A Coach and Starting His Own Skating Team. It didnn’t Take Long After His Farewell Before He Could Make That Dream Come True.
“Ian Steen (Coach at Region Friesland, ed.) Said that he had ideas and that he wanted to implement them with me,” Says Otterspeer, who did not know stone well at that time. “But after my first cup of coffee with Ian, it was alreamy clear to me that we had to start a team together.”
Coincidentally, Otterspeer had planned a retreat shortly after that conversation. Together with five other men, he retreated to the veluwe for a midweek, without a telephone and therefore Without Contact With the Outside World.
“We all had to do assignments, Answer Questions and Determine with which vision we stood in Life,” Says Otterspeer. “I was able to think carefully about the mourning process I was going through because I had stopped skating. It was the perfect way to move on to the next phase in my life.”
That next chapter Presented itself immediately after the retreat. When otterspeer opened his phone again for the first time, he saw a message from stone. “Green light, we have a sponsor,” he wrote.
And so otterspeer is standing next to stone on a internship in the AFAS Stadium on Tuesday Afternoon, As owner and (assistant) coach or team are CTS Group. The Native of Gouda Visible Enjoys His New Role.
“Coaching suits me,” he says. “I Enjoy going to work every day. I’M Busier Than Ever, but this job is a lot more relaxed than Being a top skater. Because the pressure of having to perform myself is no longer there. I only now realize alwayays.”
Otterspeer takes a bitterbal from a tray of snacks. “This wasn’t possible as a top athlete,” he says laughing. “So many nice things have come my way in recent months. Including this team, where I can fully express myself.”
The team includes two top players, with Isabel Grevelt (sixth in the 1,000 meters at the 2024 World Championships) and Michelle de Jong (13th in the 500 meters at the 2022 Games). Furthermore, they are mainly young talents. “But we’re thinking big,” says Otterspeer. “We work with skaters who are 100 percent committed to it. Just like I did during my career.”