The country's fastest people on ice will compete for national bragging rights at the New Zealand short track ice speed skating championships, which start in Dunedin tomorrow.
The selectors had trouble separating the two skaters and agonised over the decision, Ice Speed Skating New Zealand board member Gill Taitimu said.
In the end they gave Skjellerup the nod, leaving Jackson bitterly disappointed.
"It is always disappointing when you train for years and years and you don't get selected," Taitimu said.
Both skaters have had a break from the ice and returned to training about six weeks ago. But with two world cup events in Canada next month, the skaters will be motivated to do well.
Another to watch is Bradley Tuhi. The 18-year-old broke three New Zealand records in the intermediate grade last year and shapes as a star of the future.
In the senior women's races, Australian-born Emma Coxon-Smith and Aucklander Daniela Rosales will duel for the medals.
Rosales has an interesting background. She has made the transition from inline skating to ice skating and played rugby for Mexico.
About 50 skaters have entered the championships which wind up on Saturday afternoon.
• This year's Skate of Origin will take place in Queenstown on Saturday night. It is effectively an all-star ice hockey game in which athletes play for the island in which they played their first representative game.
The Dunedin Thunder has increased its representation from two players to six this year.
Rick Parry will play for the North Island team with Stephen Vlok, Duncan Sykes, Damien Watson, Regan Wilson and Aaron Bryant playing for the South Island.
Thunder coach James van Leeuwen is helping coach the South Island team.
The Stampede has 11 players involved in the match.
