About Speed Skating
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A Parent's Guide to Speed Skating is a comprehensive document well worth your time! It is provided here in file form to prevent the link being broken by changes. The second document, also by Speed Skating Canada, presents an introduction to speed skating more simply, and will be easily understood by younger skaters.
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Check out the following page: Long Track and Short Track: what's the difference?
See below for a quick look at the sport.
See below for a quick look at the sport.
Speed skating can be practiced on any ice surface with an objective of skating fast; however, within the confines of organized sport two primary disciplines exist: short track and long track. The vast majority of speed skaters are introduced to the sport through short track. Once they are hooked on the sport they try long track.
Speed skaters skate on long blades ranging from 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) depending the size and strength of skaters. The long blades allow skaters to apply more power to the ice and have a longer push than with hockey skates. While most skaters skate on long blades, you can easily get a feel for the skating technique and what racing is about skating with any pair of skates. For participants just learning to skate, hockey skates may be preferable. They offer more stability, and are easier to turn with.
Competitors in both disciplines race counter clockwise on an oval track, 111.12 meters for short track, and 400m in long track. While racing occurs in a counterclockwise direction, participants are encouraged to practice skating in both directions as it helps improve agility and coordination, and maintain balanced muscular development. Long track also encompasses the rapidly growing sport of marathon racing which is skated on traditional long track ovals.
Speed skaters skate on long blades ranging from 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) depending the size and strength of skaters. The long blades allow skaters to apply more power to the ice and have a longer push than with hockey skates. While most skaters skate on long blades, you can easily get a feel for the skating technique and what racing is about skating with any pair of skates. For participants just learning to skate, hockey skates may be preferable. They offer more stability, and are easier to turn with.
Competitors in both disciplines race counter clockwise on an oval track, 111.12 meters for short track, and 400m in long track. While racing occurs in a counterclockwise direction, participants are encouraged to practice skating in both directions as it helps improve agility and coordination, and maintain balanced muscular development. Long track also encompasses the rapidly growing sport of marathon racing which is skated on traditional long track ovals.
TYPES OF SPEEDSKATING
LONG TRACK
SHORT TRACK
LEVELS OF SPEED SKATING
Speed skating is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. It combines fun and fitness and most importantly, friends. The skating community is very supportive of one another and encourages every skater, no matter at what level, to do their best.
LONG TRACK
- Has been an Olympic event since 1924
- Considered to be the fastest, human powered, non-mechanical sport in the world
- Skaters compete on a 400m oval, racing counter clockwise,
- Distances range from 100-10,000 meters, depending on gender and age category
- Long track consists of two types of races, Olympic Style and mass start
- In mass start, all skaters start together at the start line (as in short track)
- In Olympic style, skaters compete in pairs and change lanes once per lap to equalize distance
SHORT TRACK
- Held on Olympic sized hockey rink
- Skaters compete in groups of 4-8 (Mass start), racing counter clockwise
- Individual and relay races range in distance from 50 to 3,000 meters depending on gender and age category
- Competition reduces the field through elimination races until the final round
- Short track is often referred to as NASCAR on ice
LEVELS OF SPEED SKATING
Speed skating is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. It combines fun and fitness and most importantly, friends. The skating community is very supportive of one another and encourages every skater, no matter at what level, to do their best.
- LEARN TO SKATE PROGRAMS
- JOIN A LOCAL SPEED SKATING CLUB
- Active Start- Under 6 years of age
- FUNdamentals: Males ages 6-9 / Females ages 6-8
- Learn2Train: Males ages 9-12 / Females ages 8-11
- Train2Train: Males ages 12-16 / Females ages 11-15
- ELITE
- MASTERS
