Learn About Sports

It is pretty easy for anyone to give skating a try as most communities have indoor and outdoor ice rinks. They may not be the same size as an Olympic speed skating track, but you will get the chance to practice some of the same techniques that the Olympic athletes use.

If you already love skating and are ready to compete you can find a skating club in your area by visiting the Speed Skating Canada website at http://www.speedskating.ca.

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In Olympic speed skating two racers compete at the same time, however they are not really racing against one another they are simply trying to finish the race in the lowest time possible.

At the Olympic Games, speed skating is made up of ten events. Men and women compete in 2 shorter races of 500 m and 1000m known as sprints, and 3 distance races. In all events the skaters race around a 400m oval in a counter-clockwise direction and they are timed to one-hundredth of a second.

Regardless of the event, it is important that the skater begins the race with a powerful, aggressive burst. To do this skaters start with a rapid, running motion. Over the shorter distances skating power, concentration and technique are all critical.

While, in the long distance events, it is more important to conserve energy and judge the timing of the race. In the longer races, you will notice the skater holding one arm behind their back – this is to help increase speed.

Around the corners, the skater performs a series of speedy but controlled crossover steps, which allows them to move quickly and smoothly. Arm movements are also important around the corners to avoid flying off the track.

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Skating was first used as a form of transportation in Northern Europe as it was the easiest way to travel over the frozen canals during winter.

The first known Speed Skating competitions took place over 300 years ago, and in 1869 the Netherlands hosted the first World Championships, bringing together Dutch, Russian, American and English athletes. The popularity of Speed Skating made its inclusion in the first Winter Olympics an easy decision.

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