ISU Short Track World Tour

From World Cup to World Tour

For decades, the ISU held a World Cup in short track. For the 2024/25 season the series was restructured and renamed the World Tour. The principle stayed similar: several stops in different countries where the world's best skaters compete, and overall standings across the season.

Distances and format

Races take place on a 111.12-metre track in an ice rink, usually on an ice hockey surface. The individual distances are 500, 1000 and 1500 metres. There are also women's and men's relays and the mixed relay. Races are held in a knockout system: heats, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, each with several skaters at once. Those who finish near the front advance to the next round.

Standings

Points are awarded for placings. The World Tour has overall standings across all distances. The series results also determine start places at World Championships and Olympic Games.

Stops

The World Tour visits North America, Asia and Europe. Typical hosts are Canada, South Korea, China, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland. The order and locations change from season to season.

Tactics and penalties

Short track is a sport with a lot of body contact. Overtaking in tight corners, jostling and falls are part of it. Referees review video and disqualify skaters who impede others. A race can therefore still be decided after the finish.

Nations

South Korea, China, Canada and the Netherlands are among the strongest nations. Italy and Hungary have caught up in recent years. Skaters from Germany and Austria also compete regularly but mostly fight to reach finals.

For spectators

Short track is fast, unpredictable and easy to follow because all skaters are on the track at the same time. If you like speed skating, this is the tactical, combative variant. More on the difference under speed skating.

Equipment and safety

Because falls are common, skaters wear cut-resistant suits, gloves, a helmet and shin guards. The boards are padded with thick mats.

Records and legends

Italy's Arianna Fontana is the athlete with the most Olympic medals in short track. South Korea's Ahn Hyun-soo, who later competed for Russia as Viktor Ahn, won Olympic gold for two countries. Also famous is Australia's Steven Bradbury, who won 1000-metre gold in 2002 because all his rivals fell in the last corner.

Germany

German short track skaters train in places such as Dresden and Munich. Anna Seidel has taken part in several Olympic Games. For German athletes, reaching a World Tour final is already a big success.

Difference from the long track World Cup

Unlike the Speed Skating World Cup, short track has several athletes racing at once, and placing counts rather than time. Records play a smaller role. Whoever skates tactically smart can win even without the fastest time.

Cornering technique

Short track skaters lean so far into the tight corners that they touch the ice with their hand. Special gloves with plastic tips on the fingers protect the hand and let it glide. The blades are mounted off-centre and slightly bent to grip better in the corners.