Speed skating

What is speed skating?

Speed skating is the classic speed sport on ice. On a 400-metre oval, athletes race against the clock on long blades. In the 500-metre sprint, top skaters reach speeds well over 50 km/h.

Unlike short track, where skaters battle for position in a pack, in classic speed skating only time counts. Two skaters always start at the same time, but they skate in separate lanes.

The oval and the lane change

The standard track is a 400-metre oval with two competition lanes (inner and outer) and a warm-up lane. So that both skaters cover the same distance, they change lanes on the back straight every lap: whoever was on the inside then skates on the outside and vice versa. The skater changing from the outer to the inner lane has right of way. If there is an obstruction, the skater who caused it is disqualified.

The distances

In the team pursuit, two teams of three skaters start on opposite sides of the oval, and the third skater of each team counts. It has been Olympic since 2006. The mass start (Olympic since 2018) resembles a cycling race: a larger group of skaters starts together over 16 laps, with intermediate sprints for points.

There are also allround and sprint championships, in which points are collected over several distances.

Technique and equipment

Speed skaters skate in a deep crouch to minimise air resistance. On the straights, usually one arm swings or both arms rest on the back; in the corners, skaters use crossover steps. They wear skin-tight racing suits in which every seam is aerodynamically optimised.

The boots have long, flat blades (about 40–45 cm). Since the late 1990s, the [clap skate](/lexikon/speed-skating/klappschlittschuh) has been standard. Its blade, which detaches at the back, has significantly improved times over all distances.

What makes a fast lap

Speed skating is very much a question of technique. What matters is how much force is transferred sideways into the ice. The push-off is not backwards but to the side, with body weight shifting from one leg to the other with each stride. The lower and steadier the posture, the lower the air resistance.

The corners are especially important: with crossover steps, skaters maintain speed without being carried too far out. The corner is tighter on the inner lane and longer on the outer lane – hence the lane change. Many races are decided in the last corner, when the legs fill with lactic acid and technique fades.

Over the long distances, the race pace (lap times) is closely coordinated with the coach. Coaches stand at the side of the track and signal with hand gestures or boards whether the skater is on schedule.

Allround and sprint championships

A special feature of speed skating is the multi-distance championships:

• Allround: four distances (traditionally 500, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres for men, and 500, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 metres for women). Times are converted into points per 500 metres and added together.
• Sprint: two 500 m and two 1,000 m races.

In countries like the Netherlands, allround world champions are considered the true kings of the sport, because they have to be strong over all distances.

Natural ice classic: the Elfstedentocht

How deeply speed skating is rooted in Dutch culture is shown by the Elfstedentocht: a race of around 200 kilometres over canals and lakes through eleven towns in the province of Friesland. It only takes place when the natural ice is thick enough everywhere, which hasn't been the case for decades due to mild winters. The last edition was in 1997.

Indoor ovals, ice and records

Speed skating used to be held almost exclusively outdoors. Today international races take place in indoor speed skating ovals. The ice there is kept very hard and cold to offer as little resistance as possible (see Making ice & ice temperature).

World records fall particularly often on the high-altitude ovals in Salt Lake City (USA) and Calgary (Canada). The thinner air at over 1,000 metres noticeably reduces air resistance.

History

Fast skating has a centuries-old tradition in the Netherlands, where speed skating is still a national sport today. The ISU was founded in 1892, and the first official World Championships were held in 1893. Speed skating has been Olympic since the first Winter Games 1924 in Chamonix, with women's events since 1960.

Equipment in detail

• Skate: low carbon boot with a long, very thin blade, today almost always a clap skate.
• Racing suit: skin-tight, made of special fabrics with textures that reduce air resistance on the arms and legs. Suits must include cut protection, because skaters can injure themselves on the sharp blades in falls.
• Helmet: not mandatory in all classic speed skating competitions, but mandatory in the mass start.
• Glasses: often worn because the headwind makes the eyes water.

Putting figures and records in context

Speed skating world records depend heavily on the oval. Most records fall on the high-altitude ovals in Salt Lake City and Calgary; times on sea-level ovals are usually slower. When comparing times, always look at the location. The ISU list is authoritative for current records.

Curious and little known

• In the 500 metres, athletes at major championships often skate two races, once starting in the inner lane and once in the outer lane, because the starting lane can have a small influence on the time.
• False starts are penalised immediately. Anyone who starts too early twice is disqualified, depending on the rules.
• Many speed skaters train on inline skates or bikes in summer, because the movements are similar. Some have switched successfully between the sports.

Speed skating in Germany

The governing body is the DESG (German Speed Skating and Short Track Association). Germany was long one of the most successful nations. Claudia Pechstein won five Olympic gold medals, and Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann dominated the long distances in the 1990s. Traditional centres include Berlin, Erfurt, Inzell and Chemnitz.

Getting started

Many clubs take children from primary school age, often with inline training in summer. Rental skates are often available at the club. You can find clubs near you under Teams & clubs.

Team pursuit and mass start

Alongside the classic individual distances, there are two events that work differently from the duel of two skaters:

• Team pursuit: Two teams of three skaters start on opposite sides of the oval. The skaters take turns at the front, because the leader faces the most air resistance. The time of the third skater across the line counts. The team pursuit has been Olympic since 2006.
• Mass start: Many skaters start together, similar to cycling. There are intermediate sprints with points, but the finish awards the most points. Tactics, slipstreaming and the right timing for the attack are decisive. The mass start has been Olympic since 2018.

These formats are especially attractive for young and recreational skaters, because they make races exciting and directly comparable.

Rules at the start and on the track

In individual races, two skaters start at the same time, one in the inner lane and one in the outer lane. They change lanes on every back straight. The skater changing from outer to inner has right of way; if the other obstructs them, disqualification follows. At the start, both skaters must stand still after the command. False starts are strictly penalised. Timing is electronic, to the hundredth of a second.

Competitions in the calendar

The season starts in autumn with the World Cup, which visits several countries. Highlights are the Single Distance World Championships, the Allround and Sprint World Championships and the European Championships. The Olympic Games follow every four years. There are also national championships, and in the Netherlands a professional team system with sponsored teams, which also includes skaters from other countries.

Speed skating in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Germany has a great speed skating tradition, especially among women:

• Claudia Pechstein won Olympic gold five times and took part in a record number of Winter Games.
• Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann won Olympic gold three times and numerous allround world titles. The ice arena in Erfurt is named after her.
• Anni Friesinger-Postma became Olympic champion over 1500 m and in the team pursuit.

Important training and competition venues in Germany are the Max Aicher Arena in Inzell, roofed since 2011, the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen in Berlin, Erfurt and Chemnitz. The federation is the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association (DESG).

In Austria, Vanessa Herzog is the best-known skater of recent years; she became world champion over 500 m in 2019. Switzerland has less infrastructure, but skaters like Livio Wenger have established themselves among the world's best in the mass start. Historically significant is the natural ice oval in Davos, where numerous world records were once set. More on the difference between the two types of ice under Natural vs. artificial ice.

Physics: why speed skaters sit so low

The low posture with deeply bent knees and a horizontal upper body has two reasons. First, it reduces air resistance, the biggest opponent at high speeds. Second, it lengthens the sideways push-off of each stride. Over long distances the hands rest on the back to save energy. On sprint distances and in corners the arms swing along. Racing suits with smooth and textured zones are designed to further optimise airflow.

More curiosities

• On high-altitude ovals such as Calgary and Salt Lake City, a particularly large number of world records have been set. The thinner air offers less resistance.
• Speed skating was already part of the first Winter Games 1924 in Chamonix. Women's events have only been Olympic since 1960.
• In the Netherlands, speed skating is a national sport. The Thialf arena in Heerenveen is considered one of the best-known ice stadiums in the world.

Summer training

Speed skaters don't have ice all year round. In summer, training therefore moves onto land:

• Cycling has been a fixture for decades. The load on the thighs is similar, and many skaters also race bikes. Some athletes have been successful in both sports.
• Inline skating comes closest to the movement on ice. Many talents even originally come from inline speed skating.
• On a slideboard, a smooth plastic surface with stops at both ends, skaters slide from side to side in socks or overshoes, training the push-off.
• Added to this are imitation exercises, in which the skating posture is mimicked while walking, jumping or on a slope, plus strength training for legs and core.

From late summer, the elite groups return to the ice, often first at training camps on indoor ovals, before the competition season starts in autumn. For recreational skaters, outdoor ovals usually only open with winter. If you're looking to get started, clubs near the big ovals run skating schools for children and adults, often with long-blade rental skates for the first attempts.

World Cup and international races

The most important race series is the Speed Skating World Cup, held since the 1985/86 season. Skaters collect points separately by distance, and the results determine start places for World Championships and Olympic Games. The related sport short track has its own series, the Short Track World Tour. Many ovals, such as Inzell and Heerenveen, are regular hosts. If you want to see races live, there's a stop almost every weekend in the winter months, often with free or cheap admission at national competitions.