Long Track Speed Skating
Long Track Speed Skating
Skaters in the Red Deer Lions Speed Skating Club participate in both Long Track and Short Track Speed Skating according to the Long Term Participant and Athlete Development Plan: https://speedskating.ca/community/athletes/. Long Track and Short Track Speed Skating are complementary disciplines.
Long Track is completed on a 400m oval skating surface. Most Long Track Ovals in Canada are outside (there are only three inside ovals in Canada - one in Calgary, built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, one in Fort. St. John, B.C., built following the Vancouver Olympics, and one in Quebec City) and skaters contend with the weather and the elements while they race in pairs (Olympic Style) or in Mass Starts.
An elegant sport, Long Track Speed Skaters glide along the surface of the ice on blades up to 45cm long with seemingly little effort. Younger skaters gain experience in both the Olympic Style 100m races and in longer Mass Start races and work hard to develop a good skating form. To learn more, see: https://speedskating.ca/discover/learn-about-speed-skating/long-track/
Long Track Meets
For long track meets, skin suits are desirable but any close-fitting clothing will suffice. Under the skin suits, skaters usually wear (long) underwear of some sort. Underwear that whisks away moisture is best. Aside from that, warm mitts are usually a good idea, as well as sports glasses to protect the eyes from ice, snow, and wind. For many skaters, a warm-up suit is also a very good idea, as it allows for longer warm-ups and more comfort during the pre-race time period.
At practice, the situation is a bit different. Aerodynamics are not quite as important and warmth becomes a more critical issue. Dressing in layers is highly recommended. For the upper body, that should include a full set of underwear, another shirt or sweater, and a windbreaker of some sort. A neck gator or other face protector often helps. For the legs, a warm pair of tights with long underwear underneath is a good idea. On the feet, boot covers provide extra warmth on cold nights.
Mass Start & Team Pursuit
This form of racing, used in both short and long track, has up to six skaters race against each other on a single lane/track; this format is used at Ability Meets and for younger skaters.
The newer Mass Start event in Long Track has 24 skaters on the line completing 16 laps of the oval with points for three sprint laps in the 4th, 8th, and 12th laps with a final sprint to the finish link for additional points. Skaters are required to wear Short Track Safety Gear (helmets, ankle kevlars, etc.) for this race.
Team Pursuit is another popular event in which 2 teams of 3 skaters start from opposite sides of the Oval.
Olympic Style
This is a style of long track racing where two skaters race in separate lanes, at the same time, against each other and the clock. Each skater stays in his or her own lane, crossing over to the other lane at a predetermined point on the backstretch of each lap (to make the distances traveled equal). The ranking is based on finish times for all competitors (i.e. a skater who wins his or her pairing might come in 3rd overall). Distances include 500m (1 & 1/4 laps), 1000m (2 & 1/2 laps), 1500m (3 & 3/4 laps), and 5000m (12 & 1/2 laps). Women and Male Neo Juniors also compete in the 3000m (7 & 1/2 laps) and Men compete in the 10,000m (35 laps).
More information on Long Track from Speed Skating Canada: https://speedskating.ca/discover/learn-about-speed-skating/long-track/