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What is Short Track Speed Skating?

 

Short Track speed skating is a lightning-fast, adrenaline-fuelled

winter sport full of unpredictability...

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This is a sport where skaters reach speeds of up to 50 kmph on blades 46cm long and only 1mm thick. It is a highly tactical and physically demanding sport, with split-second decision making and race strategy playing a crucial role in racing. 

 

The format of Short Track Speed Skating sees skaters going head-to-head in races of

4 to 6 skaters in a knock-out / progression style competition. Short track skating is done

on a 111.12-metre oval track on a standard size ice rink (30m x 60m) with skaters

travelling in an anti-clockwise direction.

 

Short track is a non-contact sport; however there are no barriers or lanes to separate the

skaters so there are frequent collisions and falls in competition, making it one of the most

exciting winter sports to watch. Skaters compete over a number of distances including:

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  • 500 metres

  • 1000 metres

  • 1500 metres

  • 3000-metre relay for women 

  • 5000-metre relay for men

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With skaters travelling at such high speeds in such close proximity to other athletes, protective equipment is vital. Skaters wear helmets, glasses, knee, shin and neck guards, and cut resistant suit and gloves to protect against the extremely sharp blades. Short track boots lace higher up the ankle and have a longer blade than traditional skates. Boots are custom made and are constructed with heavier materials that help stabilise the foot and ankle around corners. Blades are extremely sharp and are bent in an arc that mirrors the direction of the turn, which helps skaters grip the ice around corners. The blades are also placed off-centre to the left so the boot does not touch the ice when the skater leans into the turn.

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Dynamic

 

As Short Track is an elimination event, with skaters having to qualify to progress in the competition, it makes this sport particularly fast and dynamic.

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The shorter distance of 500m is a sprint race with blistering and explosive power needed from the start to get a good position in the race. 

Falls, Crashes and Danger

 

Going 50kph on two thin long sharp blades on a tight icy track...what could possibly go wrong? Well lots!  

 

There are lots of falls, crashes, and danger in short track but it is a safe sport. It happens but it is rare for severe accidents to happen as the safety of the sport is always improving. 

Strategic & Agile Thinking

 

Yes, Short Track Speed Skating is also a sport of strategic thinking and thinking agility. You have too have an overall race and competition strategy as thinking fast during races in which the race dynamics can change in an instant. 

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This is what makes Short Track such a fantastic sport to complete in and also watch as a spectator.

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