Important Facts About Long Track Speed Skating

Long track speed skating is a sport that has a long and rich history. It is believed to have originated in Scandinavia, and it quickly spread to other parts of Europe. Some of the most famous long track speed skaters come from countries like the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States.

In Long track speed skating competitors skate on an oval track. The sport is contested at the Winter Olympics, and World and European championships are held in odd-numbered years. The first modern speed skating competition was held in North America in the mid-19th century. Competitions were also held in Europe in the late 19th century, and the sport became popular in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia. Speed skating was included as a demonstration sport at the 1902 Winter Olympics and became a full medal sport at the 1924 Winter Olympics. Women’s speed skating was added to the Olympic program for the first time at the 1960 Winter Olympics.

In this blog post, we will take a look at the history of long track speed skating, as well as the rules and scoring system used in the sport. We will also profile some of the most famous long track speed skaters of all time.

The History of Long Track Speed Skating.

Early Speed Skating in Scandinavia

Speed skating is thought to have originated in the Netherlands in the 13th century. However, there are reports of speed skating events taking place in Scandinavia even earlier than that. In 1276, a speed skating event was held in Finland, and in 1477, a speed skating race was held on the River Thames in England.

The first organized speed skating club was founded in the Netherlands in 1625. By the early 1800s, speed skating had become a popular pastime in the Netherlands, and it soon spread to other countries such as Belgium, Germany, and Norway.

The Rise of Speed Skating in the Netherlands

The rise of speed skating in the Netherlands is largely due to one man: Jaap Eden. Eden was born into a poor family in Haarlem, Netherlands in 1873. When he was just six years old, his father died, and his family could not afford to send him to school. So instead, he went to work at a local tobacco factory.

At the age of 10, Jaap started speed skating on natural ice near his home. He quickly developed into a talented skater and began winning races against older and more experienced competitors. In 1890, at the age of 17, he won his first major race: a 20-kilometer (12-mile) event held on frozen canals near Amsterdam.

Eden went on to win many more races throughout his career and became one of the most famous speed skaters of his time. He also helped popularize the sport of speed skating and make it into the popular winter pastime it is today.

Read: the types of speed skating events

The Spread of Speed Skating to Other Countries

While speed skating originated in the Netherlands sometime in the nineth century or earlier, it did not gain widespread popularity until the nineteenth century. This was largely due to Jaap Eden, who as we saw in the previous subsection, became the most successful and well-known speed skater of his generation.

Thanks in large part to Eden’s success on the rink, speed skating began to spread to other parts off Europe in the nineteenth century. It soon became popular in countries such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway.

By the late 1800s, speed skating had even reached the United States where it quickly gained popularity. In these early years of speed skating spreading to new countries, many different variations of the sport developed.

For example: In Norway and Sweden a form of speed skating called “short track” or ” pack style ” developed during this period where several competitors would skate around a small oval track together rather than individually as is done today.

However, “long track” or “single – file” style is now the standard form of the sport and is what we will be focusing on for the remainder off this article.

Read: Short track vs long track speed skating

When did long track speed start?

While short track or pack style racing had been around for some time during which several competitors would skate around a small oval track together rather than individually as is done today, long track or single-file style racing didn’t become standardized until much later. It wasn’t until 1893 that World Championships were first held for long track speed skating which took place at Hamar Olympic Stadium Oslo Norway with only men being allowed to compete. It wouldn’t be until 1932 that women were finally allowed to compete at these World Championships which were held that year In Davos Switzerland.

The Rules of Long Track Speed Skating.

The Basic Rules of Long Track Speed Skating

To participate in long track speed skating, competitors must skate around a designated oval track. The skaters must complete a set number of laps, and the person who completes the required number of laps in the shortest amount of time is declared the winner.

There are some basic rules that all long track speed skating competitions must follow. These include:

-The track must be an oval shape, with two straightaways and two curved sections.

-The distance around the track must be 400 meters (about 1/4 of a mile).

-Each race consists of a certain number of laps, depending on the event being contested. For example, sprint races are typically held over 4 laps, while longer distances may be skated over 8 or even 16 laps.

-Skaters must remain within their own designated lane at all times during the race. If a skater leaves their lane, they will be disqualified from the race.

-If two skaters collide and one falls, the other skater will be disqualified from the race. However, if both skaters fall as a result of the collision, then neither will be disqualified.

The Scoring System Used in Long Track Speed Skating

In long track speed skating competitions, points are awarded based on each skater’s finishing position in each race. The number of points awarded varies depending on how many competitors there are in each race; for example, if there are 30 competitors in a race then 1st place would receive 30 points, 2nd place would receive 29 points, and so on down to 30th place receiving 1 point.

At the end of all the races (usually four or five), the total points scored by each competitor are tallied up and the person with the most points is declared the overall winner of the competition. In case of a tie, then whoever had more 1st place finishes is declared the winner; if there is still a tie, then whoever had more 2nd place finishes is declared victorious; and so on until a clear winner can be determined.

What are the rules of long track speed skating?

The basic rules of long track speed skating are as follows: competitors must skate around a designated oval track, the track must be 400 meters in length, skaters must complete a set number of laps depending on the event being contested, skaters must remain in their own lane at all times, and if two skaters collide and one falls, the other skater will be disqualified.

How many laps is long track speed skating?

The number of laps required to complete a long track speed skating race depends on the specific event being contested. For example, sprint races typically consist of 4 laps while longer distances may require 8 or 16 laps to be completed.

How long is a long track speed skating?

A typical long track speed skating race lasts between 1 and 2 minutes depending on the distance being raced.

Long Track Speed Skating Variations

In long track speed skating, there are four main events. They are the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and 5000m.

The 500m is the shortest of the four main events. Skaters will complete two and a half laps of the oval track. The world record for the 500m is held by South Korean skater Sang-Hwa Lee, with a time of 36.36 seconds.

The 1000m is double the distance of the 500m, and so skaters will complete five laps of the oval track. The world record for the 1000m is held by Canadian skater Christine Nesbitt, with a time of 1 minute 12.68 seconds.

The 1500m is triple the distance of the 500m, and so skaters will complete seven and a half laps of the oval track. The world record for the 1500m is held by Dutch skater Ireen Wust, with a time of 1 minute 50.85 seconds.

Finally, the 5000m is ten times the distance of the 500m event, and so skaters will complete 25 laps of the oval track. The world record for 5000m is held by Swedish skater Nils van der Poel, with a time of 6 minutes 1.56 seconds at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, on 3 December 2021. 

Long Track Speed Skating Equipment

The sport requires a lot of equipment, including:

– Skates: Long track speed skaters use special clapskate boots that are attached to their blades with a metal clamp. The blades are much longer than those used in short track or hockey, and they are sharpened to a fine point.

– Skinsuits: These form-fitting suits are made of Lycra or other stretchy material and help to streamline the body for maximum speed.

– Helmets: Speed skaters must wear helmets to protect their heads from falls.

– Face masks: Some skaters also wear face masks to further protect their heads and faces.

Long Track Speed Skating Points System And Format

The sport of long track speed skating uses a points system to score races. The system is based on the time it takes the skater to complete the race, with points being awarded for each place. The winner of a race is awarded 60 points, with the second-place finisher receiving 50 points, and so on.

The point values are then multiplied by a factor that depends on the distance of the race. For example, a factor of 1.5 is used for races that are 500 meters or shorter, while a factor of 2 is used for longer races. This means that a victory in a 500-meter race is worth 90 points, while a victory in a 5000-meter race is worth 120 points.

The format of long track speed skating races also varies depending on the distance of the event. For example, sprint races (which are 500 meters or shorter) are typically held in heats, with skaters being seeded according to their times in previous rounds. Middle-distance and long-distance races (which are longer than 500 meters) are typically held as mass start events, with all skaters starting at the same time.

Long Track Speed Skating Olympic Events

The long track speed skating events at the Winter Olympics are the 500 meter, 1000 meter, 1500 meter, 3000 meter, 5000 meter, and 10000 meter races. The 500 meter race is the shortest of the Olympic long track speed skating events. The 1000 meter race is double the distance of the 500 meter race. The 1500 meter race is 50% longer than the 1000 meter race. The 3000 meter race is twice the distance of the 1500 meter race. The 5000 meter race is 67% longer than the 3000 meter race. The 10000meter race is double the distance of the 5000meter race.

Long Track Speed Skating World Records

For Men

500 meters – 26.425 seconds, held by Shani Davis

1000 meters – 1:08.94, held by Stefan Groothuis

1500 meters – 1:41.04, held by Koen Verweij

5000 meters – 6:03.32, held by Sven Kramer

10,000 meters – 12:36.30, hero by Sven Kramer

For Women

The current world record for the women’s 500 m is 36.36 seconds, set by Sang-Hwa Lee of South Korea on December 6, 2013. The current world record for the women’s 1000 m is 1:12.68 minutes, set by Christine Nesbitt of Canada on March 12, 2012. The current world record for the women’s 1500 m is 1:51.79 minutes, set by Ireen Wüst of the Netherlands on November 12, 2017.

Some of the Most Famous Long Track Speed Skaters.

Eric Heiden

Eric Heiden is a former speed skater who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics, where he won five gold medals. He is the only person to have ever won all five individual speed skating events in a single Olympics.

Bonnie Blair

Bonnie Blair is a former speed skater who competed in the 1988, 1992, and 1994 Winter Olympics. She is the most decorated American Olympian in history, with six medals (five gold, one bronze).

Jeremy Wotherspoon

Jeremy Wotherspoon is a Canadian former speed skater who competed in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 Winter Olympics. He holds the world record for most World Cup wins by a male speed skater, with 24 victories.

Conclusion…

Long track speed skating is a fascinating sport with a rich history. It is enjoyed by people of all ages all over the world. The rules are relatively simple, but the scoring system can be quite complex. Some of the most famous long track speed skaters include Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair, and Jeremy Wotherspoon.

Whether you are a fan of long track speed skating or not, there is no denying that it is a sport worth learning more about. So go out and find some more information on this great sport!