Getting Started Skating

Hopefully you (or your child) has a rink or ice sheet to skate on and a club with coaching to guide them through their developing years (if not, click here to find the closest speedskating club near you if you are American, or here if you are Canadian.)

Just as there are different types of cycling and skiing, there are different types of speedskating, and they require different types of equipment.

The most common in the US is short track speedskating. Skated in a hockey rink, short track speedskating is available in almost any state in the US, indeed, large clubs exist not only in the Northern half of the US and Canada, but in Virginia, California, Nevada, Texas, and Florida as well. Long track speedskating occurs on a 400m oval. Remember Eric Heiden winning five gold medals on the Olympic oval here in Lake Placid? that is long track speedskating. But have you heard of Apollo Ohno? What he does is short track

Short Track
Short track speed skates have high cut boots, to give more support in the tight corners found in this sport. They are head moldable to get a close, performance fit. We fit children with enough growing room to skate correctly, yet still get through at least a season of skating. Short track speedskate blades are rockered to carve the tighter corners of a hockey rink, and often bent to the left to allow more blade to contact the ice when leaning over for more "bite".Blades are bolted on to allow adjustment from side to side to offset them to the left, allowing more clearance at higher speeds and extreme lean angles.

The boot's bolt on adaptability and high cut support make them ideal to fit onto inline rollers for summer warm weather speed skating. This type of boot allows one to speedskate every day of the year. A great value!

Long Track
If you live near a 400m oval, you will need long track speedskates, which allow you to skate the longer straightaways faster and negotiate the wider high speed corners. Long track speedskates boots, while still supportive, are lower cut to allow a deeper skating position. Clap blades are used in long track speedskating, and hinge at the toe to allow more extension during the skating stroke. Blade rockers are flatter to glide faster down the long straightaways while still carving the corners.

Skate Sharpening
All speedskaters (or their parents) hand sharpen their own speedskates. You can't just go to the local hockey shop and have them sharpen them for you. They don't have the equipment or the expertise. In most cases your local club or the friend who got you involved in speedskating in the first place will have sharpening equipment and help you learn how to sharpen your own skates. Eventually you will want to get your own equipment:

• a sharpening frame to position the blades evenly for sharpening
• a large rectangular stone to create a burr
• a small "burr stone" to create a sharp edge
• a can of oil to lubricate the stones.

If you sharpen every time you skate, it only a few minutes of work to have sharp, crisp edges to skate your best every time.

Accessories:

• The first accessory a skater needs is blade guards - you just put time into sharpening your edges, and blade guards prevent you from dulling them as you walk from the bench to the ice.
• Protective equipment is necessary for short track skating, All short track clubs require skaters to to wear an ISU approved helmet, neck guard, kneepads, shin guards, and full finger gloves.
• Close fitting comfortable clothing that allows full range of motion is also important. Most speedskaters use one piece "skins" that allow them to skate unencumbered by bulky outerwear.

Feel free to call us at any time with questions on getting started, or what equipment is appropriate for your child's skill level.