speed skating

speed skating
speed skater, speedskater, n.
ice skating as a form of racing, usually on an oval course and against other competitors or the clock.
[1880-85]

* * *

Sport of racing on ice skates.

The blade of the speed skate is longer and thinner than that of the hockey or figure skate. Two types of track are used in international competition. The long track is a 400-m (about one-quarter mile) flattened oval (straight sides and curved ends) on which two skaters race simultaneously. In long track the race is against the clock rather than the opponent. The short track, a more recent development, is a 111-m (364-ft) oval on which four to six skaters race during each heat. Short track is a race to the finish line. Long-track speed skating was included in the first Winter Olympics in 1924; short-track skating was added in 1992.

* * *

sport
 the sport of racing on ice skates that originated in The Netherlands, possibly as early as the 13th century. Organized international competition developed in the late 19th century, and the sport was included as a men's event in the first Winter Olympics in 1924. At the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, California, U.S., women's speed-skating events were added.

      The blade of the modern speed skate is longer and thinner than that of the hockey or figure skate. When planted on the ice with weight upon it, the blade describes a nearly straight line. Only the last few feet of the stride curve slightly outward as the skate leaves the ice. Length of stride has tended to diminish since the days of the 11- to 16-metre (36- to 52-foot) stride attributed to the English champion William Smart, who was active during the mid-19th century. The modern racing stride rarely exceeds 9 metres (30 feet) and is usually about 5 or 6 metres. In 1996 the clapskate was introduced by speed skaters from The Netherlands. The clapskate features a hinge at the toe of the shoe that allows for greater extension and a longer stride. In order to profit as much as possible from every stride, skaters crouch so that their stomachs and thighs are almost touching. In addition, they wear special skin-tight, hooded suits that cut down air resistance.

 International speed skating involves a course with straight sides and curved ends of such a radius that no slackening of speed is necessary. The competitors race two at a time on a two-lane track and race against the clock. Each skater must keep his own course. The advantage of the inner curve is given alternately, and a space (called the crossing line) is left open along the backstretch for the skaters to switch tracks. The 1998 Nagano Olympic Games were the first to require skaters in the 500-metre event to race twice per heat—once in each of the lanes. The times are then combined to determine a winner. The official track measures 400 metres (about one-quarter mile). World championships are decided annually under the supervision of the International Skating Union (ISU) at distances of 500, 1,000, 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 metres for men and 500, 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000 metres for women.

 An offshoot of speed skating, which takes place on indoor or outdoor rinks, is short-track speed skating, done indoors on a 111-metre (364-foot) track.
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Speed skating — or speedskating is a competitive form of skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speedskating are long track speedskating, short track speedskating, inline speedskating (or inline… …   Wikipedia

  • speed skating — speed .skating n [U] the sport of racing on ice wearing ↑ice skates …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • speed skating — speed ,skating noun uncount a sport in which people wearing SKATES race each other on ice …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • speed skating — noun competitive skating on speed skates (usually around an oval course) • Hypernyms: ↑skating * * * noun [noncount] : the sport of racing on ice skates speed skater noun, pl ⋯ ers [count] * * * ˈspeed skating [speed skating] …   Useful english dictionary

  • speed skating — greitasis čiuožimas statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Žiemos sporto šaka – čiuožimas ledo ratu specialiomis pačiūžomis, stengiantis kuo greičiau įveikti nuotolius nuo 500 iki 10 000 m (moterims – 500, 1000, 1500, 3000 ir 5000 m …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • Speed skating at the Winter Olympics — Speed skating has been featured as a sport in the Winter Olympics since the first winter games in 1924. Women s events were added to the Olympic program for the first time in 1960.HistoryThe governing body for speed skating International Skating… …   Wikipedia

  • Speed skating at the 2007 Asian Winter Games — Speed skating featured as part of the 2007 Asian Winter Games in the newly constructed Jilin Provincial Speed Skating Rink in Changchun. Ten medal events were contested, with the men s 10,000 metres, a part of the Games since 1986, replaced by… …   Wikipedia

  • Speed skating at the 2007 Winter Universiade — includes twelve speed skating events. Medal tableee also*Alpine skiing *Biathlon *Cross country skiing *Curling *Figure skating *Ice hockey *Nordic combined *Short track speed skating *Ski jumping *Snowboarding …   Wikipedia

  • Speed skating at the 2003 Asian Winter Games — Speed skating at the 2003 Winter Asian Games took place in the Nagane Park Speed Skating Rink located in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, Japan with nine events contested five for men and four for women.Medal summaryMedal table(Host… …   Wikipedia

  • Speed skating at the 1986 Asian Winter Games — Speed skating at the 1986 Winter Asian Games took place in the city of Sapporo, Japan with nine events contested five for men and four for women.Medal summaryMedal table(Host nation highlighted)References [http://en.changchun2007.org/zh… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”