This document provides an overview of speed skating equipment and events for both short track and long track speed skating. It describes the key pieces of equipment used in short track like gloves, goggles, helmets, protective gear, specialized skates and blades. For long track, it outlines equipment such as armbands, glasses, specialized blades, clap skates and aerodynamic racing suits. It also lists the women's and men's speed skating events that take place at the Winter Olympics.

1. By: Vanessa, Shima, and Victoria Lucas Makowsky Tamara Oudenaarden

2. Table of Contents Introduction *****************Pg. 1 Short Track Equipment*********Pg. 2 Short Track Continued*********Pg. 3 Short Track Continued*********Pg. 4 Long Track Speed Skating****** Pg. 5 Long Track Equipment*********Pg. 6 Long Track Continued***** ****Pg. 7 Women Speed Skating Events****Pg. 8 Men Speed Skating Events*******Pg. 9 Bibliography******************Pg. 10-11

3. Introduction to Speed Skating Speed Skating has been a part of the Winter Olympics since the first Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924 but became a competitive sport earlier in 1676. Originally it was only a men’s sport but in the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympic Games, Speed Skating became a full medal sport for Women. Pg. 1

4. Short Track Speed Skating Equipment Speed Skating equipment varies with the events, short track and long track Speed Skating. These are the pieces of equipment short track athletes need to have in order to speed skate: Gloves : Gloves are needed as the skaters put their hands on their ice for balance when they go around bends. The gloves also serve as protection against the blades. Goggles: Athletes are not required to wear them but can if they want to, to protect their eyes from the wind and ice chips that fly up from their skates. Pg. 2

5. Short Track Equipment Continued..... Helmet: Hard plastic helmets are used to protect the athlete from head injuries from crashing into other competitors, the ice, and side walls. Protective wear : The protective wear includes knee, shin, and neck guards which protect the skater from the blades of the skater in front. Skates: The skates of short track speed skaters lace up higher and are constructed from customized foot moulds with heavier materials to help stabilize the foot and ankle around turns. Pg. 3

6. Short Track Equipment continued……. Blades: The blades are very sharp and are bent in an arc that reflects the direction of the turns to grip the ice. The blades are placed more to the left so the boots does not touch the ice when the skater leans into the turns Skin tight suits: The suits of short track speed skaters mould to their bodies to reduce air resistance Pg. 4

7. Long Track Speed Skating Racing in two’s counter clockwise in two lanes on a 400 m track. The skaters change lanes every lap to keep the distance equal. The outside lane has the right of way if the skaters arrive at the same time. There are four distances that are raced 500m, 1,500m, 3000m, and 5000 for women d 500m, 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000 for men. Pg. 5

8. Long Track Equipment Armbands: Skaters in the inner lane wear white armbands, and skaters in the outer lane wear red armbands Glasses: Protects the skaters eyes from the Wind and ice chips. The lens reduces the glare and improves the visibility of the track. Blade: The underside of the blade is about 1mm thick. The blade is long as a longer blade is a faster skate, but the blade stops when the length becomes an obstacle. Pg. 6

9. Long Track Equipment Cont. Clap skates: The heel of the blade is not attached to the boot, but the toe is attached by a hinged apparatus. A spring mechanism on the front of the boot snaps the blade back to the boot, creating a clapping sound which gives the skate its name. The blade disconnects from the heel of the boot at the end of each stride, making the blade stay on the ice longer and increasing the skaters pushing power. Racing Suits: The skaters are required to Wear a skin tight aerodynamic suit and a hood To reduce wind resistance. The suits must mould to the natural shape of the skaters body, and the athlete cannot change the shape by inserting or attaching devices. Pg. 7

10. Speed Skating Events For Women Pg. 8 Day Date Start Finish Event Day 3 Sunday, February 14 th 1:00PM 2:50PM 2000 m Women’s Day 5 Tuesday, February 16 th 1:00PM 4:05PM 500 m Women ’s Day 7 Thursday, February 18 th 1:00PM 2:25PM 1000 m Women’s Day 10 Sunday, February 21th 3:00PM 4:35PM 1,500 m Women Day 13 Wednesday, February 24 th 1:00PM 2:35PM 5,000 m Women’s Day 15 Friday, February 26 th 12:30PM 2:20PM Team Pursuit Women’s/Heats Day 16 Saturday, February 27 th 12:30PM 2:25PM Team Pursuit Women’s Finals

11. Men’s Speed Skating Events Pg. 9 Day Date Start Finish Event Day 1 Saturday, February 13 12:00PM 2:00PM Men’s 5000 m Day 4 Monday, February 15 3:30PM 6:50PM Men’s 500 m Day 6 Wednesday, February 17 4:00PM 5:30PM Men’s 1000 m Day 9 Saturday, February 20 4:15PM 6:00PM Men’s 1,500 m Day 12 Tuesday, February 23 11:00AM 1:45PM Men’s 10,000 m Day 15 Friday, February 26 12:30PM 2:20PM Team Pursuit Men/Heats Day 16 Saturday, February 27 12:30PM 2:25PM Team Pursuit men/Final

12. Bibliography www.life.com/image/91243203 www.olympics.org.uk/sportequip.aspx?gt=W&sp=ST http://armoks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/28/Olympic-Speedskating-Trials_7181_photo.jpg http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/sports-games/winter-sports/speed-skating/speed-skates.jpg Pg. 10

13. http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/C445760BCF1B7C714A914E06783818AC74089C36/Hkg3100885_LR1.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenrusk/3380970858/ speedskateworld.com/?m=20091015 http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenrusk/3403350632/in/set-72157615170792996/ Pg. 11