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Short Track - Live!
     
     
Action Photos by Jerry Search
     
It's true - elite speedskating  - in Michigan! If you've seen short track speedskating on television, you know it's exciting. But what you can't know from TV is how unbelievably fast they really go. For the MSSC-hosted national events, the glass surrounding the rink is gone, and you can get right next to the action. Feel the boards shake when skaters crash in front of you at speeds higher than the parking lot speed limit. World-class speedskating, right here in Midland. Exciting photo finishes, unbelievable high speed passes, and fun for the whole family - it's speedskating!

Want to try speedskating yourself? Midland Speed Skating Club welcomes everyone to try one month FREE !

       


 

A February tradition! Plan to attend this fun, regional, age-group meet, February 2nd and 3rd, 2007. Novice skaters and special needs skaters will race only on Saturday; all others can plan for both Saturday and Sunday skating. Racing begins Saturday at 11AM, with warm-ups at 10AM and check-in starting at 8AM. Download the Winter Blast registration form here.

See you there!
Winter Blast Admission is Free!!!!!

   
A Speedskating Primer
   
The rink: 111m surveyed track. Many hours are spent before the meet to insure the ice will be in optimal condition for speedskating at the time of the competion.
The pads: Thick vinyl-covered foam which protect the skaters from injury. For an important national competition, a double layer of pads line the boards on the entire inside of the rink, and are secured to the boards.
The skates: Hard, shoe-height boots with long (typically 16"-18" for adults), metal blades bolted to the bottom. Experienced skaters bend their blades to help them get around the corners faster, and offset them to one side of their boot to help keep their boot off the ice in the corner. 
Protective equipment: Basic equipment includes a short track helmet, knee pads, shin protection, and gloves. Often skaters will wear fabrics with cut-proof properties (kevlar, dyneema). Meet Primer: Skaters race multiple races at different distances, racing for finish placement in the race - not necessarily time. Elite skaters will typically race 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and sometimes a 1500m superfinal; a relay for fun may be skated at the end of the meet. The fastest speeds are usually seen in the shortest race. Points are given for finish placement at each distance; skaters advance through heats to the finals based on their finish positions.  Overall points compiled throughout the meet at all the distances determine the overall meet winners.
             

© S.DYKE & BDMC MSSCSITE 12.2007 All rights reserved.