Speedskating Olympic Trials Are Here!

In a little over 24 hours, the U.S. Long Track Speedskating Olympic Trials/World Cup Team qualifying competition will be under way. It will take place in Milwaukee, WI at the Pettit National Ice Center, one of only two (the other being in Salt Lake City, UT)  indoor Long track speedskating ovals in the country. Six of my friends have achieved qualifying times to compete for the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. To say I am proud of each and every one of them is an understatement.

I compete mostly in the Short Track speedskating. Most folks that are not familiar with the sport give that puzzled look when I say that and ask "is that the kind that has the two skaters on the big track?" I am able to describe the separate style by those that put each discipline as they say, "on the map". When I mention Apolo Anton Ohno for short track and Bonnie Blair or Eric Heiden for long track, the puzzled look yields to surprise and "oh! That's with the helmets; you do that?!"

Short Track skating indeed has the helmets, neck guards and cut proof suits. It is skated on a hockey rink ice sheet with black blocks set in the corners that measure out an 111 meter size track. Short track is often described as "Nascar on ice" as there can be up to 6 skaters on the starting line for a race, which is lighting fast. Six skaters equals 12 feet equipped with 17" razor sharp blades going all out to reach the finish line first. Crashes are hard and some can be pretty messy.

Long Track is skated on a 400 meter oval with two skaters on the start line. Each skater is racing the clock; therefore, will switch lanes in the back stretch so that one does not have the inner lane advantage or shorter distance skated. Added to this is a skate that has a hinged blade also known as a clap blade, because it makes a clapping sound when it hits the bottom of the boot after a stroke. The clap skate has allowed competitors to acheive world record times on ice. Skaters have worked on their technique for so many years that their smooth rocking from side to side seems to give the impression that they are going in slow motion. In reality, they are traveling at close to 30 mph! Now imagine the fitness level you need to squat and propell your body at that speed for up to 3.5 miles (5000 meters).

I have played a lot of different sports and have been a part of many teams. I can honestly say that by far,  speedskating has been the best sport I have competed in.  Its reach is world-wide, yet the community is so small.  I have never been around a more supportive group of fellow athletes. We are all competitive, however, game is brought to the ice and left on the ice. The moment you are exiting the ice, you see a lot of high fives or pats on the back. What are we saying to eachother? "Nice race." or "Good job." If the race did not go as you envisioned, we know when to offer words of encouragement and when not to say anything. That's not to say one doesn't hear others talking smack before a race, but they are far and few between.

Dreams will be achieved or broken in the next 5 days. All the blood, sweat and tears that have been put into training for the last three years will be laid all on the line for a spot to compete in Vancouver. I will not be skating but I will be there to support and cheer on my friends to skate the best race they can. I am so proud of them.

I will try to post some entries during the trip, so check back and see how your team is doing.