Speed skating is a fast-paced sport, with top athletes reaching speeds of up to 50km per hour. Speed skating events are usually held on closed road circuits or rinks with banked walls. A maximum of five wheels are allowed on the inline skates worn by speed skaters.
An exciting and physically demanding sport, speed skating is formed by three disciplines:
Track Racing
Indoor track racing takes place on an oval track measured out on a flat even skating surface.
Road Racing
Road races are run on varied surfaces. The minimum distance for a road circuit is 240m that must have a minimum width of 5m. The average road circuit is between 400m and 500m.
Banked Track
Banked track racing is usually only for international events. The races are usually held on a 200m oval track, which is slightly banked at either end.
