Olympic-Style Speed Skating
It is usually used for international competition. The pane is 400 meters to the lap. The tracks are divided with snow lanes about two thirds of the way around. The part not divided is called the crossover. Only two skaters race at one time and they can change lines by using the crossover at every lap. Each skater is individually timed. The world championship and any sectional or national championship are decided by an allover point total.
Pack Skating
In pack skating, a group races together to series of rounds. There are 5 racing divisions in pack skating. They are Senior Class, Intermediate class, Juvenile Class and Midget Class. Outdoor tracks are shaped oval. On the other hand, the indoor track differs when it comes to sizes. Classes have different sizes of tracks. The winner of each race is determined by a series of preliminary races which are also called heats. Usually the first and second place finishers of each heat race against each other until the winner is determined. Points are also given in pack skating. Unlike Olympic-style skating, the fastest skater in each race gets the most points. After all the races are done, the skater with the most points is the champion.
Short-Track Speed Skating
The track for short-track speed skating is shorter than an Olympic speed-skating oval and has no marked lanes. There are three kinds of speed-skating competitions that use the short track. They are individual races, relay races and pursuit races. The individual races are divided into five short events and one long event.. A series of heats determines the winner for each distance. Heats in the short group have no more than four skaters. Six skaters may race in the long race. Relay races consists of two teams of four skaters. Each team member skates until replaced by a teammate. A skater ma be replaced t any time except during the final two laps of the race.
Watch this fascinating video to see what it’s all about!
Interesting Facts for Kids 