Speed skating

Speed skating or speedskating

Is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating and marathon speed skating In the Olympic Games, long-track speed skating is usually referred to as just "speed skating", while short-track speed skating is known as "short track".The ISU, the governing body of both ice sports, refers to long track as "speed skating" and short track as "short track skating".

Long track
All races are run counter-clockwise. In all individual competition forms, only two skaters are allowed to race at once, and must remain in their respective lanes. Skaters must change lanes every lap. The skater changing from the outside lane to the inside has right-of-way. In the only non-individual competition form, the team pursuit, two teams of each three skaters are allowed to race at once. Both teams remain in the inner lane for the duration of the race; they start on opposite sides of the rink.

Rules Short track

All races are run counter-clockwise on a 111m track. If a skater passes inside the track, he or she is disqualified. The lead skater has right-of-way. A skater can be disqualified if the cross track another skater by cutting off another skater while changing his or her own lane. After two false starts, the skater is disqualified. A disqualified will be given last place in their heat or final. A skater can be disqualified if he or she deliberately impedes another skater's way to slow the skater down

Equipment
Short Track All short track skaters must have speed skates, a spandex skin suit, protective helmet, protective eye ware, shin pads, knee pads, neck guard (bib style). Optional equipment is a kevlar suit to protect against being cut from another skaters blade

Long Track
For long track skaters the same equipment should be worn as short track racers but with the exception of a helmet, shin pads, knee pads, and neck guard which is not required.