Skating on Thin Ice

Netherlands Short Track Falls Behind

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by Corin Nguyen

21 October 2003   |   The KNSB, the skating federation for the Netherlands, declared 3 week ago that no national short track skating team will participate at the World Cups 1 & 2. With the way things are going, it’s doubtful the Netherlands will have a National short track team this year or anytime soon. How is this possible in a country where speed skating is the nation’s most popular sport?

One of Holland's top ranked short trackers, Cees Juffermans takes the corner.

The KNSB’s reason is simple: the skaters aren’t good enough. Arie Kauffman, the Director of KNSB, explains, “…the Federations Board concluded that the development of Short Track in the Netherlands was far below the expectations and not according to all effort and means put into this discipline.” They only have to point to the statistics to make a case. The last time a Netherlands short track skater has medaled internationally was at the European Championships 2001. Cees Juffermans placed 2nd overall. In the previous 2 European Championships, only 2 Netherlands skaters finished in top 15. However, can KNSB expect better results from all their said “efforts and means put into this discipline?” Are their efforts really worth more than 14th place?

Being the best is simple. To be the best, you look at who’s currently the best and do what they do. The Netherlands of all countries should know that. They have arguably the best long trackers in the world. Their long track program won 3 gold and 5 silver medals at the last Olympics. Long track skaters from all over the world come to the Netherlands to train. Why re-invent the wheel? Do what the best do.

The federation certainly has the money. Their biggest sponsors, Aegon and Deloitte & Touche sponsors KNSB with 4 million euros annually until 2006 when the contract expires. KNSB is responsible for both long and short track speed skating as well as figure skating. They have discretion on how much money is spent in each sport. Out of the 4 million KNSB pays the short track skaters ice time 6 days a week. They pay for the skaters training camps. They pay for flight and hotel expenses for international competitions. KNSB pays for a coach or they will when they find someone to replace Yves Nadeau, the previous coach, whose contract ended at the end of last season.

In other words, the Netherlands doesn’t do any more than any other country that doesn’t have skaters in every final at the World Cups. Yet KNSB expects their skaters to perform as well as skaters who have better equipment, a coach, dieticians and physical trainers. Many countries don’t have all the amenities that go into a creating first place team. There are usually two reasons, lack of money or lack of interest.

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