Introduction

Imagine yourself tearing across a sheet of ice at 50 km/hour (30+ miles/hr) on long skating blades only a millimeter thick. A sharp curve looms ahead. Into that turn, you know the other skaters will attempt to cut you off and leave you behind in a cloud of ice shards. If you crave speed, a litte danger and lots of strategy, then welcome to the thrill and spectacle of Short Track Speed Skating.

Short track speed skating is a different sport from long track speed skating. Long track skaters race the clock. In short track, four to six skaters race each other to the finish line, jockeying for position while maintaining speed and balance.

Short track is pack-style so the ice gets crowded. The possibility of wiping out or colliding with other skaters looms at every turn. Short track skaters must wear hard-shelled helmets, cut resistant clothing, gloves, neck guards, knee and shin pads to protect themselves from dangerous spills and the possibility of someone's skate blade spilling blood.

The short track speed skating events are constructed in heats where skaters are eliminated and the heat winner(s) are advanced to the next round, eventually leaving a small handful of skaters who compete in the finals.

Short Track has a worldwide following. While many countries have short track teams, the sport is very popular in China, Korea and Canada. After the 2002 Winter Olympics, world-wide interest in this fantastic sport is catching on in Australia, Great Britain, Italy, USA and across the globe.