Summary: <p>What’s the difference between a short track and “long-track” speed skating? Well, you’ll have to listen to the above to find out or read the notes below. It’s another Monday, so we’re going over another sport and with the Winter Olympics starting one month from today, we’re extremely excited (John is at least). Check back in next Monday for more history and event rundown of a Winter Olympic sport.</p> <p>We’re somewhat new to these sports, so if we get something wrong, feel free to let us know via the contact page or by calling 614-398-3243 and leaving a brief voice message.</p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Quick overview of what it is </span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> If Nascar was on ice and the cars were people. So essentially a combo of Ice Age and the movie Cars. </span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Where/When did it start</span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Do we really need to get into where ice skates came from? I’ll give you a guess. Yep, Northern Europe</span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists found a pair near Finland at the bottom of a lake and were dated to about </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1573590/Scandinavians-invented-ice-skating-in-3000-BC.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">3,000 BC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Made of animal bone and not made as a hobby</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bone to iron, iron to steel</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not trying to do a bit, but imagine being that first guy to slap bones on his feet</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">From there, the Dutch made some modifications in the 1300s</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1763, first true skating competition was held in England on the Fenlands. 15 miles long across canals</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the netherlands their distance race is called Elfstedentocht (eleven cities tour), 200km long, started in 1909</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speed skating started in late 1800s, all were held outside</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Short track began at the beginning of the 1900s in Canada and the US, where it gained popularity for the mass start appeal.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only recently (since 1994) have the long track events been held indoors, with 1988 Calgary as the first indoor track</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1924 speed skating was introduced at the olympics, 1960 women were allowed to participate</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Short track started 1992</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">How do you win?</span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Be the fastest skater around the track</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two false starts are disqualified</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Average speed is around 30mph</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Events </span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Short Track – started in 1988 as demonstration became standard in 1992</span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Mens</span> <ul> <li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul>
