Inline speed skating

Inline speed skating race at the 2012 World Championships in Ascoli Piceno, Italy.

Inline speed skates

Speed skating is a discipline in inline skating , in which national and international competitions such as world championships and European championships are held regularly . The Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports pursues the goal of including the sport in the Olympic sports . Inline speed skating is a sport of the World Games ( results ).

competition

tactics

The tactical orientation of a speed skating race is very similar to that of a bike race . By using the slipstream , so-called trains or groups are created. During the race, attacks are often made in order to shake off slow or unpleasant opponents or with the aim of breaking away and making the race decision without a mass sprint . The organization in teams results in different roles for the individual team members, similar to those in cycling races. Often there is a mass sprint in which each team tries to lead its leader to victory through suitable (permitted) measures.

Types of competition

Endurance race over the marathon distance at the European Championships 2005 in Ludwigsfelde.

The competitions go over different distances and are held on different courses.

Track racing: Track races are held on concrete, asphalt or plastic circular tracks with a uniform surface, which are between 125 m and 400 m long. It is run around to the left, i.e. counterclockwise when viewed from above.

Road racing: A street course is represented by a cordoned off street; the route does not have to be self-contained, so that the start and finish can be different. In contrast to track races, a street course can contain right-hand curves; Height differences and changing surfaces are undesirable and unusual, but possible with a longer course. The length of road courses varies between 250 m and 10,000 m.
Endurance racing: These races are also suitable for fitness skaters. Because the longer route lengths (half marathon and marathon routes are typical, but there are also races on other distances) and the few corners offer drivers with good fitness or less technical skills an impressive experience on closed roads.

Indoor racing: Races in the hall are reminiscent of short track due to the short lap length . In addition, other disciplines such as rolling dexterity are also included here. These are well suited for beginners, as the distances are short and the races can be run without undesirable effects such as rain, wind or poor surface.

equipment

Basic equipment

The equipment of a speed skater consists of at least one pair of speed skates . A racing suit made of close-fitting fabric is also standard . It reduces air resistance and makes it difficult to pull on the jersey.

protective gear

A helmet is compulsory in most races and is worn by everyone. Most wear a sports helmet like in a cycling race.

Protectors are not worn by all athletes, which is due to the increased freedom of movement.

technology

The ice skating step in speed skating differs most noticeably from fitness skating in that it is deeper. A lower center of gravity is more important than reducing air resistance by positioning the upper body as low as possible. This allows the leg to make a longer impression and thus increases control. To do this, the knees must be bent sharply. As in speed skating , one tries to slide as long as possible (on one leg) and to achieve propulsion by shifting body weight. The glide phase is released by pressing the glide leg. This essentially involves pressing over the heel while the body's center of gravity moves away from the offending leg. At the end of this impression, the new glide leg touches down and the skate of the extended impression leg releases from the ground. In the recovery phase, or also called the return phase, it is guided in a semicircle back to the starting position behind the glide leg.

Only at the beginning of the sliding phase and at the end of the push-off phase do both skates have simultaneous contact with the ground for a short time ( double support phase ). It is crucial for the push-off movement that the leg and the side of the body stay in one line. This is the only way that the kick hits the body's center of gravity, which leads to effective acceleration and driving style.

The arms are either moved in the opposite direction to the legs, as when running, or placed on the back for long distances to save strength.

Competition series

Prologue of the German Blade Challenge 2006 as a team time trial, held in Wilhelmshaven

In Germany, three series of events have established themselves in the last few years: nationwide, the German Blade Challenge (GBC) and the German Inline Cup (GIC) for top performers as well as for fitness athletes; There are also various regional cups, for example in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and in the north and east.

The GBC had its origins in Hamburg and was gradually expanded into a nationwide series as the Jever Blade Challenge with events in Saarbrücken, Bochum, Frankfurt and Berlin, for example. Top and ambitious club athletes, performance-oriented fitness skaters and, more recently, children and young people with special competitions for young talent are addressed. The GBC took place for the last time in 2009.
The GIC was launched in 2008 and is organized by the same organizer as the World Inline Cup (WIC) and the Swiss Inline Cup (SIC). In addition to the two half marathons in Berlin, the marathon in Cologne and in the Middle Rhine Valley are part of this series. In 2010 Bremen and possibly Geisingen will be added as event locations.
The regionally organized series are an ideal introduction to competitive sports. They offer both committed club teams and individual athletes a common platform. Both GBC and Regiocup events are licensed by the DRIV umbrella association and thus guarantee the participating athletes a minimum standard of safety and service.

German championships

The German championships in speed skating take place every year.

There are also German championship titles in road competitions in the half marathon , the marathon , the double marathon (84.39 km) and, since 2006, also in the team time trial and team pursuit (for club and national teams) as well as in the German junior and senior championships on the track.

The races are started and evaluated in the individual age groups. The winner in the main class is the German champion. The winners in all other age groups are German champions in their age group. Men and women are rated separately.

Well-known speed skaters

French speed skaters warming up (European Championships 2004 in Barañain , Spain )

The best athletes traditionally come from Italy , Colombia , Korea , France and the USA . These countries have good conditions for athletes, children are introduced to inline skating at an early age . Learning technology and tactics early on will later make driving in the world's elite easier.

Sorted by nation and alphabetically