MISSION STATEMENT
We believe the Niagara Speed Skating club will provide coaching and mentoring to all ages of speed skaters whether their focus
is of a recreational or competitive nature. We believe the focus of all sports should include assisting the individual in
goal achievement, healthier lifestyle behaviors and finally personal enjoyment.
About Niagara Speed Skating club:
The Niagara Speed Skating Club was established as a nonprofit volunteer organization devoted to the training and development
of new, competitive and recreational short track speed skaters of all ages and abilities. We offer skilled instruction through
our nationally certified coaching team in the recreational and competitive context. We do not just train elite level skaters,
but welcome anyone who has a desire to lace on a pair of speed skates. Skaters of all ages or gender will find a place in
the club.
ABOUT SPEED SKATING:
Who should speed skate?
The Hockey Player:
Short track speed skating offers hockey players additional ice time to enhance their overall endurance and power as well
as speed. This allows them to stay in the game longer, skate harder and out-perform their opponents when it counts the most.
The Figure Skater:
Short track speed skating offers the figure skater similar benefits to that of the hockey player. Because of their fine
edge control figure skaters often grow to be highly competitive speed skaters. The NSSC boasts some very competitive former
figure skaters.
The Recreational and Beginner Skater:
Recreational skaters also receive instruction from OSSA (Ontario Speed Skating Association) coaches who first assist the
skater in technique and eventually racing against other skaters or against their own personal bests. NB: Many of our competitive
skaters started as recreational skaters.
What is Short Track?
Short track speed skating is an exciting and fast-paced, elimination sport that takes place on indoor rinks measuring
111.12 meters in length. Racers skate in form-fitting boots attached to ice blades measuring between 33 cm (13 in) and 46
cm (18 in) in length. Packs of 4 to 6 racers skate at tremendous speed in a counter-clockwise direction for a variety of
distances ranging from 500 m to 1500 m. Sometimes skaters will even compete in teams for longer distance relays measuring
either 3000 meters or 5000 meters.
After years of international competition, short-track speed skating was finally officially recognized as an Olympic sport
at the XVI Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France in 1992.
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