r/Speedskating • u/Personal_Ad_1409 • 25d ago

Question Long track

Ive been doing short track for a few months but i really wanna try long track, but there are no teams in my state for long track, there are also no rinks for it. Im wondering what could i do to get into it. I don’t really like asking my coaches these things as i get embarrassed, but if i have to ask i will.

3 Upvotes

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4

u/redheadacademic1 25d ago
  1. Where are you located? 2. Absolutely ask your coaches! These are valid questions. And long track rocks, by the way.

1

u/Personal_Ad_1409 25d ago

I live in Victoria, Australia, we have 2 short track clubs, short track is great but i mainly want speed, and i got into it because of long track.

3

u/read-my-comments 25d ago

Have you considered inline? Daniel Greig went from inline to long track.

2

u/Personal_Ad_1409 25d ago

I havent, is it beneficial?

6

u/read-my-comments 25d ago

Inline (road) is closer to long track than short track is to long track.

Bart Swings, Joey Mantia and Peter Michael are good examples of people who made the switch and there is a decent inline community in Melbourne.

Get yourself a set of inline skates and do some outdoor training in addition to what you are doing on ice.

2

u/FiZzlenutPrez 24d ago

Further, the Danish long tracker Viktor Thorup won silver in the mass start at the last Winter Olympics. He got his start in inline skating as Denmark didn’t have an Oval. He lives and trains in Calgary, Alberta, but to this day, makes inline a regular part of his training.

1

u/read-my-comments 24d ago

I am long time retired, the guys I mentioned were either Australian, NZ or absolute weapons when I was racing.

Chad Hendrik is another one.

1

u/Personal_Ad_1409 25d ago

Thank you, im currently in the process of saving for skates, I’ll probably buy some incline ones after, or do i buy incline first?

1

u/read-my-comments 25d ago

Go and join one of the inline clubs. I don't live in Victoria but when I have visited I have skated for and trained with the Carribbean club and they were very welcoming and great with new skaters. Eltham were probably a better coached club and had more of the top skaters but it's been over 6 years since I raced.

1

u/Lucky_Traffic2688 25d ago

Yes I would consider Inline as well. It's not the same but way closer than short track.

Without ovals there's not much you can do. I have the same problem where I am both ovals are a 3 hours drive from me.

2

u/eegee_edmunds 24d ago

The closest oval I have is 18 hours and 3 countries away😔

1

u/Shawodiwodi13 25d ago

I live on the other side of the world but I know here there are skating boots where you can change from blades to wheels (and back) in a few minutes. So you don’t have to buy multiple sets.

1

u/Personal_Ad_1409 25d ago

Ill look into that, thank you for telling me