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Equipment List
Following is the typical equipment list for short track speed skating and
approximate prices.
 | Mandatory Equipment
 | Skates ($300-$800, rentals available from the club) |
| Plastic skate guards ($20, for walking, available from
Special Equipment) |
| Soakers ($20, terry cloth covers to protect blades when not in use,
available from Special Equipment) |
| Helmet ($25-$100, bicycle helmet accepable) |
| Neck guard ($30, available from
Special Equipment) |
| Knee pads ($20, available from Dicks or Sports Authority, avoid hard
plastic covered pads as they don't slow down slides after a fall) |
| Gloves |
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| Desirable Equipment
| Under Armor or equivalent (tops and bottoms, 2 layers for warmth) |
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| Optional Equipment
| Skin Suit ($120-$200, typically ordered in batches through the club) |
| Cut proof suit ($250) |
| Sport glasses (for eye protection) |
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Short Track
Short Track speed skating takes place on a 111.12 meter oval on either a
standard hockey rink or larger Olympic rink. Following are the distances in
meters and number of laps of several short track races:
| 222 meters = 2 laps |
| 333 meters = 3 laps |
| 444 meters = 4 laps |
| 500 meters = 4.5 laps |
| 611 meters = 5.5 laps |
| 777 meters = 7 laps |
| 1000 meters = 9 laps |
| 1500 meters = 13.5 laps |
| 3000 meters = TIRED LEGS! (27 laps) |
The 500 meter world record for men on the short track is less than 42
seconds. That is about 27 mph, but because a skater's path is longer than the
measured oval, skaters may actually be going faster than 30 mph!
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