It is compulsory to wear head protection at all times during speed skating - racing or training. Most skaters choose to wear cycling helmets. Some also wear knee and hand protection, particularly outdoors - the tarmac is very unforgiving!
During each training session, we have a warm up. This usually involves gentle skating in a line-up with everyone following, from slowest to fastest. As the slower skaters finish their three laps the next faster skater picks up the pace. The idea of this is to get the muscles moving and warmed up ready for more vigorous training exercises. If you do sudden exercise without warming up, your muscles will suffer as a result.
Warm ups and stretching can help prevent injury. The body is about to undergo very highly physical activity during training and races. Speed skating is done with the legs and spine in a bent position. This position puts pressure on the hip joints and ankles and can cause pain in the sciatic nerve. Skaters have the added problem of skating in one direction (anti-clockwise). Some skaters suffer from nerve pain in the hip joints and down the legs. Regular gentle stretching of the limbs can help prevent injury. Another way to help avoid these injuries is to perform off-skate exercises in both directions, to keep the muscles and spine balanced. Try some of the exercises below before each skate session as well as at home. Our club skaters will recognise these exercises as some of the ones performed during boot camp. You can download a printable version of this here. Check the video out at the bottom of the page too. These exercises are great off-skate training.
