Speed Skating

Speed Skating
Speed skating takes place on three distinctly different tracks over a number of distances ranging from 200m time trials to 42 km marathons.
Flat track racing takes place on a 100m tack, such as at our Nelson rink. Stadiums with wooden floors are often used for national competitions.
Banked track racing is on a 200m outdoor track that has banking on the corners. The nearest banked track is in Blenheim and training sometimes takes place there especially prior to Bank Track Nationals.
Road skating can take place on any road but is generally on Go Kart or cycle tracks as at Trafalgar park, Nelson.

Nelson City Council have included in their plans an 800m road track at the Saxton Field Complex, due for completion prior to 2010.

Speed skating started in Nelson over fifty years ago when the Nelson Roller Sports Club was formed. Since then the club has produced many National champions in all grades and in most years has had a member represent New Zealand at Oceania or World Championships.

Learn to Blade
Before you can enjoy speed skating you need to be able to skate to a reasonable standard and to help you achieve this we run Learn to Blade classes on Sunday mornings from 10.00 to 11.ooam during school terms. Just turn up, $5 per person including skate hire or $40 per person per term.

Equipment
Speed skates and cycle helmet, skin suit.

Training Times
Monday 6.30 - 8.00pm
Thursday 7.00 - 8.00pm
Coaching takes place all year round except school holidays, with Beginners starting at 6.30pm.
During the summer months there is additional outdoor training over four extra days for competitive skaters.

Coach
Alan Bartlett: 035473073 evenings