The 24h endurance test on skates
Since 1923 the 24 hours endurance test for sport cars has been organized in Le Mans in France. In 2000 the first 24hours endurance test for inline skaters was organized on the same circuit. In 2010 in Spain on the motor circuit in Calafat a similar event was organized for the first time. Since then both events have been organized every year. In Le Mans the skaters start at 4 am and go on till the next day 4am. In Calafat they start at 4 pm and go on till next day 4pm. One may wonder what the attraction is of such an event. Let me give you two possible answers.
Friendships for life
People participate normally as a team of 3, 4, 5 up to 10 persons. Especially the skaters, who come for the first time to such an event with a group skaters they know from other tours, wonder whether they are able to finish such a 24 hours endurance test. It is not easy to continue skating as a team all the time not only during the day but also in the night. The short version of the nice video of the last 24hours tour in Calafat made by Juan Palomas shows that many participants are skating long distances alone . If they are lucky it is not too hot but in Calafat there is in general at some parts where one has to skate against wind and uphill. This test requires coordination and support for less qualified skaters. So the group has to work well together to overcome the different pains, disappointments, exhaustion and injuries. If the group is working well together and the group succeeds in finishing the test together, the members will be surprised by themselves and know that it was due to the support they got from each other. This often makes a tremendous impression which can create friendships for life. The enthusiasm about the experience if often so big that they buy now speed skates to train for the next time.
People participate normally as a team of 3, 4, 5 up to 10 persons. Especially the skaters, who come for the first time to such an event with a group skaters they know from other tours, wonder whether they are able to finish such a 24 hours endurance test. It is not easy to continue skating as a team all the time not only during the day but also in the night. The short version of the nice video of the last 24hours tour in Calafat made by Juan Palomas shows that many participants are skating long distances alone . If they are lucky it is not too hot but in Calafat there is in general at some parts where one has to skate against wind and uphill. This test requires coordination and support for less qualified skaters. So the group has to work well together to overcome the different pains, disappointments, exhaustion and injuries. If the group is working well together and the group succeeds in finishing the test together, the members will be surprised by themselves and know that it was due to the support they got from each other. This often makes a tremendous impression which can create friendships for life. The enthusiasm about the experience if often so big that they buy now speed skates to train for the next time.
A record
Others go to such events to realize a record. This can have different forms. A famous one was realized by the speed skater Bart Swings who wanted to realize the fastest round in the circuit in Le Mans. In the video you can see how fast he is compared with the other skaters. In general the participants have other goals. Some people skate alone and want to skate as many kilometers as they can. This is also the aim of the different teams. |
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In the last edition of the 24h of Calafat the best team of 10 speed skaters realized 806km which means an average speed of 33.6 km per hour and this during 24 hours. In the same tour a woman from Belgium skated alone 408.25 km. She was faster than the best man who skated alone 396.5km.
There are also many teams of different sizes who compete with each other. In these groups the atmosphere can be very different from the team spirit I have described above. They are aiming at a record so they are in a hurry and so they make errors and are irritated. Even accidents occur due to this. However this is not necessary, one can also work together in harmony and with pleasure.
A very successful strategy, developed by Club Pati Barcelona (CPB) and possibly by others as well, was to start with two equally sized and qualified teams. CPB did this with a team of women and men. Each round there was a man of one team skating together with a women of the other team. As expected the team of women came at the first place that year while the men´s team was also not doing badly. It is a big advantage to skate together on such a circuit. Having to skate long distances against the wind alone is not a lot of fun.
There are also many teams of different sizes who compete with each other. In these groups the atmosphere can be very different from the team spirit I have described above. They are aiming at a record so they are in a hurry and so they make errors and are irritated. Even accidents occur due to this. However this is not necessary, one can also work together in harmony and with pleasure.
A very successful strategy, developed by Club Pati Barcelona (CPB) and possibly by others as well, was to start with two equally sized and qualified teams. CPB did this with a team of women and men. Each round there was a man of one team skating together with a women of the other team. As expected the team of women came at the first place that year while the men´s team was also not doing badly. It is a big advantage to skate together on such a circuit. Having to skate long distances against the wind alone is not a lot of fun.
The popularity of this endurance test
Recently I have seen that in the North of India also a 24 hours endurance test was organized. I have asked for more information but did not get it. Their video shows the circumstances under which this test was held. It was quite different from the earlier described tours but it seems that the enthusiasm was the same. saw on a Dutch website “Skeerertoerrijders” that also in The Netherlands on 1 and 2 September a 24hours endurance test will be held but this time on the artificial ice of Flevonice. |
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Comment by Willem Saris
If one skates alone the 24hours endurance test is certainly a hard test but even if one participates in a group of 4 or 6 skaters each participant still has to skate 6 or 4 hours in 24 hours. Only in larger teams the task per person becomes considerably reduced, for example with a group of 10 people each one has to skate only 2.4 hours.
What makes this endurance test hard is that a relatively limited number of people participate, in Calafat around 500 and in Le Mans around 6.000. Besides the problem is that most people skate alone whether it is because there are no other skaters or because one is not familiar to skate behind each other. In the real “Elfstedentocht” and the Alternative Elfstedentocht there are always groups of skaters and the skaters are accustomed, thanks to skating at an ice rink, to take advantage of going behind each other.
If one skates alone the 24hours endurance test is certainly a hard test but even if one participates in a group of 4 or 6 skaters each participant still has to skate 6 or 4 hours in 24 hours. Only in larger teams the task per person becomes considerably reduced, for example with a group of 10 people each one has to skate only 2.4 hours.
What makes this endurance test hard is that a relatively limited number of people participate, in Calafat around 500 and in Le Mans around 6.000. Besides the problem is that most people skate alone whether it is because there are no other skaters or because one is not familiar to skate behind each other. In the real “Elfstedentocht” and the Alternative Elfstedentocht there are always groups of skaters and the skaters are accustomed, thanks to skating at an ice rink, to take advantage of going behind each other.