Short distances speed skating races started in the 18th century
The interest of the Dutch population in skating did not change in the 18th century but there was one new element in the skating scene: the first speed skating races on short distances were organized. The first announcement of a race, that is known, was made in 1763 in the “Groninger courant”. It said that 13 January in the afternoon a skating championship would be held with as price for the fastest skater a very nice silver knife and fork.
In 1676 two skating races were announced, one in Baard and the other in Menaldum, two villages very close to each other. Special in these announcements was that the races were open for skaters who so far had not won any price. It seems that there were at that time already many races held and that the winners of these races often were the same skaters. In order to promote the participation these people were excluded in such local races.
In 1676 two skating races were announced, one in Baard and the other in Menaldum, two villages very close to each other. Special in these announcements was that the races were open for skaters who so far had not won any price. It seems that there were at that time already many races held and that the winners of these races often were the same skaters. In order to promote the participation these people were excluded in such local races.
This information comes from a very impressive book of Ron Couwenhoven “Hardrijderijen in Friesland, Volkscultuur op het ijs 1800-1900”. He also mentions that about the results of the different races in the 18th century little is known but there are legends which are told over and over again, especially about one skating star, Adam Ruurds also known as the Hurdrider.
It is said about him that he could skate extremely fast, 16 ellen in a second. An “el” is 0.688 meter so it means that his speed would have been 39,6km/hour. They also told that he jumped over an open space in the ice of 22 voet at Oude Schouw. A “voet” is 30cm so he could jump on his skates 6.60m over an open space in the ice. If I would have been able to do so I would not have ended up in the water as I described before. Furthermore a member of the court of Friesland, Johan Vegelin van Claerbergen, wrote in his diary that he saw a man in Leppedijk jumping more than 3 meters high on his skates. This must have been Adam the Hurdrider because he lived in that village at that time. Given the position of this author this must be very reliable information. The last legend about Adam tells that he was challenged by the best skater of the province Groningen to compete with him. In the first race Adam was too self-confident and skated in his overcoat while his competitor skated in his underwear (there were yet no sportswear) and so Adam lost but when he also put off his heavy clothes, he beat his competitor by a landslide and they had to recognize that he was faster.
Adam the Hurdrider must have been a very special skater in that period but as a human being he was rather “normal for his time”: he married twice. With his first wife he had 2 children and 45 cows while with his second wife he had 10 children but only 27 cows, 2 horses and some sheep. Many of his children were also good skaters. He died in 1800.
This is the story of Adam the Hurdrider, the legend of the first short distances speed skating in the 18th century. In the 19th century this sport developed itself in the first skating sport on professional basis and obtained an enormous popularity.
It is said about him that he could skate extremely fast, 16 ellen in a second. An “el” is 0.688 meter so it means that his speed would have been 39,6km/hour. They also told that he jumped over an open space in the ice of 22 voet at Oude Schouw. A “voet” is 30cm so he could jump on his skates 6.60m over an open space in the ice. If I would have been able to do so I would not have ended up in the water as I described before. Furthermore a member of the court of Friesland, Johan Vegelin van Claerbergen, wrote in his diary that he saw a man in Leppedijk jumping more than 3 meters high on his skates. This must have been Adam the Hurdrider because he lived in that village at that time. Given the position of this author this must be very reliable information. The last legend about Adam tells that he was challenged by the best skater of the province Groningen to compete with him. In the first race Adam was too self-confident and skated in his overcoat while his competitor skated in his underwear (there were yet no sportswear) and so Adam lost but when he also put off his heavy clothes, he beat his competitor by a landslide and they had to recognize that he was faster.
Adam the Hurdrider must have been a very special skater in that period but as a human being he was rather “normal for his time”: he married twice. With his first wife he had 2 children and 45 cows while with his second wife he had 10 children but only 27 cows, 2 horses and some sheep. Many of his children were also good skaters. He died in 1800.
This is the story of Adam the Hurdrider, the legend of the first short distances speed skating in the 18th century. In the 19th century this sport developed itself in the first skating sport on professional basis and obtained an enormous popularity.