Inline speed skating
Around the same time speed skating on roller skates started inthe USA and in Eurpe. In the USA , In the USA the first organized, national competition was held in 1938 in Detroit Michigan at the Arena Gardens Roller Rink, once home of "Detroit's Premier Sports Palace. The Arena opened in 1935 as roller skating began its ascension as a top sport.[16] In the early years, competitors representing the mid-west states, primarily Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio dominated the sport. By 1950 as rinks hired speed skating coaches who trained competitors, the east and west coast began to compete effectively for the national titles. But in the early years, national titles were dominated by Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
As rules were established for state and national competitions, the speed skating season began in fall and continued through spring leading up to a state tournament. Eventually approximately 1947, due to the growth of speed skating, the top three places at a state tournament would qualify skaters for a regional tournament. The top three places at regional tournaments then went on to compete at a national tournament. Skaters could qualify as individuals or as part of a two-person or four-person (relay) team. Qualification at regional events could warrant an invite to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO for a one-week training session on their outdoor velodrome. Inline speed skating is a competitive non-contact sport on inline skates. Variants include indoor, track and road racing, with many different grades of skaters, so the whole family can compete.
In Europe the first race took place in 1937, in Monza, Italy, the first skating world championship was unofficially held in the circuit modality only for men, with traditional skates. In 1938 the track modality was introduced. Due to the Second World War the championship was not held for ten years, after this period of time the world championship would be held again in Italy, in eight tournaments. In 1954 women began to compete in the world championship in Bari, Italy. In 1960 the World Skating Championships spread throughout Europe after changing the venues of the circuit competitions. A nice illustration of an European Championship on quads can be seen in the video below which was published recently by Mikel Navarro Ayensa in facebook about a speed skating race between Pamplona and Estellla in Spain in 1962.
As rules were established for state and national competitions, the speed skating season began in fall and continued through spring leading up to a state tournament. Eventually approximately 1947, due to the growth of speed skating, the top three places at a state tournament would qualify skaters for a regional tournament. The top three places at regional tournaments then went on to compete at a national tournament. Skaters could qualify as individuals or as part of a two-person or four-person (relay) team. Qualification at regional events could warrant an invite to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO for a one-week training session on their outdoor velodrome. Inline speed skating is a competitive non-contact sport on inline skates. Variants include indoor, track and road racing, with many different grades of skaters, so the whole family can compete.
In Europe the first race took place in 1937, in Monza, Italy, the first skating world championship was unofficially held in the circuit modality only for men, with traditional skates. In 1938 the track modality was introduced. Due to the Second World War the championship was not held for ten years, after this period of time the world championship would be held again in Italy, in eight tournaments. In 1954 women began to compete in the world championship in Bari, Italy. In 1960 the World Skating Championships spread throughout Europe after changing the venues of the circuit competitions. A nice illustration of an European Championship on quads can be seen in the video below which was published recently by Mikel Navarro Ayensa in facebook about a speed skating race between Pamplona and Estellla in Spain in 1962.
In 1966 the first official World Cup Skating Championship was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, thus expanding the sport in South America. This World Cup was attended by Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Belgium, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.109
Introduction of the inline skates
In 1992 the traditional skates were finally replaced by inline roller skates. The results of these world chapionships till the year 2000 are summarized below
In 1992 the traditional skates were finally replaced by inline roller skates. The results of these world chapionships till the year 2000 are summarized below
This table shows that the countries, USA and Italy, which took the initiative to develop speed skating on roller skates were still the strongest competitors after the move was. made to inline skates.We see also the first signs of the country that in the 21th century will play a mayor role in inline skating which is Columbia.
There is a video of the world championships in Rio del Plata in 1997. Below we show a part of the 20 km for men .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUyIrspR5C8
Ihe winner of this race was the American Chad Hedrick. He was at that time 20 years old. He also won other medals in this championship. He was one of the most successful inline skaters of the world. Later he participated in speed skating on ice, because he wanted also to participate in the Olympic games which was not possible as inline skater. There he was also very successful as will be reported later. This illustrates that inline skaters could also compete in the top of speed skating on ice. He introduced a new style of inline skating, the double push, which he also used when he realized his top results on the ice. We will come back to this issue in the next part.
Although speed skating on inline skates is very comparable with speed skating on ice, this sport has nevertheless not received the status of an Olympic sport while ice speed skating got this status long before. Probably this is mainly due to the historical development of the world organization for sports on wheels.
In 1924 the “Federation Internationale de Patinage a Roulette” (FIPR) was created. This organized a Rink hockey competition between a few national federations. The president of this organization from 1924-1960 was Fred Renkewitz who was also member of Olympic committee. In 1936 they organized the first World championship in Rink hockey and in 1938 the first world championships in roller speed skating. These championships were interrupted by WWII. In 1947 the international competition was started again in Washington with Rink hockey and artistic Roller skating.
In 1960 the name of the international organization was changed in “Federation International de Roller Skating” (FIRS) and was officially recognized by the IOC as official organization for all roller skating sports. In 1970 the word “Skating” in the name was substituted by “Sports”. This suggests that this organization wanted to cover all possible sports on wheels. Since then, this organization covers many different and rather new sports such as:
The ISU represents only speed skating on ice in different forms such as long track and short track at different distances. The ISU would also have been the proper organization for Inline speed skating but it ended up in a large organization with many very different activities. Some of these sports have been recognized as Olympic sport but speed skating on wheels has not be recognized so far. Therefore, some of the best inline skaters moved to speed skating on ice in order to be able to participate in the Olympic games. Chad Hedrick was one of them and a rather successful one as we will see in the next series of storied about skating in the 2001th century.
Although speed skating on inline skates is very comparable with speed skating on ice, this sport has nevertheless not received the status of an Olympic sport while ice speed skating got this status long before. Probably this is mainly due to the historical development of the world organization for sports on wheels.
In 1924 the “Federation Internationale de Patinage a Roulette” (FIPR) was created. This organized a Rink hockey competition between a few national federations. The president of this organization from 1924-1960 was Fred Renkewitz who was also member of Olympic committee. In 1936 they organized the first World championship in Rink hockey and in 1938 the first world championships in roller speed skating. These championships were interrupted by WWII. In 1947 the international competition was started again in Washington with Rink hockey and artistic Roller skating.
In 1960 the name of the international organization was changed in “Federation International de Roller Skating” (FIRS) and was officially recognized by the IOC as official organization for all roller skating sports. In 1970 the word “Skating” in the name was substituted by “Sports”. This suggests that this organization wanted to cover all possible sports on wheels. Since then, this organization covers many different and rather new sports such as:
- artistic skating,
- inline alpine skating,
- inline down-hill skating,
- inline free style skating,
- inline hockey,
- rink hockey,
- roller derby,
- roller free style,
- scootering,
- skate boarding,
- skate cross
- speed skating.
The ISU represents only speed skating on ice in different forms such as long track and short track at different distances. The ISU would also have been the proper organization for Inline speed skating but it ended up in a large organization with many very different activities. Some of these sports have been recognized as Olympic sport but speed skating on wheels has not be recognized so far. Therefore, some of the best inline skaters moved to speed skating on ice in order to be able to participate in the Olympic games. Chad Hedrick was one of them and a rather successful one as we will see in the next series of storied about skating in the 2001th century.