When can I speedskate

Time of year - Speedskating can be found year-round. It depends on your goals and the current level you are at. Beginners are encouraged to start out slow and enjoy the trip! Enjoying an introduction to the sport is easier in programs that take one to two hours per week for six to eight weeks. As you progress and set goals, you can determine how much time to put in and when you want to do it.

For younger kids and all recreational athletes, we recommend a lot of variety - doing several different sports or activities rather than focusing on ice speedskating year-round. Shorter exposures of a few weeks or months are enough to build skills at the beginning. At the very extreme high end, the National Team athletes train 10 to 11 months out of the year. Most of the time training in the "off-season" or summer months involves more activities off the ice than on it - inline skating, cycling, mountain biking, skateboarding, wakeboarding, water skiing, swimming, running, Tae-Kwon-Do and other martial arts, dryland training involving pliometrics, weight training and other activities can all be part of the speedskater's routine. Other sports such as baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, track & cross country, tennis, golf, football, field hockey and more are enjoyed by speedskaters and help their skating too. Speedskaters are also snow boarding and snow skiing (downhill and cross-country) enthusiasts in the winter.

The "regular season" where the focus shifts to ice competition starts in the middle of October and runs through the end of March for the National Team level skaters. Programs for getting novices on the ice vary from 6 to 8 weeks in December and January to longer ones that start in late October/early November and run through late February/early March. Clubs and rinks also offer special "off season" ice programs that run 6 to 8 sessions between the months of April and September. There are also a wide range of summer camps that last anywhere from a half day to a weekend to one or two weeks. These camps are offered everywhere from local rinks on up through Olympic Training Centers and facilities like the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, UT, and the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, WI. The camps often have a number of fun activities that are related to skating but provide variety, fun, and, social as well as physical benefits.

Time of week and day - this depends on the club and rink or natural ice where you live. Speedskaters can practice individually as well as in small groups too, so there is lots of flexibility. Clubs try to schedule sessions when it is convenient for the majority of members and when ice is available. Sessions may be held on any day of the week and at any time of the day before school/work or in the early evenings. Most speedskaters have access to one, two, or three sessions a week. Again, how often you speedskate is an individual decision depending on your skill, experience, and goals. Skate as often as it is fun for you. For some drills, lightly attended public skate sessions can even be used. For those just starting out, getting all the ice time you can at public sessions can be a big help. Skaters in programs affiliated with schools or after-school programs, or those who are home-schooled, can often take advantage of ice during the mid-day hours when demand is light. Inline skating practices and other off-ice training can be done in a variety of times and places .