Northern California Speedskating Association

Information

  • What is Short Track Speedskating?
  • What is the Northern California Speedskating Association?
  • How can I learn to speedskate?
  • Who can skate?
  • When is the Short Track season?
  • When/where are the practice sessions & what do they cost?
  • When/where are the races?
  • Where can I buy equipment?
  • What kind of boots do I need?
  • What kind of blades do I need?
  • What equipment do I need?
  • What clothes should I wear?
  • Where are the rinks?
  • How can I borrow loaner skates and equipment?
  • Can I get more information?
  • Can I learn about speedskating on the internet?

    • What is Short Track Speedskating?

    Short track speedskating is racing on ice on a 111 meter track. It's highly tactical and requires strength, endurance and skill. It is an Olympic sport and there are State, National and World Championships every year. Short track is pack-style racing among groups of 4 to 6 skaters. Speeds can approach 30 mph during sprint races. Races are from 111 meters for tiny tots up to 10k for adults. A standard meet will have a 500m, 1000m and a 1500m race for most skaters. A 3000m race or a relay is included if time permits.

    What is the Northern California Speedskating Association?

    The NCSA is an affiliate of U.S. Speedskating, the governing body of speedskating from the Club level to the Olympic level. The NCSA came into existence in 1988 to support Short Track ice speedskating at the Club level in the Bay Area and has expanded to the Sacramento Area. The Clubs within the Association currently are the Oakland Ice Speedskaters (Oakland), the Silicon Valley Short Circuits (San Jose), the Golden Gate Speedskaters (Berkeley) and the Sierra Speedskaters (Roseville). The Clubs put on race meets every year, host the State Championships every other year and have hosted the National Championships most recently in 1999. The Clubs provide reserved ice time for structured Short Track speedskating practice sessions, coaching, padded rink walls and some loaner equipment. There are active NCSA members living throughout Northern California, including past and present National Champions of all age levels.

    How can I learn to speedskate?

    Public sessions are a good place to learn basic speed skating skills. Having your own skates that you are familiar with is helpful. Our speed sessions have a portion of time devoted to lessons and training drills. The focus of the sessions will change throughout the year. The summer months are usually oriented towards skating skills, strength and endurance. The winter months are geared more towards speed, tactics and racing techniques. Members of the ASU are entitled to attend skating clinics at a modest cost. The clinics are usually run by National and World Class skaters and coaches. For more information, call one of the numbers listed on this sheet.

    Who can skate?

    Anyone can skate. Our members are from 6 to 70 years old, from novice ability up to National Class ability. Our members vary from casual skaters who skate for fitness, to highly competitive skaters. Cyclists, runners and inline skaters use short track for cross training.

    When is the Short Track season?

    Regular speed sessions continue throughout the year with more emphasis on technique and endurance during the summer months. Short track racing starts in October and continues through April.

    When/where* are the practice sessions & what do they cost**?

    
Saturday   5:15PM to  6:45PM  Oakland Ice Center - $15 adult, $10 child
       
Sunday    11:30AM to  1:00PM  San Jose-Logitech Ice Center- $9
    
TBA       TBA                Berkeley Iceland- we practice at public sessions
         
Saturday   1:30PM to  2:45PM  Roseville Skatetown- $13
      

*
  • Take me to ice rink addresses, driving directions, website links.

**1st speed session is FREE! Monthly discount rates available. Loaner equipment rental is FREE!

    • When and where are the races?

    The local meets are held at Berkeley Iceland, Oakland Ice Center, and the San Jose Ice Centre. Skaters also travel up and down the West Coast to regional meets in Los Angeles, Eugene, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington and Canada. The Nationals and World Team Championships are held at various locations around the United States. The U.S. World Team competes internationally and in the winter Olympics.

    Where can I buy equipment online?

    Bont.com
    Speedskating boots, blades, sharpening jigs & stones, accessories...
  • Contact Glenn Koshi, local rep at 714/969-4881
    glenn@bont.com
    SkatePro.com
    Boots, blades, helmets, accessories...
    SpeedDemon.biz
    Skinsuits, tights, jackets, kevlar shinpads...

    • What kind of boots should I buy?

    Short track boots are made of carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass and leather. There are two studs or bolt holes spaced 6 1/2" apart on the sole. These are used to attach blades or inline frames to the bottom of the boot. Currently the most popular "off-the-shelf" boot is the Bont 'Hustler', available in standard models or custom ones made from casts of feet. If price is a factor, there is the entry level Bont Sharkie boot. Custom boots are available from Bont, Ram, Marchese, and several private manufacturers in the US.

    What kind of blades should I buy?

    Blades vary in length from 13" to 18". The width of the blades can vary from 1.1mm to 1.4 mm. Hardness can vary from 60 rockwell to 68 rockwell. Speed skating blades are flat ground as compared to the hollow ground found on figure or hockey skates. Brand new blades should be sharpened before you skate on them. The handling characteristics of blades are determined by their length, width, radius, bend and composition. In general, as blade surface in contact with the ice increases, top speed also increases, but then maneuverability decreases. Popular blades are Zandstra, Pennington, Swift, Darkstar and Viking. Zandstra offers a wide selection of blades and is most popular among beginning skaters.

    What equipment do I need?

    All speed skaters should have:
    Boots, blades, helmet(mandatory-bike OK), gloves(mandatory-any), long-sleeved shirt (mandatory), neckguard (mandatory for races), eye protection, wrenches, blade covers, and towel to dry blades..
    The following items are recommended:
    Sharpening jig, sharpening stones, and deburring stones, .

    What clothes should I wear?

    Skinsuits, tights or sweats with long-sleeved shirts, and a warm-up jacket.

    Where are the rinks?

    Oakland Ice Center
    (510) 268-9000 www.oaklandice.com
    519 18th Street. Take BART to 19th St. exit or 980 to the 17th/18th St. exit and the rink is on 18th St. between Telegraph and San Pablo Avenues.

    San Mateo Ice Chalet *reopened summer 1999*
    (650) 574-1616
    2202 Bridgepointe Parkway in Shopping Center. Take 101 to San Mateo, 92 East, take Mariners Island Blvd ,cross back over the freeway and head east towards Fashion Island Mall. The rink is located inside the mall by the movie theatre.
    From the East Bay 92 West, take Fashion Island Blvd, left at the stop light and straight to the mall.

    Berkeley Iceland
    (510) 843-8800 Berkeley Iceland
    Take 80 to Berkeley, exit Ashby East, left on Martin Luther King Blvd, right on Derby, go for one block to Milvia.

    Belmont Iceland
    (415) 592-0532
    Take 101 to Belmont, exit at Ralston (West) Right on Industrial Blvd (past Wendy's), rink is on the right side of the street.

    San Jose- Logitech Ice Centre
    (408) 279-6000 www.icecentresj.com
    1500 So. 10th Street. Take 101 to 280, get off at 10th Street. South on 10th (one way) for about 1 mile. Ice Centre is the large building past the athletic field on the left hand side of the street.

    San Francisco: Yerba Buena Ice Center
    (415)777-3727 www.skatebowl.com
    750 Folsom Street between 3rd and 4th. Go up the outside stairway to the second floor entrance.

    Sacramento Area: Roseville Skatetown
    (916)783-8550 www.skatetown-roseville.com
    1009 Orlando Avenue. From SF Bay Area: I-80 North. When I-80 splits at Sacramento, follow the sign toward Reno. Take the Riverside "exit" and stay right on the off ramp, go through the light to Orlando Ave. (parallels I-80 on your left), the ice arena is on the right.

    Other Local Rinks:
    Dublin Iceland (510)829-4400

    Fremont Ice-O-Plex (510)490-6621

    Cupertino-Vallco (408)446-2906

    Redwood City Ice Oasis (650)555-1212

    How can I borrow loaner skates and equipment?

    

  • Send an email to 
    Loaner Skate Request or call us at(510)886-0565 with the following information: the date and ice rink where you'll need skates, your street shoe size, height/weight, and skating ability. We also have loaner helmets and knee pads available.

IMPORTANT:  SKATERS BORROWING EQUIPMENT MUST ARRIVE 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SKATING SESSION!

    • Can I get more information about the Association and Clubs?

     

  • Oakland Info: Kimon
    kimon@iat.com

  • Berkeley Info: Kristen:
    speeddemonbiz@go.com

  • Roseville Info: Glenn:
    outings1@msn.com 

  • San Jose Info: Paul
    Zamoly@aol.com  (415)345-8905



  • NCSA: Mary
    sk8sicle@attbi.com(510)886-0565

  • beginner's coach: Eileen
    Obsidian56@aol.com

    • Can I learn about speedskating on the internet

    Feedback

    For comments or suggestions concerning this document, please contact Kristen Diemont
    skatesuits@sbcglobal.net

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