The fifth edition of the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating series kicks off on November 15, 2012.  

The series gives young Speed Skaters a platform to compete at top international junior level and provides additional challenges and nurtures competitive spirit as athletes move towards senior level. In the ISU Junior World Cup series the participants are either A or B juniors, which means they are in the last four years of being eligible to participate at junior level (aged 15-19 years). They skate all in one division and the scheduled races are over 500m, 1000m, 1500m , 3000m and Mass Start races (individual events) as well as the Team Pursuit for both Men and Ladies. The 5000m Men race will not take place this season. The Ladies’ Mass Start races will be over 8 laps and the Men’s over 12 laps. The Ladies skate 6 laps in the Team Pursuit and the Men skate 8 laps.  The event is financially supported through the ISU Development Program and prize money is awarded to the best three skaters or teams in the final overall classification of each distance/event. Skaters can earn points through the ISU Junior World Cups Speed Skating series.

The skaters have four opportunities to participate in the ISU Junior World Cup competitions. Twice in a Regional World Cup, so skaters do not have to travel to another continent, once in the Global World Cup and once at the Final.  The series starts on November 15-16 for the American Continent with a Regional Junior World Cup in Calgary (CAN), while the European juniors meet in Minsk (BLR) on November 17-18. The first Asian Regional World Cup will take place in Changchun (CHN) on December 29-30, in combination with the Regional Qualifying Event for the World Allround Championships. Both Ladies and Men will compete in 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m and the Mass Start.  Skaters from all continents can participate in the Global World Cup which will take place in Inzell (GER) on December 8-9.

The second Regional World Cups will be held in January 2013. The Europeans will compete on January 12-13 in Baselga di Pine (ITA), and for the Asians and North Americans on January 19-20 in Astana (KAZ) and Roseville (USA) respectively.
The Junior season will finish with the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Final in Collalbo (ITA) on February 16-17 and a week later the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships will also take place in Collalbo on February 22-24.
Previously skaters were able to gain points towards the World Cup at the ISU Junior World Speed Skating Championships, however this is no longer the case.

Last year’s winners were Letitia de Jong (NED, 500m), Antoinette de Jong (NED, 1000m), Pien Keulstra (NED, 1500m), Do-Yeong Park (KOR, 3000m and mass start). In the Men’s category the winners were Woo-Jin Kim (KOR, 500m, 1000m), Thomas Krol (NED, 1500m, 3000m), Kai Verbij (NED, Mass Start). In Team Pursuit Korea won both the Ladies’ and Men’s races.  Antoinette de Jong (NED) skated a strong Dutch Championships and decided to compete at the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating event in Heerenveen while Thomas Krol qualified for the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series and will therefore start competing at Senior level. A number of new junior skaters are expected to compete which promises to be an exciting pre-Olympic season.

For full entries and results please refer to www.isu.org