Vincent de Haitre (CAN) races in the Men's 1000m during the 2021 ISU World Cup Speed Skating competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. @ISU
After two autumn competitions in Stavanger (NOR) and Heerenveen (NED) in November, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series goes into full winter mode with back-to-back events in Calgary on December 9-11 and 16-18, 2022. Outdoor temperatures dip far below zero, but the ice under the roof of the Olympic Oval will be fast. Being the only track at altitude which the Skaters attend this international season, all eyes will be on the record boards.
Clash of generations in Men’s 1500m
The Friday program starts with an interesting 1500m battle. After two World Cups, Connor Howe (CAN) leads the ranking, with Jordan Stolz (USA) and Ning Zhongyan (CHN) in second place.
Connor Howe (CAN) competes in the Men's 1500m during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @ISU
Olympic Champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) is ranked only 16th, and runner-up Thomas Krol (NED) 6th. The Dutchmen have dominated the 1500m over the past couple of years, but they face strong competition from the new generation. In Heerenveen, Nuis and Krol showed that they’re still a force to reckon with, coming in second and third.
Kjeld Nuis (NED), Connor Howe (CAN) and Thomas Krol (NED) at the podium ceremony after competing in the Men's A Group 1500m during the 2022 Speedskating World Cup 2 in Heerenveen, Netherlands @ISU
The rise of a new generation motivates Nuis to raise his game once more. After his silver medal in Heerenveen he said: “It triggers me. It’s what I had with Denis Yuskov (RUS) in the past and Shani Davis (USA). I wanted to show myself once more [facing the new generation].“
Yuskov still holds the 1500m track record in Calgary. The retired Russian skated a time of one minute and 0.33s on December 3, 2017.
After having won the 1500m at the Four Continents Championships last week in Quebec City, Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (CAN) is in the mix for a medal too.
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Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (CAN) competes in the Mens 5000m race during the 2022 ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.@ISU
He skated a track record on the Gaétan Boucher Oval and commented: “The track record [in Quebec] was owned by Connor Howe (CAN), who just won his first World Cup. So it tells me that I can be very competitive in 1500m.”
Legendary Kramer record
In the Men’s 5000m on Saturday, Patrick Roest (NED) might have the track record in the back of his mind. It’s the oldest track record in an Olympic distance at the Calgary Oval. Sven Kramer (NED), who retired last year, stopped the clock at 6 minutes and 3.32s on November 17, 2007.
Last year Nils van der Poel (SWE), who had just set a 5000m world record a week before in Salt Lake City, took on Kramer’s time, but he came just under a second short.
Roest was not able to beat Van der Poel in the long distances last season, but he won the first two World Cup races this season.
Patrick Roest (NED) competes in the Men's 1500m during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating^in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @ISU
He cannot beat Van der Poel anymore, because the Olympic Champion has left the Speed Skating circuit, but beating the legendary Kramer track record in Calgary may offer some redemption.
Bowe returns to the ice
In the Women’s competition, Brittany Bowe (USA) returns to the ice. The 34-year-old American had a slow start to the post-Olympic season and skipped the first two World Cups in Europe. On Friday she will skate the 500m, but her strongest distances would normally be the 1500m on Saturday and the 1000m on Sunday.
Brittany Bowe (USA) reacts in the Women's 1000m during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @ISU
The 500m has been the exclusive domain of Min Sun Kim (KOR) so far this season. The 23-year-old Korean won the World Cups in Stavanger and Heerenveen, and also added her second Four Continents 500m title in Quebec last week.
Jutta Leerdam (NED) comes second in the 500m World Cup ranking with Vanessa Herzog (AUT) third and Olympic champion Erin Jackson (USA) fourth.
Leerdam leads the 1000m World Cup, with Miho Takagi (JPN) in second place. The Japanese Olympic 1000m Champion leads the 1500m World Cup.
Miho Takagi (JPN) competes in the Women's 3000m during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @ISU
With Bowe back in the mix, the Women’s middle distances may get a new dynamic this season. Takagi holds the 1500m track record in 1:50.33, skated on February 8, 2020, but the 1000m track record is five years old. Heather Bergsma-Richardson (USA) stopped the clock at 1:12.28 on February 26, 2017.
Schouten bounces back
In the Women’s long distances, triple Olympic Champion Irene Schouten (NED) had a sloppy start to the season, coming second in the 3000m and third in the Mass Start in Stavanger. She bounced back winning both distances in Heerenveen, and conquering the lead in the Women’s long distances World Cup over Ragne Wiklund (NOR), who had won in Stavanger.
Irene Schouten (NED) competes in the Women's 3000m during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @ISU
Marijke Groenewoud (NED) leads the Mass Start World Cup after having come second twice, first behind Ivanie Blondin (CAN) in Stavanger, and then behind Schouten in Heerenveen.
Valérie Maltais (CAN) won the Mass Start at the Four Continents tournament in Quebec City last week. It will be interesting to see how the team dynamics for both the Dutch and the Canadians play out in Calgary.
Program
The first Calgary World Cup starts with the 1500m and the Team Pursuit for Men, and the 500m and 3000m for Women. On Saturday the Women will skate the 1500m and the Team Pursuit, while the Men take on the 500m and the 5000m, and the Sunday schedule features the 1000m and Mass
For all information about the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.
World Cup Standings - Men
World Cup Standings - Women
Where to watch
Viewers will be able to watch the World Cup sessions (local time) via their national broadcaster/channel.
For countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to watch webpage here.
ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series events 2022/23:
Nov 11 - 13, 2022 Stavanger /NOR
Nov 18 - 20, 2022 Heerenveen/ NED
Dec 09 - 11, 2022 Calgary /CAN
Dec 16 - 18, 2022 Calgary /CAN
Feb 10 - 12, 2023 Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL
Feb 17 - 19, 2023 World Cup Final - Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL
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