The ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating series kicks off on November 14-15 in Groningen (NED) where the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, Team Sprint and Mass start will take place. On November 28-29 the second leg will take place in Berlin (GER) with the same distances as in Groningen. The skaters will have one last chance to compete before the Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG) in Baselga di Piné (ITA) on January 16-17, 2016. The final event the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating event will take place in Changchun (CHN) on March 5-6, 2016, one week before the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships 2016. At the last two events the Team Sprint will be replace by the Team Pursuit.
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 the senior level. All skaters skate in one division and the scheduled races are over 500m, 1000m, 1500m , 3000m and Mass Start races over 10 laps (individual events) as well as the Team Pursuit (6 laps for Ladies and 8 for Men) and Team Sprint over 3 laps for both Men and Ladies. 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. However the first two events are the qualifying events for the WYOG which will take place in Lillehammer (NOR) next February. A number of new junior skaters are expected to compete which promises to be an exciting Youth Olympic Games season.