Short and long track speed skating athletes from around the United States come to Salt Lake City.

In partnership with U.S. Speedskating and the Utah Sports Commission the Utah Olympic Oval will be hosting the U.S. Speed Skating Championships on January 6, 7 and 8, 2017. For the first time, both Short and Long Track U.S. Championships will be at the same venue on the same dates. Race officials anticipate a field of 160 of the best U.S. short and long track speed skating athletes to race in hopes to qualify for a spot representing the U.S. in the prestigious World Cup and World Cup Sprint circuits. Admission to this world class event is free.

Spectators will be invited to participate in a community festival on Saturday held inside the Oval arena. The community festival will open at noon on Saturday. Family-friendly activities include bounce houses, corn hole, and sponsor pop up stores as well as food and beverage offerings.

In addition to all the action, there will be a series of Short Track races the U.S. skaters do during the season called the American Cup Series. “AmCups” are held throughout the season each in a different city. Points from the U.S. Championships will count towards the “AmCup” series.

Long and Short Track Quick Explanation:

All long track races are held in pairs, for which two lanes on the track are used. Skaters wear bands around their upper arm to identify which lane they started in. The colors are white for inner lane and red for outer lane. On the back straight, the skaters switch lanes, which causes them both to cover the same distance per lap.

Different from long track speed skating, short track features a mass-start with up to six skaters and high-paced, high-contact skating action. The competition takes place on an international-sized ice hockey rink measuring 60 meters by 30 meters.

Competition Schedule:

Friday, December 6:
Long Track (Doors at 8 a.m.; Trials 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST)
Short Track (Doors at 8 a.m.: Qualifiers 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. MST)

Saturday, December 7:
Long Track (Doors at 8 a.m.; Competition 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MST)
Short Track (Doors at 8 a.m.: Competition 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. MST)

Sunday, December 8:
Long Track (Doors at 8 a.m.; Competition 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. MST)
Short Track (Doors at 8 a.m.: Competition 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. MST)

Family Festival

Spectators will be invited to participate in a community festival on Saturday held inside the Oval arena. The community festival will open at noon on Saturday. Family-friendly activities include bounce houses, corn hole, and sponsor pop up stores as well as food and beverage offerings. The community festival is held in partnership with U.S. Speedskating.

“We are always excited to host part of the U.S. Speed Skating Championships but having both Long and Short Track here at the same time makes this event even more special,” said Derek Parra, Utah Olympic Oval Sport Director. “This event will also give the public a preview of Olympic Trials and the road to the 2018 Olympics.”

Home to the ‘Fastest Ice on Earth,’ the Olympic Oval has set over 86 world records since 2002. For more information on this event, race schedules, or other events please visit UtahOlympicLegacy.org.