Michael Hubbs goes for long

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Michael Hubbs, the first culturally deaf ice speed skater to go for the Olympic trials has made a crucial decision on whether to compete in the Short Track Speed Skating or the Long Track Speed Skating while he continues training at the Olympic Oval ice rink in Calgary, Canada.

 
Long track ice rink, Calgary, Canada. For a larger, more impressive picture of the long track ice rink click here. 

He made his announcement in his Facebook yesterday on which ice track he will train and compete in:

"I made up my mind. I have decided that I will NO LONGER compete in Short Track Speed Skating. I have decided that I'm going to switch to and focus full time on Long Track Speed Skating. I would still skate SHORT TRACK as cross-training. A good benefit for Long Track. I'm seeing so much signs and I believe that is where my heart has lead me to. Thanks you all for your continuous support from the beginning."

On ice rink size the difference with the Short Track Speed Skating is that the rink is smaller in size.

It's been called the demolition derby of the Olympics. In short-track speed skating, competitors squeeze into a tight oval track measuring just 111 m (364 ft) around. At full speed, they jockey for position and often bump one another. Spills are frequent and sometimes nasty.

Short Track has eight events for the:

• 500 meters (men's and women's) 
• 1,000 meters (men's and women's) 
• 1,500 meters (men's and women's) 
• 3,000 meter relay (women's) 
• 5,000 meter relay (men's) 

For the Long Track Speed Skating the rink size is larger. Typically at 400 m (1312 feet or 1/4 mile) in length. This event requires stamina, speed and timing to win the race, especially on the longer ones.

The Long Track has 10 events for the:

• 500 meters (0.31 mile) (men's and women's) 
• 1,000 meters (0.62 mile) (men's and women's) 
• 1,500 meters (0.93 mile) (men's and women's) 
• 5,000 meters (3.10 miles) (men's and women's) 
• 3,000 meters (1.86 miles) (women's) 
• 10,000 meters (6.21 miles) (men's) 

The 2014 Winter Olympics will take place in Sochi, Russia and their ice rink is nearly complete and on track to finish with 14 months to go.  




If you want to support Michael Hubbs in his true Olympic quest for the gold in the Long Track Ice Skating competition visit his donation page and contribute!

Good luck, Michael!