KINEMATICS ANALYSIS OF A NEW STRAIGHT LINE SKATING TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Great changes have taken place in the area of international speed skating in the past few years. With the manufacture and application of the new spring skate, the performance of speed skating has changed considerably. The purpose of this study was to summarize the features of new speed skating technique. The performance of eight Chinese elite athletes at the 9th National Sports Meeting was videotaped by a high-speed camera. Skating time, posture and speed were analyzed and subsequently compared with the old technique. The results of the study have suggested that the increased duration of double support treading prolonged the effective treading duration and thus increased the average speed. A wider angle of the ankle joint in the final stage enhanced the stretching and treading phase. It can be concluded that the application of new style skate has improved straight-line skating performance.