Competition Format

Single Distances

The most basic form of speed skating consists of skating a single event. This is the format used for the World Single Distance Championships and the World Cup. Usual distance include the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m (women only), 5000m and 10000m (men only), but several other distances are sometimes skated. For championships, the 500m and the 1000m are currently conducted in two runs, with the final ranking based on accumulated times.

Allround

One of the oldest skating formats is the allround event. Skaters skate four distances and a ranking is made up based on the times skated on all of these distances. Basically, any combination of four events is possible, but the following combinations are commonly used:

• Sprint: 500m, 1000m, 500m, 1000m.
  This format is used for the World Sprint Championships (both men and women).
• Mini Combination: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m.
  This format was previously used at the World Allround Championships for women.
• Small Combination: 500m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m.
  This format is currently used at the World Allround Championships for women.
• Big Combination: 500m, 1500m, 500m, 1000m.
  This format is used for the World Allround Championships for men.

The method of scoring is the same for all combinations. All times are calculated back to 500m times. That means that 500m in 40 seconds will give you 40 points, while 1500 m (3×500 m) in 2 minutes (120 seconds, equivalent to 3×40 s) will also give you 40 points. Points are calculated to 3 decimal places, and truncation is applied, the numbers are not rounded. The skater who has the fewest points wins the competiton.

Marathon

Skaters skate in large group skate large distances. When conducted at a rink, the distances is usually around 40 km, but when skated on frozen outdoor water, the distances can be as long as 200 km. An example of this is the famous Elfstedentocht (Eleven cities tour) which is irregularly held in the Netherlands.