Friday, February 8, 2002
Salt Lake oval bidding to ice fastest times
By GREG Di CRESCE -- Winnipeg Sun
The world's fastest ice.
Calgary's Olympic Oval has laid claim to that title for the past 15 years.
But beginning tomorrow with the men's 5,000 metre race, the Utah Olympic Oval will make an official bid for the belt.
"I know many people have said that all the records will fall to the Utah oval, but I'm not so sure about that," said Mick Kiddler, Calgary's ice maintenance supervisor. "I know they'll get good times at the sprint distances, but I'm not so sure if records will be set at the longer distances."
Nine world records have been set on Utah oval ice, including a new mark in the 3,000m distance that shaved almost three seconds off the old standard.
"I wouldn't be surprised if new world records are set in all but the 10,000m race," said Winnipeg Olympic speed skater Mike Ireland, who is expected to win a medal in the 1,000m. "And the only reason the 10,000m record might not fall is because of the altitude."
The Utah venue is at an altitude of 1,425 metres, more than 300 higher than Calgary.
However, the thinner air at that elevation should help sprinters, who race at distances of 500m and 1,000m, to rewrite the Olympic and world record books.
"True, but Catriona (LeMay Doan) recently stole the 500m world record back on Calgary ice and she's going to have to be in top form to set a new record in Utah," Kiddler said.
The Calgary ice man also noted that the Utah oval has yet to operate with a full house, and that could play havoc with the ice.
"When their building is full the ambient temperature changes and if not adjusted for, can soften up ice that needs to be hard for the longer distances," he said. "I think they're going to have to do a fair number of adjustments on the fly."
And that's why they hired Calgary ice master Mark Messer as a consultant.
"He's definitely the right man for the job," Kiddler said. "He's got both the technical and mechanical background to help them tinker with the ice, especially when it comes to making changes from sprint to the longer distances."
Kiddler doesn't believe Calgary's oval can hold the world's fastest ice title much longer unless changes are made.
"It's a great facility, but we're at a crossroads right now with 15-year-old technology," he said. "We're going to have to make changes pretty soon or watch all the good things we've done here go south."
2002 Games Long Track Speed Skating Coverage
