Figure skaters can boost their leg strength and get more power from a more efficient, graceful looking stroke by supplementing their training with speed skating sessions. Indeed, figure skaters and advanced hockey players tend to make excellent speed skaters. A parent and child can both exercise together at their own pace, and yet never be more than a rink-length away from each other. Family members can focus on their own athletic goals while having frequent positive contact with other family members. Parents can encourage and support their kids while getting a great workout themselves.
Kids find it fun and exciting while adults find it fun and rewarding.
Most people at the club level speed skate for fun and fitness, but many speed skaters attend fun, amateur races as a way of challenging and testing their own skills. Racing is always optional and you can take it as seriously or in as relaxed a manner as you choose. Some skaters make it all the way to regional or national championships. The short track races sanctioned by the Amateur Speedskating Union of the US become the training ground for future US Olympic team members in both short and long track speedskating. But if fun and fitness are the only goals, we encourage that too.