Stage set at outdoor ice rink for fantastic battle at WUC Speed Skating

It’s getting closer and closer! The FISU World University Speed Skating Championship in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is now less than two weeks away and the members of SKITS are thrilled that such a large event is coming to their home city.

Courtesy: netherlands-tourism.comSKITS is the skating and cycling student association in Amsterdam and the Jaap Eden ice rink is one of their two home bases. This rink will also be the host of the WUC Speed Skating. The Jaap Eden ice rink has a full programme running almost on a daily basis, with beginners and semi-professional athletes training there regularly.

However, it is an open ice rink cut both ways and the weather can be extremely unpredictable; sunny and pleasant, very cold, windy or even a lot of rain. This means that the performance of participants can depends somewhat on the weather conditions. What this promises for the WUC Speed Skating is an exciting battle!

The Organising Committee is working consistently now, towards delivering an excellent event. Ronald Ligtenberg, leading the team, has also brought many members of SKITS into the organization process.

As a result, the event is discussed regularly during the training sessions. There is a lively banter in the rink among the members of SKITS, and also the competitive athletes. A battle is underway to find a place on the starting list.

Paulien Verhaar, who participated at the Junior World Championship 2018-2019, was also part of the recent National Student Championship of the Netherlands. She is training towards being a professional skater.

“The competition field is very strong,” said Verhaar a few weeks earlier. “For example, we have Esmee Visser, Sanneke de Neeling and Femke Beuling. It’s going to be a very difficult battle to qualify for this event.”

The good news for her now is that she has qualified and is looking forward to an incredible week of enthusiasm, action and of course the grand finale: the final party!