Kjeld Nuis, three-time Olympic champion, expressed concerns about the softness of the ice during training sessions at the Milan Olympic venue but reported a positive skating experience overall.
Schaatsen.nl, published in the Netherlands, provided the original coverage.
After completing about an hour on the ice, Kjeld Nuis was on his way to catch the bus transporting athletes from the training facility back to the Olympic village. Despite his initial haste, he returned to share his impressions, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the ice quality. He described the ice as very soft, comparing it to the conditions experienced in the initial days at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Nuis noted that the ice made a characteristic hissing sound when pushing off.
Despite his concerns about the ice, Nuis reported a strong performance and enjoyable skating during the session. He explained that during high-speed competition, the softness of the ice could be a disadvantage because it reduces momentum instead of supporting fast gliding. He suggested colder conditions would help harden the ice surface to optimize performance.
Nuis also mentioned conveying his observations about the ice to Mark Messer, the ice technician responsible for preparing the Olympic track who has experience from six previous Olympic ice-making assignments. However, Messer faces new challenges since this venue requires applying frozen water layers onto a temporary wooden floor rather than a permanent ice rink base. Nuis acknowledged Messer’s expertise but indicated uncertainty on whether the ice-making approach would be equally effective under these novel conditions.
In summary, Nuis echoed a commonly shared sentiment among Dutch athletes expressing cautious optimism while hoping for improvements before the upcoming competitions. They trust that the ice will be suitable for high-level performance but welcome adjustments to ensure ideal skating conditions.
