As the new speed skating season approaches, a Dutch skater outlines his primary objective of qualifying for the World Cup while reflecting on past setbacks and recent improvements.
Schaatsen.nl, a Netherlands-based skating news outlet, recently shared an in-depth conversation with the athlete about his aspirations and experiences.
Looking forward to the upcoming season, the skater identified participation in the World Cup as the first major goal. Last year, this was also the aim, but a back injury altered those plans. Having improved his times in two distances at the Dutch National Championships, he now feels that more opportunities are within reach. He noted achieving the seventh best time in the three-kilometer event with a 4:03.42 finish, a personal best that surprised him. He emphasized that ending the season with such a strong base differs significantly from closing with a slower time of 4:08.
Competing in the World Cup would also mean more frequent racing on foreign ice rinks. Thus far, his international racing experience has been limited to a race in Inzell and participation in the European Distance Championships in Tomaszow Mazowiecki. While he is familiar with travel from short track events, he explained that it is not comparable to long track competitions. His interest lies more in which international tournaments he can participate in rather than in the locations themselves. This season, he is particularly focused on the European Allround Championships, which are conveniently held in Thialf arena.
He discussed the adaptation needed to race on various ice conditions, mentioning that marathon skating, held on different tracks and under changing conditions, has helped him become more flexible. While heavier ice tracks demand more attention to rhythm, he finds the smooth ice of Thialf favorable and does not anticipate difficulty there. However, he admitted to being unfamiliar with faster tracks, such as high-altitude rinks, and has yet to experience the physical impact they reportedly impose.
With the commencement of a new Olympic cycle, the skater expressed hope that his most successful years on the long track are ahead. Although eager and ambitious, he prefers not to focus solely on the Winter Games. He believes that an overemphasis on the four-year Olympic cycle can be limiting and that achieving personal bests and success in each season holds greater importance. He aspires to consistently perform at a high level, aiming to relive the exhilaration he experienced upon winning the national allround title.
The athlete acknowledged the challenges he has overcome during his career, including health issues and injuries that have sometimes hindered his progress. After winning the national allround title, he spoke about the frustration of knowing his potential yet not always achieving it. He admitted to some impatience, citing limited preparation in previous seasons due to ailments such as pericarditis and back problems. These difficulties had, at times, made him question how long he would continue in long track skating, especially when investing significant effort without seeing corresponding progress.
He also balances marathon skating alongside long track, noting that marathons allow for more training hours. While he stressed the importance of performing well in both disciplines, he appreciates the clear pathway for improvement that marathon skating provides. Ultimately, the improvement he demonstrated last winter and the national allround championship title have renewed his motivation to persevere in his long track career.
