Speedskating Club to offer how-to lessons

The Buffalo Speedskating Club, a member of U.S. Speedskating, will be holding four learn-to-speedskate sessions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, beginning Oct. 28 at the Riverside Ice Rink, 2607 Niagara St, Buffalo.

Other session dates, at the same time, are Nov. 4, 11 and 18.

The four sessions cost $30 for the entire time, which includes speedskate rentals. Speedskaters must bring a helmet (bicycle or hockey); kneepads (inline skating or volleyball); a neck guard (hockey type); long-fingered gloves; warm, preferably tight-fitting long pants; and a long-sleeve shirt or jacket.

The Buffalo Speedskating Club is a nonprofit club that focuses on giving children or adults of all ages the opportunity to learn how to speedskate.

Competitive speedskating consists of three types of races: short track, long track and marathon skating.

Speedskaters use a different ice skate than figure skaters or hockey players, and even then there are different types of skates, depending on which type of race is being held.

Speedskating skates have blades that are much longer than the actual boot.

Earlier this year, Williamsville East sophomore Julie Gehring took second in speedskating at the Empire State Games and won at New York State championships in Newburgh, N.Y.

For more information, visit www.buffalospeedskating. com, or call Craig (537-9575), Jim (632-8522) or Mike (655-4051).