He’s determined to make the fastest ice possible in an oval that sits just a few metres above sea level. Then a year ago, the oval hosted the 2017 world single distance speed skating championships as a test event for the Olympics. “That was our notice to the world that we’re going to be good here; don’t expect slow ice,” Messer says. “The biggest obstacle for the skaters with speed is the friction of the ice and the friction through the air. To that end, the water used to make the ice is purified well past drinking water standards and the ice temperature is held at a steady -8C.

Source: thestar February 07, 2018 17:45 UTC