Kulikov's record was set on Alma Ata's Medeo track which to us (Dutch junior speed skaters) was a mythical places where magical stuff happened. I later learned that besides altitude Medeo was build surrounded by mountain walls which in the right conditions guaranteed a tailwind around the track. Kulikov wasn't that spectacular on other tracks, like many Sovjets back in the day. The Olympics were completely different from other competitions, because we only had allround championships (500, 5000, 1500 and 10000) and sprint championships (500 and 1000 X2). There weren't podiums for specialists apart from the Olympics. Hilbert van der Duijm said that the Olympics weren't all that important for speed skaters. A lot of his countrymen didn't agree though. Heiden met speedskaters in the Olympics who didn't have a podium to perform in other races, which made his gold medals even more special.
Excellent video to show Jeff. Apart from everything you mentioned. It doesn't matter what kind of skate you are on. There are three things I would point out to todays skaters. 1) The start: forward motion off the line. 2) What I would have referred to as driving the knee through on each stride. 3) And lastly skating through the finish line (everyone is trying to shave off thousands of seconds off, but they stand up 10 meters before the finish line!). I learned early on to skate 2 strides past the finish line, it didn't mean that my skates did, but my eyes were! An old coach once told me that that precious time could cost you the gold, silver, bronze, nickel, wooden, plastic or anything they'll give you! LOL Eric was and still is a great example of training and dedication to excellence and hard work.
I got to see the outside of this old arena in Oslo a few years ago.I also got to skate some at Frogner in 1987.I also met the great Knute Johannsen in 1987 at an event in Oslo.I met Eric at a bike race near San Diego 6 mos after the Lake Placid games.What a thrill that was.He was so nice and I was so nervous!!I never got to meet Bonnie Blair but may have seen her skate in a old indoor arena in So Calif in the early 1980's.I lived in Calif for 16 years then moved back to the east coast.I got to meet Dan Jansen at a Duke Hospital fund raising golf tourney 2 years after the games.
@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 I was born in the mid south and wish I had grown up in the great white north.The only skating I did was roller skating and once I skated for a few hours on a indoor small oval.I had nasty blisters on my feet later.The city I am in now is where a famous female speed skater was born but she moved north at age 2 I think.
@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 I see we can't see the Day 2 from Heerenveen on the Skating ISU channel due to a music copyright issue.I was able to view it this yesterday and saw Jordan's 500 M race.He was paired with a guy from Poland.
Jeff, Eric seems to have a unique starting technique. It appears he steps backwards with his right skate to launch himself forward by creating pressure in the opposite direction. Seems similar to an inline time trial start, but executed in a fashion appropriate to being on clock. Good or bad? Why don't we see this more often? Thanks for the content!
Mark, Eric gets a lot out of the first step, even with this little slide backwards. I've seen him start and have seen Dianne Holum taught about starts, and sliding back was not part of the discussion. I'm guessing Eric just was really pushing hard and the ice broke a bit and he slid. But this is not something a skater would want to do. Thank you for the question!!
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Kulikov's record was set on Alma Ata's Medeo track which to us (Dutch junior speed skaters) was a mythical places where magical stuff happened. I later learned that besides altitude Medeo was build surrounded by mountain walls which in the right conditions guaranteed a tailwind around the track. Kulikov wasn't that spectacular on other tracks, like many Sovjets back in the day. The Olympics were completely different from other competitions, because we only had allround championships (500, 5000, 1500 and 10000) and sprint championships (500 and 1000 X2). There weren't podiums for specialists apart from the Olympics. Hilbert van der Duijm said that the Olympics weren't all that important for speed skaters. A lot of his countrymen didn't agree though. Heiden met speedskaters in the Olympics who didn't have a podium to perform in other races, which made his gold medals even more special.
Excellent video to show Jeff. Apart from everything you mentioned. It doesn't matter what kind of skate you are on. There are three things I would point out to todays skaters. 1) The start: forward motion off the line. 2) What I would have referred to as driving the knee through on each stride. 3) And lastly skating through the finish line (everyone is trying to shave off thousands of seconds off, but they stand up 10 meters before the finish line!). I learned early on to skate 2 strides past the finish line, it didn't mean that my skates did, but my eyes were! An old coach once told me that that precious time could cost you the gold, silver, bronze, nickel, wooden, plastic or anything they'll give you! LOL
Eric was and still is a great example of training and dedication to excellence and hard work.
I got to see the outside of this old arena in Oslo a few years ago.I also got to skate some at Frogner in 1987.I also met the great Knute Johannsen in 1987 at an event in Oslo.I met Eric at a bike race near San Diego 6 mos after the Lake Placid games.What a thrill that was.He was so nice and I was so nervous!!I never got to meet Bonnie Blair but may have seen her skate in a old indoor arena in So Calif in the early 1980's.I lived in Calif for 16 years then moved back to the east coast.I got to meet Dan Jansen at a Duke Hospital fund raising golf tourney 2 years after the games.
Thanks for the noter Hattie! Sounds like you skated in some cool places! Frogner park! Yes Eric is a very nice and humble person!
@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 I was born in the mid south and wish I had grown up in the great white north.The only skating I did was roller skating and once I skated for a few hours on a indoor small oval.I had nasty blisters on my feet later.The city I am in now is where a famous female speed skater was born but she moved north at age 2 I think.
@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 I see we can't see the Day 2 from Heerenveen on the Skating ISU channel due to a music copyright issue.I was able to view it this yesterday and saw Jordan's 500 M race.He was paired with a guy from Poland.
@@hattiem.7966 I'm trying to get in touch with ISU about the blocks. Thank you!
@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 Thanks so much Jeff!!!!
Compared to his opponents, he was much better in 79, but i think the competition and opponents were better in 80.
Jeff,
Eric seems to have a unique starting technique. It appears he steps backwards with his right skate to launch himself forward by creating pressure in the opposite direction. Seems similar to an inline time trial start, but executed in a fashion appropriate to being on clock. Good or bad? Why don't we see this more often?
Thanks for the content!
Mark, Eric gets a lot out of the first step, even with this little slide backwards. I've seen him start and have seen Dianne Holum taught about starts, and sliding back was not part of the discussion. I'm guessing Eric just was really pushing hard and the ice broke a bit and he slid. But this is not something a skater would want to do. Thank you for the question!!