About Us

SPEEDSKATING IS:
  • a sport for boys and girls
  • open to all ages
  • good exercise
  • all this and fun too
SPEEDSKATING WILL:
  • teach skating skills
  • improve skills you have
  • help you skate faster
  • help you skate better
SPEEDSKATING BEGINNERS CAN:
  • make new friends
  • receive coaching
  • measure their improvement
  • enter skating meets
  • compete with others at same level
  • win trophies, medals, and ribbons

History of Speedskating

Hundreds of years ago – long before there were skin suits and indoor arenas – people strapped blades to their feet and sped across frozen ponds, rivers and canals for communication between villages in northern Europe.  Competitions evolved and mens speedskating made it’s Olympic Winter Games debut in Chamonix in 1924.  Women’s races were added in 1932 at Lake Placid, New York as a demonstration sport, but were not officially included until 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics.

The modern sport of speedskating is divided into short track and long track.  Short track is all about speed, pitting groups of skaters against each other on a 111-meter oval, competing at lengths of 500, 1000 and 1500 meters, with 3000 and 5000 meter relays.  It was added as an official Olympics sport at the 1992 Albertville games. Long track challenges skaters to beat the clock.  Two racers compete at one time, crossing from inner to outer tracks on a 400 meter oval, but rarely coming in contact with one another.  Individual Olympic events include 500, 1000, 1500, 3000 (women only), 5000, and 10000 (men only) meter.  There is also a Team Pursuit event requiring a team of three racing against the clock.

About Safety

Speedskating is not more dangerous than other ice sports. Most injuries are minor and the result of falls during practice or competition.  For this reason, skaters are taught how to fall and get up quickly.  They are also required to protect themselves from possible injury by wearing long sleeves, gloves, neck protector, knee pads and a hard shell helmet at all times while on the ice.

History of Lakewood Skating Club

IMG_1244Early in the 1940’s, a small group of speedskating enthusiasts formed the Lakewood Skating Club. The Lakewood Skating Club has a long history of providing supervised training in speedskating.  It is the hope of the Club to help develop not only strong skaters, but also help the skaters develop good character, strong sportsmanship and good health.The Lakewood Skating Club has a long history of success, producing champions as well as fine individuals.  The club has nurtured the talents of numerous National and North American Champions, over 15 National Team members, 6 World Team members, and 3 Olympic Team members.

The Lakewood Speedskating Club is a member of the Ohio Speedskating Association and U.S. Speedskating.

Coaches

Dennis Marquard began competing at the age of 13 and has been coaching the Lakewood Skating Club since 1974.  Dennis’ accomplishments include member of the 1972 U.S. National Team, competitor in the 1972 World University Games, Olympic Festival coach in 1991 (Los Angeles) and 1993 (San Antonio), U.S. Speedskating Level 2 Certified Coach, was named U.S. Speedskating Development Coach of the Year in 2003, and inducted in the U.S. Speedskating Hall of Fame in 2004.
Katie Marquard is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota who began skating at the age of 5.  She was a member of the 1984 Sarajevo and 1988 Calgary Olympic Teams, won the 500 meter bronze medal at the 1987 World Championship.  Following her retirement in 1988, Katie began coaching in Minnesota before moving to Ohio 1992.  She served as Executive Director of U.S. Speedskating for 16 years, is a U.S. Speedskating Level 2 Certified Coach, was inducted in the U.S. Speedskating Hall of Fame in 2009, and is the current Athletic Director at Lorain CCC.
Joe Balbo began competing for the Lakewood Skating Club in 1980 and moved into a coaching role in 1992.  Joe is a speedskating referee, certified personal trainer for 28 years, and owner of Fitness Serve – sales & service of fitness and sports specific equipment.

Julie Koons grew up in New Berlin, WI and began skating at age 6.  She won two bronze medals at the 1996 Senior World and World Team Championships.  She was also a bronze medalist at the 1997 Junior World Championships.  Throughout her skating career Julie held multiple Senior and Junior American records.  She was a member of both the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Teams as part of the 3000 meter short track relay team. Julie is is a U.S. Speedskating Level 1 Certified Coach.