Status report on the new short track padding system
The ASE Program and the Pettit National Ice Center received an anonymous donation last December for the restricted purpose of acquiring a new, state of the art short track padding system to give the program’s athletes the best protection possible in a boarded rink. The donation was made in recognition of the excellent work Coach Hongyang has been performing at the ASE. Since there are fewer than ten boardless systems in the world, this gift gives the ASE and PNIC short track athletes a major boost in staying injury free and attracting the best athletes to train in this environment. The system being acquired at a cost of $30,000.00 has been researched and tested extensively in the design process, and, has been in use with good results in terms of reduced injury statistics in the short track dense province of Quebec and elsewhere in Canada so far.
The system being acquired by the ASE and PNIC will offer a double layer of mats that is 30 inches thick in an extended main “crash zone” from the end of the straightaway at the entry to the turn through the exit of the turn to the first blue line. For 40 feet prior to and 32 feet past the main crash zone, there will pads of 12 inches thick. All the pads will be 48 inches in height and 96 inches in length and will have 4 inches of overlapping velcro at each end and 3 D-rings to use to tie up to the wall. There will be extra velcro on the fronts of the pads to attach event and sponsor banners to. The pads are comprised of layers of foam of varying densities and also foam slabs with air channels and vents in them, optimized to decelerate a skater as safely as possible. The pads will be blue to match the color of the long track pads and also to provide some contrast for better videography and photography of the athletes in action.
We received word that the pads are in the final phase of assembly and will be shipping within a week. Shipping should take about two days, leaving an ETA of approximately June 21st! We are very excited to be able to offer this tremendous safety improvement to the athletes that use the Pettit. The pads will be used at all ASE practices and camps, and, will also be available for use by the Wisconsin Speed Skating Club for its practices as well as short track competitions hosted by the Pettit.
– Carl
