Description Canadian athletes International athletes DESCRIPTION/ RACING FORMAT/ OFFICIALS / RULES/ TECHNIQUE AND STRATEGY/ RELAY RACE/ EQUIPMENT
Racers skate counter-clockwise. Overtaking is allowed but the skater who overtakes is responsible for any collision or obstruction that results from the overtaking. If a skater is lapped, he or she must move to the outside track, and if lapped twice, the skater will be asked by the referee to leave the race.
A few basic rules govern passing. The lead skater has the right-of-way and the passing skater assumes responsibility to avoid body contact. The most frequent passing infraction, termed ‘charging the block’, occurs when a skater passes on the inside of the congested area near the top of the corner. An experienced skater won’t let another athlete sneak by the inside and can, by holding his or her track, force overtaking skaters to back off or go around the outside. Another common cause for disqualification occurs if a skater is changing lanes or altering his or her track at the finish. Competitors must skate in a straight line from the end of the corner to the finish line; veering inside or outside to maintain the lead is grounds for disqualification.
