For more information about Short Track in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, please check here

Ice isn’t just frozen water. In ice sports, it is highly variable, and can affect athletes’ performances enormously. You’ll hear athletes talk about fast ice, slow ice, good ice, bad ice and cracking ice – but what does it all mean?

‘Fast ice’ means a perfectly conditioned surface across which racers can glide with the least friction possible. This is achieved though keeping the ice at an optimal temperature (usually around 20-21°F, or –7°C) and smoothing it effectively through resurfacing. 

Short Track speed skaters glide across the ice with as little friction as possible © ISU

But it's not all about the ice itself - the high speeds of "fast ice" can come from optimal humidity and air pressure which is often found at rinks at a higher altitude like Calgary (CAN) and Salt Lake City (USA).

This allows for a better transfer of power and maximum speeds – with most Short Track World Records being set in places like Salt Lake.

Suzanne Schulting (NED) breaks the Women's 1000m World Record on the fast ice of Salt Lake City in November 2022 © ISU

“Slow ice” can be too soft, which leads to a loss of grip, or too hard and prone to chipping – which provides equally poor grip. And bumps will add to friction or hinder speed.

The Zamboni ice resurfacing machine is therefore crucial to smooth out the divots or bumps that can slow Short Trackers down – as is the human repair of chips caused by crashes during race sessions.

The Milano Ice Skating Arena will host both Short Track and Figure Skating events © Getty Images

At Milano Cortina 2026, the rink at the Milano Ice Skating Arena will host both figure skating and Short Track. Figure skating ice is a little softer and warmer, allowing athletes to dig in for jumps and spins. The ‘ice master’ at the arena will therefore try to create the perfect surface each day for each discipline’s differing set of demands.