Elite speed skaters are roughly as fast as a car driving through city streets: around 30–35 mph on average, with peak speeds close to 36–40 mph, and special record attempts going over 60 mph.

How fast are speed skaters?

For top-level long-track speed skaters on a standard 400 m oval:

  • Typical racing speeds are about 50–60 km/h (31–37 mph) during shorter events like the 500 m.
  • Current 500 m world-record pace is around 53–54 km/h (33–34 mph) on average.
  • In controlled record attempts (on a straight, low-resistance track), skaters have been clocked at over 100 km/h (about 62 mph).

For short-track speed skating (the smaller rink with tight corners):

  • Speeds are usually around 45–55 km/h (28–34 mph).
  • In Olympic-level races, short-track skaters often exceed 30 mph in the fastest laps.

Even “average” good recreational speed skaters can hold 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph) for some distance, which already feels very fast on ice.

Mini breakdown: by discipline

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Discipline</th>
      <th>Typical race speed</th>
      <th>Peak / record speeds</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Long-track speed skating</td>
      <td>~50–60 km/h (31–37 mph) in elite 500–1000 m races[web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>World‑record 500 m pace ≈53–54 km/h average; special record runs >100 km/h (≈62 mph)[web:1][web:5][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Short-track speed skating</td>
      <td>~45–55 km/h (28–34 mph)[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Often just over 30 mph in Olympic races[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Recreational “fast” skating</td>
      <td>~20–25 km/h (12–16 mph) for a fit, experienced skater[web:9]</td>
      <td>Short bursts around 30–35 km/h (19–22 mph) reported by hobbyists[web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Why they can go that fast

A few key ingredients let speed skaters hit those numbers:

  1. Body position and technique
    • Deep low squat reduces air resistance and lets them push sideways efficiently.
 * Long, gliding strides and powerful leg extension mean more time on each blade and less wasted movement.
  1. Specialized equipment
    • Long, thin blades (often “clap skates”) stay on the ice longer and improve power transfer.
 * Very smooth, hard ice and streamlined skin suits cut down drag.
  1. Perfect conditions and pacing
    • Indoor ovals at controlled temperature and sometimes at altitude (thinner air) help increase speed.
 * Races are paced around a fast start, strong middle laps, and hanging on to speed in the final lap.

A nice way to picture it: if you’re standing at the boards in an indoor oval, an elite skater blasting past you on a 500 m is going roughly as fast as a city bus passing you on a main road—just on a few millimeters of steel.

Quick forum-style take

“Speed skaters hit 30–33 mph in races, with world‑record paces over 50 km/h and special straightaway runs topping 100 km/h. Optimization is everything: technique, ice, gear, even altitude.”

TL;DR:

  • Short track: ~28–34 mph.
  • Long track: ~31–37 mph in normal races, with world-record paces around 33–34 mph average over 500 m.
  • Special record attempts: over 60 mph on ice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.