Oval Finale

The Olympic Oval invites you to the Oval Finale 
March 20-23, 2025.

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Competition Formats

The 2025 Oval Finale is pleased to announce Sprint and Allround competition formats.

Additionally, there will be a 100m event consisting of Heats/Semis/Final, mass start races, a make your own Team Sprint event, flying lap, hockey skate and individual distance options.

The 2025 Oval Finale Sprint Competition is a total points competition over 4 distances. Skaters will race 2 x 500m and 1000m over 2 days.

Drawing Procedures

  • For 500m (1) and 1000m (1) all competitors will be ranked according to their best qualifying time in the respective distance achieved between July 1, 2023 and March 17, 2025.
  • 500m (1) and 1000m (1) – Competitors will be divided into groups of 4 skaters for the draw.
  • 500m (1) and 1000m (1) – the first 12 pairs will be composed of the top 24 seed times in the respective distance with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first pair. The remaining pairs will run from highest seed to lowest seed.
  • In the third and the fourth distance the arrangement of pairs shall be based on the ranking in total points after 2 and 3 distances respectively, following the same format as distance 1 and 2 with the first 12 pairs composed of the top 24 ranked skaters with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first pair, and the remaining pairs running highest seed to lowest seed. If some Competitors are equal in total points, the Competitor with the better time in the first race of the distance concerned is considered to be better ranked. However, the arrangement of pairs for each distance shall be made in such a way that all participants change their starting lanes the second day; i.e. Competitors who started in the inner lane the first day against Competitors who started in the outer lane.
  • In case of withdrawals after the draw, rearrangements of pairs will be done according to ISU Rule 245.
  • All ISU Racing Rules apply as per II. TECHNICAL RULES SPEED SKATING

Results
ISU Rule 265 2., 3., and 4.

Winners
ISU Rule 268 1.a)

The 2025 Oval Finale Allround Competition is a total points competition over 4 distances. Women will race the 500m/1500m/1000m/3000m. Men will race the 500m/3000m/1500m/5000m. The Allround competition is run over 3 days.

Drawing Procedures

  • For the 500m and 1500m Women and 3000m* Men all competitors will be ranked according to their best qualifying time in the respective distance achieved between July 1, 2023 and March 11, 2025. *The 3000m Men will be seeded by their 1500m seed time.
  • 500m and 1500m Women/3000m Men – Competitors will be divided into groups of 4 skaters for the draw.
  • For the 500m – the first 12 pairs will be composed of the top 24 seed times in the respective distance with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first pair. The remaining pairs will run from highest seed to lowest seed.
  • For the third distance, 1000m Women and 1500m Men, the arrangement of pairs shall be based on the ranking in total points after 2 distances. The first 8 pairs will be composed of the top 16 ranked skaters with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first pair. The remaining pairs will run from highest seed to lowest seed.
  • For the fourth distance, 3000m Women and 5000m Men, the arrangement of pairs shall be based on the ranking in total points after 3 distances. These distances will run in quartets. The first 4 quartets will be composed of the top 16 ranked skaters with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first quartet. The remaining quartets will run from highest seed to lowest seed.
  • If some Competitors are equal in total points after the third or fourth distance, the Competitor with the better time in the first distance is considered to be better ranked.
  • All skaters qualify for the 4th distance.
  • All ISU Racing Rules apply as per II. TECHNICAL RULES SPEED SKATING

Results
ISU Rule 265 2., 3., and 4.

Winners
ISU Rule 268 1.a)

Time Standard - athletes must have the 1500m or 3000m/5000m time standard to qualify.

The 2025 Oval Finale 100m Event is a display of the fastest skaters over 100m. This event is open to the top 45 skaters per gender based on their 500m seed time achieved between July 1, 2023 and March 17, 2025. Each race consists of 3 skaters on the ice. Three rounds of this event are raced to determine the winners.

Heats – 15 races (45 athletes)

Races composition will be produced by Serpentine format. Skaters are ranked by their best 500m time from July 1, 2023 to March 17, 2025, The 1st ranked skater in each race is placed in the middle lane, the 2nd ranked skater is placed in the outer lane, and the 3rd ranked skater is placed in the inner lane.

                       Inner Lane     Middle Lane     Outer Lane

Heat 1             Athlete 31          Athlete 1         Athlete 30

Heat 2            Athlete 32          Athlete 2        Athlete 29

Heat 3            Athlete 33          Athlete 3        Athlete 28

Heat 4            Athlete 34          Athlete 4        Athlete 27

Heat 5            Athlete 35          Athlete 5        Athlete 26

Heat 6            Athlete 36          Athlete 6        Athlete 25

Heat 7            Athlete 37          Athlete 7        Athlete 24

Heat 8            Athlete 38          Athlete 8        Athlete 23

Heat 9            Athlete 39          Athlete 9        Athlete 22

Heat 10          Athlete 40          Athlete 10      Athlete 21

Heat 11           Athlete 41          Athlete 11       Athlete 20

Heat 12          Athlete 42          Athlete 12      Athlete 19

Heat 13          Athlete 43          Athlete 13      Athlete 18

Heat 14          Athlete 44          Athlete 14     Athlete 17

Heat 15          Athlete 45          Athlete 15     Athlete 16

The fastest 9 times will advance to the Semis.

 

Semis – 3 races (9 athletes)

Races composition will be produced by Serpentine format. Skaters are ranked by their time skated in the Heats. The 1st ranked skater in each race is placed in the middle lane, the 2nd ranked skater is placed in the outer lane, and the 3rd ranked skater is placed in the inner lane.

                        Inner Lane       Middle Lane       Outer Lane

Semi 1               Athlete 7          Athlete 1           Athlete 6

Semi 2               Athlete 8          Athlete 2           Athlete 5

Semi 3               Athlete 9          Athlete 3           Athlete 4

The winner of each semi advances to the Final.

 

Final – 1 race (3 athletes)

Skaters are ranked by their time skated in the Semis. The 1st ranked skater in each race is placed in the middle lane, the 2nd ranked skater is placed in the outer lane, and the 3rd ranked skater is placed in the inner lane.

                        Inner Lane       Middle Lane      Outer Lane

Final                 Athlete 3           Athlete 1           Athlete 2

 

Racing Rules
All ISU Racing Rules apply as per II. TECHNICAL RULES SPEED SKATING

Winners
Awards are presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd winners of the Final.

The 2025 Oval Finale Team Sprint Competition is a fun event that allows the athletes to create their own teams. Teams are submitted to the Olympic Oval front desk by Saturday March 22 at 2:00pm MT. Team name provided by the Team (subject to approval by the organizing committee). Teams are randomly drawn to create races.

Racing Rules
All ISU Racing Rules apply as per II. TECHNICAL RULES SPEED SKATING

Results
ISU Rule 265 7.

Winners - 1st/2nd/3rd Women Teams and 1st/2nd/3rd Men Teams
ISU Rule 268 1.b)

Individual distances will be available each day after the Sprint and Allround events. Athletes entered into an individual distance will be paired only with other athletes entered in an individual distance, and not with athletes competing in the Sprint or Allround events.

Drawing Procedures

  • 500m (1), 500m (2), 1000m (1), and 1000m (2) - all competitors will be ranked according to their best qualifying time in the respective distance achieved between July 1, 2023 and March 17, 2025. Competitors will be divided into groups of 4 skaters for the draw. The first 12 pairs will be composed of the top 24 seed times in the respective distance with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first pair. The remaining pairs will run from highest seed to lowest seed.
  • 1500m - all competitors will be ranked according to their best qualifying time in the respective distance achieved between July 1, 2023 and March 17, 2025. Competitors will be divided into groups of 4 skaters for the draw. The first 8 pairs will be composed of the top 16 seed times in the respective distance with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first pair. The remaining pairs will run from highest seed to lowest seed.
  • 3000m Women and 5000m Men - all competitors will be ranked according to their best qualifying time in the respective distance achieved between July 1, 2023 and March 17, 2025. Competitors will be divided into groups of 4 skaters for the draw. These distances will run in quartets. The first 4 quartets will be composed of the top 16 seed times with the lowest ranked skaters starting in the first quartet. The remaining quartets will run from highest seed to lowest seed.


Racing Rules
All ISU Racing Rules apply as per II. TECHNICAL RULES SPEED SKATING

Details coming soon.

Details coming soon.

Details coming soon.


Competition Details

Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Coaches Meeting Time and Location TBD

Thursday, March 20, 2025

  • Flying 400m
  • Women 500m Allround 
  • Men 500m Allround 
  • Women 1500m Allround (Individual Distance Available)
  • Men 3000m* Allround (Individual Distance Available)

Friday, March 21, 2025

  • Women 500m (1) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Men 500m (1) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Women 1000m (1) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Men 1000m (1) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Women 1000m Allround
  • Men 1500m Allround (Individual Distance Available)

Saturday, March 22, 2025

  • Women 500m (2) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Men 500m (2) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Women 1000m (2) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Men 1000m (2) Sprint (Individual Distance Available)
  • Women 3000m* Allround (Individual Distance Available)
  • Men 5000m* Allround (Individual Distance Available)

Sunday, March 23, 2025 

  • Women 100m Heats
  • Men 100m Heats
  • Women 100m Semis
  • Men 100m Semis
  • Women 100m Final
  • Men 100m Final
  • Women Hockey Skate Mass Start
  • Men Hockey Skate  Mass Start
  • Women Team Sprint (submit your team to Oval front desk)
  • Men Team Sprint (submit your team to Oval front desk)
  • Women Mass Start
  • Men Mass Start

*Restricted entry

General Regulations

The Oval Finale Speed Skating competition will be held in accordance with the 2024 International Skating Union Regulations and updates and is open to all skaters who belong to an ISU member country.  It is listed on the International Skating Union Calendar and sanctioned by Speed Skating Canada and Alberta Speed Skating.

The Track

The Olympic Oval is a standard speed skating track of 400 meters to the lap.  The refrigerated ice track has a 5 meter wide warmup lane.  The radii of the inner and outer competition lanes are 26 and 30 meters respectively.  The width of the racing track is 4 meters.

Entries

Any bonafide member of the International Skating Union may compete in the Oval Finale Competition, provided that the member is properly registered with the Olympic Oval approved by their member country.

Skaters must be Junior C2 or older to compete.  Ie. Born before July 1, 2010.

Citizenship/Residence requirements and Clearance Procedure

In accordance with Rule 109 of the ISU Regulations and the current ISU Communication, all skaters who do not have the nationality of the Member by which they have been entered or who, although having such nationality, have in the past represented another Member, must produce an ISU Clearance Certificate.

Composition and the Starting Order of Pairs

The draw is conducted under the current SSC rules and ISU rules where applicable. The Pairings for Day One will be available by 4:00pm on Wednesday March 19, 2025. Coaches Meeting time and location TBD

Liability

In accordance with ISU Rule 119; the International Skating Union, Speed Skating Canada, Speed Skating Alberta, the Olympic Oval, and the University of Calgary assume no responsibility for, or liability with respect to bodily or personal injury or loss of property or damage incurred in connection with the 2025 Oval Finale Speed Skating Competition. Each Skater is solely responsible for providing insurance coverage thereto.

Transportation

Each skater is responsible for his/her own transportation.

Entries for the Oval Finale must be submitted electronically.

Entry Fees
Sprint or Allround $100.00 CDN (includes GST)
Individual Distance $30 CDN (includes GST)
*100m Event $10 CDN (includes GST)
*Flying Lap Event $10 (includes GST)
*Mass Start Races $10 (includes GST)
*Hockey Skate Races $10 (includes GST)
*Team Sprint $15 CDN per team (includes GST)
Late Fee: Double entry fee after the Entry Deadline.
Note: An entry cannot be guaranteed if entered after the deadline.

Entry Deadline
11:59 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, 2025
*Special Events

Olympic Oval Waiver Form
Skaters in their first competition of the season in the Olympic Oval must fill out the Waiver Form.

Oval Finale Time Standards are the same as Canada Cup Qualifying Times***

Sprint Event - No time standard

Allround Event - athletes must have the 1500m or 3000m/5000m time standard to qualify.

100m Event - top 45 athletes per gender based on their 500m seed time qualify.

Individual Distances - No time standards required for 500m, 1000m, 1500m.   For participation in the 3000m and 5000, athletes must meet the time standards in that respective distance as indicated below.          

Women
1500m      2:35.40 (allround event)     
3000m     5:26.70   
Men
1500m      2:19.40 (allround event)  
3000m     5:02.00   
5000m     8:28.60    

In order for a result to be a valid Qualifying Time, it must have been achieved in an ISU or SSC Event between July 1, 2023 and the entry deadline for the Event.

All Skaters will be charged for their ice training prior to the competition with the exception of the day prior to the competition where training is free of charge. For training times and fees, please check our website at https://oval.ucalgary.ca/speed-skating/schedules-rates/schedules  or contact Oval Guest Services at ovalguestservices@ucalgary.ca

The Olympic Oval is utilizing the Sportity App for seamless and efficient communication during events. The app can be downloaded on the Apple Store or Google Play Store for free. Ensure your notifications are turned on to receive event communications in a timely manner. Each event has its own password. Oval Finale password is 2425OOLT

Download from Apple Store

Download from Google Play



Finale 2025

The Olympic Oval is partnered with three preferred hotels: Alt Hotel, Best Western Village Park Inn and Aloft at the University of Calgary. Select a hotel for your preferred OVAL rate.