The 2009/2010 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating season kicks off Friday with the first of seven events to be held across Europe and North America.

Races will be held over a range of distances at each event before the final competition in Salt Lake City (USA), where all distances, with the exception of the 5000m for ladies and the 10,000m for men, will be contested. Speed skaters are awarded points according to their ranking in races. At the end of the season the overall point scores will determine the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating rankings for the season. (Complete regulations for the Essent ISU World Cup can be found on www.isu.org  under Communication 1578). Prize money is awarded at each competition and also for the end of season rankings.

For further details, please click here