Pictures from Ice Speedskating

The second meet of the season was again in Thialf Heerenveen. The speedskating mekka of the world. I can't even count the times I've been to Thialf, so I was not as excited as last weekend. But nevertheless, I looked forward to a new speedskating event.

Rain was gushing down on the Netherlands, causing massive traffic jams, making me arrive 2 hours late to Thialf. The people of the security gave me a hard time, by instecting my bag, having me unfold my flag to check for sicsors and inspecting my camera. Apperently, there is a new rule in Thialf, that no 'proffesional' camera's can be brought inside. As if I can compete with the real photographers...

Nevertheless, I finally managed to get inside and installed myself at the 1.500m startline. The men's B-division 1.500m was about to start. The light was terrible in Thialf and I was a little bit annoyed with everything that already happend that morning, so my pictures from day 1 are crap. Also the fall from Marianne Timmer and the Chinese Jing Yu left everybody in shock. Day 1 was a very weird skating day. I have never seen it so quiet in Thialf.

Luckily, day 2 brought me some more sunshine and I decided to hit to the southside of Thialf, at the end of the crossover. The stands at the Southside were packed, but on the other side, at the North corner, there were empty places everywhere. The athmosphere was differant from normal. Not so busy, not so much enthousiasm. I don't know what it was. But we did see some amazing races. Ireen Wust finally managed to win again in the 1.500 meters and Bob de Jong set a fast time, giving Havard Bokko and Sven Kramer a though job to beat it. We finally saw an amazing exciting race between the two of them.

After the A-division I sayed for the 5.000meter B division, which was a weird experience in an almost emply Thialf. At 8 o'clock I left again.

On sunday, I installed myself again on the Northside for the 3rd and final day of skating for this year. Today, there were even less people and the athmosphere was dull. I really don't know how this can happen but the races were intens. Shani Davis beat everybody in the 1.000 meter, again and the Team Pursuit was exciting as always!

The Canadian Ladies, Schussler, Groves and Nesbitt set a new trackrecord which was amazing to see! Who can beat this team during the Olympics?? The Men's Pursuit was also very exciting, with a tye for team USA and team Netherlands.

With mixed feelings I left the Thialf. These two weeks have been very intense with the two competitions so close together. When will all the international atheletes be back? I guess some will come to the world cup finals in march or the World Allrounds, in March 2010 aswell.We'll see what the rest of the season will bring...