TeamNL Stars at the Daikin NK Shorttrack in Leeuwarden

While Xandra Velzeboer, Michelle Velzeboer, Jens van ‘t Wout, Sjinkie Knegt, Itzhak de Laat, and their teammates compete for medals in the World Tour in Asia in the coming weeks, Dutch short track fans are already eagerly looking forward to the second weekend of January. That is when the stars of TeamNL Shorttrack, along with all the other top Dutch competitors, will return to home soil for the Daikin NK Shorttrack, to be held in Leeuwarden on Saturday, January 11 and Sunday, January 12. Sports-wise, not only national titles are at stake in the Elfstedenhal, but also starting places for the European Championships in Dresden (January 17-19).

The KNSB has decided to ‘promote’ the NK Shorttrack from a competition to an event, following the example of the NKs in long track speed skating. An agreement has been reached with Leeuwarden to host the Daikin NK Shorttrack for four consecutive years in the Elfstedenhal, and TIG Sports will be responsible for the organisation, as it was for the last World Cup in Ahoy and the upcoming World Tour competition in Tilburg.

For ‘real’ Frisians like Knegt, De Laat, and Sven Roes, the Daikin NK Shorttrack is, of course, a true home game. However, it will feel that way for the other riders of the National Shorttrack Selection as well, who all train in Heerenveen. Incidentally, the same weekend as the NK Shorttrack in Thialf also hosts the European All-round and Sprint Championships for long track. This makes it a great opportunity for skating fans from other parts of the country to combine a weekend in Friesland with a visit to two different top-level sports on Frisian ice.

Besides competing in Leeuwarden for the national (senior)titles in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters, the program also includes a men’s 5,000-meter relay and a 2,000-meter mixed relay. Teams can also compete in the NK Mixed Relay for juniors (also at the 2,000 meters).

The races will take place on Saturday, January 11, from 1 pm to around 6:30 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to around 3:30 pm. These times are still subject to change.

For the final program and list of participants (to be announced later):
https://www.schaatsen.nl/kalender/daikin-nk-shorttrack-2024-2025

Tickets for the Daikin NK Shorttrack and the World Tour in Tilburg: https://www.schaatsen.nl/schaatsfan/tickets/shorttrack-tickets