Answer to the Skater Uniform Question

An astute Blog reader has asked about those little patches on the inner thigh of the speed skaters. She's is an astute Olympics watcher. OK, she's also an astute elementary school principal, and AKA, my sister Joan.

For the answer please read the following information (I lifted it from some ISU website) (Internat'l Skating Union, duh...)


Introduction
All participants in Short Track Speed Skating know and understand that the sport
involves risks and danger of injuries, including cuts and puncture wounds, particularly
those resulting from a collision or fall. ISU Members must instruct all participants to
respect safety measures required to minimize such risks and dangers. In particular,
Members and participants must observe all ISU initiated safety measures, including those
stated in Rules 280 and 295 and in this and other Communications.
The ISU has commissioned a study of fabric standards for competition clothing/uniforms
for Short Track Speed Skating including a medical assessment. The study identified the
special areas of risk as those shaded in the drawing below. These include the neck, groin,
axillar region, gluteal region, lower arms, hands, back and front of the knees. At a
minimum, all of the areas specified in the figure below are to be protected by the cutresistant
fabric specified in this Communication
Areas of risk
2
In order to determine the suitability of competition clothing/uniforms materials for Short
Track Speed Skating, tests were carried out to simulate the effect of extreme falls and
determine the quality of materials. Through statistical and error analyses, the results from
these tests have been correlated with test results using the same materials under
international standard EN388 (this widely recognized standard will be familiar to clothing
manufacturers). Using the test data, an equation has been determined which makes it
possible to test a material according to standard EN388, and then calculate its suitability
for Short Track Speed Skating.

Cut Resistant Clothing
No limitations will be imposed on the manufacture of protective competition
clothing/uniforms other than, at a minimum, the material must comply with Standard
EN388. A close study of the implementation process, the world wide availability of cut
resistant clothing/uniforms and practical experiences has resulted in a reconsideration of
the requirements. The cut resistant material used in protective clothing according to this
ISU Communication must meet as a minimum requirement the Level 2 Standard
according to EN388 in a cut resistance test (resistance to cutting by sharp objects). Cut
resistant protection may be either integrated in the actual competition uniforms, or be
worn as special underwear.
To ensure consistency in the testing of the fabrics used, the manufacturers of cut resistant
clothing/uniforms are strongly recommended to have samples of their fabric tested at
SATRA Quality Assurance, Ltd., SATRA House, Rockingham Road, Kettering,
Northamptonshire NN16 9JH, Great Britain, fax no +44/1536 410 626.
The report commissioned by the ISU on the cut resistant study is available free of charge
for ISU Members from the ISU Secretariat. For manufacturers and other third parties, the
report is available at cost of mailing. Details of the Standard EN388 are available through
every national standardization institute or can be ordered from SATRA Quality
Assurance Ltd.

Application and Control
According to Rule 295, paragraph 2, of the Special Regulations for Short Track Speed
Skating, each Skater is solely responsible that his/her personal equipment meets the
highest safety criteria in order to obtain the utmost safety for the Skaters. ISU Members
are herewith requested to ensure that all Skaters entering international Short Track Speed
Skating competitions shall respect the above-mentioned Rule and the requirement of this
Communication for their competition clothing/uniforms as soon as possible, but at the
latest as of July 25, 2004.
ISU Members are requested to ensure that their competition clothing/uniform
manufacturers label their products stating that the cut resistant fabrics used meet the
criteria of Level 2 Standard according to EN388, and/or provide documents that confirm
the requirements of the cut resistant fabric. Such document must be in English, duly dated
and signed by the manufacturer and it must be provided upon request before the
competition clothing/uniforms will be considered acceptable.
3
The ISU may carry out random controls on the use of the required cut resistant
competition clothing/uniforms. Skaters must be able to present proper documentation
about the uniforms and the materials used. Non-compliance with the requirement at ISU
Events after July 25, 2004 will result in an immediate exclusion of the skater(s) from the
respective ISU Event or Olympic Winter Games.

Safety Measures
Obviously, the safety program respecting cut-resistant uniform material, together with all
the other safety measures specified in the ISU Rules, cannot absolutely assure full
protection for all competitors under all conditions. Experience demonstrates that stumbles
and falls occur in this high-speed ice sport. All ISU Members and their clubs, coaches and
officials who conduct training programs are admonished to teach safe skating techniques
during training and to insist upon compliance by their competitors with ISU rules during
competitions.
Milan, Ottavio Cinquanta, President
June 28, 2004
Lausanne, Fredi Schmid, General Secretary

WOW, talk about BLAHHH-G
But now you know, these folks aren't just strapping on skates and speeding circles around the rink. There is big technology involved. There was an article about a Canadian skater and the cuts he suffered from some blade.. But it brought flashbacks of my weed whacker accident and I had to stop reading. If I could find the photos, I'd share , but....

Now, if one of you loyal blog readers could inform us of just what the axillar region is, I'm sure it'd be appreciated.