The first attempts by Kjeld Nuis to set a new speed record for speed skating on ice have failed. The skater came on the Norwegian freshwater lake Savalen behind a car with a special windshield to 88 kilometers per hour, tomorrow he will make new attempts to reach the limit of 100 kilometers per hour.
By Lisette van der Geest
“As if I’ve been in the sauna and then drank three more red wine,” says Kjeld Nuis. “I think it’s because of the cold and the adrenaline.” The three-time Olympic speed skating champion is sitting in the lobby of a hotel in Savalen, by a Norwegian lake about four hours from Oslo, and an hour before that he has decided to stop his record attempts for that day.
Nuis (32) is the fastest skater on the ice, four years ago he reached 93 kilometers per hour behind a car, with a special windshield behind it. Now he wants to go beyond the 100 kilometers per hour limit in Norway with the help of a large team from his personal sponsor Red Bull. ,,I really want that. And I think it’s possible,” he says.
Earlier in the day he made several attempts, although that was also his first day on the ice, having arrived the night before. He reached 80 kilometers per hour, a few hours later 88 kilometers per hour, after which he decided to make the third attempt the next day.
,,But it is already an improvement of 10 percent, so that says there is more margin. I don’t know if it will work, but I think it could be better. I wanted to do two more today, but then I thought: I’m just tingling now. These attempts just cost something. It takes its toll if you drive around 80 kilometers per hour several times.”
The first day was also a test day, he says. Its all about fine tuning† From the driver of the car who accelerates in the right way at exactly the right time, who reacts to Nuis and estimates exactly what he can do. That listens closely. ,,If it’s at all smooth If the build-up is gradual, there is still a margin. Because otherwise I have to do interval after interval every time. That costs a lot and then your battery will simply run out. I find it really exciting. If all factors are right tomorrow, I think I can make it.”
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