Speed skating skates have long blades, narrow and flat blades (small curvature), large ice pushing area and low friction resistance when contacting with the ice surface, and are suitable for long-distance skating. The skates have only one fixed point (the front of the skates and the skates are fixed together), and the back is not fixed. For example, speed skating skates are a bit like "slippers". Athletes don't always stick their heels on the skates when skating.

Speed skating is a kind of ice competition with skates as tools. It belongs to skating in international sports taxonomy. It refers to the skating competition aimed at competing within the specified distance, referred to as speed skating, which is the official event of the Winter Olympics. Athletes slide on the ice with skates, and the blades of skates cut into the ice to form stable support points. They push the ice alternately with their legs, retract their legs and cut the knife, slide in and coordinate the whole body to slide forward quickly.