Learn how to speed-skate with Northern California Speedskating Association
While watching the action, the casual viewer or average athlete may find themself wondering, ‘could I have been an Olympic athlete with enough dedication and training?’
Updated: 7:26 PM PST Feb 6, 2026
Hearst TV Multimedia Journalist
The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway. Competition started on Wednesday and the Opening Ceremony was on Friday. While watching the action, the casual viewer or average athlete may find themself wondering, “Could I have been an Olympic athlete with enough dedication and training?”That’s what I was thinking, at least, when I arrived at the Northern California Speedskating Association (NCSA) in San Jose to learn more about short-track speed skating.All ages and skill levels are welcome to join a session with NCSA. The group trains at Sharks Ice in San Jose and is coached by former Korean national team athlete Ellie Kim.”I saw on the Olympics, and I thought it was super fun. It’s one of the few sports where there’s just so much chaos and drama on the ice. But you get to go so fast and it feels super exciting,” said Jason Lin, who joined the Northern California Speedskating association 20 years ago. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still get better. You can still get lower, turn harder, you can do deeper angles.”Short-track speed skating competition at the Winter Olympics begins on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the first medal being awarded on Tuesday, Feb. 10See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SAN JOSE, Calif. —
The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway. Competition started on Wednesday and the Opening Ceremony was on Friday.
While watching the action, the casual viewer or average athlete may find themself wondering, “Could I have been an Olympic athlete with enough dedication and training?”
That’s what I was thinking, at least, when I arrived at the Northern California Speedskating Association (NCSA) in San Jose to learn more about short-track speed skating.
All ages and skill levels are welcome to join a session with NCSA. The group trains at Sharks Ice in San Jose and is coached by former Korean national team athlete Ellie Kim.
“I saw [speed skating] on the Olympics, and I thought it was super fun. It’s one of the few sports where there’s just so much chaos and drama on the ice. But you get to go so fast and it feels super exciting,” said Jason Lin, who joined the Northern California Speedskating association 20 years ago.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still get better. You can still get lower, turn harder, you can do deeper angles.”
Short-track speed skating competition at the Winter Olympics begins on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the first medal being awarded on Tuesday, Feb. 10
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel