Jan Maarten Heideman
Encyclopedia
Jan Maarten Heideman is a Dutch
speed skater
who specialises in marathon speed skating.
Heideman, currently living in a small town named Gelselaar in the Achterhoek
, started as an all-around speed skater, finishing in 8th position three times at the Dutch All-around Speed Skating Championships in 1994,1995 and 1996. In 1996 he won the bronze medal at the 1500 metres at the KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
. However, at the age of six he already skated 25 kilometres in one day at the Bolksbeek.
Known as the sprinter among the marathon speed skaters he broke the record of most speed skating marathon wins on artificial tracks after he won his 48th marathon on 21 December 2003. At the end of the 2004-05 season he already expanded his new record to a total of 56 artificial track wins. He became Dutch national marathon speed skating champion three times and won the Alternative Elfstedentocht
in Finland
twice. In 2006 he won the Open Dutch nature track marathon speed skating Championship at the Weissensee in Austria
for the third time. He is also a three-time winner of the Essent Cup and a four-time winner of the Six Days of the Greenery
. In Assen
on 18 November 2006 in a race for the Essent Cup 2006-07
he won his 67th win.
Jan Maarten Heideman is also known to be the Willie Wortel (Gyro Gearloose
) of the speed skating peloton. Together with his sponsor Raps
he tested various techniques. In 1997 he was the first and until today the only skater who skated the Elfstedentocht on clap skate
s. He was also the first skater to show up with the 3D-skate, the carve-skate, the shark suit, the bird suit, the kluun shoe, the heater skate and the change skate.
In 2001 he released a book called "Leren van schaatser Jan Maarten Heideman" (Learning from speed skater Jan Maarten Heideman). He was one of the skaters that organised a mass
in an Austrian church with 450 speed skaters showing up in the weekend the Alternative Elfstedentocht was skated in 2004.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
who specialises in marathon speed skating.
Heideman, currently living in a small town named Gelselaar in the Achterhoek
Achterhoek
The Achterhoek is a region in the eastern part of the Netherlands, Europe.Its name is geographically appropriate because the area lies in the Eastern-most part of Gelderland, and therefore of the Netherlands, protruding into Germany...
, started as an all-around speed skater, finishing in 8th position three times at the Dutch All-around Speed Skating Championships in 1994,1995 and 1996. In 1996 he won the bronze medal at the 1500 metres at the KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
The Dutch Single Distance Championships of speed skating, organised by the KNSB, is the official Dutch championship to determine the Dutch champion over a single distance, in contrast to the KNSB Dutch Allround Championships, which determine the Dutch allround champion...
. However, at the age of six he already skated 25 kilometres in one day at the Bolksbeek.
Known as the sprinter among the marathon speed skaters he broke the record of most speed skating marathon wins on artificial tracks after he won his 48th marathon on 21 December 2003. At the end of the 2004-05 season he already expanded his new record to a total of 56 artificial track wins. He became Dutch national marathon speed skating champion three times and won the Alternative Elfstedentocht
Elfstedentocht
The Elfstedentocht is the world's largest and longest speed skating competition and leisure skating tour, and is held irregularly in the province of Friesland, Netherlands.The tour, almost 200 km in length, is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven historic...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
twice. In 2006 he won the Open Dutch nature track marathon speed skating Championship at the Weissensee in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
for the third time. He is also a three-time winner of the Essent Cup and a four-time winner of the Six Days of the Greenery
Six Days of the Greenery
The Six Days of the Greenery is a marathon speed skating event that that is held on a yearly basis in the Netherlands. The event consists of six races in a six day time span. The distance covered in every race is 100 laps on a 400m track...
. In Assen
Assen
Assen is a municipality and a city in the north eastern Netherlands, capital of the province of Drenthe. It received city rights in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT is run...
on 18 November 2006 in a race for the Essent Cup 2006-07
Essent Cup 2006-07
The 2006-07 Essent Cup of marathon speed skating will be held in the Netherlands, between October 7 and March 3, 2007.-Men's results:-Rankings:Rankings as of 30 December 2006-Women's results:-Rankings:Rankings as of 30 December 2006...
he won his 67th win.
Jan Maarten Heideman is also known to be the Willie Wortel (Gyro Gearloose
Gyro Gearloose
Gyro Gearloose is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic chicken created by Carl Barks for The Walt Disney Company. He is part of the Scrooge McDuck universe, appearing in comic book stories as a friend of Donald Duck, Scrooge and anyone who is associated with them. He was also a frequent star...
) of the speed skating peloton. Together with his sponsor Raps
RAPS
RAPS or Raps may refer to:* Rapping, spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics* Ram Air Progression System, a parachuting training method* Remote-area power supply, an off-the-grid electricity system* "Raps", a nickname for the Toronto Raptors...
he tested various techniques. In 1997 he was the first and until today the only skater who skated the Elfstedentocht on clap skate
Clap skate
The clap skate is a type of ice skate used in speed skating. Unlike in traditional skates where the blade is rigidly fixed to the boot, clap skates have the blade attached to the boot by a hinge at the front...
s. He was also the first skater to show up with the 3D-skate, the carve-skate, the shark suit, the bird suit, the kluun shoe, the heater skate and the change skate.
In 2001 he released a book called "Leren van schaatser Jan Maarten Heideman" (Learning from speed skater Jan Maarten Heideman). He was one of the skaters that organised a mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in an Austrian church with 450 speed skaters showing up in the weekend the Alternative Elfstedentocht was skated in 2004.
Honours
- 69 artificial track speed skating marathon wins, the last one being the final race of the 2006 Six Days of the Greenery2006 Six Days of the GreeneryThe 2006 Six Days of the Greenery of marathon speed skating was held in the Netherlands, between December 11 and December 16, 2006. The tournament hosted six races of 100 laps in six days in the chase for the brussels sprout suit....
in AlkmaarAlkmaarAlkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
. - Dutch national marathon speed skating champion: 3 times
- Alternative Elfstedentocht (Finland) winner: 2 times
- Open Dutch marathon speed skating on nature track champion: 3 times
- Six Days of the GreenerySix Days of the GreeneryThe Six Days of the Greenery is a marathon speed skating event that that is held on a yearly basis in the Netherlands. The event consists of six races in a six day time span. The distance covered in every race is 100 laps on a 400m track...
winner: 1998, 1999, 2000, 20062006 Six Days of the GreeneryThe 2006 Six Days of the Greenery of marathon speed skating was held in the Netherlands, between December 11 and December 16, 2006. The tournament hosted six races of 100 laps in six days in the chase for the brussels sprout suit....