Changing lanes and priority
ISU · 2026During ordinary paired racing, skaters exchange inner and outer lanes on the crossing straight between the marked end of one curve and the beginning of the next. The skater moving from the inner lane to the outer lane must not obstruct the skater moving from the outer lane to the inner lane.
The rule
During ordinary paired racing, skaters exchange inner and outer lanes on the crossing straight between the marked end of one curve and the beginning of the next. The skater moving from the inner lane to the outer lane must not obstruct the skater moving from the outer lane to the inner lane.
In practice
A confirmed obstruction or incorrect change leads to disqualification. The inward-moving skater’s priority does not permit deliberately obstructive behaviour. Some opening straights are exceptions to the usual exchange: follow the start layout for the actual distance. In quartet racing, the crossing responsibility also applies when the approaching skater belongs to the other pair.
Sources & approach ↗