Ron Woods, a lifetime on wheels and the spirit of speed skating

As the Speed Skating National Championships kick off, the event offers more than a battle for medals. It is also a moment to reflect on the people, passion, and history that have shaped the sport, figures like Ron Woods, whose life has been intertwined with speed skating for decades.

Wood’s connection to skating began almost before he could remember. Growing up directly opposite a skating rink, he first stepped inside at just three years old. But it wasn’t until he was ten that he truly began skating, tagging along to sessions where his sister trained as an artistic skater.

What followed was not just a sporting journey, but the beginning of what Woods describes as a skating family.

For Woods, speed skating was never just about competition. It was about people. Training sessions, shared travel, and friendships formed rink-side - these were the foundations of the sport’s culture. Even now, in the lead-up to Nationals, he looks forward to seeing familiar faces again and reconnecting with old friends.

“You miss the people the most,” Woods reflects. “Watching others train, improve, work hard, and achieve, that was always the best part.”

Ron Woods at the 1980s Speed Skating World Championship.

That sense of community is something today’s Championships continue to carry forward, even as the sport itself has changed.

Woods skated during a golden era for Australian speed skating. In the late 1980s, Australia was among the top three speed skating nations in the world. At the 1988 World Championships, the country claimed six medals.

Woods also had a hand in his wife, Ann Woods, winning gold, silver, and bronze, whom he coached to the world stage.

“The sport has changed a lot,” he says. “From quads to inline skates, it’s different now. Some of that history is gone.”

Despite the wear and tear and more than his fair share of falls, Wood’s love for speed skating has never faded. He describes the feeling of skating as magical: the speed, the flow, the sense of freedom that keeps people coming back year after year.

That passion is what continues to drive the sport forward, even in quieter times.

As skaters prepare to line up at the upcoming National Championships, Wood’s story serves as a reminder of what the event truly represents. It is not only a contest of speed and endurance, but a celebration of legacy, resilience, and community.

For the next generation stepping onto the track, and for those returning to watch from the stands, Nationals is a chance to reconnect with the heart of speed skating. A sport built by families, friendships, and a shared love of motion.

And for Ron Woods, it’s proof that once skating becomes part of your life, it never really lets go.

The 2026 National Speed Skating Championships are running from 18 Jan - 23 Jan in Dandenong, Victoria at the Gloria Pyke Netball Centre.