February 8th 2010- Short Track Speed Skating News

February 8, 2010

Happy Monday!

I wish I could have updated SSW during the weekend.

I was at a short track speed skating competition in Milton all day on Saturday. Then on Saturday evening, I ate some bad barley and became quite ill. I spent most of Sunday in bed with a garbage pail by my side.

I’m still quite sick right now, but I’m well enough to update SSW with the most recent short track speed skating news that I could find;

RICHMOND, B.C. – Canada’s short-track speedskating team might be favoured to claim a handful of medals at the Vancouver Olympics but it’s leaving nothing to chance.

On Sunday, members of the squad, including medal favourites Charles Hamelin and Kalyna Roberge, marched outside the Speed Skating Canada House in Richmond, B.C., and entrusted their Olympic dreams to a towering Inukshuk planted nearby.

By SSW | Posted in Article, Blog, Facilities, Injury, International, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, RIP, Results, Short Track, Skaters, Television, Training, Upcoming, Video | Comments (0)

February 4th 2010- Tons Of Long Track Speed Skating News, Videos, Articles, & More

February 4, 2010

With the 2010 Winter Olympics fast-approaching, I’ll do my best to keep SSW updated with fresh speed skating news.

On that note, please understand that I’m balancing training and work with maintaining SSW.

If you need a short cut to the juice stuff, here are ‘Peter’s Picks’:

With that being said, let’s dive straight into all that is good and recent from the wide world of long track speed skating.

VIDEOS

BLOG ENTRIES

At the end of the farce, and after a five day delay, despite being at the top of three very short lists, none of the guys made the final cut. Devastating doesn’t even begin to describe it, especially for Josh, who was our highest-ranked skater in a world cup in ANY event, who had actually qualified, only to be bumped out by an out-of-form skater (who wouldn’t have even made the reserve list this year) on a strange technicality.

RESULTS & REPORTS

Outdoor ovals are a different story, especially those with natural ice. Hard natural ice exposes all technical flaws in a skater. Any inefficiencies are accentuated, especially when you get tired. It is a whole different ball game, because I not only need to focus on racing the race, but I also need to change my tactics. This could include getting lower going into the wind and sitting slightly higher with the wind. If its going to be windy, then I’ll use it to my advantage.

‘RZ on the slideboard, imitating what she sees her daddy doing. She is not facing the right direction, but she is smiling, and that is more important than technique for a little kid! (and for most adults too…)‘- photo from Andrew Love

Photo from Andrew Love

PICTURES

Photo from here

Photo from Tims ProSkateShots

Sjoerd wins- photo from Tims ProSkateShots

Sjoerd crashhhh!!- photo from Tims ProSkateShots

MISC/ STUFF I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT’S ABOUT, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT’S NOT IN ENGLISH

And while it’s expected this should be a great Games for Canada in the medal standings, the real rewards are likely to come in 2014 in Sochi and beyond – if we maintain a strong sports system.

I can only tell what went through my mind:

Hope I won’t have a false start,
Hope I wont’t fall during the start,
Hope my opening is decent enough for a fast endtime,
Hope I won’t have a messy crossing,
Hope he doesn’t cross over me at the first crossing in case I had a first
innerlane,
Hope I can make use of my opponent somewhere (drafting behind him during a
crossing),
Hope I have some over at the last straight.
Hope I have a new personal record, or at least a seson best.

OLYMPICS

Its important we remember what a great season these guys have had and are having. When you try to make an Olympic team after only one year in a sport it was never going to be easy. Even Olympic champion Derek Para did not pull that off in his first season. March 2009 we celebrated as these two boys and their team mate Sophie Muir broke into the times needed just to compete at a world cup. It went on from there with constant improvement and even with this non- selection the improvement is not stopping, as we speak the everyone is getting faster and faster.

Photo from Stuart Davis, Vancouver Sun files

By my count, the AP predicts 30 total medals for Canada and 27 each for the United States and Germany. A whopping 15 of Canada’s medals are expected to be gold, with nine going to the U.S. and eight going to Germany.

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Article, Blog, Championships, Facilities, Forum, Funny, Inspiration, Interesting, International, Interview, Junior, Long Track, Marathon, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, Race Series, Records, Reports, Results, Skaters, Sport Development, Training, Travel, Upcoming, Video, World Cup | Comments (0)

January 26th 2010- Roller Speed Skating Links & More

January 26, 2010

As the middle of the work-week approaches, it’s time for me to share some links to what’s going on in the roller speed skating world. And so, as it goes on, some news is sad, some is good;

Sorry to be the bearer of horribly bad news. Mary Scott King of Huntington Beach, CA was killed in a tragic snowboarding accident on Saturday the 16th in Telluride, Colorado, while heli-boarding with her boyfriend, Carlo Nafarrette. She skated for me at Team Paradise in the early 90’s, competing both indoors and outdoors. While she hadn’t gotten new skates in years (she was still on her 5 x 84’s), she still skated every now and then. One thing about Mary Scott, she was always better than what she gave herself credit for, both in skating and snowboarding.


Photo from MundoPatin.com


Photo by Mark Virtue


Photo from ASTA

I remember watching the first one in November on live feed and thinking a LOT of the same thoughts that are being posted on here about this event. Everyone that was actually at the Initiation kept telling me what a success it was and how many people showed up to watch. I found that VERY hard to believe.. until I attended this event (tribulation 1) they had this weekend. I promise you- people came in BUNCHESSS to watch this event. The rink was absolutely packed with non-skaters and there was a lot of energy in there. Obviously, that energy is not making its way entirely across the internet and onto your computers. Joey and Miguel are their own biggest critics and are completely aware of that. One big reason that the live feed hasn’t been that fulfilling is because the audio being fed to the online viewers is coming exclusively from the emcee’s mic. It doesn’t sound natural.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Make sure you consult SSW’s events calendar for upcoming events. Please let me know if there are events that need to be added to the calendar.

Planet Adventure now offers Inline Speed Skating events in Indianapolis. With the help of experienced area speed skaters (Indy Speed, Asphalt Beach and Global Inline) and the National Roller Cup (NROC), Planet Adventure will host five events in 2010.

I am please to announce that Marathon Roller of Montreal 2010 will be back this year. Same great fun, same great venue. Confirmed date is for May 9th. More details to come soon.

By SSW | Posted in Advice, Championships, Events, Indoor, Junior, Marathon, National Selection, Off Season, Photos, RIP, Race Series, Reports, Results, Roller, Senior, Skaters, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)

January 23rd 2010- Roller Speed News

January 23, 2010

Here’s a bit of news from the world of roller speed skating;


Photo from Roller Sisters


Photo from here

The Masterston 1980 World champs was the end of of a proud era of N. Z. skating & the political offshute saw Peter & Marie Maxwell retire from skating, with International careers still well in front of them, Karen Yorke ( Treolaer ) Marlene Glover ( MacDonald) all World medalists at Masterton & all been World champions, never raced again Internationally.

It was not till 1999 that N.Z. won another World Senior Medal with Kalon Dobbin a Third, in 1996 from memory the first World Junior champs Shane Dobbin won a medal & was robbed blind of the Gold in the Marathon. I see Johnny said that Scott got a Bronze in Adelaide in 1986, I remember the first two were grabbed & some DQ as one was my skater, so not possitive about the Bronze, as I am still irked about the Italian 10 meters back off the pace getting a political gift.

By SSW | Posted in Article, Blog, Championships, Clubs, Equipment, Events, Fundraising, History, Indoor, International, Interview, Marathon, Photos, Reports, Roller, Skaters, Sprint, Technique, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, Youth | Comments (0)

January 20th 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

January 20, 2010

Here are a few roller speed skating related links- enjoy.

I suggest you kick off your speed skating surfing with this video: 2009 Engadin World Inline Cup.


Photo from here

I am a big outdoor fan and I would love to skate this meet but in January it just doesn’t make that much since for me to go to Florida to race a lot of people that are not in outdoor shape which from watching.. a lot of people are not in outdoor shape. In January I just don’t believe that there is anything to gain from that meet. If you do good then you get a false since of security considering you weren’t racing many people that were in shape, and if you do bad you shrug it off and say you haven’t been skating outdoor much.

Club de patins à roues alignées, TAZ Vitesse from 24hroller on Vimeo.

By SSW | Posted in Blog, Championships, Equipment, Events, Indoor, International, Marathon, Masters, Photos, Reports, Results, Roller, Skaters, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, Volunteer, World Cup, Youth | Comments (0)

January 19th 2010- Long Track News

January 19, 2010

There’s plenty of great long track speed skating news & links floating around out there. Here are a few that I managed to dig up before hitting the gym earlier today. Have fun exploring these links and enjoy finding the many gems that include great pictures.

This video- Canada’s Top Secret edge- is pretty intense- long track footage looks solid.

I also recommend this photo album from Tims ProSkateShots, loaded with great shots.

I have roller & short-track links, but it’s time for me to sleep.


Photo from Tims ProSkateShots

Once I hit the oval and began to skate I was quick to notice that the lake ice is much faster than the Roseville ice. I am sure that a physics lesson could explain why but for now just knowing it was faster made the thought of traveling around the 1K oval seem less daunting. As I finished the first lap the oval did not seem large anymore, it actually seemed small.


Photo from here


Photo from DESGphoto


Photo from Schaatsfotosonline.nl


Photo from Kirsti Biseth

By SSW | Posted in Blog, Championships, Gear, International, Long Track, National Selection, Olympics, Photos, Reports, Skaters, Sprint, Training, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)

January 17th 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

January 17, 2010

Here are some of the more recent roller speed skating links from the last few days;


Photo from Training & News

The Tour de France Roller leaves for a new adventure of 1300 km in 16 days throughout France, from Paris to the Pyrenees, with a grand final in the Alps. The concept remains the same: either a full 16 day sporting event or the opportunity to ride only 8 days or even daily stages.


Photo from Pattinaggio Bellusco

Nr. DATES HOST CITY / COUNTRY EVENT / LEVEL
1. April 01-04 1 Cartagena, Colombia WIC Top Class
2. April 10-11 Rennes, France WIC C1
3. April 17-18 Geisingen, Germany WIC C1
4. May 01 Ferrara, Italy 3 WIC C1
5. May 23 Incheon, Korea WIC Top Class
6. May 30 Ostrava, Czech Republic WIC C1
7. June 5-6 Pamplona, Spain WIC C1
8. June 13 Dijon, France WIC C1
9. June 20 Biel/Bienne, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
10. June 26 Engadin, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
11. August 7-8 Bern, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
12. August 14-15 Zug, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
13. August 28 Gdansk, Poland WIC C1
14. September 5 Chuncheon, Korea WIC Top Class
15. September 12 Eindhoven, Netherlands WIC Top Class
16. September 17-19 Buenos Aires, Argentina WIC Top Class
17. September 25 Berlin, Germany 3 WIC Top Class
18. October 17 Margarita, Venezuela WIC Top Class
By SSW | Posted in Advice, Blog, Championships, Events, Forum, International, Marathon, Photos, Race Series, Records, Roller, Senior, Skaters, Technique, Track, Training, Travel, Ultra Distance, Upcoming, Video, World Cup | Comments (0)

January 13th 2010- Lots Of Roller Speed Skating News

January 13, 2010

Below are a bunch of links to news & more from the wide world of roller speed skating;

I’m sick of our sport being in decline, so here is a plan…at least from an American perspective because that’s where I live.

One reason for the demise of the sport in my opinion is that most USA racing is done INSIDE away from the public eye.
That’s a fact that is probably not going to change, but here is a way to get it in everyones face and on TV and get some momentum going.
Joey is just the guy to do it.

Follow me here.

Joey is Mates with Apollo Anton-Ono, I believe they train (Gym work) together sometimes at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Joey is Mates with Chad Hedrick…former USA team mates in fact.
Joey is Mates with DD (Derek Parra)

That is 3 OLYMPIC Champions with a huge Media Draw who used to roller and inline skate!
I can’t be certain about Chad and Apollo, but my guess is that this Feb could be their last Olympics and DD has already dropped out of competition.

These 3 Athletes OWE Inline Skating in part for their success and I think it is time for a bit of payback after the Olympic competition.
It would help tremendously if somewhere we had an “Angel” investor who could motivate theses 3 with a Big $$$$ amount, but if not, they should just go back to their roots and help us wheelies out a little.


Photo from ASTA


Photo shared by Powerslide

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Advice, Championships, Companies, Equipment, Events, Falls, Forum, History, Indoor, International, Long Track, Marathon, Photos, Race Series, Reports, Roller, Skaters, Sport Development, Technique, Track, Training, Upcoming, Vendor, World Cup, Youth | Comments (0)

January 12th 2010- Lots of blog entries plus more, including reports

January 12, 2010

Here are numerous blog entries that I have found for you

ROLLER BLOGS & MORE

When you’re training at a top level in skating, it requires that you push yourself above and well beyond the level of comfort; you are physically required to break your muscles down to build them stronger and more tolerant. This, in turn, will cause you to temporarily go backwards in terms of speed, strength, and endurance, which is completely normal and sometimes this breakdown period lasts a long time- it does not mean you’re over training. I’ve been around some of the best olympians in the world and after observing their training habits, im confident that term “over training” is commonly misused; what you really mean to say is you’re sick of being outside of your comfort zone. Every time i come back from being off for a long period of time, i put myself through hell to get back in the condition i was in before… sometimes i go weeks at a time getting beat by people i know i can smash, which drives me up a damn wall, but i know its what i have to do. The point is this, when you’re hurtin so bad you cant see straight and you think it’s because you’re over training, bight the bullet and ride it out, you wont regret it.

ICE BLOGS & MORE

As excited as I am right now, having just qualified to race in my first Olympic Games, I have to be honest when I say that my race yesterday was not perfect. Don’t get me wrong, I’m NOT complaining about how I finished, or about the fact that my first Olympic Games will be at home. That is pretty incredible. All I’m saying is that there were a few things that could have gone a lot better during my race.

This whole experience has made me ask some tough questions because I now feel a void inside me. I’ve worked so hard over the last few years to try and achieve this goal and it was over before I knew it.

Denny Morrison will be packing at least three pairs of skates for the Olympics – you can never be too prepared – but there’s something else the Canadian speed skater wants to take with him to Vancouver: his brother.For the past few years, Denny and his older brother Jay Morrison have had their sights set on competing for Canada as a brother tandem. The speed skating Morrisons of Fort St. John, B.C., don’t lack for drive or talent, but they are now facing an unexpected glitch in their master plan.

So here’s the news, back in July I got an unusual call from the City of Medicine Hat. Unusual in the sense that I never get a call from the City of Medicine Hat. Turns out, they submitted my name to be a torch bearer in Medicine Hat this coming January 16th! But wait a minute that’s not all, I will be the final torch bearer that evening and will be lighting the cauldron in Medicine Hat. The Olypmic flame will be staying there over night.


Photo from Clara Hughes


Photo from Laurie Marceau

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Blog, Championships, Indoor, International, Junior, Long Track, MISC, Marathon, National Selection, News, Nutrition, Olympics, Photos, RIP, Reports, Roller, Short Track, Skaters, Sprint, Team, Training, Travel, Trials, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)

December Training Videos- Sk8 Skooool Elite Sports Academy

December 23, 2009

Check out Sk8 Skooool Elite Sports Academy’s latest videos.

By SSW | Posted in Cross Training, Roller, Technique, Training, Video | Comments (0)